Category Archives: Ilana Mercer

UPDATE II: NRO Writer’s ‘UnFollow’ Leads To Musing About The Manners-Morals Connection

Conservatism, Donald Trump, Etiquette, Ilana Mercer, Intellectualism, libertarianism, Morality, Neoconservatism

National Review’s Kevin Williamson, aforementioned, once told me he was a libertarian anarchist. Although I never saw evidence for the claim, I took him at his word that he was a friend behind enemy lines. (It’s also true that I don’t study NRO’s output.) In the couple of exchanges we had, Williamson seemed far less uptight about intellectual differences than most Americans. Myself, so long as ad hominem is avoided and respect is shown—I can easily befriend ideological adversaries. And I do. One of the nicest gentlemen, for example, is Benn Steil, director of International Economics Council on Foreign Relations. I can’t imagine Dr. Steil churlishly unFollowing me. We differ. So what? I enjoyed his book, “The Battle of Bretton Woods,” immensely.

The UnFollow/UnFriend churlishness is not the province of neoconservatives and Republicans alone.

From experience, libertarians can be as uncivilized in their interactions. The column “Schooling Beck On Trump’s Nullification Promise” mentions “Ivan Eland’s learned rundown of U.S. presidents,” Recarving Rushmore: Ranking the Presidents on Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty. I contacted Eland as a courtesy. As did I ask him if he would kindly reciprocate with a Follow on Twitter. Unlike the polite Lawrence W. Reed of the Foundation for Economic Freedom, Eland has simply ignored me. Perhaps he’s on vacation.

Manners are a species of morals. Other than to hate mail or rude mail, I respond to all letters I receive—to each and every one. Many thousands since 1998, which is when I got my first newspaper column, in Canada. Due to time constraints, my replies are laconic. But if a reader has bothered to read my work and comment on what I have to say—then it’s only decent and proper to reciprocate.

I haven’t always been firm in this resolve, but I try my very best. If a colleague writes, I reply, whether I like them and their stuff or not. Ignoring a correspondent demonstrates contempt for that individual—a contempt that reflects on the rude “interlocutor.”

UPDATE (1/24): Facebook readers dispute the characterization of Williamson as remotely intellectual.

Christoph Dollis: Well, I’ve always known Kevin Williamson as a moron. Sorry that it hurts, and I get that (I’ve had similar experiences), but in my long-held opinion about Mr. Williamson, you haven’t lost much. I’m pretty sure Williamson is a staunch friend of arch cuckservative Ed Morrissey of Hot Air. ‘Nuff said.”

UPDATE II (3/5):

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UPDATED: Principled Patriots React To Ranchers Hammonds’ Plight

Ilana Mercer, libertarianism, Natural Law, Private Property, States' Rights

The 3.1K number on my WND column, “Ranchers Hammond & Bundy: The Best of America,” refers to the number of times the column has been shared via any of the methods represented by the logo buttons to the left of the 3.1K. So that’s 3,100, a really big number, if accurate, but who knows?

2016, Hammond, WND Capture

LETTERS:

Writes Tim:

Ms. Mercer,

The show isn’t Hammond or bundy or even the Feds; it’s the transformation of rural America from a once-independent/gutsy psyche to what you saw today – the Burns locals showing up and asking the take-over guys to leave. Who planted fear and gutlessness into a community like Burns? I came back from combat in the Nam (usmc) and worked many jobs in the Oregon high desert; timber felling, loading hay trucks, fighting wild fires. These were once tough people who (then) would have supported the take-over stand, unanimously – seen its higher value as part of their own heritage. You’re smart, Ms Mercer, so tell me how urban fear and self-seeking became homogenized into this country’s entire demographic landscape. Was it media? Was it public education? Was it greed? Bottom line, there ain’t gonna be no more “Alamos.” Yes, the Hammonds are good guys, but even they want Bundy’s bunch outa town. It’s tragic and irreversible. What’s left is a man’s (person’s) responsibility to truth and courage; individual-by-individual, against the storm of darkness. And a lot of grace from God for that act.

Writes HS:

Another good column, Ilana. Do you ever feel like you are a voice crying in the wilderness? Your assessment of the situation of the land grab in Oregon and of those who have commented on it is a welcomed relief amid all the grandstanding from the powers that be and the media. Thank you for the level-headed analysis. You make much sense and we are indebted to you for enlightening us. Keep it up.
Humphrey

UPDATE: “Ranchers Hammond & Bundy: The Best Of America” was discussed on The Bill Meyer Show, January 8, 2016 (LISTEN).

Reactions To The Idea That Businessman Trump’s Trying To Cut Loss … Of Life

Business, Economy, Homeland Security, Ilana Mercer, IlanaMercer.com, IMMIGRATION, Islam, libertarianism, Terrorism

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“Businessman Trump trying to cut loss … of life” is this week’s column.

VW, a WND reader (a lady), reacts via email:

Dear Ms. Mercer,

Absolutely brilliant take on the situation! Congrats on your spot-on insight …
God bless you and keep up the good work!

From workforlivn @ The Unz Review:

“Perfect prose Ilana. First lesson in a business: Watch the pennies and the dollars will care for themselves. The contrast to Washington is dropping million dollar JDAMs on 2 dollar tents.”

This from Craig Smith on Facebook:

A very valuable post. As much as I’ve been reading, I still haven’t come across anything quite as incisive as this. I’ve shared it, and added a long caption.

Read Craig’s “longer caption.”

My reply:

Thank you, Craig Smith. That you’ve said these kind words so often over the years doesn’t diminish their value. “No Wonder The Pols Think Businessman Trump’s Crazy; He Understands Scarcity” is the weekly column, no mere post. It appears on WND, of course — has done since 2001, on The Unz Review (America’s smartest webzine) since last year, on PRAAG – Die Pro-Afrikaanse Aksiegroep, belonging to Dan Roodt who fears no one; on the gifted Sean Gabb’s UK-based Libertarian Alliance and on Quarterly Review, a now small, still august, historic, British publication edited by Dr. Leslie Jones. Please support and popularize the handful of publications—only a handful—that carry and have carried the Return to Reason column since its inception. Yeah, the rest are a disgrace.

Our English readers are ever erudite.
Says John Warren, on 13 December, 2015 at 7:12 am:

Brilliant. I couldn’t agree more. In my ever so humble opinion, Ilana Mercer is spot on with all that she writes here.

A good, clear thinker who brilliantly sets out on paper that which she considers important enough to write about. Her paragraphs arrive randomly sprinkled with wit, wisdom and tragedy. She seldom repeats herself or attempts to impress the reader by churning out a shedload of boring facts – which we can all, in any event, find out for ourselves should we feel the need to.

Other people will not agree I know, but for me, I better enjoy reading articles when the writer tells me how they feel about issues and not how much they know about them. If they know everything about anything they shouldn’t need to talk about whatever to anyone.

Ilana not only owns the sort of retentive ability that bestows her with great confidence, she also demonstrates a fertile and often delightfully wicked imagination. I’ve found a diamond.

The Week’s Trump-Dominated Tweets (December 5 To 9)

Ilana Mercer, Islam, Jihad, Media, Politics, Terrorism, The State