print“…Before long, a rather unconventional man by the name of Joseph Farah called me. WND.com’s CEO was funny and frank. I had lived among the Nordic, morose Canadians for seven lean years. So this lively American, who cocked a snook at the media establishment, was a breath of fresh air. Mr. Farah told me that launching the odd blowhard with limited cerebral agility was lucrative, but that WND also intended to nurture real talent. ‘This is where you come in,’ he said, and forthwith made me a featured columnist for WND.com.”
“Consider this: I have been fired from a libertarian website for deviating from dictated dogma. Yet in all my years with WND.com, the Internet’s leading, largest independent website, I have never so much as been censored —not even when I liken Bush’s ‘Bring ’em on grin‘ to the grimace ‘on the face of a demented patient with end-stage syphilis.'”
WorldNetDaily.com columnists were asked if they’d write something in honor of the site’s 10th Anniversary. “WND and Me” is my tribute.
Update: A reader wrote the following, with respect to a particular line from the column:
“‘Mr. Farah told me that launching the odd blowhard with limited cerebral agility was lucrative…’ And who is that bitchy swipe supposed to refer to?”
My reply: It was not a bitchy swipe, but a rendering of a conversation that occurred. It’s the history of an exchange between myself and Mr. Farah. Naturally, I will not divulge more than that.
I too am a fan of Mr. Farah and WND. I must say you do seem to be a square peg amongst a bunch of round holes there. In fact I don’t know of any group where you would fit in completely. Well that’s OK. Differences of opinion make for good horse races and dice games.
Nordic and morose Canadians? You need to come down to the sunny South. We don’t often let logic get in the way of our passions but we’re a lot more fun to fight with. You would fit in here, as long as you remember that foot ball isn’t a game. It’s life itself. Remember, a Rebel is a Rebel regardless of the latitude.
WND is where I first happened upon your columns. I was struck by the power of your arguments, the lucidity of your writing, the depth of your learning, and, well, the stunningly beautiful photograph at the top of the page. (insert whistle here)
WND is a great site. I go there every day to see what’s new. I only wish that Buchanan had responded to you and Farah when you called him out on the aid-to-Hamas lunacy. Instead, he ignored you, which shows a little intelligence on his part, as he couldn’t have won the argument on its own merits.
Finally, I think I googled your name once and came upon an interview where you said that you do what you do because “it’s the only thing you’re good at”. Well, if you say so, but I doubt it. I suspect you could have been just about anything.
Keep on doing what you do.
Just a quick note to say I enjoy your WND columns. While occasionally your view may differ from my own, however, thanks to your sound logic, I often find by the time I finish your article, that my view has undergone a healthy readjustment. Your column may bring a big smile or at times generate moist eyes, but most of all, it makes me think.
I’m not an expert on libertarianism by any means, but I suspect that if you’ve been expelled, or “fired,” from a libertarian website, you might consider that a compliment. Perhaps your views, not adhering strictly to pre-ordained doctrinal lines, were just too individualistic for some who otherwise promote the merits of rugged individualism. Your commentary adds materially to the quality of WorldNetDaily.com
Ilana,
I have been reading WND Daily for years now, in fact, this is where I first discovered your writing. I even emailed you, years ago, and you were kind enough to write back (I used my real name back then).
I admired your spirit and independance–even though back then I supported the war but alas, many of us were duped! I think I was blinded by anger, patriotism, and a false sense of security in George Bush. That’s my fault, and I’ve learned so much in these last few years, thanks to you, WND, and many other wonderful, courageous writers out there.
It’s okay to grow old if it means you are getting smarter.
[Thanks for the support.]
Dear Ilana,
This is meant to be a compliment. To more intelligent persons your intellect may appeal more, but to a raw-man like myself your classical beauty is more appealing. I have seen your recent photographs that you have posted. And in addition that you are also extremely sound between your ears enhances the appreciation đŸ™‚ multiple times.
I must say that even when I am in disagreement (which is not very often), I am substantially convinced by your rational persuasive powers.
Like most really good authors, you not only speak and write for yourself, but you are also writing on behalf of us who wanted to say very much the same thing but would never have been able to articulate it as well. So reading your articles gives not merely the joy, but also a feeling that there is someone who is writing on behalf of us.
All the very best. And do post your reply to my request in the first para đŸ™‚
Good luck again, and Have a wonderful career.
WND is a better place because of Ilana. Joseph Farah has quite the eye for talent, I must say, in a somewhat self serving fashion.