The weakness of radical Islam

I sent the following letter to the Los Angeles Times (not published):

Islamic fundamentalists in Bangladesh continue to circulate a "hit list" of secular writers, five of whom have been murdered since 2015.

Their actions prove the weakness of radical Islam.

The fundamentalists themselves must not believe their version of Islam is very enticing, since they fear adherents would drop away with mere exposure to secular ideas.

If a belief system is so fragile that it cannot survive free speech, it deserves to wither away.

Autographs - Lillian Faderman

Stuart Timmons autographed this book many years ago, when it first came out, and more than a year before his stroke.

I finally caught up to his co-author, Lillian Faderman, at this year's LATimes Festival of Books.

(Index of autographs)

Autographs - Helen Macdonald

Helen Macdonald (click here for her blog) spoke at the Los Angeles Library's ALOUD series this week.

I love the red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks in my neighborhood, especially watching them circle in the sky. (You can see one photo here.) I have long said that if I have a next life, I want to come back as a hawk.

(Index of autographs)