Drinking From Home calls our attention to the BBC’s questionable judgment in choosing which reader comment to highlight on a story about the B16 kerfuffle.

I had read that story, and noted the breakout quote from reader John Lin of Illinois, a day or two previously. Not delving deeply into the comments, I had simply presumed that Lin was representative of the usual suspects who can be expected to hang around the BBC website. Drinking From Home convinced me otherwise.

Which is a shame. More people should take to heart Lin’s brave and insightful words. Here is the sentence the BBC chose to highlight:

Pope Benedict probably should self-criticise Christianity’s violent past before commenting on the other faith

As this controversy has swirled, I have been waiting, waiting for someone to finally point this out. A house-cleaning at home is surely in order before we dare question the Other; the West has avoided criticism of its own past for far too long.

I mean, just try to find a university professor anywhere in Europe or America who is willing to say anything bad about the past of Christendom. They’re rare as hen’s teeth…though not as rare as apologies from the Holy See. Pope Benedict’s predecessor was, after all, famous for his refusal to examine the past of the Church and offer any sort of apology to anyone. Mr. Lin is quite right to call our attention to this failing.

It will be a difficult struggle, but perhaps one day Western civilization will stop blaming all its problems on others. Perhaps one day Westerners will show a willingness to open themselves to unflinchingly honest self-criticism—that same willingness that has allowed Islamic civilization to surpass all others in science, politics, popular culture, and so many other fields of human endeavor.