I recently had the pleasure of being asked to speak at one of our institutions of higher education on the subject of cultural assimilation of ethnic / immigrant groups. The organizer of this series of culturally relevant topics just happened to be searching for a qualified speaker in this area when my publisher’s intrepid Book Publicist, Kelly Hansen (credit where credit is due) just happened to give the lady a call. It’s one of those things that occurs purely coincidentally, of course, unless one believes in God or some other such rubbish.

Since my new book “Annexing Mexico: Solving the Border Problem Through Annexation and Assimilation” was slated for release within days of the scheduled appearance, the organizer was quite excited to have found someone who not only fit the bill, but who might draw a sizeable and truly interested audience. I considered wearing body armor but decided against it at the last minute for reasons I won’t get into here.

The city in which this college is located has a strong Mexican-American presence, and although my focus was the history and dynamics of cultural assimilation in America, given the present situation concerning our border with Mexico (i.e., the “Border Crisis"), I would have been remiss had I not given it some attention.

Some of the Latino leaders in the community were in attendance, and although I believe they fully expected me to launch into a diatribe advocating satellite-mounted microwave generators calculated to barbecue Manuel, his pregnant wife and small children as they waded across the Rio Grande, they were surprised to discover that my ideas weren’t “extreme” at all – at least to them. Although they politely expressed disagreement on certain points during the Q&A, they were polite, cordial and insightful. We had a very pleasant conversation afterward, and it was a valuable exchange of ideas all around.

Of course, these were as I said, Latino leaders of that community as opposed to fired-up professional socialist activists and their misguided, adrenalized acolytes. Hence the cordiality and productive exchange of ideas. The first point I’m making is that even those in stark disagreement can interact in a productive, creative manner.

The second point is one that came up just prior to my taking the podium that day. The organizer of the event pulled me aside and mentioned that she had been telephoned by a colleague on campus within days prior to the event: “Do you know what this Erik Rush guy is about?” the colleague asked with alarm.

“Well, yes,” the organizer had replied. “I’ve seen his website…”

“Do you know that he’s one of those far Right Christian conservatives?”

“Yes,” the organizer said. “But we hosted gay advocates last week, and we’re hosting an Islamic contingent next week. It seems to be in keeping with our spirit of true cultural diversity.”

Needless to say, this event didn’t take place at Columbia University or UCLA, where Minuteman Project members were assaulted and their appearance cancelled, respectively.

The second point is that – as some of us have come to understand so well – for those on the Left, “freedom of speech” means freedom of speech of which they approve. Tragically, many well-intentioned Americans, their critical-thinking subroutines long since corrupted by poor education and propaganda, have somnambulistically bought into this as well.

Old hat to many of us, but wholly unknown to far many more: The far Left power brokers and the mainstream media, who capitalized on the Republican Party’s abysmal handling of foreign policy and public relations from 2002 on indeed do have a vision of an America that is a cross between Holland and Communist China. As much and as often as they lied about the Bush administration, in the same manner they paint themselves as every bit as patriotic as the next guy, so it is inconceivable to your swing voter that a cabal of global socialists not only has the intention of implementing this dark, surreal vision, but is well within striking range of doing so.

They, like the apoplectic college employee and those who cancel Minuteman speeches, don’t feel that opposing views should be heard - period. If this person had their druthers (and perhaps a bit more time), my appearance might have been cancelled as well. After all, conservatives spout “hate speech” (in which progressives never engage); we take the podium and a litany of racial and homophobic epithets, theological tyranny and warmongering ensues.

At least that’s what many believe happens, because that’s what they’ve heard – over and over and over again. Our very thoughts have been branded as some sort of cultural sedition, and the Left just can’t have us speaking out if it can be prevented.

Whether well-intentioned and misguided folks or ranting ideologues, their philosophy still has the same name.

It’s called fascism.