I don’t know why this hits such a nerve with me, but Andrew Sullivan’s obsession with the Theo Van Gogh murder (or rather his obsession with the left’s response to the murder) drives me up the wall. His latest post in the series prompted me to write this letter to him :

Y’know, I haven’t heard Spielberg or Scorsese talk about the murder of Margaret Hassan either. Does that mean they sympathize with terrorists? For someone so fond of citing the principle of Occam’s Razor, you seem to be going out of your way to tarnish those who aren’t as vocal in their denouncements of this obviously heinous crime. The simplest explanation here, that everyone is outraged by the senseless murder of a filmmaker and that they don’t really have much to say about it other than that, is the one you are completely unwilling to accept.

Yes, I’m aware of those assholes you quoted who implied that Van Gogh had it coming, but they don’t speak for the left any more than queer-bashing fundamentalists speak for the right. You’ve turned your outrage over one column into an attack on everyone who isn’t as vocal about this crime as you are. That is, an attack on everyone on the left who doesn’t share your obsession over the Van Gogh murder.

By the way, could you at least be a little consistent about it?? First, you spent a week bashing “liberal columnist[s]” who didn’t write about the crime. Once Salon did a feature story about Theo Van Gogh, you changed your tune. Now, without any warning, your crusade is against the Hollywood elite (the same folks you’re quick to write-off as out out-of-touch airheads every time they say something you don’t agree with). I haven’t heard a peep about this story from NASCAR drivers or any of the chefs on the FOOD Network, perhaps you can target them next??

So please, please, please spare us any more of your self-righteous blather about the murder of Theo Van Gogh. We get it. You’re a better person than anyone on the left because you won’t stop talking about this tragedy.

If this was a conservative blog like Instapundit, this is where I’d throw in a snarky attack like “Let’s see if he’s man enough to print this letter” that not only implies that my target is too weak to print dissenting opinions, but that my letter was so badass that it’s impervious to criticism. I’m not that full of unearned bravado or contempt for my (for lack of a better word) opponent. I doubt this letter will get a response (I’m sure he gets a ton of email), but if it does, I’ll let you know.

UPDATE : Shit. As someone in comments helpfully pointed out, I mixed up the names of the murdered Iraqi aid worker and that lady from the Capitol Gang. Needless to say, I’ve updated the original post and will follow the lead of my favorite cult leader by making myself “available for stoning or crucifixion” at some point in the very distant future.