The horrible terror attack in Paris last week has shaken the world, but too soon we are seeing blame shift from the murderers to those who condemn them. Tolerance is not the answer to terrorism. It never can be.

But anyone who did not learn the lesson of September 11, 2001, and did not learn the lesson of the Fort Hood shooting, and did not learn the lesson of the Times Square bombing that was narrowly averted, and did not learn the lesson of Charlie Hebdo will also not learn the lesson of Paris.

Therefore, it is up to those of us who understand the brutal nature of our enemy, who do not allow sentiment to stand in the way of justice, and who want to preserve the freedom that we possess as a result of the sacrifice of millions who went before us — it is up to us to demand action, not mere rhetoric and heartfelt eulogies.

We must insist now that our president and our Congress act responsibly to protect us and our civilization against the barbarians who would destroy us. Radical Islam will never assimilate; it will never integrate; it will never tolerate the ideals of Western civilization. If we do not want to live in submission to its anti-woman, anti-liberty, anti-diversity agenda, then we cannot tolerate its murderous bullying.

France and Russia are the latest victims of Islamic fundamentalism, but they will not be the last. Unless we want to continue to bury innocent people, it is time to face the truth, and act on it.

An artist’s masterful gift

The philanthropic spirit of giving in Whitefish seems to know no boundaries. That gracious generosity has been illustrated once again, this time with a donation of four acres of beautiful wooded land off West Seventh Street to the city of Whitefish.

Whitefish artist James Bakke, who treasured open space and detailed local landscapes in his paintings, gifted the land to the city with the stipulation it be used as a natural park in perpetuity. Bakke died two years ago at age 82.

The scenic parcel is located in a southwest neighborhood of the city that still retains its rural character. Land in that area has been sought-after by developers, so it’s good to know Bakke’s acreage will continue as an oasis of natural solitude.