Controversial British writer Melanie Phillips said multiculturalism and the appeasement of Islam will spell the destruction of Western civilization last night.
The solution, she said, is to defend "our culture" by cracking down on what is taught by Muslim extremists in Western nations.
"To hell with freedom of speech," she said. "It's much more important to preserve a civilization."
Phillips is a columnist for the conservative British newspaper the Daily Mail and the author of multiple books. She discussed her latest book, entitled Londonistan, in front of a crowd of over 100 at Hillel.
The book is primarily concerned with what Phillips calls a culture of appeasement toward Islam in Britain and the inadequacy of the British response to terrorism. Phillips said she views London as a hotbed of jihadist activity.
"I only feel safe, now, when I get on an airplane in America or Israel," Phillips said.
Terrorism, according to Phillips, is only one aspect of a "global jihad" that traces back to the Iranian revolution.
"I think this is a world war," Phillips said. Radical Islam has "one distinct aim: to overthrow Western culture . and re-establish the medieval Islamic Empire."
Islam, she said, is different from other faiths in that there is no separation of religion and state. In Islam, there is a natural tendency toward theocracy - suppressed for a time by colonialism, she said.
The other part of the problem, she said, is an influx of Muslim immigrants into Europe, and Britain specifically.
"The Muslim immigration is particularly troubling," she said. "Muslim immigrants don't assimilate."
Later, Phillips also cited a breakdown in immigration controls.
There is "no way of throwing out people who are undesirable," Phillips said.
Phillips strongly condemned multiculturalism as leading to poor policy, saying it makes members of minority groups "inculpable" for any wrongs they may commit.
She warned that multiculturalism is gaining ground in America, as well.
Alexandra Levy, a College sophomore and a spokeswoman for the Penn Israel Coalition, agreed with Phillips that Islam has become too political.
"I thought [the speech] was very relevant," she said. "She brought up a lot of good points that don't get a lot of press."
