Themes revolving around the persistent conflict with Islam crop up in the oddest places, it seems. They intrude on William Shakespeare’s plays and Walter Scott’s novels. They make prominent appearances in the great poetic works of Dante, Milton, Chaucer. They form the backdrop for the stories of Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart, Wallace and Bruce, Don Quixote, St. Francis, St. Louis, El Cid, Marco Polo, Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Magellan, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They even make appearances in Pilgrim’s Progress, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Huckleberry Finn, Moby Dick, The Talisman, Greenmantle, and Ivanhoe. George Grant at Grantian Floregium

What does Islam have to do with King Arthur or with Pilgrim’s Progress? I’m sure I just don’t remember.

Much of the British public is snorting with derision every time a senior public figure repeats the mantra “it’s nothing to do with Islam.” Apparently, Islam has nothing at all to do with the global terror camaign. It’s just a coincidence. If one points out the fact that millions of Muslims believe things about Jews, women, and the rest of us infidel humans that would make any self-respecting English liberal blush, then there must be something wrong with you. George Miller at London Calling

Barbara from Mommy Life is posting this week from the Christian Retailers’ Convention in Denver.

Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost writes about Lessons of a Recovering Statistics-Addicted Influence Seeker . He has the right perspective on this whole blogging thing.

Waterfall on the birthday of poet John Clare. Waterfall is going to be teaching English literature and writing this next year, and I’m looking forward to reading about her adventures in teaching.

The guys at In the Agora celebrated Bastille Day by engaging in a favorite American pastime that dates back to the time of Ben Franklin—French-bashing. Sixty Million Frenchmen Must Be Wrong?