Since Christopher Hitchens regularly pops up in discussion on this blog, I thought readers might be interested in this account of a recent “altercation” in Beirut. Short story: Hitchens acts to take down a swastika in a public square, gets attacked by some serious thugs, and stands up for what he believes (but has to retreat before getting killed). Scary stuff, really.

Philosophical question: is Hitchens right to say that, when you see a swastika, you are obligated to deface it or tear it down?