Nigeria, Dec. 24 -- It has become a wallowing cringe. The extolling of multi-culti values, the incessant self-praise of diversity, variety and cosmopolitanism, only to then impose, in the name of such values, a restrictive regime of speech, language and conduct seemed suitable to - who else? - the jerky authorities. In diversity we must oppress; in variety we must police. The Bondi Beach killings by two alleged ISIS supporters during a Hanukkah event have seen Australian lawmakers succumb to the panic of immediate results and shoddy gains.

It matters not how poor the legislation is, how ill-thought its words are: something must be seen to be done. Historical and cultural context, inconveniences for expedient legislators and magistrates,...