In Chapter 10 , " Equality or Tolerance " , Hitchens examines how the Left have since the 1960s taken up the cause of equal rights for homosexuals . Hitchens claims supporters of Leo Abse 's 1967 law reform on homosexuality are now accused of intolerance if they do not support homosexual civil partnerships or discrimination on the grounds of homosexuality . Hitchens concludes by stating , " the atrophy of religion and patriotism in the Labour party , like the atrophy of the same things in the Tory Party , is the deep problem beneath all others " . Chapter 11 , " The Fall of the Meritocracy " , examines falling standards in British education . Hitchens cites the abolition of grammar schools as one of the main causes , which has also resulted in a decline in social mobility . Hitchens claims egalitarians deny these consequences and that comprehensive education has failed . Hitchens also quotes a 2000 study , which asserted that " the general lowering of standards and rigour since the end of selection is one of the main reasons behind the current drive to devalue examinations " . Hitchens asks why , " the educated , conscious servants of the state should seek to pretend that educational standards are rising when the opposite is true . The answer is that they have put equality before education " . Chapter 12 , " ' The age of the train ' " , outlines how the Conservative and Labour parties facilitated the dismantling of much of Britain 's rail network . Hitchens asserts this is evidence that the " Tory Party does not love Britain , any more than the Labour Party loves the poor " . The chapter also provides a conservative argument against mass car ownership , saying that " roads destroy and distort established ways of living " , while " the traditional English town , with its defined centre , ancient street pattern and comfortable shape , was not destroyed by the coming of the railway . It was enhanced " . In Chapter 13 , " A Comfortable Hotel on the Road to Damascus " , Hitchens explores how since the 2001 September 11 attacks and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq , certain commentators on the left realigned with an American neoconservative position , which , " delivers him the leftist commentator to another portion of the ' centre ground ' , one where foreign policy is the only thing worth discussing , and where former conservatives and former Leftists can mingle in happy communion " , and allows " political conservatism to soothe its tribal base by appearing strong overseas , while failing to be anything of the kind at home "
2001 September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
The Broken Compass