Another excerpt
Islam when examined is not much more than a rather obvious and ill-arranged set of plagiarisms, helping itself from earlier books and traditions as occasion appeared to require. Thus…Islam in its origins is just as shady and approximate as those from which it took its borrowings. It makes immense claims for itself, invokes prostrate submission or “surrender” as a maxim to its adherents, and demands deference and respect from nonbelievers into the bargain. There is nothing – absolutely nothing – in its teachings that can even begin to justify such arrogance and presumption.
In fact it’s a little hard to think of any teachings that would justify such arrogance and presumption.
Hitchens as ever nails it!although I would add that the huge differance between islam and christianity is that you maybe born in to a christian family but you have to confirm the faith when you grow up( or not)islam has no such get out clause apart from death!
I’ve only been reading here for a few months, and posting here for a few days, but I have to wonder. Where are the women? I’ve encouraged my wife to join in, but to no avail. I think I’ve sussed out a few women, but it appears that they don’t want their gender to be obvious. What’s going on? Of course we men are taller and stronger, but we are unable to physically overcome you on the internet. Why the hesitancy?
Pyotr
The women are out working, bringing up children, organising demonstrations, drumming up votes, etc. The men sit at home with their feet up checking out their favourite blogs.
Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?
I guess as the dominant gender we are free to stereotype ourselves to appear as lazy lords. I must confess that in my case it’s largely true, but surely not in most. I mean, some men have children. Aren’t they kept busy?
Yes.
I’ve often wondered, where are the women – not just here, of course, but on websites and blogs of this type in general. It’s annoying that we’re so scarce, since this is one place where it’s pretty hard to claim institutional discrimination. Why am I such an anomaly? I don’t know.
My wife claims that she doesn’t have the time, but then she’ll spend hours gardening or making a pillow we don’t need. I know that sounds like a stereotype, but in her case it happens to be true. In many other ways, she definitely does not fit the feminine stereotype. Little or no makeup, naturally graying long hair, competes with men in sports, etc.
Well of course your wife could simply not have the interest or inclination; she could prefer to spend her time in other ways. I’m certainly not claiming that all women ought to have the interest and inclination. But I do wonder why the proportion is so skewed; I wonder and I wish it weren’t, in the same way I wish it weren’t so skewed in, say, philosophy and much of science and certain kinds of journalism and so on.
I suppose that’s one reason that, having started, I feel obliged to go on being so mouthy: there are so few women doing this particular kind of thing, I feel obliged to go on being one of them.
I’m glad you feel that way, OB. Please do go on.
It’s pretty obvious that most men could learn a lot from women. If they would participate in fora such as these, and really speak their minds as women, we men could get an education.
P men will learn from women? and I suppose they will become sensitive,caring,thoughtfull and stop forgetting birthdays aniverseries ect!
How long before the MCB and/or other balckmailing (sorry, muslim) organisations notice what Hitchens’ has said, and declare a fatwah?
Or is that tactic tired now?
Will the nutters simply kill him?
“I suppose that’s one reason that, having started, I feel obliged to go on being so mouthy: there are so few women doing this particular kind of thing, I feel obliged to go on being one of them.”
More power to you sister! I’m sorry about the lack of women on these kinds of sites – though I would guess they would not be lacking on the gossipy sites like livejournal.com. But ’twas ever thus in my experience – far fewer women enjoy debate and argument.
In fact there is something to be said for single sex education in that if there are only girls they will be ready to argue and dispute without being quelled by appearing too aggressive to the boys. I went to a single sex high school and we were a very opinionated bunch. I think if we had been co-ed some of us might have been more self-conscious.
Down with the Sisters of Mercy.
Up with the butterfly and wheel Sisters.
Let the light of sisterhood truth,
wisdom and humour shine powerfully on the wheel in its daily spinning motion.
Let too the delicacy of the clinging butterfly be taken into account. Even if it becomes frayed at the edges, as it too is also a part of the sisterhood.
Feel very obliged indeed, OB, and more power to you!
“I went to a single sex high school and we were a very opinionated bunch. I think if we had been co-ed some of us might have been more self-conscious.”
Oh, KB…so did I.
Isn’t that terrible if it’s right? And I think it is – it’s a thought I’ve had often, often, and it does ring true (for what that’s worth). All those millions of women fighting an extra handicap against being argumentative.
Richard: “men will learn from women?”
Is that supposed to be some kind of joke? That’s a sincere question; I never can tell with you.
I’ve learned a lot from women, particularly my wife. Top of the list: Listen to my own tone of voice. ;)
“I’ve learned a lot from women, particularly my wife.”
Well yes, we all learn something from those close to us, if only that we have some disagreeable habits. And I’ve found I’ve had more brutal truths from male friends than female ones, who tend to want to soothe. But these are generalisations with a lot of exceptions and chiefly about personal things.
I don’t know if there is a particularly female way of discussing the things that are discussed here or particular female insights tho’ I think the female bloggers will often bring a feminist slant to some of the topics.
(BTW I may be making crass assumptions about the sex of some of the contributors – Mr G Tingey you are Mr G aren’t you?)
Yes G Tingey is Mr.