More lefthand dreck
Next round of sinister crap. (Who is this Michael White? Why have I never heard of him before? Why have none of you pointed him out to me before? He certainly seems obvious enough.)
So who is to blame for the latest blow to the fragile relations between Britain and two key Muslim states 19 years after The Satanic Verses earned its author that fatwa from Iran?
Isn’t that cute? Isn’t that just adorable? Someone is to blame for Rushdie’s gong; it is blow to the fragile relations between Britain and two key Muslim states; Rushdie’s novel earned its author that fatwa. That’s a lot of nasty stuff for one sentence.
He’s the political editor of the Guardian. Usually quite sensible, but I think in this case he is trying too hard to be the ‘hard-nosed realist’…
Re: Call to be informed of those to be put on the list. According to the story below on the BBC, Conservative MP (and, apparently, literaty critic) Stewart Jackson wants to take it back, saying “There’s no question that we can rescind the award, it would make us look weak and it’s not for Britain to kow-tow to extremists but perhaps it would be appropriate for Salman Rushdie to make the decision not to accept this award.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6222414.stm
Also, it it weird that so many people who defend the award seem compelled to say that he’s a completely useless writer? If that’s their opinion fine, but while he’s not Shakespeare and while not all of his work is great, neither is it all terrible and he a hack.
“Quite why the new Sir Salman was “thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour” when he is a declared left-winger – a New York-based, Bombay-born “nomad” as John Sutherland puts it – will not puzzle students of the honours system for long. It has a habit of winning over the most unlikely people”.
No, Salman Rushdie’s Knighthood might not be an enigma to the students for too long.
Moreover, neither will Michael White’s condescending stance towards the author. He is manifestly so removing himself from his own-penned words. Alternatively, as Dave says; “trying very hard to be hard-nosed.” It is emblematic of the media, it blows hot/cold, to suit the schema.
When Irish writers /artists produce fine books/art in Britain, they routinely class them – as British. Nevertheless, when things go sour, they are swiftly classed as Irish.
Note the New York based/Bombay born thing going s-on!
Info on Penn.
PEN is the world’s only international fellowship of writers, working together to promote literature and defend the freedom to write. From campaigning on behalf of persecuted writers to promoting literature in translation and running writing workshops in schools, English PEN seeks to dismantle the barriers to creative expression. Our sponsors, donors and members, who benefit from a wide range of events and publications, make pen’s work possible
Thanks for information and list-addition.
It is weird. Maybe they’re asking (covertly or implicitly) why he gets the award when others who are arguably as good or better don’t.
Wanting to take it back. So that Islamists in Pakistan and Iran will have a PR win – well that’s a brilliant idea. Sets a good precedent, too.
“Groups such as PEN or individuals can nominate candidates – hospital cleaners as well as Booker Prize winners – either directly to Whitehall’s ceremonial secretariat or via a department”.
Am I grasping the nettle. Or am I just for no reason feeling PARANOID with White’s usage of; “hospital window cleaners”. It reeks of pure snobbery. What is wrong with hospital workers writing books?…Well, I suppose he has to find the lowest common denominator, to fit the bill. So why not in his eyes USE a hospital window cleaner. Perhaps to him a “hospital” window cleaner is lower than a window cleaner.
Please ignore if this does not make sense.
Not “window” – just cleaner. Sorry, I was distracted by someone talking.
Good call, M-T, yes, that was quite an unconciously slimy phrasing,wasn’t it?
One of the low on whom a knighthood sits
As a silk hat on a Bradford millionaire.
Thanks for the link to that BBC article, Chris. They outdid themselves with that one.
Chris: “while he’s not Shakespeare and while not all of his work is great, neither is it all terrible and he a hack.”
Well said. It does seem as if everyone brings this up. Presumably it their fall back position – at the very least he deserves to be murdered because he is a bad writer. Feeble, cowardly stuff.
As it happens he has found his form again. ‘Fury’ was engaging if slightly confused – a published expression of the author’s own mid life crisis, perhaps. ‘Shalimar the Clown’ however is a fine novel, the best I have read for a while. It has the added bonus of having something worthwhile to say on the dreadful religious posturing over Kashmir.
I dont care for Rushdies writing but he gave the world its first glimpse of the true face of islam(probably by acident) and for that he earned the K!
G.T.:
How about Douglas Adam’s “Go Stick Your Head in a Pig”?
Oh, hang on – that might be offensive…
:-)
Human Rights Watch’s alert on these two key muslim states a couple of days ago makes the stomach turn. Iran leads the world in juvenile executions and Pakistan, Sudan and the monstrously amoral China are the only 4 nations to share such an honour since 2004:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/2e9eb674fd1c3321e4df3fb85e4e2e1d.htm
Only two key Muslims states? Boy I bet the other Muslim states get upset at that, everyone wants to be ‘key’. Don’t they?
mirax, you onmly need to check out Guardian Comment is Free to realise that that’s all Israel’s fault..