‘Prosperity’ is a branch of Pentecostalism. That would explain a few things.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Ian Buruma Book Reviewed
Sep 13th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Buruma suspects many who invoke Enlightenment are merely defending a conservative order.… Read the rest
Danish Newspaper Reprints Holocaust Cartoons
Sep 13th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Information published six of the cartoons, which are on display in Tehran. … Read the rest
Seyran Ates is Staying
Sep 12th, 2006 7:55 pm | By Ophelia BensonStewart translated an article about Seyran Ates’s change of mind for us, because there is no news in English yet. The article is in Neues Deutschland, by Peter Kirschey. I’ll paraphrase some and quote some, so as not to ride roughshod over copyright.
‘…the German-Turkish women’s rights activist Seyran Ates will continue to be active as a lawyer in Berlin. A week ago she said that she could no longer stand the ceaseless threats from violent ex-husbands of her clients. Therefore she was giving up her right to practice law.’ But parties, women’s organisations and fellow lawyers have expressed solidarity with her, and now they have to act. ‘First and foremost the Turkish associations and organisations must rise to … Read the rest
Sie gibt nicht auf
Sep 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Eine zivilisierte Gesellschaft ist ohne Menschen wie Seyran Ates arm.’ Yes it is.… Read the rest
Seyran Ates is Staying
Sep 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Paraphrase of German article pending news in English.… Read the rest
Review of Ian Buruma on Theo van Gogh Murder
Sep 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His treatment of Islamism is all the more damning for being less shrill.… Read the rest
Alan Wolfe on Michael Bérubé’s New Book
Sep 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Leading conservatives don’t send their children to Pepperdine if they can get into Harvard instead.… Read the rest
Morphic resonance
Sep 12th, 2006 2:17 am | By Ophelia BensonRupert Sheldrake again. What about those experiments he does? Pretty rigorous, are they? Well, here’s what he says in one paper:
The experimenter (either R.S. or P.S.) telephoned the randomly selected callers in advance, usually an hour or two beforehand, and asked them to call at the time selected. We asked callers to think about the participant for about a minute before calling…A few minutes after the tests, the experimenter rang the participant to ask what his or her guess had been, and in some cases also asked the callers. In no cases did callers and participants disagree.
Uh…that doesn’t count? Look – suppose you set up an experiment in which you phone me and tell me to fly … Read the rest
Adventure Playground
Sep 11th, 2006 10:22 pm | By Ophelia BensonHey, remember adventurism? That was a good word. Fred Halliday has a look at one kind.
… Read the restIt is striking, however, that – beyond such often visceral reactions – there are signs of a far more developed and politically articulated accommodation in many parts of the world between Islamism as a political force and many groups of the left. The latter show every indication of appearing to see some combination of al-Qaida, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizbollah, Hamas, and (not least) Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as exemplifying a new form of international anti-imperialism…Many in the sectarian leftist factions (and beyond) who marched against the impending Iraq war showed no qualms about their alignment with radical Muslim organisations, one that has since
Fred Halliday on the Left and the Jihad
Sep 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
History is being rewritten, the language of political argument adjusted to accommodate this new accommodation. … Read the rest
‘What Happened in Rwanda, it Will Happen Here’
Sep 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“If these soldiers leave,” Sheik Ali said, “we will all be slaughtered.” … Read the rest
It Seems Women Are Always in the Way
Sep 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They have to be pushed to the side so that their presence does not irritate, annoy or distract – men.… Read the rest
Women Protest Segregation in Grand Mosque
Sep 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The proposal was made by a panel of men.’ Surprise!… Read the rest
Goat Forced to Marry Man
Sep 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rape victim handed over to perp.… Read the rest
Rights Trump Culture and Religion
Sep 11th, 2006 | By Maryam NamazieCultural relativism is not only a prescription for inaction and passivity in the face of the oppression of millions of people struggling and resisting in the Middle East and here in the west but is in fact racist in and of itself
Cultural relativism and its more seemingly palatable multiculturalism have lowered standards and redefined values to such depths that not only are all cultures and beliefs deemed equally valid, they seem to have taken on personas of their own blurring the distinction between individuals and beliefs (whether theirs or imputed).
As a result, concepts such as rights, equality, respect and tolerance, which were initially raised vis-à-vis the individual, are now more and more applicable to culture and religion and … Read the rest
Terry Glavin on Michael Ignatieff
Sep 10th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He understands politics as tragedy, as a matter of always having to choose the lesser evil.… Read the rest
Ignatieff: Prodigal Son or Martian Outsider?
Sep 10th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘There’s a difference between weekend jaunts and the rootless existence of an incurable cosmopolitan.’… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Research into Forgiveness
Sep 10th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Vicars practice what they preach but churchgoers were as likely to want revenge as unbelievers.… Read the rest
Priest Makes Bomb Threat to Stop Madonna
Sep 10th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Compassion, mercy, charity in action.… Read the rest