‘I’m a woman, and I couldn’t stand the repression. I wanted to go swimming, do ballet, ride horses, tell jokes.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Former Aide Notes Bush’s Lack of Curiosity
Sep 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bush’s information-processing abilities are under discussion.… Read the rest
Once a Lie is Out There, It Stays
Sep 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Major media keep recirculating them; corrections are ignored.… Read the rest
At Al-Ahram: a Special Section on Mahfouz
Sep 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Egypt has lost a towering figure in the world of literature.… Read the rest
New Rules on Homeopathic Claims in Effect in UK
Sep 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Homoeopathic treatments will be able to list on labels what conditions they are supposed to treat. … Read the rest
Droning Bore on Little Atoms [download mp3]
Sep 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tedious windbag interviewed September 1.… Read the rest
That Book
Sep 1st, 2006 1:12 am | By Ophelia BensonAdvertisement
Dan at Muscular Liberals cites Why Truth.
Considering the response of some to what can only only be described as Hezbollah propaganda dressed up as reporting called to mind a passage in Ophelia Benson and Jeremy Stangroom’s “Why Truth Matters”, a great book I read whilst on my travels a couple of weeks ago.
Well – that’s pleasing, because I suppose that was the idea. That generally is the idea in books of the ‘let’s all try to think just a little bit carefully’ variety: the hope is that things will link up that way, so that the abundant examples of propaganda dressed up as reporting the world is blessed with will seem not like bizarre one-offs but … Read the rest
If you don’t like anything, just say
Sep 1st, 2006 1:09 am | By Ophelia BensonAnother museum caves.
A Bangladeshi-British photographer is complaining that her work has been censored by the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. A documentary work made in Bangladesh by Syra Miah and shown as part of the museum’s Art and Islam exhibitions was removed because it contained an image of a semi-naked woman.
Update: See these comments at Mediawatchwatch for more. A reader wrote to the museum, and the museum replied with a different take. It explains the decision, which sounds less loopy than the Guardian account did, and adds “The gallery discussed the matter with Syra Miah, and the photograph was
removed on 18 July with her full agreement. Our understanding following
these discussions was that Syra Miah said … Read the rest
Emdad Rahman on the Real Tablighi Jamaat
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s not political, not exclusive, not secretive, he says.… Read the rest
Photographer Not Pleased at Museum Censorship
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Museum said it acted on a complaint from a member of Muslim arts group Artists Circle. … Read the rest
Concerns Over Forced Confession Cloud Release
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
News tempered by reports of supposed confession made to national media upon release.… Read the rest
Iranian Dissidents Don’t Want US Help
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iranian anger at US government dates back to overthrow of Mossadegh.… Read the rest
Globe and Mail on the Accusations
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Part of the case against Jahanbegloo is his Woodrow Wilson fellowship, notes Mohamad Tavakoli.… Read the rest
Canadian Minister Welcomes Jahanbegloo Release
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Canada made repeated concerted efforts to obtain consular access to Jahanbegloo.… Read the rest
Ramin Jahanbegloo is Out of Prison
Aug 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Released on bail, perhaps to face trial on unknown charges.… Read the rest
Cultural Barriers
Aug 31st, 2006 2:09 am | By Ophelia BensonWhat about healthy invigorating sport?
But is everyone getting excited about sport? Not according to the organisation Sport England which encourages nationwide participation of sporting activities. Its figures show that Muslim women are significantly less likely to take up exercise compared to other groups.
Wait, you said sport first, then you made it exercise. Different thing. But never mind that’s not the part that caught my attention.
… Read the restIn addition, there are cultural barriers involved in the take up of sport as a professional career option for many Muslims, both male and female…Shahid Saleh, a young British Muslim who has five sisters, explains how he does not like the idea of them playing games. “I wouldn’t want them to play
S Africa’s Health Minister Asks ‘Whose science?’
Aug 30th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Polio in Nigeria, AIDS in South Africa, clean needles in the US, MMR in north London.… Read the rest
Study Finds no God Spot in Brain
Aug 30th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nuns’ brains light up here there and everywhere.… Read the rest
Sophie Botros Reviews Cosmopolitanism
Aug 30th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Appiah argues that moral and religious disagreement between cultures is overstated. … Read the rest