Magic of parochial reasoning makes Islamism a protest movement like Make Poverty History. … Read the rest
All entries by this author
Literary Webs
Jul 10th, 2005 2:29 am | By Ophelia BensonNow for another attempt to return to normal programming – at least for a moment.
I’ve been following several literary discussions lately. There is Daniel Green’s comment on that Judith Halberstam article – the one that Michael Bérubé commented on last month and I commented on the month before, at such length that I had to do it twice. That one – Daniel’s – ended with some comments that I’ve been musing about (on and off) ever since. About the distinction (and whether there is one) between literary and non-literary experience. Michael said one thing, Daniel said another, I said a third, Michael answered – and I’ve been trying to figure out what I think ever since. I’ve … Read the rest
Purity and Corruption
Jul 9th, 2005 7:29 pm | By Ophelia BensonA few more salient comments. From the Iranian commentator Amir Taheri:
But sorry, old chaps, you are dealing with an enemy that does not want anything specific, and cannot be talked back into reason through anger management or round-table discussions. Or, rather, this enemy does want something specific: to take full control of your lives, dictate every single move you make round the clock and, if you dare resist, he will feel it his divine duty to kill you.
Specific enough.
… Read the restWith the advent of Islam all previous religions were “abrogated” (mansukh), and their followers regarded as “infidel” (kuffar). The aim of all good Muslims, therefore, is to convert humanity to Islam, which regulates Man’s spiritual, economic, political and
Unappeasable Grievances
Jul 9th, 2005 5:46 pm | By Ophelia BensonHarry thinks Galloway may have done for himself now.The thought had occurred to me. I saw both his grandstanding (get me, I’m defiant, I’m brave, I’m passionate, I’m taking the unpopular view) in Parliament and his ridiculous performance on Newsnight – thanks to good old C-Span which (amid the desert of dreck that is US cable tv) has shown Newsnight in its entirety the last couple of days, and the news conference with Ken Livingstone and Ian Blair yesterday. What can I say? He comes across as an obstinate buffoon. (Of course, I already thought he was that, a predisposition which must shape how I view him now.)
Hitchens is a relief from obstinate buffoonery. (Drink-soaked ex-Trotskyist popinjayism goes head-to-head … Read the rest
Johann Hari: a Civil War Within Islam
Jul 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Between democratic Muslims and fundamentalists who want to enslave or kill them. … Read the rest
Amir Taheri: This Enemy Does Want Something
Jul 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To take full control of your lives, dictate every move you make, and if you resist, kill you.… Read the rest
Trotting Out the Same Tired – What?
Jul 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘the bloody trail of blame leads straight to 10 Downing Street.’… Read the rest
Hitchens on Unappeasable Grievances
Jul 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Unveiled women, the heresy of democracy, homosexuals, music, art, Jews, Hinduism…… Read the rest
Guardian Readers Unadmiring of Ali’s Analysis
Jul 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A classic confusion of cause and consequence.… Read the rest
Galloway Says He Was Right to Blame Blair
Jul 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Heckled in Commons, rapturously welcomed at SWP conference.… Read the rest
Political Islam in the heart of secular Europe
Jul 9th, 2005 | By Maryam NamazieThe following speech was given at the International Humanist and Ethical Union Congress on July 6, 2005 in Paris, France, at a parallel session entitled ‘Women’s rights in religious and secular societies’.
- Sixteen year old Atefeh Rajabi was publicly hanged in the city centre in Neka in Iran on 15 August 2004 for “acts incompatible with chastity”.
- In April this year, Amina was publicly stoned to death in Argu district, Afghanistan after being accused of adultery by her husband.
- This month, physicians have been beaten for treating female patients and women have been brutally attacked for not being veiled in Basra, Iraq.
The list is endless.
These examples are only some of the most visible and heinous aspects of the … Read the rest
Tariq Ali Clears Things Up
Jul 8th, 2005 7:57 pm | By Ophelia BensonI was planning, in the spirit of ‘sod you,’ to return to regular programming. I was planning to say more on that Noam Chomsky article, as I had intended to do yesterday until I turned the radio on; then once I started reading, I was planning to say something about that interview with Judith Butler. But now instead I’m going to say something about Tariq Ali, because there he is again, and I find I can’t just ignore him. It’s not my nature. (I wonder if, if I started taking Prozac, or some other brain-chemistry-tweaking drug, I would find myself able to ignore things like articles by Tari Ali. No doubt I would. What a horrible prospect.)
First let’s … Read the rest
Wisdom from Tariq Ali
Jul 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Londoners have ‘paid the price for the re-election of Blair.’… Read the rest
Jargon Not a Monopoly of Theorists
Jul 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Jargon, wordiness and evasiveness in business-speak: the Obscurity Trap.… Read the rest
Judith Butler One of Most Important People in World
Jul 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Academic superstar.… Read the rest
Theologians Interested in Foucault
Jul 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Especially in US, which is more ‘open’ to religion.… Read the rest
Chilean Court Strips Pinochet of Immunity
Jul 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Accused of involvement in abduction and killing of political prisoners.… Read the rest
At Least Fifty Confirmed Dead in Bombings
Jul 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
About 4.5 kilograms of explosive for each blast.… Read the rest
The City
Jul 7th, 2005 7:25 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’m still quivering like a struck gong. As I was on September 11. I take it personally, I suppose. (Which sounds narcissistic and infantile, but bear with me for a minute.) I love London, and I love New York – both of them. In a very basic, in the bone way, that goes back to childhood and adolescence. Both cities stand to me for freedom – for escape, adventure, independence, self-fashioning, possibilities. (What comes into my head – this is very absurd and hokey, but I’m going to be absurd and hokey today – is that moment in the [absurd and hokey] movie ‘The Electric Horseman’ when Redford is just about to set free his stallion in a hidden valley … Read the rest
Wisdom
Jul 7th, 2005 3:24 pm | By Ophelia BensonFunny. Just last night I turned on the radio for a few minutes and heard Tariq Ali telling Seattle about Iraq, oil, one thing and another. Then he went a bit sarcastic about al-Qaeda – saying it’s a tiny organization, it’s a few thousand people at most, what can it do? Well that’s a fucking stupid question, I thought; it can do a lot; thanks to advanced technology and communications it can do a lot. Then he went on to say (near exact quote) ‘These things don’t happen every day.’ ‘Well it only takes one, Bub!’ I shouted furiously. And that was last night. Two hours before the first bomb went off.
No, these things don’t happen every day. That’s … Read the rest