Civil Rights Act bad, Black Codes and Japanese internment good. And this is a best seller.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
“Chief” Objections: Racism, Rhetoric and Native American Mascots on College Campuses
Jan 26th, 2005 | By Phil MoleThe recent success of the University of Illinois at Urbana’s basketball team has distracted attention from a longstanding and contentious issue: the status of school sports mascot Chief Illiniwek. The Chief is one of the last remaining college team mascots modeled after Native Americans – the kind usually portrayed by white students wearing face paint and “traditional” native costumes. The school’s Board of Trustees has debated the fate of the Chief for more than a decade, but a resolution seems no closer. Despite recent statements about the need to retire the Chief, the university continues to delay progress toward this goal. It may be a good time to review this controversy, since doing so may reveal much about the nature … Read the rest
Taking Words Seriously
Jan 25th, 2005 10:59 pm | By Ophelia BensonJonathan Derbyshire has an interesting post that’s relevant to that last post, and to many of the posts lately.
… Read the rest“Is religious identity special?” This is a question Amy Gutman poses in her excellent new-ish book, Identity in Democracy. And of course it’s a question many people have been asking themselves recently…As far as specifically religious identity groups are concerned, Gutman’s view is that they should not be treated with special consideration. However, and this is very important, she takes seriously, as some liberals do not, the reasons why it is argued that religion should be given such consideration. The best argument for according religion special consideration in democracies, in Gutman’s view and mine, is that the “ultimate ethical commitments of
Tradition
Jan 25th, 2005 7:34 pm | By Ophelia BensonWell, this makes things admirably clear. There’s a useful absence of fuzz and wool and disguise about this crowd.
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi is a controversial Islamic scholar who approves of wife-beating and believes in traditional family values. The Mormon church, having abandoned polygamy more than a century ago, believes in traditional families too. With that much in common, they have joined forces to “defend the family” and fight progressive social policies at the United Nations. Other members of the holy alliance include Cardinal Alfonso Trujillo, who campaigns against condoms on behalf of the Catholic church, and Mahathir Mohamad, the dictatorial former prime minister of Malaysia who sacked and jailed his deputy for alleged homosexuality.
‘Traditional’ families – meaning…? Don’t … Read the rest
Anti-theism the Key to Understanding Hitchens 
Jan 25th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His ‘defection’ from the left is rooted in his hatred of religious fascism.… Read the rest
Talibanization of Bangladesh?
Jan 25th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Possible to observe the increased political and religious repression in everyday life.… Read the rest
Humanists Worry About Religious Hatred Law
Jan 25th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Law still protects religion but not belief; blasphemy law remains.… Read the rest
‘Rolling Stone’ Rejects Proselytizing Ad for Bible
Jan 25th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Not in the business of publishing advertising for religious messages, manager says.… Read the rest
Conservative Christians and Muslims Unite
Jan 25th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To ‘defend the family’ by fighting progressive social policies.… Read the rest
Lost Classical Library Buried Under Ercolano?
Jan 25th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Aristotle…? Start digging!… Read the rest
Zarqawi Declares War on Iraqi Election
Jan 24th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We have declared a bitter war against the principle of democracy and all those who seek to enact it.’… Read the rest
Carl Zimmer on Stem Cells and Neanderthals
Jan 24th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How do fans of Intellgent Design or Young Earth creationism make sense of these scientific results? … Read the rest
On Rousseau and the Singular Self
Jan 24th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The solitary walker, Benjamin, the afterlife.… Read the rest
String Theory
Jan 24th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is everything in the universe made of tiny vibrating strands of energy?… Read the rest
Peer Review – Necessary but not Sufficient
Jan 24th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Peer review takes time, and meanwhile, strange things can happen.… Read the rest
Beloved Cartoon Character Comes Out of Retirement
Jan 24th, 2005 | By Barney F. McClellandBithlo, Florida — With controversy swirling around several prominent cartoon characters, the most recent incident involving the wildly popular SpongeBob Squarepants and his sidekick Patrick coming under fire from conservative Christian groups led by Dr. James Dobson the founder of Focus on the Family, claiming that they are working to promote homosexuality, an old hand at children’s entertainment has announced that he is coming out of retirement.
From his trailer in this seedy Orlando suburb, Mighty Mouse says he is ready to make a comeback.
“The whole scene just makes me sick,” said the now portly Mouse who just celebrated his 63rd birthday, “I mean, just look at that Tinky [Teletubbie] and tell me he ain’t a little light in … Read the rest
Auschwitz Memorial Not Inclusive Enough?
Jan 23rd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iqbal Sacranie says Muslim Council of Britain will not attend event unless it includes Palestinian intifada. … Read the rest
Kenan Malik on the Islamophobia Myth
Jan 23rd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The idea confuses hatred of Muslims with criticism of Islam.… Read the rest
Letter to David Horowitz
Jan 23rd, 2005 | By Graham LarkinJanuary 20, 2005
Dear Mr. Horowitz,
Thank you for joining me and AAUP Associate Secretary, Marcus Harvey, in last Saturday’s exchange on 1360 AM KLSD (Air America Radio, San Diego). I’m glad that you feel you fared so well in that exchange. In the interests of furthering the conversation, I would be delighted to have another live discussion with you, or with any of the so-called Students for Academic Freedom. Perhaps, in the interests of balance, any future debate can be held in a conservative venue.
To the extent that it continues the dialogue, I also welcome your blog response to our debate, and to my article ” What’s Not to Like About the Academic Bill of Rights.” … Read the rest
Christians Worried about SpongeBob
Jan 22nd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Critics need medication, one observer suggests.… Read the rest
