“I was told by my God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to attack my enemies, and I did so.”… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Why atheists are fed up 
Jul 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s because of all the bashing.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on the BBC on Amnesty International
Jul 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It could not spare the time to interview Gita Sahgal or ask how an organisation that was once the pride of the liberal world has ended up preferring Islamists to feminists.… Read the rest
Peru has tallest Jesus!
Jul 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s taller than the one in Poland so ha! The one in Swiebodzin is 36 metres and the one in Lima is 37 so yaboosucks!… Read the rest
Islamists winning in Egypt
Jul 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One Salafist explained how she slowly converted to wearing a niqab. “It just takes time,” she said reassuringly. “You get used to it.”… Read the rest
Terry Eagleton recycles his own dud jokes
Jul 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And generates new stupidities.… Read the rest
Italy: small firm downsizes by firing women only
Jul 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“We are firing the women so they can stay at home and look after the children. In any case, what they bring in is a second income.”… Read the rest
Barmaid demonstrates how the backlash works
Jun 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Jesus and Mo play their parts obligingly.… Read the rest
Saudi Arabia: Indonesian maid beheaded
Jun 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Indonesia is stopping all maids from going to work in Saudi Arabia after the beheading of a maid last week for murdering her allegedly abusive employer. … Read the rest
South Africa and ‘corrective rape’
Jun 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“They were walking behind us. They just started swearing at me screaming: ‘Hey you lesbian, you tomboy, we’ll show you.”… Read the rest
Secular law under threat in Rhode Island
Jun 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The proposed “religious exemption” in RI would go well beyond New York’s.… Read the rest
Hitchens on Bachmann
Jun 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is nothing about a bucolic upbringing that breeds the skills necessary to govern a complex society in an age of globalization and violent unease.… Read the rest
The ‘Gandhi of Palestine’ awaits deportation
Jun 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Salah’s British supporters blatantly lied about the revolting views which led to this action, though they have been documented in many places.… Read the rest
On Greg Mortenson and Nicholas Kristof
Jun 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Both seem to view themselves as secular saints. They extol their own gallantry and compassion as much as, if not more than, the causes they trumpet.… Read the rest
No separation of church and state for Kansas
Jun 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Brownback has thrown his support behind a “faith-based” program intended to make sure parolees don’t go back to prison.… Read the rest
Another sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan
Jun 29th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Twenty-nine-year old Abdul Sattar was sentenced to death on 21 June.… Read the rest
Artist says SHE is offended by blasphemy fuss
Jun 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lopez said that she’s offended by people taking offence to the piece, and quite right too.… Read the rest
Mosque breaks promise on homophobic speakers
Jun 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It took the East London mosque just eight days to break its latest promise.… Read the rest
NY bishops pitch a fit about same-sex marriage
Jun 28th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bishops issue a statement saying “we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed.” Srsly.… Read the rest
Ayaan Hirsi Ali answers questions
Jun 27th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Very damn well.… Read the rest
