And the militant atheist hate campaign against him.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Ashtiani forced to do another tv “interview” 
Sep 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The judiciary system, the state television, and the diplomatic system have been mobilized against an imprisoned woman.… Read the rest
Ashtiani’s son refused visit again
Sep 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At Tabriz prison he was told: “Sakineh is still not permitted to visit with you. Stop bothering us and don’t come back.”… Read the rest
Andrew Brown speaks up for the pope
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“The invective thrown at the pope and his church over the last week must come partly from people who would like to drive religious faith out of public life.”… Read the rest
Protest the pope on Saturday
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hyde Park Corner, 1:30 p.m. Be there.… Read the rest
Seattle “Draw Mo” cartoonist goes into hiding
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No more cartooning for Molly Norris!… Read the rest
Brendan O’Neill defends pope from savage atheists
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Those horrible new atheists think any kind of sexual abuse of a child by a priest is a bad thing. Can you believe it?!… Read the rest
NPR calls pope-protesters “militant” atheists
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Athiests call NPR militant pope-huggers.… Read the rest
Has Karen Armstrong read Feuerbach?
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The real irony is that Feuerbach’s argument is above all applicable to the elusive, ungraspable ‘God’ for which Karen Armstrong makes her case.… Read the rest
Transcript of the pope’s disgusting speech
Sep 16th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“We can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society…”… Read the rest
“Temporary marriage” in Iran
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The man pays the woman to “marry” him for an hour or more; no adultery, no stoning, no problems.… Read the rest
Ratzinger compares atheists to Nazis
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the 20th century, let us never forget” to libel atheists every chance we get.… Read the rest
Pope in UK, continues attack on secularism
Sep 16th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Urges UK to “maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate.”… Read the rest
Sweden: center-right government likely to win
Sep 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Support for the government sharply picked up along with the economy’s performance, sending Reinfeldt’s alliance past Mona Sahlin’s opposition bloc.… Read the rest
US to sell $60 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia
Sep 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Yes, Saudi Arabia.… Read the rest
Third Iranian diplomat resigns and seeks asylum
Sep 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Farzad Farhangian joins Hossein Alizadeh and Mohammed Reza Heydari in Green Wave protest over 2009 election.… Read the rest
Which invisible beings does our Leader believe in?
Sep 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Obviously we cannot know what the supreme leader truly believes deep in his primary blood-pumping organ.… Read the rest
Open letter to Facebook on Namazie and Ahadi
Sep 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Their campaign to save Ashtiani is vital, so their accounts must be restored as a matter of urgency. [Namazie’s now has been, but Ahadi’s has not.]… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on the pope and Aids
Sep 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sabotaging an effective intervention which prevents a disease that kills 2 million people a year makes you a serious global public health problem.… Read the rest
LRB on the Institute of Ideas gang
Sep 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Trotskyist splinter turned libertarian splinter.… Read the rest
