It’s Islamism that’s demonizing Islam more than anything else.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Bunglawala demands friendlier reporting on Islam
Feb 8th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAppearing before the Leveson Inquiry on January 24, he said the amount of negative stories about Muslims in Britain is “demonizing” Islam and fuelling a “false narrative.”… Read the rest
US Catholic bishops attempt to control legislation
Feb 7th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey want to impose their religion on the entire population, and call the refusal to do so a violation of their religious liberty.… Read the rest
Pope accidentally exorcized two demons
Feb 7th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s because he’s magic, and the devil knows it.… Read the rest
Court rules California Prop 8 unconstitutional
Feb 7th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution. The architects of Prop. 8 have vowed to appeal.
Vatican meeting could possibly be PR exercise
Feb 6th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonYa think?… Read the rest
Shrinking secular spaces in the UK
Feb 6th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIdentity anti-racists such as the Stop the War Coalition have dismissed and continue to dismiss secular activist voices like those of Gita Sahgal or secular organisations such as Just Peace.… Read the rest
Rebecca Watson on seeing the patriarchy
Feb 6th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThere may always be something big and obvious about the way the world works, that we may be missing.… Read the rest
Damian Thompson on the delusions of bishops
Feb 6th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSenior churchmen speak of the “spiritual hunger” of the young. That’s wishful thinking.… Read the rest
Ireland: Fine Gael wrangles over re-opening Vatican embassy
Feb 6th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOne of the most surreal moments saw TD Peter Mathews brandish a set of rosary beads at the “secularist members of the party”.… Read the rest
Maryam Namazie’s talk in Stockholm
Feb 5th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonVideo in 5 parts.… Read the rest
Bullies protest hiring of Ellen DeGeneres
Feb 5th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonGroup calling itself “One Million Moms” accuses JC Penney of “jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon” and rants about “traditional values.”… Read the rest
Iran accused of intimidating BBC Persian staff
Feb 5th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMark Thompson wrote in his blog that for BBC Persian staff, “interference and harassment from the Iranian authorities has become a challenging fact of life”.… Read the rest
McLean’s on the Shafia murders
Feb 5th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe father on the tape: “They betrayed kindness, they betrayed Islam, they betrayed our religion and creed, they betrayed our tradition, they betrayed everything.”… Read the rest
Vancouver Sun talks to Pat Churchland
Feb 4th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonShe considers neuroscience more reliable than folk psychology.… Read the rest
Julian Baggini notes it’s not easy being atheist in the US
Feb 4th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn a nation that celebrates freedom of religion like no other, freedom not to be religious at all can be as hard to exercise as the right to swim the Atlantic.… Read the rest
Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?
Feb 4th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMembers of UCLASH were not reposting the cartoon to reoffend, but to reaffirm that if the freedom to speak means anything, it means the freedom to say things that people do not like.… Read the rest
Bath Christian group’s ‘God can heal’ adverts banned
Feb 4th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAdvertising Standards Authority said leaflet that says “Need Healing? God can heal today!” is misleading. Group said it’s just normal Christian belief.… Read the rest
US: one town’s war on gay teenagers
Feb 3rd, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“LGBTQ students don’t feel safe at school. They’re made to feel ashamed of who they are. They’re bullied. And there’s no one to stand up for them, because teachers are afraid of being fired.”… Read the rest
Marc Stephens threatens Popehat some more
Feb 3rd, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOut of the blue, Stephens sends Popehat a message saying, “I see you’re obsessed with me.”… Read the rest