Attacks on HRW’s credibility make rational discussion increasingly difficult.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
The Freedom to Choose to be Compelled 
Oct 14th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The veil is really important to all Muslim women who choose to wear it. Our religion compels us to wear it.’… Read the rest
Dalits Bail Out of Hinduism
Oct 14th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By converting, Dalits can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face. … Read the rest
Sanjeev Srivastava on Kanshi Ram
Oct 14th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ram united Dalits into a formidable political force in several states.… Read the rest
Catherine Bennett on Clothes and Freedom
Oct 14th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What does freedom mean, if it doesn’t mean being free to oppress yourself? … Read the rest
Steven Pinker on George Lakoff
Oct 13th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The ubiquity of metaphor in language does not imply that all thinking is concrete.… Read the rest
Johann Hari Talks to Salman Rushdie
Oct 13th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The mass uprooting he celebrated helped to create the Islamist pining for a fictitious lost purity.… Read the rest
Women on the Niqab
Oct 13th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Joan Smith urges Garton Ash to catch up on his feminist reading.… Read the rest
Thomas Nagel: the Problem with Atheism
Oct 13th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One of Dawkins’s aims is to overturn the convention of respect toward religion.… Read the rest
Scott McLemee on I F Stone
Oct 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Stone tells Soviet citizens that the “thaw” will mean nothing if they don’t acquire the right of habeas corpus. … Read the rest
To Tell the Truth – Scott McLemee on I F Stone
Oct 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hoover’s agents despaired of ever establishing a connection between Stone and the CPUSA.… Read the rest
Orhan Pamuk Wins Nobel for Literature
Oct 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He has faced prosecution for talking about the murder of Armenians and Kurds.… Read the rest
Busted for Criticizing Cheney to His Face
Oct 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Secret Service arrests guy for telling Cheney ‘Your policies in Iraq are reprehensible.’… Read the rest
UK Government Withdraws Support From MCB
Oct 12th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Kelly said in future she would fund organisations representing young Muslims and Muslim women.… Read the rest
Houzan Mahmoud Says It’s not a Matter of Choice
Oct 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Not just a bit of cloth: a sign of the oppression of women and submissiveness to the will of God or a man.… Read the rest
Kiran Desai Wins Booker Prize
Oct 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For The Inheritance of Loss.… Read the rest
Ethiopian Women World’s Most Abused
Oct 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
UN’s Ending Violence Against Women report says nearly 60% are subject to sexual violence.… Read the rest
UN Urges Global Backing for Violence Report
Oct 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Painting a grim picture of the extent of violence against women in all parts of the world.… Read the rest
Rushdie Says Veils Suck; Guardian Frowns
Oct 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘[H]is comments have angered moderate and extremists within the Muslim community.’… Read the rest
Everything Must Be Tolerated, David Edgar Says
Oct 11th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Sorry, but we can’t just pick and choose what to tolerate.’ Interesting notion.… Read the rest
