Race gives a certain fantasy of what equality is: a world that is equal if there are no racists.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Shabnam Ramaswamy’s Women’s Court
Sep 20th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTells men she is like Durga with her ten hands. In one hand a stick, in another a law book, in another a flower.… Read the rest
Pregnancy Centers Give Disinformation on Abortion
Sep 19th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonReport says 20 of 23 federally funded centers gave false or misleading information about abortion risks.… Read the rest
Theism and Science Not All That Compatible
Sep 19th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘What sounds like a harmless metaphor can restrict the intellectual bravado that is essential to science.’… Read the rest
Timothy Garton Ash on Islam in Europe
Sep 19th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFrets about something called ‘Enlightenment fundamentalism.’… Read the rest
Michael Sandel and Thomas Nagel Discuss
Sep 19th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRawlsian liberalism, abortion, the status of the fetus, political liberalism, why they matter.… Read the rest
Fresh Air on Christian Zionism
Sep 19th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChristian Zionists don’t want peace in the Middle East. The Messiah is on his way!… Read the rest
Matt Ridley’s Biography of Francis Crick
Sep 18th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘This was a man who gave far more to the world than just the double helix.’… Read the rest
Brenda Maddox’s Biography of Ernest Jones
Sep 18th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPsychoanalysis turned out to be more like a religious cult or a fractious, fissile political party than a science. … Read the rest
Karen Armstrong is Cross at the Pope
Sep 18th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOffended, offensive, Islamophobia, western, medieval, Danish cartoon crisis, oh dear.… Read the rest
Madeleine Bunting is Cross at the Pope
Sep 18th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOffend, offence, offended, Islamophobe, outrage, insensitive, difference, oh dear.… Read the rest
Michael Bérubé on the Dangeral Classroom
Sep 18th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAs students, you should expect to feel uncomfortable about your beliefs as a matter of course.… Read the rest
Argument Over Gibson ‘Passion’ Inspires Strangling
Sep 17th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMan upset by violent crucifixion scenes, so throttles wife.… Read the rest
Booker Shortlist Saves Bookies a Fortune
Sep 17th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFavourites dropped, list full of young unknowns.… Read the rest
FCC Questioned About ‘Lost’ Report
Sep 17th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFCC hides report that says media consolidation is bad for tv news, says dog ate homework.… Read the rest
Secretive MPAA Has Power, no Accountability
Sep 17th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonViolence is fine, lesbian sex unfine; what’s that about, and why are these people anonymous?… Read the rest
Taslima Nasrin on Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Sep 17th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Ayaan’s questions may not be new, but they need to be reiterated, especially by women.’… Read the rest
Fuss About Pope’s Speech Continues
Sep 16th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson24-hour news, with comments taken out of context, disseminated and recycled, does its bit. … Read the rest
Peter Singer Interviewed
Sep 16th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe issue is suffering.… Read the rest
The US Christian Right Is Only a Little Scary
Sep 16th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSays Peter Steinfels, who writes a column on ‘religion and ethics’ in The New York Times.… Read the rest