To outlaw any possible publication of the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in the UK.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Irshad Manji and As’ad Abukhalil Debate
Feb 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBully talks three times as much and accuses other of monologuing.… Read the rest
Why Should Religions be Protected from ‘Insult’?
Feb 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonObvious distinction between what is offensive and what should be illegal is being ignored.… Read the rest
How Moral Disengagement Works
Feb 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonYou have to convince people of the sanctity of the greater cause.… Read the rest
Student Editor Suspended for Printing Cartoon
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEveryone quoted talks stupid contradictory authoritarian crap.… Read the rest
J-P Rejected Jesus Cartoons Three Years Ago
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘I think that they will provoke an outcry. Therefore, I will not use them.’ Oops.… Read the rest
Oh So That’s What the Extra Cartoons Were For
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDanish Muslim leaders insisted they had been trying to promote a ‘dialogue of civilisations.’… Read the rest
Sonia Mikich Feels Offended
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonJews see themselves represented as cannibals and pigs, Western women as decadent sluts. … Read the rest
Julian Baggini on the Science of Religion
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs religion a natural phenomenon, like photosynthesis, evolution or belly-button fluff?… Read the rest
Dress Worn by Non-believers is ‘Not Suitable’
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBegum refused to attend school because she had to wear the same uniform as ‘disbelieving women.’… Read the rest
The Orientalists and their Enemies
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIrwin argues that orientalism is what it claims to be – the study of eastern languages, history, culture.… Read the rest
Secularists Don’t Understand Depth of Feeling
Feb 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPrice for a bit of journalism is not worth it because there are people who will feel genuinely offended.… Read the rest
Research Group Finds New Species in Indonesia
Feb 7th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonButterflies, frogs, palms, giant rhododendron, honeyeater bird, lost bird of paradise.… Read the rest
MPs in Kano, Nigeria Burn Denmark’s Flag
Feb 7th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAdo Saleh reports c. 200 people, including the 40 state parliamentarians, attended flag burning.… Read the rest
Turkish Journalists on Trial for Insulting Judiciary
Feb 7th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWrote articles criticising court decision to ban conference on killing of Armenians 1915-1917.… Read the rest
Peacekeepers and Protesters Exchange Fire
Feb 7th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSecond day of violent cartoon demonstrations in Afghanistan.… Read the rest
Iranian Paper Holds Contest for Holocaust Cartoons
Feb 7th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBecause cartoons about genocide are the same as cartoons about one 1400-year-old guy.… Read the rest
Music ‘Produced By and For Social Elites’
Feb 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt is snobbish and improbable to assume that complex art is appreciated only by the upper class.… Read the rest
Four People Killed in Cartoon Protests
Feb 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘They want to know whether Muslims are extremists or not. Death to them and to their newspapers.’… Read the rest
Peter Berkowitz Reviews Theory’s Empire
Feb 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTheory is The Key to almost everything.… Read the rest