A shocking sign of the times that we are having a debate about the appropriateness of torture.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Alain Finkielkraut Called ‘New Neo-reactionary’ 
Dec 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Organizations and bodies that threatened to sue him for racism have changed their minds.… Read the rest
Anti-intellectualism in Murkan Life
Dec 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Until bird flu comes along, that is.… Read the rest
Muslim Brotherhood Gains Seats in Egypt
Dec 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Muslim Brotherhood secured 34 seats, 19 more than it holds in the outgoing parliament. … Read the rest
The Enlightenment and the Left
Dec 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Enlightenment key to debates around universalism, truth, human rights, liberty, religious extremism.… Read the rest
Rice Clarifies US Position on Torture
Dec 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Comments appear to contrast with those of Gonzales.… Read the rest
What a Mess
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ed Vulliamy investigates the background of the Birmingham riot.… Read the rest
Buy Baby Jesus
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Advertisers push ‘true meaning of Christmas.’… Read the rest
The Smoke and Mirrors of the Illusory Self
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Not coincidentally, the deepest mysteries of philosophy are also the universal concerns of drama. … Read the rest
Michael Ruse is Puzzled by US Religiosity
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Incredible ideas about world history lead to moral drives in the present.… Read the rest
Outright Hostility to Literature in English Departments
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because complex aesthetic texts tend to be concerned with personal, moral, not political, matters.… Read the rest
Kedar Deshpande Reviews Amartya Sen
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rejects cultural relativity and cherry-picking Western academics and chauvinistic Indian nationalists.… Read the rest
Steve Fuller Replies to Michael Bérubé
Dec 6th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It all started with Fuller’s comment on Meera Nanda’s book at Amazon…… Read the rest
Adults Should Take a Sickbag to ‘Narnia’
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Narnia represents everything that is most hateful about religion.’… Read the rest
When in Doubt, Call It Munchausen’s by Proxy
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Like many another secret world the Family Division was liable to be swept by pseudo-scientific manias.… Read the rest
The Guardian Used to be a Secular Paper
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But that was then, editor says cheerfully.… Read the rest
Wikipedia and the Accuracy Problem
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Universe of global communication and research includes volunteer vandals with poison-pen intellects.… Read the rest
Brothers of Hatan Surucu on Trial for Her Murder
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mothers seek solidarity by forcing daughters to submit to the same hardship and suffering.… Read the rest
Narnia Tripe
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To be ‘morally mature’ is to ‘acknowledge’ a lot of nonsense because there are different concepts of reality.… Read the rest
Shops Withdraw ‘Jerry Springer’ Opera DVDs
Dec 5th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ten Christians whined to Sainsbury’s and that was enough.… Read the rest
