Some British Indian parents force their children to marry.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Colonials and Natives
Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnother proud moment for the ruling class.… Read the rest
Mark Thatcher Gets Suspended Sentence
Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe younger generation just can’t get it right.… Read the rest
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti on ‘Behzti’ and the Aftermath
Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonReligion and art have collided for centuries.… Read the rest
Evolution Disclaimer Sticker Must be Removed
Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnti-evolution sticker violates the constitution.… Read the rest
Ken Livingstone Defends Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe’s shared a platform with or met various famous people, therefore…… Read the rest
Waterstone’s, Free Speech, the Power of Books
Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBookshop fires employee for saying harsh things about boss on blog.… Read the rest
BBC Producer Quits Over ‘Blasphemy’
Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSenior producer at Radio 3 resigns in protest at blasphemy in Springer Opera.… Read the rest
People are Capable of Rational Thought
Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTo say the people of Jamaica cannot change values inherited from British colonial era is to infantilise them.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on the Silence About Hadi Salih
Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“Do you want priests to be able to control ‘their’ people?” No? Get ready for a fight then.… Read the rest
Male Editors Needed to Sexualize Sontag
Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWaspish Sontag might have replied: stiffening of male editors no reason to impute rigor to her.… Read the rest
Germaine Greer Has Her Reasons
Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The British university was a club Greer did not want to remain in.’… Read the rest
‘Christian Voice’ Guy Gets Some Attention
Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAdmits it was a mistake to publish BBC executives’ home addresses: ‘I’m fallible.’… Read the rest
Kenan Malik on Exaggerated Islamophobia
Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPeople struggling to defend basic rights within Muslim communities are called racist.… Read the rest
Sontag v Derrida
Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHair; obit word-count; celebrity score; president is/is not sad; was/was not silly.… Read the rest
‘The Canon’ Has no Value for the Underprivileged?
Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn fact ‘the canon’ enabled ‘the masses’ to become thinking individuals. … Read the rest
Mary Kenny Gratified to See BBC Cages Rattled
Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnd glad to see Christians catch up with Muslims and Sikhs in the cage-rattling game.… Read the rest
New York Times on Guy Davenport
Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘He talked over everybody’s head, but in a way that made you want to get to where he was.’… Read the rest
Complaints to BBC Escalate to Threats of Violence
Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBBC2 controller, director of television deluged with ‘threatening’ and ‘abusive’ phone calls.… Read the rest
‘Christian Voice’ Published Private Details on Website
Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRemoved information after warnings from BBC lawyers; Keating and others had received threats.… Read the rest