‘Innocent intent is not a defense. Nor is truth. Publication in the public interest is not a defense.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Bardot Fined for Remarks on Animal Slaughter
Jun 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSaid in a letter to Sarkozy that Muslims should stun animals before slaughtering them.… Read the rest
Mugabe Promises to Fight ‘Traitors’
Jun 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDescribed the opposition as ‘traitors’ and referred to Zimbabwe’s past struggle for independence.… Read the rest
Burma Should Free Detained Activist Zargana
Jun 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBurma’s military government should immediately free Zargana and permit him to continue distributing aid.… Read the rest
Zimbabwe: Abuse of Opposition and NGOs
Jun 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAttacks on civil society and the opposition are the latest developments in a sustained campaign of terror.… Read the rest
Maybe Someday Saudi Women Will Run
Jun 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOr maybe not. Don’t hold your breath.… Read the rest
South African Court Bans Aids Vitamin Trials
Jun 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRath Foundation promote vitamin pills and minerals which they say can reverse the development of HIV/Aids. … Read the rest
Giles Fraser Talks Tortured Nonsense
Jun 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSaying ‘intelligent people are less likely to believe in god’ is racist.… Read the rest
Mass Rally for Pakistani Judges
Jun 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThousands of protesters are gathering to demand the government reinstate judges fired by Musharraf… Read the rest
India: Hindu Nationalists and Muslims Clash
Jun 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSupporters of the RSS and local Muslim villagers clashed after the RSS set up a camp in the area. … Read the rest
David Brooks on Obama’s Applebee’s Problem
Jun 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who could go into an Applebee’s salad bar, and people think he fits in naturally there.’… Read the rest
Grasping at straws
Jun 13th, 2008 11:49 am | By Ophelia BensonGiles Fraser is both wrong and confused.
In a recent paper for the journal Intelligence, the notorious Professor Richard Lynn has argued that intelligent people are “less likely to believe in God”…Dr David King…said: “We find Richard Lynn’s claims that some human beings are inherently superior to others repugnant.” The same thought applies to women with blond hair, to people with darker skin, or to those of us with religious belief.
No it does not. Sex, hair colour, and skin colour are all genetically determined physical differences. Religious belief is not. The two categories are not comparable. This is not, obviously, to claim that people ‘with religious belief’ are inherently inferior to others, though Giles Fraser wants to … Read the rest
Religious Scruple Causes Neurological Damage
Jun 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMidwife asks for help, father blocks male intern, baby is born with neurological damage.… Read the rest
Muslim Arbitration Tribunal on Forced Marriage
Jun 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBunglawala, MCB express doubts, point to Islamic Sharia Council.… Read the rest
BHL on Simone de Beauvoir
Jun 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWomen around the world, in burqas or irons, are a little more free than they would have been without her.… Read the rest
Nussbaum on Rawls’s ‘Political Liberalism’
Jun 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe can argue for political principles using ethical notions that are separable from controversial religious doctrines.… Read the rest
Steven Pinker and Ian McEwan Talk
Jun 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBoth speakers have devoted space in their life’s work to plumbing the mysteries of conversation.… Read the rest
Richard Wolin on François Cusset
Jun 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA paradigm opposed to the idea of a centered and cohesive ‘self’ became the basis for identity politics. … Read the rest
Theory. Literary Theory. French Theory. Theory.
Jun 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCan’t understand today’s global disorders without literary theory. Literary theory the key to all things.… Read the rest
The Reign of Thuggery
Jun 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMbeki has given Mugabe political and diplomatic support in many forums, including the UN.… Read the rest