Women around the world, in burqas or irons, are a little more free than they would have been without her.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Nussbaum on Rawls’s ‘Political Liberalism’ 
Jun 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We 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 Benson
Both 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 Benson
A 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 Benson
Can’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 Benson
Mbeki has given Mugabe political and diplomatic support in many forums, including the UN.… Read the rest
Abdullahi An-Naim Calls Himself a Muslim Heretic
Jun 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Human rights are universal and trump religious dictates. That’s the heresy.… Read the rest
Norway: Parents Charged in FGM of 5 Daughters
Jun 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The mother and father are charged because they contributed to five of their six daughters being mutilated.’… Read the rest
Just being around isn’t experience
Jun 10th, 2008 12:49 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’ve never understood, or accepted, this idea that Clinton is the feminist candidate, or even that her election would be much of a victory for women or feminism. I’ve always thought it would be radically, drastically compromised by the huge boost she got from whose wife she was. I’ve always thought such an election would be a victory for women or feminism only if the woman in question did it on her own merits, not partly those of her husband.
… Read the restIndeed, Clinton has never been just a victim of her gender. When it came to the deeper narratives of the campaign, Clinton benefited, as do many women in politics, from her good fortune of having married a successful political
Prison for ‘Violation of Religious Sensibilities’
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Accused acted to blaspheme and desecrate that which the Islamic religious community deems holy.’… Read the rest
Report Marred by Errors in Arithmetic
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A frightening decline in the quality of maths in reports of the frightening decline in the quality of maths.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Blogs v Mainstream Media
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
MM pushed the Dore ‘miracle cure’ for Dyslexia, bloggers dug deeper.… Read the rest
Philadelphia Mississippi Ponders Obama
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Bloody Neshoba’ is anxious.… Read the rest
Clinton Makes an Odd Feminist Martyr
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Clinton benefited from having married a successful political man. What’s feminist about that?… Read the rest
The inter-faith world
Jun 9th, 2008 12:15 pm | By Ophelia BensonWhat exactly does Blair have in mind with this ‘Faith Foundation’ thing?
We want people of one faith to be comfortable with those of another because they know what they truly believe, not what they thought they might believe.
But what if ‘people of one faith’ believe things that in fact make ‘those of another’ uncomfortable? And vice versa? And why on earth does Blair assume (as he apparently does) that that can’t and won’t be the outcome? Why does he assume that once people know what people of another ‘faith’ believe, then they will necessarily be ‘comfortable’ with them? Has he never in his whole life met or heard of someone who believed loathsome sinister vindictive murderous things? … Read the rest
Texas Board of Ed Uses Creationist Code
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A creationist system of science is not science at all. It is faith.… Read the rest
Sec-Gen of OIC Urges Action on ‘Islamophobia’
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mere condemnation not enough, as long as they remain free to continue ‘on the plea of freedom of expression.’… Read the rest
Bullets for Each of You
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
HRW report on state-sponsored violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 elections.… Read the rest
HRW: Runoff Vote in Zimbabwe Will Be DOA
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Campaign of violence and intimidation against MDC has killed any chance of a free and fair vote.… Read the rest
The Reality Tests
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The world is real, but we don’t perceive it as it exists fundamentally.… Read the rest
