All entries by this author

It didn’t stop there

Jan 11th, 2008 7:57 pm | By

Chapter 2 of the ‘I’m more postcolonialist than you’ follies.

Another respondent:

Why do feminists still have to analyze everything using the concept of ‘oppression?’ Why are -you- using the term as though everything feminist has to be talked about in terms of oppression. There are times when that’s okay, but there are other times when it is not…When feminists label some kinds of behaviour problematic, by naming them oppressive, for instance, they may be putting other women into situations which could be dangerous for them, or which could at least change the course of their lives, and not always favourably, if they decided to act on this new way of perceiving it. What should be respected is the fact

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Is Slavoj Žižek Serious? *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Which produces the greatest terror, action or inaction? … Read the rest



Philosopher Goes Into a Pub and Says *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Everybody loves my baby, but my baby don’t love nobody but me.’ From this, it logically follows that ‘I am my baby.’… Read the rest



Kenya Isn’t Supposed To Be Like This *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

The electoral contest exposed an ethnic fissure whose depth was no secret to ordinary Kenyans.… Read the rest



How Silly is Mormonism? *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Mormonism is no sillier than other religions, it’s just younger. (Hmm…)… Read the rest



God Says Stand Up Straight *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Even many good, godly people have gotten into a bad habit of slumping and looking down.’ Blasphemers.… Read the rest



Shafilea Ahmed Feared a Forced Marriage *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

‘My parents are going to send me to Pakistan and I’ll be married to someone and left there.’… Read the rest



Live Murder Inquiry in Shafilea Ahmed Case *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Coroner believes the concept of arranged marriage was central to the circumstances leading up to her death. … Read the rest



Ethnocentric feminism

Jan 11th, 2008 11:38 am | By

I had a hard time tearing myself away from the computer Wednesday and Thursday mornings to catch the bus downtown to the courthouse, because there was a lively (not to say acrimonious) discussion on a Women’s Studies list I subscribe to, about Female Genital Mutilation. I may have done something myself to contribute to the acrimony. Okay I did. I got annoyed. Repeatedly. (But one is limited to two messages a day, so there was a limit to the damage I could do.)

It started with the (astonishing, I thought) fact that the practice was called ‘circumcision’ – which staggered me because I thought it was apologists for the practice who called it that and that opponents all called it … Read the rest



Binyavanga Wainaina on Kenya *

Jan 10th, 2008 | Filed by

The bloody attacks here do not reflect primordial hatreds. They reflect the manipulation of identity for political gain.… Read the rest



Speigel Talks to Wangari Maathai *

Jan 10th, 2008 | Filed by

At some point we will have reached a level at which violence becomes an end in itself and can no longer be stopped.… Read the rest



Whereabouts

Jan 10th, 2008 7:54 am | By

Just in case you’re wondering if I’ve run off to Las Vegas or something, I can explain. Posting is light at the moment because I have jury duty. I’ll catch up at the weekend, if not sooner.… Read the rest



Terry Sanderson on Blasphemy Law *

Jan 9th, 2008 | Filed by

Proposed restrictions on ‘incitement to religious hatred’ and ‘defamation of religion’ show up around the globe.… Read the rest



Amendment to Abolish UK Blasphemy Law *

Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by

Signatories include Philip Pullman, Ricky Gervais, Richard Dawkins, Nick Hytner. … Read the rest



Research on Boredom *

Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by

Level of attention, an aspect of conscious awareness, plays an important role in boredom.… Read the rest



The US Doesn’t Understand Pakistan *

Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by

Pakistan’s national identity is based on not being Hindu – a thin reed on which to hang a unified state.… Read the rest



HNN Interviews Charlie Savage *

Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by

Cheney has wanted to restore the imperial presidency for three decades.… Read the rest



Canadian Islamic Congress v Maclean’s *

Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by

The Canadian Islamic Congress has launched two human rights complaints against Maclean’s. … Read the rest



Tariq Ramadan is Rather Bossy *

Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Islamic studies must be taken seriously. Politicians, university administrators, faculty and students must say so.’… Read the rest



More Power for Muslim Women *

Jan 7th, 2008 | Filed by

Bunglawala says the government wants Muslim women to act as spies.… Read the rest