The Almohads’ pitiless warriors put to the sword the fabled world of Andalusian tolerance.… Read the rest
Freedom or Unity
Apr 1st, 2006 8:49 pm | By Ophelia BensonSome more from The Ethics of Identity. Appiah cites on page 124 a term (via Kymlicka via Margalit and Raz) ‘decayed cultures’:
If what we have is a troubled period of cultural transition, though, it isn’t obvious that such conditions diminish our liberty or autonomy – our ability to choose among a wider range of options. Indeed, as John Tomasi suggests, a greater degree of personal autonomy may be afforded by a less rigid “choosing context,” where there are fewer constraints on what counts as an acceptable life plan than there would be in a more stable cultural community.
That’s pretty much what drives my interest in this whole subject, I think – the idea (and the possibility, the … Read the rest
Ian McEwan on The Selfish Gene as Literature
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn which the pursuit of truth and the excitement of new ideas is conveyed in luminous prose.… Read the rest
Stangroom and Benson Admit to Being Liars
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBut urge others to tell the truth.… Read the rest
Jonathan Rauch on Why Polygyny is a Risky Idea
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The social dynamics of zero-sum marriage are ugly.’… Read the rest
Danish Muslim Organizations Sue Editors
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLawyer calls text and drawings ‘gratuitously defamatory and injurious’.… Read the rest
Catholic Bishop Questions Vatican Condom Ban
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBishop notes papal teaching also includes the law: ‘You should not kill.’… Read the rest
Pakistan Considers Extraditing Blasphemers
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOregon bloggers on the list because they published the Motoons.… Read the rest
Rigid Boxes
Apr 1st, 2006 2:56 am | By Ophelia BensonAs I mentioned, I’ve been reading a lot of good sense in Anthony Appiah’s book, and here’s some related good sense from Amartya Sen. The identity two-step.
… Read the restWhat we ought to take very seriously is the way Islamic identity, in this sort of depiction, is assumed to drown, if only implicitly, all other affiliations, priorities, and pursuits that a Muslim person may have. A person belongs to many different groups, of which a religious affiliation is only one…[T]o give an automatic priority to the Islamic identity of a Muslim person in order to understand his or her role in the civil society, or in the literary world, or in creative work in arts and science, can result in profound
Reza Moradi Update
Apr 1st, 2006 2:54 am | By Ophelia BensonMaryam has an update today.
Thanks to all those who have asked about Reza Moradi and how they can help. We are now in the process of finding a solicitor and organising a campaign in his defence. We’ll need loads of help then. If you want to know a little bit more about what happened, see the upcoming TV International English programme (broadcast Sunday) where I interview him and also show my speech at the March 25 demo for free expression. We’ll keep everyone posted on any new developments as soon as possible.
Here is a photo of two cops in conversation with Moradi. He looks exactly how I would feel and look in such a situation. One can … Read the rest