Which produces the greatest terror, action or inaction? … Read the rest
Philosopher Goes Into a Pub and Says
Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonMormonism is no sillier than other religions, it’s just younger. (Hmm…)… Read the rest
God Says Stand Up Straight
Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonCoroner 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 Ophelia BensonI 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonAt 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 Ophelia BensonJust 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 Ophelia BensonProposed 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 Ophelia BensonSignatories include Philip Pullman, Ricky Gervais, Richard Dawkins, Nick Hytner. … Read the rest
Research on Boredom
Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLevel 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 Ophelia BensonPakistan’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 Ophelia BensonCheney has wanted to restore the imperial presidency for three decades.… Read the rest
Canadian Islamic Congress v Maclean’s
Jan 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonBunglawala says the government wants Muslim women to act as spies.… Read the rest
Funny Way to Apologize
Jan 7th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonVatican calls for ‘perpetual adoration’ of eucharist to atone for sex abuse.… Read the rest