The danger of a large diverse group is that the loudest voices will dominate and a herd mentality will take over.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Ian Hacking: Whose Body Is It?
Dec 10th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow dead is brain-dead?… Read the rest
The Bishops are on the Prowl
Dec 10th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA harmonious society is not best served by archbishops passing themselves off as a persecuted minority.… Read the rest
The right to choose your customers
Dec 10th, 2006 12:34 am | By Ophelia BensonWe have this on-going discussion about rights, about what they are, what we mean by them, what they aren’t or shouldn’t be or shouldn’t be thought to be, how they are justified, and the like. We have some commenters defending the idea that Christians do have rights to refuse service to gay people in public accommodations. They’re using arguments that have a certain familiarity. The ‘right to free association’ for instance. From a comment on ‘The fundamental right to say get outta my store’: ‘the right to free association. That’s the very same right denied in apartheid south africa or in the US under segregation or by many anti-union laws.’ Well, no, actually. It was the defenders of apartheid … Read the rest
Gay Life in the Middle East
Dec 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAn Israeli activist and a UK journalist report.… Read the rest
Corruption in Congress
Dec 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA conspiracy to use ‘campaign contributions’ to bribe politicians.… Read the rest
An ‘Aggressive Secularist’ Speaks
Dec 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTerry Sanderson wonders if the Archbishop of York is fully in control of his faculties.… Read the rest
Robert McCrum on Sardar’s ‘Ludicrous Piece’
Dec 9th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Planet Sardar is barely on any intellectual radar I’d care to consult.’… Read the rest
Contradictions? What contradictions?
Dec 8th, 2006 6:42 pm | By Ophelia BensonBlair gave a speech on multiculturalism. (Maybe if he’s very good, next week he’ll be allowed to have a debate on the subject with Madeleine Bunting.) He said some slightly odd things…
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and other faiths have a perfect right to their own identity and religion, to practice their faith and to conform to their culture. This is what multicultural, multi-faith Britain is about. That is what is legitimately distinctive.
But when it comes to our essential values – belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage – then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common…
But … Read the rest
Vociferous aggressive secularists for WAR
Dec 8th, 2006 6:24 pm | By Ophelia BensonIn the summer, the publication of Amartya Sen’s book, Identity and Violence, was greeted with delight by many reviewers and commentators…He was promptly adopted by the lobby of vociferous aggressive secularists who regard all faith in the public sphere as evidence of some sinister plot.
No, actually, that’s not what we regard all ‘faith’ in the public sphere as, we regard it as an inherently dangerous influence on politics, law, human rights and other such public influences that shape how we all get to live our lives. Get it right, Madders.… Read the rest
The rights of Christians
Dec 8th, 2006 6:16 pm | By Ophelia BensonChristians continue to struggle to defend their rights.
Allies of Ms Kelly have accused Mr Hain of pandering to Labour activists…His liberal approach may derail sensitive negotiations between the Government and church leaders, who are urging ministers not to put the rights of gays above the rights of Christians.
Church leaders, who are urging ministers not to put the rights of gays above the rights of Christians to exclude and refuse to serve gays in public accomodations – those rights. You know, those ‘rights’ that don’t exist, that no one recognizes, the ones that are just asserted. Those rights.… Read the rest
Neocon bastards
Dec 8th, 2006 5:58 pm | By Ophelia BensonSome wisdom and insight from Ziauddin Sardar:
… Read the restThe British literary landscape is dominated by three writers: Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan…In their different styles, their approach and opinions define a coherent position. They are the vanguard of British literary neoconservatives, or, if you like, the “Blitcons”…Their writing stands within a tradition, upholding ideas with deep roots in European consciousness and literature….The Blitcon project is based on three one- dimensional conceits. The first is the absolute supremacy of American culture. Blitcon fiction is orientalism for the 21st century, shifting the emphasis from the supremacy of the west in general to the supremacy of American ideas of freedom…The second Blitcon conceit is that Islam is the greatest threat to
Schools Under Attack in Thailand
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSchools and teachers are targeted by suspected Muslim insurgents.… Read the rest
Abused Woman Talks to Tanzanian Media
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAgnes Mbuyamajuu is among many women who suffer from domestic violence in Tanzania.… Read the rest
Dalits Remember Ambedkar
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMost Dalits see Ambedkar as someone who challenged the very basis of the caste system.… Read the rest
Look Out, it’s the Blitcons!
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonZiauddin Sardar on Rushdie, Amis and McEwan. They’re critical of Islam. The horror, the horror.… Read the rest
Muslim Women Angry at Being Ignored
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Community leaders’ and male-dominated national Muslim organisations fail to represent them.… Read the rest
Catholic Church Interferes in School Tribunal
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAtheist teacher who won case is not much pleased.… Read the rest
Bunting Tells Sen Why He’s Wrong
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCites ‘adoption’ by ‘lobby of vociferous aggressive secularists.’… Read the rest
Kelly ‘Sympathetic’ to Church Pleas
Dec 8th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChurch leaders are urging ministers not to put the rights of gays above the ‘rights’ of Christians. … Read the rest