One striking feature of these events is the remarkable absence of sensible dialogue.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Hindutva, California Textbooks and a Smear Campaign
Feb 3rd, 2006 | By Steve FarmerLast week this article in the Indian magazine Frontline reported that the Hindu Right’s attempts to rewrite California school textbooks on India and Hinduism were meeting with strong resistance from renowned historians and scholars in the U.S. and abroad. Steve Farmer is one of those scholars; he reported on that resistance and the smear campaign against another of them, Michael Witzel, on a listserve last December, and gave B&W permission to publish a slightly updated version. There is recent news here.
Part I: The California Textbook Issue
The smear campaign aimed against Michael Witzel is meant in retaliation for
the critical role he has played since early November – in
collaboration now with hundreds of Indian and Western researchers … Read the rest
Nothing Sacred
Feb 2nd, 2006 8:47 pm | By Ophelia BensonPaul Goggins went on the Today programme on the day the religious hatred bill was passed in the Lords version not the government’s version, to explain why the bill (particularly, in the government’s version, with the language about ‘recklessness’, instead of the Lords’) was necessary and a good idea. After some pressing he articulated the basic (I take it) point.
… Read the restWell I accept, Jim, and we always have accepted that there are fine balances to be drawn here, but religious belief is an important part of identity, and the expression of that religious belief is important to many people, and that others should set out intentionally to stir up hatred about those people because of those religious beliefs has no
French Editor Fired for Printing Cartoons 
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Journalists at the newspaper stood by their editor’s decision.… Read the rest
Danish Tabloid Reports There are ‘Extra’ Cartoons
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Akhmad Akkari says extras were added to show ‘how hateful the atmosphere in Denmark is.’… Read the rest
Scott McLemee on Oprah Studies
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The therapeutic ethos is not antithetical to a deep yearning for authority.… Read the rest
Dawkins on the Aftermath of ‘Root of all Evil?’
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Faith is pernicious because it teaches that believing something without evidence is a virtue. … Read the rest
Guys With Guns Continue Tantrum
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Threat threat threat, demand demand demand, gun gun gun.… Read the rest
Richard Wolin’s The Seduction of Unreason
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Stanley Rosen says Wolin is not good at taking seriously the people he dislikes.… Read the rest
A Fish Called Allah
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Deity reveals self by writing own name on a fish in Waterfoot, near Bury.… Read the rest
Maryam Namazie Starts a Blog
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No prizes for guessing her opinion of the cartoon tantrum.… Read the rest
Writers and Comedians Rejoice
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rowan Atkinson, Salman Rushdie, Philip Pullman, Hanif Kureishi cheer Commons vote.… Read the rest
Le Soir Sacks Managing Editor
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As a sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual. Uh…… Read the rest
Remembering Fadima Shahindale
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At conference on globalization of political Islam and its relation to honour killing.… Read the rest
The Cartoons Spread – Across Europe
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Seven publications in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain carried some of the drawings.… Read the rest
Campaign: Release our Fathers
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Homa Arjomand campaigns to aid imprisoned strikers and their children in Iran.… Read the rest
Fundamental Values are Being Challenged
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Totalitarian and authoritarian impulses drive reactions to Jyllands-Posten cartoons.… Read the rest
Discussion of Religious Hatred Bill [audio]
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Paul Goggins doesn’t get it.… Read the rest
Childish Tantrums Continue
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Arab ministers urge Denmark to punish newspaper which printed ‘offensive’ cartoons.… Read the rest
Religious Hatred Bill
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty glad that Parliament spoke up for rights and freedoms.… Read the rest
