Dr Mobin Akhtar wants to clear up distressing misconceptions about sex via education. He gets threats.
Category: Latest News
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
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Coyne on Pigliucci on atheism and anger
Most of us, even including those who used to be religious, have legitimate reasons—beyond religious indoctrination—to be angry.
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Sarah Palin was puzzled, then concerned, now sad
About “the irresponsible statements” of other people. She has never said an irresponsible word in her life.
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Sarah Palin protests “irresponsible statements”
Also raves about a “blood libel,” clearly having no idea what that means.
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Meet the Christian Patriarchy Movement
Young women pursuing their own ambitions and goals are viewed as selfish and antifamily.
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Hitchens on Salman Taseer
“Jihadists” don’t even bother to make a case that violence is needed.
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The context of Loughner’s adventure
The context was the anti-government, pro-gun, xenophobic populism that flourishes in the dry and angry climate of Arizona.
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Buffalo, NY: wife-beheader says she abused him
“Domestic violence is not about gender, it’s about control,” Muzzammil Hassan wrote. “Who is the master, who is the slave?”
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Jesus and Mo do a new song
Tonight we are going to insist that our religious beliefs be treated with the unquestioning respect we imagine they deserve.
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Freedom of speech in Denmark
Lars Hedegaard, President of The International Free Press Society, is about to go on trial for discussing family rapes in areas dominated by Muslim culture.
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Yasmin Alibhai Brown on culturally- sanctioned injustices
Fear of racism should no longer be the veil covering up hard truths.
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Massive Karachi rally to support blasphemy law
The rally was attended by all major Muslim groups and sects in the city, including “moderates” and conservatives.
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Aasia Bibi’s neighbors want her dead
Bibi was sentenced to hang on mere hearsay – a Kafkaesque twist that seems to bother few in her village.
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Banned singers join to produce an album
Listen To The Banned includes the work of 14 international artists who have experienced imprisonment, censorship, harassment or violence because of their music.
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Kamila Shamsie on the roots of Pakistan’s tragedy
The image of lawyers sprinkling rose petals on Taseer’s smiling assassin dealt a body blow from which Pakistan’s liberals are unsure they can ever recover.
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Michael Tomasky on bloodthirsty rhetoric
Get people to hate liberals. Get them to believe that liberals despise the country and are actively attempting to hasten its demise.
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Maybe enough with the vitriol in politics?
“But many Republicans have noted that they too are subject to threats and abuse.” Just not the same quality or quantity.
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Ahmed Rashid: Taseer’s death has unleashed the mad dogs of hell
Not a single registered mullah in Lahore with its 13 million people was willing to read Taseer’s funeral prayers, because they were too scared to do so.
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Shehrbano Taseer: my father died for Pakistan
There are those who say my father’s death was the final nail in the coffin for a tolerant Pakistan. That Pakistan’s liberal voices will now be silenced.
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An alien narrative has taken over in Pakistan
It is being taught in numerous madrasas up and down the country and in sermons and devotionals in many mosques.