The book argues against the belief that identity is something to be ‘discovered’ rather than chosen.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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News from South Asia Watch
Statement on the Mumbai blasts, condemnation of violence in Gujarat, more.
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Extract from Sen’s Identity and Violence
‘The powerful school of communitarian thinking also hallows exactly one identity per human being.’
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The Minefield of ‘Faith’ Schools
‘Sen argues that we are doing something terrible to our children by letting them attend faith schools.’
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Philosopher Urges Women to Act Like Equals
Gets a death threat as a result. In the US.
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On Presidential Infallibility
Bush is always right, because he is president, and whatever the president says is right.
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Fred Halliday on a Meeting with Hizbollah
The tone of tolerance and flexibility did not extend to the discussion of Israel or of Jews in general.
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OWL Newsletter
Day against stoning; women activists abused in Tehran; more.
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Amartya Sen is not Fond of ‘Faith’ Schools
“Even before a child begins to think, it’s being defined by its ‘community’, which is primarily religion.”
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Martin Bright on Religious Extremism
MCB’s suggestion that Bright intends to ‘divide and rule’ Britain’s Muslims is laughable.
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Not all Bangladeshis Oppose ‘Brick Lane’ Film
Salman Rushdie, Hanif Kureishi, Gillian Slovo, others from PEN write to Guardian.
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‘Brick Lane’ Protesters Promise to Burn Book
‘We will do it to show our anger. We don’t like Monica Ali. We are protecting our community’s dignity and respect.’
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Sleeping With Someone Else Makes You Stupid
‘We have never been meant to sleep in the same bed as each other. It is a bizarre thing to do.’
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7 Bloggers Discuss the Case of Juan Cole
Did Yale decide not to hire Cole because of ‘Informed Comment’?
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Michael Bérubé on Blogging and Public Writing
People who see blogging as a waste of time often see writing for magazines the same way.
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Group of Left Scholars Protest Churchill Firing
Others on left disagree on grounds that truth matters.
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Sufi Muslim Council Launched
Inayat Bunglawala says it won’t work.
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Report Cites Increase in Racism Across EU
Seems to have race thoroughly confused with religion, and vice versa.
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Irshad Manji on Signs of Reform
Empowerment of women and ability to exercise freedom of conscience are crucial.
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Asians in Media on the Brick Lane ‘Protests’
‘It was all taking place in a sweet shop that could barely hold 20 people.’