Should we be sensitive to religious feelings or to readers’ need to get uncensored news?… Read the rest
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Nine Life Sentences in Gujarat Case 
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Twelve Muslims, two others burned to death when Best Bakery was attacked by a Hindu mob in 2002. … Read the rest
Livingstone Suspended for Being Insensitive
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His words were inappropriate for the ‘elected representative of Londoners of all faiths and beliefs.’… Read the rest
Smooth, Summers Was Not
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It was the spicy chicken wing that did him in.… Read the rest
Thomas Nagel Reviews Kwame Anthony Appiah
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The right of exit is not enough to cancel the constraining power of strong communal identities.… Read the rest
Scott Jaschik on the Aftermath of Summers
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Summers spoke out for many causes that are central to quality in higher education.… Read the rest
Scott McLemee Questions David Horowitz
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Reading Horowitz’s latest bit of pulp fiction with all the seriousness he can muster.… Read the rest
Cartoon Controversies at Student Newspapers
Feb 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Papers at Harvard and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign publish; UI editors suspended.… Read the rest
Riots Kill At Least Twenty in Southern Nigeria
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Attacks on Muslims, in apparent retaliation for the deaths of Christians in riots in the north. … Read the rest
Denmark Grovels
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Government planning initiatives to promote ‘respectful dialogue,’ with advice from Muslim countries. … Read the rest
Irving Says Austria is Trying to Silence Him
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As he tried to silence a certain historian via a libel trial, perhaps?… Read the rest
Churches Have no Divine Right to be Heard
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A motormouth with a mitre brings neither gaiety nor wisdom to the nations. … Read the rest
South Dakota Moves to Ban Abortion
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Which is already nearly unavailable there.… Read the rest
More on Summers
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chronicle oversimplifies his women and science comments.… Read the rest
Hitchens Urges: Stand Up for Denmark
Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
All compassion and concern is apparently to be expended upon those who lit the powder trail.… Read the rest
Aaronovitch Reports from a Parallel Universe
Feb 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dan Brown apologizes and promises to become a monk in a silent order.… Read the rest
Pope: ‘Respect’ for Religion ‘Urgent’
Feb 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Necessary and urgent that the faithful not be subjected to provocations injuring their outlook and religious feelings.’… Read the rest
Religious Tyranny at its Most Blunt
Feb 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Imam says UN should impose law condemning insults to religion on all countries.… Read the rest
Irving Tests Belief in the Power of Truth
Feb 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hard to hear Irving without wishing to be armed with something tougher even than the truth.… Read the rest
Amartya Sen on Multiculturalism
Feb 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is no way of escaping foundational questions if multiculturalism is to be fairly assessed. … Read the rest
