Here’s an assortment of celebrations.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Indonesia Calls Danish Diplomatic Pullout ‘Hasty’
Why would diplomats want to leave merely because of threats?
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Nick Cohen on Striking Bus Drivers in Tehran
The Muslims of Tehran are not a monolithic bloc happy to follow the orders of the ayatollahs.
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Another Extract from Norm Geras on Rescuers
If you fail to help ‘an innocent fugitive, you have no place in the community of the just’.
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Rescuers Part 3
Friendship and moral commitments interact; but then friendship is a moral commitment.
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Demonstrators Protest Secularism
‘We demand that people show respect for each other’s community, each other’s faith and each other’s religion.’
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Ayaan Hirsi Ali Affirms Secularism
‘Today the open society is challenged by Islamism.’
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French Council of Muslim Faith Decides to Sue
On what grounds, one wonders.
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Alastair Campbell on Words and Blurbs
‘He’d be better off with “Crap from start to finish – Alastair Campbell.”‘
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Non Sequitur Meets Category Mistake
‘We support free speech’ – you always know what the next conjunction will be.
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Former Head of MAB Scolds ‘Secular Fanatics’
Equates ‘insulting the prophets of God’ with denial of the Holocaust.
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The Real Conflict is Over the Idea of Blasphemy
Laws that punish blasphemers are impossible in secular society.
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Review of Breaking the Spell
Argues that religious belief is often sheltered from argument and scientific scrutiny.
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Amir Taheri on Manufacturing Outrage
It took time, effort, and persistence.
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Malaysia’s PM Speaks of Chasm
Demonstrations in Nairobi, Bhopal, Dhaka, Gaza City.
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Chirac: Freedom of Expression Must not be Abused
‘Anything that can hurt the convictions of another, particularly religious convictions, must be avoided.’
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It’s Nearly Darwin Day
Robert Stephens expects about 600 celebrations this year, three times more than last year.
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Atheists Should Ride Kierkegaard’s Horse
Dennett writes about religion as a purely social and empirical phenomenon.
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Get Ready for Darwin Day
Darwin Day founded on the premise that science, like music, is an international language.
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UK Imams Demand Changes in the Law
To outlaw any possible publication of the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in the UK.