Rushdie, Muslim rage, and the West

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II bestows the title of Sir to author of "The Satanic Verses", Salman Rushdie and the Muslim world reacts with ... cartoon-like anger.

"Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution to condemn the action as an affront to Muslim sentiments" and "provided justification for suicide attacks." That's Pakistan, our so-called partner in the war against terrorism. They are slipping into the abyss and Washington would be wise to keep a sharp eye on them. Of course Iran isn't happy either.

I say Hip Hip Horrah to the Brits and to the Queen. Sepia Mutiny via Global Voices points out that Rushdie in the 80s was a strong critic of the British establishment.

What is Rushdie's crime, according to the Muslims? Locked and Secure answers that question, and it could describe any of you.

His books haven’t killed anybody or even advocated it, and like all writers he is just expressing his personal thoughts, which he is totally entitled to in my view.

SnappedShot has a page full of photos and images of the protests, and has this prediction and also wonders why the same ugly faces show up at these protests:

If this keeps up, I think we might have yet another DAY OF RAGE on our hands, and if it's going to rise to Day of Rage levels, it's bound to happen this Friday. Keep your eyes peeled ...

Here's some of the responses from Pakistan and Iran:

Muslim students burned effigies of both the Queen and Rushdie while 100 students chanted, "Kill him! Kill him!" [snip]

"The west is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his (Rushdie's) body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes and withdraws the 'sir' title." [snip]

"Awarding a person who is among the most detested characters in the Islamic society is obvious proof of anti-Islamism by ranking British officials,"

"If Muslims do not unite, the situation will get worse and Salman Rushdie may get a seat in the British parliament."

"Awarding a person who is among the most detested characters in the Islamic society is obvious proof of anti-Islamism by ranking British officials,"

Iran's highest cleric issued a fatwa, or religious edict in 1989 ordering his assassination, which forced Rushdie into hiding for many years. In 1989 Iran said that it didn't support the order, but that it couldn't withdraw it. (more)

Radical Islam: Humanity’s Deathtrap., How the world is progressing from burning books to burning authors.
By R.J. Godlewski:

Now, after this week’s knighthood of the author by the queen of England, ostensibly for his life’s work, the Islamic community is, once again, in selfish uproar, demanding among other things, his being handed over to face Islamic justice. By that, I am quite certain; they mean a kangaroo trial and an expedited death sentence. I, for the life of me, cannot understand how any peaceful religion can condone such violent reaction to one man’s thoughts. Apparently, the Muslim community has decided to forfeit history and the lessons to be learned from it. [snip]

So when Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, who claims to be Pakistan’s religious affairs minister, states officially in response to Rushdie’s knighthood:

"The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body, he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes and withdraws the 'sir' title,"

One has to ask, “Who the hell do these Muslims think they are?” To use Ms. Armstrong’s phrase, we can no longer indulge in this kind of bigotry.

Science Avenger says:

To anyone with an open, tolerant mind, who seeks to know, to question, to understand, regardless of where the search leads, the Muslim world is your enemy. They would kill you if they could. Never forget that

The Moderate Voice:

Question: How does the United States government that has placed such a high-profile premium on denouncing terrorism and terrorist tactics respond to this one? [snip]

The issue for the U.S. isn’t Rushdie and the knighthood.

It’s the administration’s stance on terrorism and its reliance on and faith on Pakistan to reject terrorism and terrorism practices because Pakistan supposedly doesn’t condone such things.

The operative word now becomes “supposedly.”

Dance With The Sun had the opportunity to meet Sir Salman Rushdie:

I was introduced to his work almost twenty years ago by someone who would affect my life tremendously. The Jaguar Smile was the very first work of this writer that I read. [snip]

It was August 1988 and I was in Rostov-on-Don by the Russian steppes, in the then USSR. I was with a group of experts on desertification, the baby in the group, [snip]

And Mr. Rushdie enters the picture, this Indian writer who irreverently writes about my country's President in this book which became a standing joke between me and this newfound friend. (more)

Here's what Sir Salman Rushdie has to say, via PaperCuts:

"I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honor, and am very grateful that my work has been recognized in this way,"

Others:
Atlas on Blog Talk Radio to night at 9:00, CALL IN:(347) 996-3944. Subject, "CAIR Attacks SANE and Mapping Shari'a in America "
What Really Happened In The Middle East, Planck's Constant
Jimmy Carter Weighs in On Gaza Civil War-Stupidity From the Peanut Gallery, Yid With Lid
Paul Potts, Woman Honor Thyself
123Beta, Now Reading
Bloomberg Goes Independent?, A blog For All
The Empire is Struck Back, Adam's Blog
Trafficking Women Muzlim Style, Woman Honor Thyself
World at War: In Depth Part Seven, A Few Shiny Pebbles

Happy Birthday to Shadow Scope.

Comments

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 06/20/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.