Sir Salman Rushdie

[thalbergmad]

What is going on now for pities sake??

The UK apparantly is now a target for suicide bombers because Rushdie has got a Knighthood. Pictures of the Queen are being burned in Pakistan.

I do not understand this. I have heard Islam is supposed to be a religion of peace!!!

I understand the award had nothing to do with the book he wrote 20 years ago which gave so much offence.

Please advise what the hell this is all about.

Thal

[prometheus]

You don't take them seriously. Just laugh at them.

[thalbergmad]

Well, if there is any flag burning in UK, i think those responsible should be deported immediately.

Perhaps, i simply have no idea as to the Zeal that some people have for their religion, but to threaten a Country for giving an award to an author, seems pretty incredible to me. Is there no forgiveness anymore?

It seems almost impossible not to give offence nowadays.

Thal

[counterpoint]

Why did Mr. Rushdie get this honour?

Is there a connection to the strained atmosphere between USA/Britain and Iran?

They want to aggravate the conflict a bit?

[bench warmer]

You don't take them seriously. Just laugh at them.

If it were only that easy; then they'd go away. Sadly they will try to eliminate your existence.

It appears there is no reasoning with fanatics. Human life is valued less each day.

[prometheus]

So they want to kill us? Let's just ignore them then.

[jakev2.0]

The United Kingdom ought to be able to knight whoever they deem merits the distinction. Ignorant, dark aged, fanatical bigots can whine all they want about it - western societies should NEVER give in, abet, or change their fundamental values for these degenerates.

Congratulations, Salman. 

[counterpoint]

fundamental values

You said this, not me 

[jakev2.0]

I *heart* Canada.

[pies]

a

[thalbergmad]

Personally, i don't think he deserved it, but we should be able to give honours to anyone withtout being threatened by flag burning fanatics.

Thal

[prometheus]

Those extremists don't even know what he wrote about their prophet that makes them so angry.


Just as with those cartoons.

Those Islamist states channel the anger they create by oppressing their people towards Israel, the west, etc.

But they often oppress their people with the help of the US.

[ramseytheii]

The United Kingdom ought to be able to knight whoever they deem merits the distinction. Ignorant, dark aged, fanatical bigots can whine all they want about it - western societies should NEVER give in, abet, or change their fundamental values for these degenerates.

Congratulations, Salman. 

Bravo!  He is one of the most accomplished men of letters of the past half-century.  One of his first novels, "Midnight's Children," won not only the Booker Prize, the biggest prize in publishing, but the "Booker of Bookers," the best book to win the prize in 25 years.

When Khomeini declared fatwa against Rushdie, many novelists and artists defended him publicly.  Many religious leaders and politicians suggested he had it coming, because of his book "Satanic Verses."

In this book he poetically expands verses of the Koran that inspired his imagination.  Apparently Mohammed gave a bit of leeway to polytheists, despite the strict monotheism of his religion.  Later, he publicly renounced his tolerance, declaring those verses to be satanic, and not dictated from Allah.  Rushdie wonders in his novel, what if all the verses are satanic?  Or, what if there is no difference between the satanic and the divine?

The fatwa was declared for depicting a Mohammed-type character in literature, which is against the religion (he also named him Mahound, which was a derogatory name for Mohammed), for suggesting the Koran might be satanic, which is definitely a no-no, and finally because Rushdie himself had been born Muslim, and left the faith, which is a sin punishable by death. 

To those that suggest this is deliberately to inflame, I seriously doubt that can be possible, since he is one of the most accomplished British citizens in any artistic field.  But if it does inflame, so much the better, because it makes those complaining out to be the barbarians they are.  Any author can freely write a book questioning the divinity, lineage, etc of Jesus, and it should be the same with Mohammed.  We should not treat any religion with condescension, saying, we don't want to hurt your feelings.  We should question them all equally.

Walter Ramsey

[thalbergmad]

Well said Sir.

Thal

[mephisto]

If pianistimo sais that gay people are evil, do you then conclude that all christians share this oppinion...?

[thalbergmad]

Indeed not, and i do not suggest that all Muslims share the same opinion, but veiled threats were made by a MINISTER of the Pakastani government, which makes it a little worrying.

If a Pakastini wrote a book that offended Christians, do you think John Prescott or Jack Straw would say that exploding a bomb would be justified?. Would you see Englishman on the streets burning flags?

The reaction to this award is absurd.

Thal

[counterpoint]

If a Pakastini wrote a book that offended Christians, do you think John Prescott or Jack Straw would say that exploding a bomb would be justified?.

I have not the slightest doubt about that.
But they will not say it straightforward. They will find some chemical weapons in Pakistan and then they will save the world from the Pakistani danger    

[thalbergmad]

Possibly, but i fail to see how decisions that our moron government has made would affect the outbursts from certain parties concerning this award.

Bliar has made stupid decisions, but i don't think they were motivated by Religion.

He is nothing but a Bush puppet anyway. and soon to be an ex Bush puppet.

I will shortly open another thread to glorify the wonderful achievments of his 10 years in power.

Thal

[prometheus]

I have not the slightest doubt about that.
But they will not say it straightforward. They will find some chemical weapons in Pakistan and then they will save the world from the Pakistani danger    

Pakistan has nukes and a 3500 kilometer missile range. They could nuke quite a lot of NATO military basis in the region killing thousands and thousands of our soldiers.


Not to forget that Israel can destroy most European capitals as well as the Arab capitals.

[thalbergmad]

they will save the world from the Pakistani danger 

We would have to invade Braford to do that.

Thal

[fiddes]

and southall trust me southfull rivals bradford

it called mini india (not being rasist at all just what ive heard)

[zheer]

it called mini india (not being rasist at all just what ive heard)

   I've been to Southall a lot, it is mini india.