Salman Rushdie....
Discussion
...remember him?
Aparently, the fatwa on him has just been re-stated by the new Ayatollah.
The man has been living in hiding for, are you ready for this, 15 years. Yes, 15.
And this despite the Iranian government washing their hands of the death threat more than 6 years ago.
I've read it (at the time, still got it in a dusty box somewhere) and found it a fairly witty, if not a bit tedious, satire. But then again, I'm not Muslim so am not likely to be offended.
Can any book be THAT offensive that the author has to spend the rest of his life effectively on death row?
Aparently, the fatwa on him has just been re-stated by the new Ayatollah.
The man has been living in hiding for, are you ready for this, 15 years. Yes, 15.
And this despite the Iranian government washing their hands of the death threat more than 6 years ago.
I've read it (at the time, still got it in a dusty box somewhere) and found it a fairly witty, if not a bit tedious, satire. But then again, I'm not Muslim so am not likely to be offended.
Can any book be THAT offensive that the author has to spend the rest of his life effectively on death row?
The GMan said:
Don't understand how it has never been carried out! He is at the GQ awards all the time and any other freebie night out.
I was thinking that myself. I guess they'd never attempt to attack him in such situations. I read that the Special Branch are still charged with his protection though. I don't think he lives in the UK anymore....
It costs us a fortune to protect him as well.
He wrote the book knowing it would cause outrage. Why don't they just make him shave his beard off and stick him in a council house in Dundee or somewhere like someone in the witness protection programme. If he doesn't fancy that he can arrange his own protection.
He wrote the book knowing it would cause outrage. Why don't they just make him shave his beard off and stick him in a council house in Dundee or somewhere like someone in the witness protection programme. If he doesn't fancy that he can arrange his own protection.
Bollocks. Hes a British Citizen, entitled to protection. He can do whatever he likes in this country, so long as it doesn't break any laws.
If the leader of another country puts a bounty on his head, we should do whatever we can to protect him, regardless of how much it costs.
Just because other people don't respect free speech doesn't mean we should erode our principles.
If the leader of another country puts a bounty on his head, we should do whatever we can to protect him, regardless of how much it costs.
Just because other people don't respect free speech doesn't mean we should erode our principles.
parrot of doom said:
Bollocks. Hes a British Citizen, entitled to protection. He can do whatever he likes in this country, so long as it doesn't break any laws.
If the leader of another country puts a bounty on his head, we should do whatever we can to protect him, regardless of how much it costs.
Just because other people don't respect free speech doesn't mean we should erode our principles.
So protect him. Like we would a normal person in the witness protection programme. Not by spending millions on around the clock personal protection.
parrot of doom said:
Bollocks. Hes a British Citizen, entitled to protection. He can do whatever he likes in this country, so long as it doesn't break any laws.
If the leader of another country puts a bounty on his head, we should do whatever we can to protect him, regardless of how much it costs.
Just because other people don't respect free speech doesn't mean we should erode our principles.
Trouuble is, if you stood outside Finsbury Park Mosque shouting that all Muslims were f***ing wa*k**s while rubbing pork fat onto their front door, you would be arrested and slammed in chokey for "Inciting Religous Hatred" - non? (Not to mention becomomg a new figure of loathing for every noo-labia-loving rag in existance.)
So, why is it different for Mr Rushdie?
Oli.
edit for spilleng erras
>> Edited by zcacogp on Friday 21st January 14:32
zcacogp said:
if you stood outside Finsbury Park Mosque shouting that all Muslims were f***ing wa*k**s while rubbing pork fat onto their front door,
Might I hazzard a guess that you haven't read the book in question then?
It about the equivalent of The Life of Brian, just not as funny.
Don't see many catholics wanting John Cleese's head cut off, do you?
Topic divergence mode on but that reminds me:
At the end of a long day, all the fisherman had caught was one small,
red salmon. He was about to kill it when the salmon shouted, "Wait,
I'm much too small!"
"Wow, a talking salmon," the fisherman exclaimed, "What's your name?"
"Rusty," replied the salmon. "Please throw me back into the sea!"
The fisherman did so.
About a year later, the man was fishing the same spot when he again
caught Rusty! "Amazing," exclaimed the fisherman, "What have you been
doing since I last caught you?"
"I've been sitting on the wreck of the good ship Titanic writing
poetry, it's very inspirational there."
The fisherman read some of the poems and was quite impressed. "These
should be published," he said. "Have you thought of a title for
them?"
After some thought the fish said, "I'll call them "Salmon Rusty's
Titanic Verses."
At the end of a long day, all the fisherman had caught was one small,
red salmon. He was about to kill it when the salmon shouted, "Wait,
I'm much too small!"
"Wow, a talking salmon," the fisherman exclaimed, "What's your name?"
"Rusty," replied the salmon. "Please throw me back into the sea!"
The fisherman did so.
About a year later, the man was fishing the same spot when he again
caught Rusty! "Amazing," exclaimed the fisherman, "What have you been
doing since I last caught you?"
"I've been sitting on the wreck of the good ship Titanic writing
poetry, it's very inspirational there."
The fisherman read some of the poems and was quite impressed. "These
should be published," he said. "Have you thought of a title for
them?"
After some thought the fish said, "I'll call them "Salmon Rusty's
Titanic Verses."
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff