Salman Rushdie, British novelist who endured a decade-long fatwa issued by the late Ayatollah Khomeini because he supposedly trashed Islam in his novel The Satanic Verses, made some perceptive comments on Fareed Zakaria's 8 June 2008 GPS show on CNN (excellent show by the way - Henry Kissinger interview, a great Middle East panel discussion).
Rushdie was on briefly - a promo for an longer visit in a few weeks - commenting on the recent suicide bombing at the Danish embassy in Pakistan, yet another reprisal for the infamous cartoons published in a Danish newspaper a few years ago.
He noted that the bombing and associated protests over the cartoons were "tragic" in that "minor cultural issues" were fomenting violence. But he wondered: where is Muslim outrage over Muslim-on-Muslim violence in Darfur? To protest cartoons violently while such greater issues seemingly go unnoticed is "appalling" and "unintelligent".
Good point, Salman. Still have that safe house? Probably another fatwa on tap for you.
Reminds me of the gaffe the pope made a few years ago, when, quoting a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, he implied that Islam was a violent religion. So what happens? Muslims go on a rampage. Duhhh....Hey, Pope Benedict, can you say, "I rest my case?"
"The problem is that no one in Washington ever really pays for their transgressions. The Iran-Contra Class of '86 is still running around DC collecting paychecks. Until someone does pay for their crimes, the behavior will not change." -- Andy, commenter on Bill Moyers' Journal
This is what Rushdie writes for the Queen of Britain. "chamcha.....he found himself dreaming of the Queen, of making tender love to the Monarch. She was the body of Britain, the avatar of the State, and he had chosen her, joined with her; she was his Beloved, the moon of his delight.". Chamcha refers to the character of Rushdiie himself. Amazing, he writes about conjoining with the Queen and the Queen awards him with Knighthood. Amazing!!!
Posted by: Berlin27 | Wednesday, 02 July 2008 at 08:27 AM