Iran condemns Britain over Rushdie knighthood

06-18-2007, 02:33 PM

Iran condemns Britain over Rushdie knighthood
Says award is an insult to Islam

Quote:

Iran accused Britain yesterday of insulting Islamic values by knighting Salman Rushdie, whose novel "The Satanic Verses" prompted the late Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to issue a fatwa death warrant against him.

So, Britain finally gets a spine when it comes to Islam... now, apply it to the schools please.

Sundae · 06-18-2007, 02:48 PM

The thread I posted this in died pretty soon after I responded, so you may not have seen it. Basically I was questioning your assumption that British schools refused to teach anything about the Holocaust from fear of offending Muslims.

Quote:

The only possible explanation I can think of is the story that one single school in a predominately Muslim area chose not to include the Holocaust as an essay topic at GCSE level (14-16 year old). Please bear in mind that schools throughout the UK get to choose which specific modules they teach for the exam. I did World Powers in the 20th Century for my GCSE - my friend at a different school did Tudors & Stuarts (British Middle Ages) and got exactly the same qualification.

In this case it was decided that it wasn't reasonable to set a question that would count towards their final grade if it contradicted what they had been taught at home and in the mosque. Not when there were plenty of other topics that could be selected that would not anger the community, disrupt classes, and which would allow pupils to get the qualifications their intelligence deserved.

In the same way schools in the Bible Belt would probably protest if pupils had to sit an exam where the only acceptable responses involved reference to evolution.

It was nothing to do with cowardice. It was an isolated educational decision.

Sundae · 06-18-2007, 02:54 PM

In fact, here is Snopes on the subject. I can't seem to cut & paste from there but it basically confirms what I wrote above - there was only ONE case, ONE school that removed Holocaust teaching from its history curriculum.

Flint · 06-18-2007, 03:53 PM

The Satanic Verses is a great book.

It's title is misleading in the same way that the Grateful Dead would appear to be a hard rock band (the skeletons, etc.) ...

Cyclefrance · 06-18-2007, 05:35 PM

Even if Rushdie did write a good book, and that the subject matter put his life at risk, I don't quite get the relevance of bestowing him a knighthood. But then the whole honours programme can leave you scratching your head wondering in too many instances...

elSicomoro · 06-18-2007, 05:41 PM

If I were a British subject, you fuckers would totally knight me.

Sundae · 06-18-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclefrance

Even if Rushdie did write a good book, and that the subject matter put his life at risk, I don't quite get the relevance of bestowing him a knighthood. But then the whole honours programme can leave you scratching your head wondering in too many instances...

CF - he's been knighted for his lifetime contribution to literature - don't fall into the trap of believing a furore nearly 20 years ago is the reason for his knighthood. Although I agree with you it seems random sometimes. I'd far rather see Sir Ian Hislop

[Not CF]Crikey me - it wasn't even the same Government, unless the Iranians believe the Queen has held a grudge against Islam all this time and has finally revealed her Islamophobia in a topical and dazzling display.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamore

If I were a British subject, you fuckers would totally knight me.

Because once a knight's enough?

Clodfobble · 06-18-2007, 05:56 PM

Ahh, they only knighted him because he appeared on the Colbert Report and they didn't want to seem like they were behind the times.

elSicomoro · 06-18-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Because once a knight's enough?

There is no such thing as too much Sycamore.

06-18-2007, 06:12 PM

This is a Fuck You over the whole kidnapping their soldiers deal.
A good one too, smart.

Aliantha · 06-19-2007, 12:56 AM

There are a lot of other people who've been knighted for contribution to the arts. Sir Elton John for one. The list is long.

Knighthoods aren't very special really.

You'd be better off with an Order of Australia.

DanaC · 06-19-2007, 06:00 AM

Once and for all, British schools are not pandering to Moslem sensibilities in their teaching. One school, in which a teacher felt unable to tackle a contentious issue was used as an example of how not to approach the teaching of history. It was mentioned in a report which was penned to offer schools best practice advice on History teaching: included within that report were examples of potential pitfalls and potential solutions, along with examples of good practice and examples of poor practice.

Rexmons · 06-19-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

The thread I posted this in died pretty soon after I responded, so you may not have seen it. Basically I was questioning your assumption that British schools refused to teach anything about the Holocaust from fear of offending Muslims.

thats pretty dumb, it's funny how everyone assumes all Muslims hate Jews and vice versa. The only instance of real turmoil is the whole Palestine / Isreal cluster-fuck and thats over land not religion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

This is a Fuck You over the whole kidnapping their soldiers deal.
A good one too, smart.

if they wanted to be smart about it they would have issued the fuck you to iran and it's 65 million people directly and not the Islamic world and it's 1.3 billion followers.

DanaC · 06-19-2007, 07:41 AM

This has nothing to do with any kidnapped soldiers.

Salman Rushdi is a highly respected writer. He has been honoured for his services to writing and culture. The honours list often includes such literary figures.

What would be entirely unacceptable, would be if we debarred someone who is considered to be a literary giant, from receiving such an honour on the grounds that his books offended a faith.

I'd be the first to admit that there is a problem in this country with Islamophobia......but this is nothing to do with that.

elSicomoro · 06-19-2007, 10:26 AM

Apparently, some folks in Pakistan are none too happy with Rushdie's knighthood as well...from the BBC: The UK's envoy to Pakistan has expressed "deep concern" over comments by a Pakistani minister about Sir Salman Rushdie's knighthood.

Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq had said the honour meant a risk of suicide attacks because Muslims believed Sir Salman had insulted Islam.

But High Commissioner Robert Brinkley said it was untrue that the knighthood was intended to insult Islam.

Sir Salman's book The Satanic Verses in 1989 sparked protests around the world.

06-18-2007, 02:54 PM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	In fact, here is Snopes on the subject. I can't seem to cut & paste from there but it basically confirms what I wrote above - there was only ONE case, ONE school that removed Holocaust teaching from its history curriculum. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

06-18-2007, 03:53 PM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	The Satanic Verses is a great book. It's title is misleading in the same way that the Grateful Dead would appear to be a hard rock band (the skeletons, etc.) ... __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-18-2007, 05:35 PM	#5
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Even if Rushdie did write a good book, and that the subject matter put his life at risk, I don't quite get the relevance of bestowing him a knighthood. But then the whole honours programme can leave you scratching your head wondering in too many instances... __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

06-19-2007, 12:56 AM	#11
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	There are a lot of other people who've been knighted for contribution to the arts. Sir Elton John for one. The list is long. Knighthoods aren't very special really. You'd be better off with an Order of Australia. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

06-18-2007, 05:41 PM	#6
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	If I were a British subject, you fuckers would totally knight me.

06-18-2007, 05:56 PM	#8
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Ahh, they only knighted him because he appeared on the Colbert Report and they didn't want to seem like they were behind the times.

06-18-2007, 06:12 PM	#10
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	This is a Fuck You over the whole kidnapping their soldiers deal. A good one too, smart.

06-19-2007, 06:00 AM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Once and for all, British schools are not pandering to Moslem sensibilities in their teaching. One school, in which a teacher felt unable to tackle a contentious issue was used as an example of how not to approach the teaching of history. It was mentioned in a report which was penned to offer schools best practice advice on History teaching: included within that report were examples of potential pitfalls and potential solutions, along with examples of good practice and examples of poor practice.

06-19-2007, 07:41 AM	#14
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	This has nothing to do with any kidnapped soldiers. Salman Rushdi is a highly respected writer. He has been honoured for his services to writing and culture. The honours list often includes such literary figures. What would be entirely unacceptable, would be if we debarred someone who is considered to be a literary giant, from receiving such an honour on the grounds that his books offended a faith. I'd be the first to admit that there is a problem in this country with Islamophobia......but this is nothing to do with that.

06-19-2007, 10:26 AM	#15
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Apparently, some folks in Pakistan are none too happy with Rushdie's knighthood as well...from the BBC: The UK's envoy to Pakistan has expressed "deep concern" over comments by a Pakistani minister about Sir Salman Rushdie's knighthood. Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq had said the honour meant a risk of suicide attacks because Muslims believed Sir Salman had insulted Islam. But High Commissioner Robert Brinkley said it was untrue that the knighthood was intended to insult Islam. Sir Salman's book The Satanic Verses in 1989 sparked protests around the world.

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