11 dead in French satirical magazine shooting

[crazy canuck]

It would have made more sense if he just said criticism and satire. The fearless disrespect seemed liked a bizarre rhetorical flourish.

I disagree. I think especially from the perspective of a novelist like Rushdie or any other artist approaching a subject or an idea from a position of immediate respect is inhibiting and wrong. All ideas need to be open to disrespect, to descralisation - including, of course, all the different pieties in this thread.

There is an important distinction between something being "open" to disrespect (as you say) which is not very different from open to criticism and "deserving" disrespect.

[Martinus]

Malthus choose to side with people I don't respect. This makes me sad.

[Jacob]

I can understand the strident tone of Rushdie's 'post' as this outrage would very likely have been his fate years ago, but for police protection, going into hiding and the then relative lack of murderous fanatics.

I guess he probably feels threatened again.

Yeah, it's understandable from Rushdie.

Still, I reserve the right to criticize and even mock him.

[Viking]

In any case, ideas are not people. He did not say Muslims deserve disrespect - he said Islam does. Ideas have no rights and do not deserve respect.

Really?  A theology can "demand" respect without the need for human agency?  So you are a Theist after all.

I'm baffled by your idiocy here.

[Sheilbh]

I can understand the strident tone of Rushdie's 'post' as this outrage would very likely have been his fate years ago, but for police protection, going into hiding and the then relative lack of murderous fanatics.

I guess he probably feels threatened again.

But to go back to the editors point I believe one of his editors and one of his translators were murdered.

[garbon]

It would have made more sense if he just said criticism and satire. The fearless disrespect seemed liked a bizarre rhetorical flourish.

I disagree. I think especially from the perspective of a novelist like Rushdie or any other artist approaching a subject or an idea from a position of immediate respect is inhibiting and wrong. All ideas need to be open to disrespect, to descralisation - including, of course, all the different pieties in this thread.

There is an important distinction between something being "open" to disrespect (as you say) which is not very different from open to criticism and "deserving" disrespect.

Yeah for sure.

[Liep]

Islam can't demand respect as an idea, it can't speak. Maybe you are talking about Muslims who demand respect for their religion - which when phrased like that seems similar to the construction of gays demanding respect for their sexuality/life choices.

It can demand respect for it to work as an idea.

[Jacob]

I'm baffled by your idiocy here.

he's mocking your own inconsistencies. In fact, you could say he is criticizing and satirizing you.

[Malthus]

It would have made more sense if he just said criticism and satire. The fearless disrespect seemed liked a bizarre rhetorical flourish.

I disagree. I think especially from the perspective of a novelist like Rushdie or any other artist approaching a subject or an idea from a position of immediate respect is inhibiting and wrong. All ideas need to be open to disrespect, to descralisation - including, of course, all the different pieties in this thread.

There is an important distinction between something being "open" to disrespect (as you say) which is not very different from open to criticism and "deserving" disrespect.

I was going to post this, but you beat me to it. 

[crazy canuck]

In any case, ideas are not people. He did not say Muslims deserve disrespect - he said Islam does. Ideas have no rights and do not deserve respect.

Really?  A theology can "demand" respect without the need for human agency?  So you are a Theist after all.

I'm baffled

I am not surprised.

[Viking]

I'm baffled by your idiocy here.

he's mocking your own inconsistencies. In fact, you could say he is criticizing and satirizing you.

The only inconsistencies are between the various strawmen being constructed.

[Jacob]

The only inconsistencies are between the various strawmen being constructed.

Yeah, which is why you should stop making them.

[mongers]

I can understand the strident tone of Rushdie's 'post' as this outrage would very likely have been his fate years ago, but for police protection, going into hiding and the then relative lack of murderous fanatics.

I guess he probably feels threatened again.

But to go back to the editors point I believe one of his editors and one of his translators were murdered.

Oh I wasn't addressing that point and didn't read that post, but yes it was deadly then, but weren't those two killed in the Muslim world, whereas now the threat is Very real here in Europe and I have some sympathy with guardian editors quandary.

[Liep]

Danish newspapers tomorrow

[garbon]

Islam can't demand respect as an idea, it can't speak. Maybe you are talking about Muslims who demand respect for their religion - which when phrased like that seems similar to the construction of gays demanding respect for their sexuality/life choices.

It can demand respect for it to work as an idea.

It? Again, I assume you mean Muslims can demand respect for it to work as an idea. Can I not also say that Gays demand respect for the idea of homosexuality working as an idea? After all - much of the 20th century saw homosexuality noted as just disordered thing that always led to bad ends for its adherents.