Salman Rushdie ate my hampster

linfordlunchbox · June 2007

Only the mention of his name seems to trigger the flag burning nowadays.

Give the bloke a knighthood and they are burning effigies of the queen in Pakistan.

What would happen if they burnt the Pakistan flag in Bradford - cries of racism ?

"I'd clean my car with a baby elephant - if I had a baby elephant !"

Unknown · June 2007

That's reminded me, I'm going to stop off at the Library on the way home and pick a copy of "The Satanic Verses" up, I think it's about time I saw what all the fuss was about in the first place... ...though I have heard it isn't that interesting a read.

Unknown · June 2007

There was a politician on the news last night saying that the knighthood would lead to more suicide bombings.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by linfordlunchbox

Give the bloke a knighthood and they are burning effigies of the queen in Pakistan.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Soddit, give him a peerage.

Mosschops2 · June 2007

I've never read it myself Peyote - but it is regularly at the bottom half of the best 100 books of all time - so it may be a good choice....

- Make me a bicycle, clown!
- All right, I'm going to make you a bicycle. But I don't want to make you a bicycle.

Eat My Dust · June 2007

I was shocked when I found out it was a fictional story. I thought the guy had written some kind of historical investigation into Islam.

Now wait till I find the cu*t who wrote that Santa Claus story, the bast*rd!!!!

SNAPS

bad company · June 2007

Can somebody please explain to me what this guy did to earn a knighthood!

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against him but I just can't see that he has been that special.

I AM THE STIG - HONEST

redcogs · June 2007

Anyone who aspires to an 'honour' is a waste of space.

Anyone who accepts one, is a complete waste of space, aligning themselves with one of the most corrupt, corrupting, and vicious nation states in history.

Respect to all the honourable and principled individuals who have rejected the 'honours' and the pathetic decadence of the 'honours' system.

please look up to the stars.. ***

mjones · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redcogs

Anyone who aspires to an 'honour' is a waste of space.

Anyone who accepts one, is a complete waste of space, aligning themselves with one of the most corrupt, corrupting, and vicious nation states in history.

...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You never grow weary of hyperbole do you!

Joe Sacco · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redcogs

Anyone who aspires to an 'honour' is a waste of space.

Anyone who accepts one, is a complete waste of space, aligning themselves with one of the most corrupt, corrupting, and vicious nation states in history.

Respect to all the honourable and principled individuals who have rejected the 'honours' and the pathetic decadence of the 'honours' system.

please look up to the stars.. ***
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A little bit dramatic, even for you.

Joe Sacco · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bad company

Can somebody please explain to me what this guy did to earn a knighthood!

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against him but I just can't see that he has been that special.

I AM THE STIG - HONEST
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He did about as much as most people who get them. I think they have become debased over the years.

Absinthe Minded · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mjones:

You never grow weary of hyperbole do you!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think the difference there is that hyperbole isn't mean't to be taken literally, redders' post was.

<hr noshade size="1">Ja sam napisao ovo ovde samo zbog toga da izgledam pametan...

See My route to work!

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redcogs

Respect to all the honourable and principled individuals who have rejected the 'honours' and the pathetic decadence of the 'honours' system.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Been missed out again, redders? [;)]

Absinthe Minded · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bad company

Can somebody please explain to me what this guy did to earn a knighthood!

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against him but I just can't see that he has been that special.

I AM THE STIG - HONEST
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">He's great at hiding?

<hr noshade size="1">Ja sam napisao ovo ovde samo zbog toga da izgledam pametan...

See My route to work!

ankev1 · June 2007

There's a problem with Salman Rushdie on the one hand he's a complete right on London literay luvvy fool who deserves a fate worse than death and on the other you've got to defend free speech against the ignorant barbarian hordes. The latter wins out, just. OTH if the old Ayatollah, with his lit crit head on instead of Islamic moron head, had said top him because he writes pretentious crap, it would have been hard to disagree.

Smeggers · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bad company

Can somebody please explain to me what this guy did to earn a knighthood!

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against him but I just can't see that he has been that special.

I AM THE STIG - HONEST
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

.... a damn site more than Cliff Richard.

Hickory Dickory Dock,
A baby elephant ran up the clock,
The clock is being repaired

rothbook · June 2007

Will Self's perspective on Rushdie's knighthood in today's Evening Standard:

So was it really worth it, Salman?, Will Self, 19 June
I HAVE no desire to give succour to Pakistan's Minister for Religious Affairs or any other benighted Islamist bigot who uses Salman Rushdie's knighthood as an excuse to whip up their unholy war on our sacred values of liberality and toleration. Nevertheless, given the furore that The Satanic Verses occasioned, it does strike me that any responsible writer might ask himself whether the fallout from accepting such an honour was really worth the bauble.

Some argue that Rushdie has a "right" to accept it, but with such rights come commensurate responsibilities. Can we expect Sir Salman to return to these shores and engage himself in vigorous charitable activities? Or will he be serving abroad, as a goodwill ambassador?

It is surely better that writers decline any form of honour. We should remain unacknowledged legislators, leaving all pomp and circumstance to vulgarians, such as pop stars or artists.

Do you agree with him? Should Rushdie have been offered a knighthood at this time? -
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/arti ... rtComments

Special K · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bad company

Can somebody please explain to me what this guy did to earn a knighthood!

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against him but I just can't see that he has been that special.

I AM THE STIG - HONEST
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have read Midnight's Children and the Satanic Verses and both are excellent (if you like books like Gabriel Garcia Marques, Milan Kundera etc then you'll like this). Rushdie is a great author.

IMO the controversy over the Satanic Verses is about the title of the book and not the content (which most flag burners could not have read for reasons of a) local censorship b) possibly education/language.)
The book could conceivably have been called "Skydive" and Rushdie might have got away with it, just like Swift did with "Gullivers Travels". The mistake he made was in thinking that these are enlightened and sophisticated days that we live in when actually there is a whole world out there that is happy to be reactionary and slightly medieval.

Dave Cornwall · June 2007

Never read the book, so I can't judge on the content, and wasn't too keen on him getting a knighthood. But now the objections from those who most likely haven't read it either have changed my mind. But, they should go the whole hog (can I say that or will they be offended by that and all?) and make him a Lord

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Cornwall

Never read the book, so I can't judge on the content, and wasn't too keen on him getting a knighthood. But now the objections from those who most likely haven't read it either have changed my mind. But, they should go the whole hog (can I say that or will they be offended by that and all?) and make him a Lord
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I don't think he can afford a peerage.

pauluscp · June 2007

So does the declaration by Pakistans minister that bombers should come to Britain not constitute a declaration of war apon us? Should we not retaliate if such actions actually happen?

So many roads, so little time!!!

Eat My Dust · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by paulus

So does the declaration by Pakistans minister that bombers should come to Britain not constitute a declaration of war apon us? Should we not retaliate if such actions actually happen?

So many roads, so little time!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Shhhhh man!!! Don't you know that your not allowed to speak ill of Islam or any foreign nation. You'll be earmarked as a bigot and a racist!!!

SNAPS

Joe Sacco · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by paulus

So does the declaration by Pakistans minister that bombers should come to Britain not constitute a declaration of war apon us? Should we not retaliate if such actions actually happen?

So many roads, so little time!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Typical remark from a bigot and a racist.

flattythehurdler · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Sacco

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by paulus

So does the declaration by Pakistans minister that bombers should come to Britain not constitute a declaration of war apon us? Should we not retaliate if such actions actually happen?

So many roads, so little time!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Typical remark from a bigot and a racist.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You cannot be serious.
(It's that time of year again unfortunately)

Dan

Cathryn · June 2007

Seriously, forget all the London literary hype surrounding him.... Salman Rushdie is a fantastic writer and hugely deserves his knighthood! I've not read the Satanic Verses but have read loads of his other stuff and it's wonderful writing. He's also won the Booker and the Booker of Bookers. I honestly believe he deserves his knighthood much more than some others who get knighted!!

Criticise the hype by all means, but if you haven't read the bloke, give him a chance!

grayo59 · June 2007

I dunno ...

And going back to Redcogs - what about Fred Dibnah - he was a working class hero and he happily accepted his MBE.

Personally I think "Sir Fred" would have been a better honour. Or even "Frederick of Redbrix" aka "The Red Baron."[:D]

__________________
......heading for the box, but not too soon I hope!

redcogs · June 2007

i enjoyed Fred Dibnah just as much prior to him accepting a gong.

Rushdie would have saved himself a great deal of trouble had he refused his, the potential for any international situation would have been undercut, and his reputation as a writer of principle would have remained completely intact.

i conclude that the man is probably very egotistical. Shame.

Well said Will Self.

please look up to the stars.. ***

Flying_Monkey · June 2007

I do find it hard to take seriously those who concentrate more on what Rushdie should or should not do, than the threats to maim and mutilate from religious fanatics, from government ministers to street-level demagogues, and even in this country.

I have no time for honours, but it doesn't really matter whether you like Rushdie or agree with his decision to accept this, there is absolutely no excuse for those in any way arguing that the the bigotry and violence of others is somehow his fault for provoking them, especially from those on the 'left'. It's bad enough when the SWP starts arguing for the connections between Islam and Marxism, but when more 'reasonable' people supposedly on the side of enlightenment and progress make excuses for reactionary vioence and ignorant ideology, or ignore that in favour of criticising the victim, I am very worried. What next? Arguments in favour of rape because 'she was asking for it' by wearing a short skirt?

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Flying_Monkey

I do find it hard to take seriously those who concentrate more on what Rushdie should or should not do, than the threats to maim and mutilate from religious fanatics, from government ministers to street-level demagogues, and even in this country.

I have no time for honours, but it doesn't really matter whether you like Rushdie or agree with his decision to accept this, there is absolutely no excuse for those in any way arguing that the the bigotry and violence of others is somehow his fault for provoking them, especially from those on the 'left'. It's bad enough when the SWP starts arguing for the connections between Islam and Marxism, but when more 'reasonable' people supposedly on the side of enlightenment and progress make excuses for reactionary vioence and ignorant ideology, or ignore that in favour of criticising the victim, I am very worried. What next? Arguments in favour of rape because 'she was asking for it' by wearing a short skirt?

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree with FM on this. I am somewhat cynical about the honours system generally, but less deserving people than Rushdie have had knighthoods, and there's no way that the award or not of an honour should be determined by the likely reaction of fanatics.

redcogs · June 2007

It is very difficult to read this thread without having to scroll laterally using the mouse.

Any advice on how to overcome the problem would be gratefully received.

please look up to the stars.. ***

Flying_Monkey · June 2007

There's nothing you can do - it's a problem when people post massive links in full, as opposed to using tinyurl etc...

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

Salman Rushdie ate my hampster

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