Salman Rushdie stabbed

[latesummervibes]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11106479/Salman-Rushdie-injured-stabbed-ahead-speech-New-York.html

This is shocking. He's had a fatwah hanging over his head for decades hasn't he?

Yep, and it's just encouraged more threats to others

Shame on people who don't think freedom of speech is important. Shame on anyone who thinks it's in anyway acceptable to curb it.

Bloody hell @BordoisAgain there are some bloody nutters in this world, I hope JK Rowling has suitable security.

That is absolutely chilling, @BordoisAgain- serious or not. Where do we report it to- and would Twitter actually take action?

When the fatwa in question was issued, it was a tiny number of extremists who opposed freedom of speech and expression. Now that idea is fully entrenched in the arts, in publishing, the media, academia, left wing politics . . . I could go on . . . and offence chasing has become a badge of honour.

Was it a tiny number or were they seemingly quieter, with fewer platforms to spread the message - and more responsible media?

@GCAcademic yes indeed.

This doesn't surprise me. I hope JK has good security, I really do. A woman with her opinions.......

I remember being horrified at the fatwa at the time and certainly am now almost just as concerned for free speech in the western democracies now too. I really hope the Tories do manage to roll it all back.

He’s a tremendously talented writer. Midnights Children and the Moor’s Last Sigh are well worth reading.

This is absolutely horrific I'm praying he makes it through! He is a very interesting and charming man. This is actually chilling to the core.

You're right, @BlueKaftan - I always think he's an underrated writer. I wasn't very keen on the Satanic Verses, although I thought it was intriguing. However, I thought Midnight's Children was excellent. Well worth a read.

sorry, the heat got to my head

I had forgotten the shameful gits of academia who have helped spread this hate and intolerance.

Outrageous

You're right.
I always think this was the beginning of the culture that's developed of not allowing certain freedoms of expression.

I hope he's ok.

Wereally should have moved past such pointless violence by now.

Even if he survives, neck wounds can carry terrible consequences. I can't help but think that those who are against him would see brain-damage as even more of a result than death.

I was working in a Penguin bookshop when The Satanic Verses was published (by Michael Joseph, a Penguin imprint); it was scary. We had extra security and took precautions against firebombs. I'm appalled and furious at the assault, and hope so much that Rushdie survives - also thinking of the interviewer who was wounded.
Absolutely agree that we live in increasingly intolerant times, and it always ends in violence.

Sadly. And he's 75 too.

@EmmaH2022 I genuinely think it was a minority back then. I remember people visiting my parents and having the most interesting after dinner debates, all ending on friendly terms agreeing to disagree. College in the nineties and naughties was like that too - so many great discussions and thought experiments.

Everything seems so polarised now. It’s no longer about differences of opinion but an indication of moral turpitude. I was shocked the first time I heard about an academic being no platformed in a university - what are you in university for if not to think?

I remember being baffled by Rushdie’s bravery as a child, and I’m still in awe of people who have the guts to stand up for what they believe in, knowing that the could come to a violent end.

This feels like a circle closing . Triumph of evil.

You are absolutely right. Normally I am the first person to moan about how badly things have changed.

I just had a moment of brain fry.

it is the neck wound that worries me the most too. I don't believe in god but by god, I want him to come through this and be well.

Wasn't Rushdie nearly cancelled in the recent years for intolerance and I think the term was used was "intellectual racism", and equalled to a hate graffiti?

It is unbelivable that JKR has already faced same threats.

This is absolutely true and scarily echoing nazi Germany.

The Weimar republic was a liberal place where people were free to express themselves. Cabaret is an amazingly accurate movie depicting what happened when the Nazis gained power and put a stop to freedom of expression. This is where we are as a world wide society now in 2022. Banning people, no platforming, cancelling and even having people arrested and sued for "thought crimes", aka having a different opinion. So much so laws are being passed to prevent people holding certain views or having the freedom to disagree with others.

When I was at college we would have friendly disagreements and debates all day every day then go to the pub at lunch best mates. This was in 2012 so only ten years ago!

Truly a very special person to continue making a stand for freedom of expression despite all that happened. So many others would retreat, understandably.

This is not the way to deal with 'hurt feelings'. You risk making people not care at all about your feelings.

Hopefully his book sales will go through the roof. (Though I see The Satanic Verses is not available through Waterstones online?)

Thoughts also go out to Muslims who will suffer as a result of this. Terrorist acts are always followed by a spike in Islamophobia.

What, deleted for being sarcastic about the peaceful claims of a religion that calls for a writer to be killed?

Are we serious??