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?

PEN @MrsTerryPratchett ?

pen.org/user/salman-rushdie/

Sorry that was was my brain fry
I meant to differentiate between the ventilator actually breathing for him or used as an aid for his own breathing

but that said, it isn’t clear which it is.

induced coma might be next.

there are not enough swear words.

I am doing my homework! Thanks!

So much depressing shit in the world right now. Please can this have a (reasonably) good ending?

induced coma might be next.

Really? What points to that? It does sound like a lot of different insults for a 75 year old body ti receive at once.

This thought-provoking interview with an American academic who has written about the legacy of The Satanic Verses, gives some background to the threats against Rushdie over the years. This interviewee feels this attack is a complete surprise, possibly by a lone disturbed person, as there have been several years of Rushdie being able to go about his business in public unharmed. I wonder what any official intelligence updates on that will be.

The inevitable questions asked at the end of the interview are worrying re any potential involvement with other parties, and future international relations if so. But it’s all speculation at this stage.

slate.com/culture/2022/08/salman-rushdie-attack-stabbed-suspect-fatwa-history-iran.html

It can give the body a better chance of healing. My friend was in one for a few days after being badly injured in a hit and run. (He’s fine now, had several surgeries and a long recovery).

It does sound as though it will be a long road for him.

how fucking awful

I have woken up to this awful news. It looks very bleak. I am trying not to feel angry but it’s hard.

It makes me feel ill to think of it and so frustrated and angry all the feelings people who believe their feelings trump everything, even a mans life.

This is so awful

Wishing him as good a recovery as possible

Here's to freedom of speech, open debate & opinions

Horrible news, I hope SR will make a full recovery 😞.

I am old enough to remember when the Fatwa was called (February 1989). It was a huge turning point in political history with the revolutions in the Eastern Europe, the Berlin Wall coming down a few months later and the Soviet Union completely collapsing a couple of years later. George H. W. Bush was sworn in and the Gulf War started the following year (IIRC..)

Over 30 years later and the world is a pretty different place to 1989. With the new abortion laws in the US, the attack on freedom of speech and women, a global pandemic under our belts and ecological disaster looming, these words are more significant than ever.

Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn't exist in any declaration I have ever read.

If you are offended it is your problem, & frankly lots of things offend lots of people.
Salman Rushdie

It really feels like we are living through very poignant times at the moment

*the attack on freedom of speech and women's rights

I have just read the update about his situation. Bloody awful. 😭

“Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn't exist in any declaration I have ever read.

“If you are offended it is your problem, & frankly lots of things offend lots of people.”
Salman Rushdie

And he’s right, isn’t he?

I think anyone who is surprised by the attack is incredibly naive and perhaps believes that all religions are like Christianity. And that all cultures are essentially modern and inclusive. And that taking offence over words is not a literal life or death position.

And I know many, many people who will be celebrating this attack.

Coal I don't think anyone is "surprised", especially those of us old enough to remember when this started.

I am well aware of the celebrators. I suffered a major bereavement in a well known terror attack. I then had to ditch a couple of friends, as they were so pleased by it.

no one is naive about this, are they. We are careful what we say.

I’m old enough too. I’m so sorry about your losses.

But ‘being careful’ about what we say is capitulation. Look at Batley. A teacher still in hiding and no politician or police force doing anything except mouth platitudes and look the other way.

I bet by Wednesday it won’t even be on page seven. I would love to be wrong on this, but I am hearing the jubilation and there’s nothing to counter it but handwringing.

Yes, there is definitely jubilation.

And a deafening silence from the Left. Where are all the statements from Labour politicians? Nothing.

Not that I think a statement in itself is much use. But it seems like basic decency to condemn this atrocity and assert our democratic values. Labour can't even do that.

GCA sadly Labour (and all the major cowards political parties) have long lost their bollocks on this issue.

Ditto the MSM.

It is a complete disgrace. But we know where Starmer stands on appeasement here so again, no surprise.

I don't do media if I can avoid it

but I have to pop to the shops now and slightly concerned what I might see or hear en route.

Where is the jubilation?

On a political level, he’s terrified of alienating a significant voting base.

On a personal level, he’s everything that’s wrong with Labour these days.

Sorry slightly (!) off topic. But I’m also old enough to remember when the original fatwa was issued and the attendant book burning elicited some sympathy. That was a seismic moment for many of us who realised then that the West was no longer a safe place for free thinkers, blasphemers and, ultimately as we have seen, women.

I am praying for his safe recovery but I know this battle is lost and my heart breaks.