Was Salman Rushdie stupid to have published "The Satanic Verses" in the first place?
I'm going to get in trouble even for asking this, but I've been thinking about this question.
And first of all, let me be clear: he ABSOLUTELY did not deserve in any way what has happened to him these last 30+ years, especially this last week. No one has any right anywhere to enforce their religious prohibitions on other people, especially those who do not believe in their faith (and as he has said many times, he was an atheist when he wrote the book).
I'm wondering if it was just inevitable he would have been the victim of an assassination attempt someday after writing that novel, given how fanatical Muslims can be during the decades beforehand. Everyone in the West knew this given the hostage crisis in Iran, the terrorist bombings in Israel, Lebanon and Europe, the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, etc. He has admitted he was being a smarty-pants (which is the way he used to think of himself) when he wrote it.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | August 15, 2022 7:07 AM
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Nice try Mohammad/OP. Did the Iranian guard direct you to troll the internet this weekend, or was it just your local mosque? I will now go draw pictures of your “prophet” giving suck jobs in the Rambles. But enjoy your day!
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | August 14, 2022 6:07 PM
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Mohammad was an insatiable bottom.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | August 14, 2022 6:08 PM
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I was but a wee gayling when this came out; can one of you elders tell me what it was about? I remember being frightened by the title and was somewhat aware of the hoopla over the Fatwa or whatever they declared on him.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | August 14, 2022 6:33 PM
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This question is framed in a funny way. If he didn't think he would've been targeted for publishing this book, then yes, he would have been stupid. I believe he knew he was risking his safety when he published his book. We try our best to protect freedom of speech in the US, but there is only so much we can do. He shouldn't be making any more live appearances in the future. And if he does, he needs the equivalent of secret service at each event.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | August 14, 2022 6:59 PM
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He was brave to publish it - I would have been afraid to do that.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | August 14, 2022 7:03 PM
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What was the big stink about this book? I was too young to really give a shit at the time.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | August 14, 2022 7:04 PM
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Fuck the Muslims and their mutilated dongs!
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | August 14, 2022 7:10 PM
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You're ABSOLUTELY victim blaming, OP. Imagine if every writer/reporter/historian/researcher, etc. acquiesced to fear.
[quote]The moment you say that any idea system is sacred, whether it’s a religious belief system or a secular ideology, the moment you declare a set of ideas to be immune from criticism, satire, derision, or contempt, freedom of thought becomes impossible.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | August 14, 2022 7:27 PM
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He has a Kelsey Grammer look.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | August 15, 2022 3:10 AM
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He was a fool to flounce around the world making speeches. I wonder if he'll stay home more often now?
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | August 15, 2022 3:54 AM
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Sadly there is no way Satanic Verses can be written or published today. The author himself will be condemned as an Islamophobe, xenophobe, far right etc.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | August 15, 2022 6:59 AM
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[quote] I'm wondering if it was just inevitable he would have been the victim of an assassination attempt someday after writing that novel, given how fanatical Muslims can be during the decades beforehand.
“If he hadn’t been wearing such provocative clothes, she never would have stabbed him.”
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | August 15, 2022 7:07 AM
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