Event: Art of the Qur’an
For those in the NY area, the Asia Society is host an exhibition on the art of the Qur’an and on calligraphy. Asia Society link. New York Times review. Qur’an, calligraphy
Month: October 2008
First They Came for the Muslims
Here are a series of news articles on how we are all terrorists now: All your laptops are belong to us The surest way to a terrorist watchlist is to exercise your rights You have no expectations of privacy on the phone war on terror[ism][ists], civil liberties
Where credit is due
John Bracken points me to this article on John McCain where he seems to be putting a lid on the racist rhetoric his campaign has been hinting at. Over at TPM they have video of the exchange and some analysis of what is going on now. Regardless of why, I’m glad McCain said what he said. Haroon seems to be a bit more bitter about this. I think he’s reading too much into it, but he is a smart guy, so who knows. Election 2008, McCain
On “The Jewel of Medina”
There’s a controversy over the historical novel called “Jewel of Medina,” about one of the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Aisha. If you are unfamiliar with the controversy, the links below provide good background. I believe that Sherry Jones should publish the work. We should have people like Gordon Newby knocking it down. It’s bad history and bad writing. That’s the marketplace of ideas. More importantly we should have better people writing. Muslim or non-Muslim, it doesn’t matter, they just have to be good. I would never recommend Martin Lings’ excellent biography of the Prophet as a casual read, but I would…
Bene Israel in India
A good article in the NY Times about Indian Jews. It’s a bit short, but the book it discusses, The Girl from Foreign, sounds interesting. Check out the recipe as well.
RD Posting: Allah Made Me Funny
My latest piece at Religion Dispatches is a reflection on the film “Allah Made Me Funny.”
Lawyers with Souls
It’s true. Rare, but true. These guys really need to be commended for what they are doing to protect civil liberties.
Full Battle Rattle
A friend of mine sent me this link about a movie that deals with the virtual Iraq we have created in the US. I’m serious. We have built an Iraq in the US to train our soldiers to go to Iraq. Fighting them over here so we can fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.
Films of Hope
Better for your brain than the stuff you get for free in the New York Times.
What Happens When a Hindu Diety is Muslim?
At first some anger, and then nothing. It’s all good. Reminds me of the Farishta of Satanic Verses.