Oh yeah, lots of insane things, and this was over decades, but so much more while he remained in hiding. Let's also not forget how annoyed the British public were about their taxes being used to protect a man they didn't care about.
Rushdie copped a lot of blow back when he finally got back to his life, new wife, parties, guest appearances? Good grief, who did he think he was? So much bile, so little sympathy, and so much ignorance - why bother understanding the bigger picture, the horror of it all and the lives affected.
Time has put a soft focus on a lot that happened, blurry, in fact. While it was happening, it was clear and ugly.
I have to admit I got a kick out of seeing Rushdie pop up in films and TV shows. It was good to see him having a lark. Who could begrudge him?
I have Knife in my reading pile, along with Joseph Anton, and Midnight's Children.
No fatwa was or is justified, on anyone, for any reason.
Multiple translators and a publisher were also stabbed or shot, but survived. Plus dozens killed as a consequence of violent protests.
Yet, there were an embarrassing number of high profile people who continued to disavow Rushdie's right to produce a book of fiction that insulted no one. I'll take a guess that none of them are ashamed, not then, not now.
I've always been averse to the fatwa being highjacked as a free speech cause (as if we're all Americans waving the US constitution), because the 'speech' was fiction, and even failed the offence to Islam test.
But, I don't think any religion is precious or should be protected from offence. If people insist on having an invisible friend, fine, but don't make laws to protect the right to fantastic thought, while insisting that the death of a fiction writer is justified.
There was also — unimaginable for a novel — the way the controversy got mixed up in U.K. negotiations with Iran over hostages. Completely insane. I loved how well Rushdie moved beyond it all. His cameo in Curb Your Enthusiasm was genius.
Great commentary.
Oh yeah, lots of insane things, and this was over decades, but so much more while he remained in hiding. Let's also not forget how annoyed the British public were about their taxes being used to protect a man they didn't care about.
Rushdie copped a lot of blow back when he finally got back to his life, new wife, parties, guest appearances? Good grief, who did he think he was? So much bile, so little sympathy, and so much ignorance - why bother understanding the bigger picture, the horror of it all and the lives affected.
Time has put a soft focus on a lot that happened, blurry, in fact. While it was happening, it was clear and ugly.
I have to admit I got a kick out of seeing Rushdie pop up in films and TV shows. It was good to see him having a lark. Who could begrudge him?
I have Knife in my reading pile, along with Joseph Anton, and Midnight's Children.
No fatwa was or is justified, on anyone, for any reason.
Multiple translators and a publisher were also stabbed or shot, but survived. Plus dozens killed as a consequence of violent protests.
Yet, there were an embarrassing number of high profile people who continued to disavow Rushdie's right to produce a book of fiction that insulted no one. I'll take a guess that none of them are ashamed, not then, not now.
I've always been averse to the fatwa being highjacked as a free speech cause (as if we're all Americans waving the US constitution), because the 'speech' was fiction, and even failed the offence to Islam test.
But, I don't think any religion is precious or should be protected from offence. If people insist on having an invisible friend, fine, but don't make laws to protect the right to fantastic thought, while insisting that the death of a fiction writer is justified.
There was also — unimaginable for a novel — the way the controversy got mixed up in U.K. negotiations with Iran over hostages. Completely insane. I loved how well Rushdie moved beyond it all. His cameo in Curb Your Enthusiasm was genius.