We live in a culture in which many people believe that words are violence. In this, they have much in common with Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who issued the first fatwa against Salman Rushdie in 1989, and with Hadi Matar, the 24-year-old who stabbed the novelist in the neck on a stage in Western New York.
The chilling effect violence has on free speech cannot be exaggerated. In fact, the so-called Fatwa, which should carry no more credibility than a curse, is taken deathly serious by the fanatic Theologians in control over Iran. In my view, a leader of a country, and the nation itself, must be cajoled, convinced, and compelled to end this crime against Humanity by reversing , rescinding, or removing the Iranian Regime’s death sentence against Salman Rushdie.
Fundamentalist religion and its inherent intolerance is an old civilizational fight but we now find ourselves in an era where the supposed torch bearers of tolerance have turned on us. The illiberal left is here to destroy free speech and any offending expression (as judged by the offended) to the point that they’re revealing their oneness with religious extremists by actually defending this type of madness! It’s called adhering to and perpetuating the theory that words are violence. This barbarism is a direct result of that notion, just as much as it is of religious intolerance!
Bari- to support Rushdie and show totalitarian regimes around the world that trying to kill freedom of expression only makes it stronger, we should raise money to purchase of 100,000 copies of The Satanic Verses to hand out around America, either in person or online. I am sure many on your Substack would support the movement and I would volunteer to help organize. What do you think?
Muslim fanatics, the PRC and Putin’s crime family seem to be able to operate inside or outside their countries and kill whenever they want. The PRC practices genocide on Muslim’s without fatwa’s.
Bari, I find your definition of people who say words are violent, Cavalier, and gratuitous also to say they have much in common with a Muftis who issues a fatwa is absurd. But please do explain to me how you came up with your definition. Even The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression determined in 2012 that 65% of educational institutions had a red light rating by 2022; it dropped to 12%; it would seem by this indicator that freedom of speech is getting stronger.
How do you differentiate Ayatollah Khomeini and ex-president Donald Trump’s followers? People have died because of their words. And in the coming several years, I anticipate more people will die because of Trump’s words.
I believe it would be worth your time to listen to “Wittgenstein on Whether Speech Is Violence”; it’s always helpful to hear a different opinion.
Ms. Weiss - Your courage and elegance hit home... I only hope the people who really need hear this, including the role call of Little Eichmann authors alluded to in your piece, hear this.
I had the privilege of being at a meeting of 50 or so people who got to hear Mr. Rushdie speak. It was at the weekly meeting of Americans for Tax Reform back in 2002 or so. I am probably one of the few people who has read SATANIC VERSES. Regrettably, I could not find my copy or I would have gotten it autographed.
There is a 3 million dollar bounty on his head. Put there by the head religious leader and political leader of Iran. It is still in effect today by the current religious leader and political leader of Iran.
I remember hearing Elie Wiesel say, "Honor the person who seeks the truth; beware the person who has found it."
The chilling effect violence has on free speech cannot be exaggerated. In fact, the so-called Fatwa, which should carry no more credibility than a curse, is taken deathly serious by the fanatic Theologians in control over Iran. In my view, a leader of a country, and the nation itself, must be cajoled, convinced, and compelled to end this crime against Humanity by reversing , rescinding, or removing the Iranian Regime’s death sentence against Salman Rushdie.
Thank you Bari for your courage!
Fundamentalist religion and its inherent intolerance is an old civilizational fight but we now find ourselves in an era where the supposed torch bearers of tolerance have turned on us. The illiberal left is here to destroy free speech and any offending expression (as judged by the offended) to the point that they’re revealing their oneness with religious extremists by actually defending this type of madness! It’s called adhering to and perpetuating the theory that words are violence. This barbarism is a direct result of that notion, just as much as it is of religious intolerance!
I love the writing always in your Common Sense.
THANKYOU so much for your wisdom and insistence on honesty. I love getting your Common Sense daily.
Thank you!
This was a very powerful essay. Thank you Bari.
Bari- to support Rushdie and show totalitarian regimes around the world that trying to kill freedom of expression only makes it stronger, we should raise money to purchase of 100,000 copies of The Satanic Verses to hand out around America, either in person or online. I am sure many on your Substack would support the movement and I would volunteer to help organize. What do you think?
Muslim fanatics, the PRC and Putin’s crime family seem to be able to operate inside or outside their countries and kill whenever they want. The PRC practices genocide on Muslim’s without fatwa’s.
Maybe we’ve grown too soft on thugs?
Bari, I find your definition of people who say words are violent, Cavalier, and gratuitous also to say they have much in common with a Muftis who issues a fatwa is absurd. But please do explain to me how you came up with your definition. Even The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression determined in 2012 that 65% of educational institutions had a red light rating by 2022; it dropped to 12%; it would seem by this indicator that freedom of speech is getting stronger.
How do you differentiate Ayatollah Khomeini and ex-president Donald Trump’s followers? People have died because of their words. And in the coming several years, I anticipate more people will die because of Trump’s words.
I believe it would be worth your time to listen to “Wittgenstein on Whether Speech Is Violence”; it’s always helpful to hear a different opinion.
https://daily.jstor.org/wittgenstein-whether-speech-violence/
Ms. Weiss - Your courage and elegance hit home... I only hope the people who really need hear this, including the role call of Little Eichmann authors alluded to in your piece, hear this.
I had the privilege of being at a meeting of 50 or so people who got to hear Mr. Rushdie speak. It was at the weekly meeting of Americans for Tax Reform back in 2002 or so. I am probably one of the few people who has read SATANIC VERSES. Regrettably, I could not find my copy or I would have gotten it autographed.
There is a 3 million dollar bounty on his head. Put there by the head religious leader and political leader of Iran. It is still in effect today by the current religious leader and political leader of Iran.
We are at war. The Ottoman Empire is our enemy.
America has already been invaded.
You have already been conquered.
There is no "we". There is no "society".
There are individuals. Among individuals, some of us have understood warnings like Rushdie's quite well. Others actively oppose them.
Yes yes yes, Bari. Your new child will read this one day and feel chills like I did.