Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Salman Rushdie published "Satanic Verses" in 1989, in which he deliberately
besmirched the name of Islam by an implied comparison of the eight wives of
Mohammed with eight prostitutes working in a fictional Middle Eastern
brothel. Western countries upheld his right to write this in a free country,
on the grounds of free speech.

Robert Kilroy Silk has asked a few searching questions about Islam, such as
"What contributions has Islam made to World Culture?" [1]. He has criticised
Islam for being repressive towards women. [2]. He has generalised from the
existence of a few Islamist hijackers and suicide bombers, making an
all-embracing assertion about the entire religion. [3].

Why is he being attacked so severely, using unemployment as a weapon, when
what he has written is less extreme than what Rushdie did? Political
Correctness, to be successful, must be self-consistent. What has happened to
our fine principles of Freedom of Speech? Should we be defending his right
to speak his mind? Would it be better, if we
can, to refute Kilroy Silk's views item by item? Is it wise and good, in a
"free" country, to throw him out of work for raising such a controversy? The
best way of suppressing his views would be by proving them to be untrue,
using facts and reasoned argument. To this end we should be as objective as
possible when we assess what he has written.
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[1] The preservation (but not the invention) of Greek Philosophy and
Euclidian Geometry throughout the Dark Ages, facilitating the Renaissance.
The invention of the Arabic system of numbers, the basis of modern
mathematics. Many inventions and developments in the field of Irrigation
Engineering, in projects that are still in use in Spain today. Tales of the
Arabian Nights. Ornate design in ceramics. Apart from these five items, I
can think of nothing more that Islam has contributed to world culture.  The
list, in its present state, does indeed look as thin as Kilroy Silk has
asserted. Let us hope that we can add to the list. Can anybody help with
some additions?

[2] Undeniably true in many Islam countries, reaching a nadir in Taliban
Afghanistan. On the other hand, Pakistan recently had a female Prime
Minister/President, a feat that the USA, France and Germany have not ever
achieved. No country has achieved the feat more than once.

[3] This appears to be the weak point in what Kilroy Silk wrote. The
majority of Moslems, as far as I can tell, seem to be opposed to violent
actions by a minority political grouping. No electorate in any Islamic
country ever voted Bin Laden into his temporary position of power. He was
self-appointed using the advantages of the money he inherited from his
father. He and his followers do not appear to represent Islam as a whole.

Richard Chambers        Leeds   UK.