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.
People don’t “die” when there’s a Democrat in the White House? How many American soldiers died in Afghanistan from 2017-2020? 60. Obama’s eight years: 1,724. How many illegal migrants died en route to America’s southern border from 2017-2020: ranged from slightly more than 300-400 per year. In Biden’s one and half years the total is well over 700 deaths of men, women, and children. The number of murders was steady and declining during Trump’s 4-year administration and has skyrocketed since Biden took office. Covid deaths are higher under Biden than Trump. You are entitled to your own, although misguided opinion. You are not allowed your own facts. Your senseless irrational hatred or (perhaps fear) you possess against Donald Trump is not anchored in reality. Like so many other hysterical Leftists, you hurl wild accusation against the 45th POTUS but provide no compelling evidence in support of your hysterical accusations.
Sam, the topic was about words are violent; I point out that people have died because of the words of Donald Trump and Ayatollah Khomeini, and you jumped down the rabbit hole of whataboutism, with Afghanistan, illegal immigrants, homicide rate, etc. having nothing to do with the topic.
You glom on to the saying: “You are not allowed your own facts.” And then you say: “The number of murders was steady and declining during Trump’s 4-year administration and has skyrocketed since Biden took office.”, But here are the facts: The murder homicide rate for 2018 was 5.01%, the rate for 20 19 was 5.07% and increase of 1.19%, in 2020 it was 6.52%, an increase of 28.64% increase, the increase for 2021 was 6% a decline from the prior year of 28.64%., You should be embarrassed, but I doubt it!
On to your Covid comment: Covid landed on our shores in mid-December 2019, taking the year 2020 to become a pandemic in the United States, and comparing it to 2021, where Covid was a full-blown pandemic is pointless because they are not comparable.
I noticed Bari Weiss only got 13 comments for her post, and I think it’s reasonable to assume she has reviewed them, but she has not given me a reply.
Look below, at the article. That is what those of us who can't find time for podcasts read. Headphones give me a headache. It's the same words btw. Well over 800 responses there the last time I looked a few days ago.
You're looking at the Honestly post which has the same text as the blog post but is a different link. Some of us don't listen to the Honestly podcast. In my case it is because I've not found a headphones or earbuds that 'don't' hurt my ears or head.
Quit turning people into symbols. Every person has nuanced beliefs. We are not bees. We do not group think. Engage in face to face conversations and listen. Exchange and defend your ideas and LISTEN to those who disagree. This deepens both your knowledge and theirs. Shouting in each other's face does nothing other than creating divides that eventually become insurmountable. Hate destroys you from the inside and hollows your spirit.
DTucker, question, why didn’t you give Sam the same advice about turning people into symbols? I’m confused by your critique; I listen to their comments and usually present facts.
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/
People don’t “die” when there’s a Democrat in the White House? How many American soldiers died in Afghanistan from 2017-2020? 60. Obama’s eight years: 1,724. How many illegal migrants died en route to America’s southern border from 2017-2020: ranged from slightly more than 300-400 per year. In Biden’s one and half years the total is well over 700 deaths of men, women, and children. The number of murders was steady and declining during Trump’s 4-year administration and has skyrocketed since Biden took office. Covid deaths are higher under Biden than Trump. You are entitled to your own, although misguided opinion. You are not allowed your own facts. Your senseless irrational hatred or (perhaps fear) you possess against Donald Trump is not anchored in reality. Like so many other hysterical Leftists, you hurl wild accusation against the 45th POTUS but provide no compelling evidence in support of your hysterical accusations.
Sam, the topic was about words are violent; I point out that people have died because of the words of Donald Trump and Ayatollah Khomeini, and you jumped down the rabbit hole of whataboutism, with Afghanistan, illegal immigrants, homicide rate, etc. having nothing to do with the topic.
You glom on to the saying: “You are not allowed your own facts.” And then you say: “The number of murders was steady and declining during Trump’s 4-year administration and has skyrocketed since Biden took office.”, But here are the facts: The murder homicide rate for 2018 was 5.01%, the rate for 20 19 was 5.07% and increase of 1.19%, in 2020 it was 6.52%, an increase of 28.64% increase, the increase for 2021 was 6% a decline from the prior year of 28.64%., You should be embarrassed, but I doubt it!
On to your Covid comment: Covid landed on our shores in mid-December 2019, taking the year 2020 to become a pandemic in the United States, and comparing it to 2021, where Covid was a full-blown pandemic is pointless because they are not comparable.
I noticed Bari Weiss only got 13 comments for her post, and I think it’s reasonable to assume she has reviewed them, but she has not given me a reply.
Look below, at the article. That is what those of us who can't find time for podcasts read. Headphones give me a headache. It's the same words btw. Well over 800 responses there the last time I looked a few days ago.
DTucker, by my count, only 23 people responded as of 8/18/2020; look for yourself.
https://www.commonsense.news/p/honestly-we-ignored-salman-rushdies/comment/8435288#comment-8473954
https://www.commonsense.news/p/we-ignored-salman-rushdies-warning
2,189 likes 820 Comments
You're looking at the Honestly post which has the same text as the blog post but is a different link. Some of us don't listen to the Honestly podcast. In my case it is because I've not found a headphones or earbuds that 'don't' hurt my ears or head.
Dozens were killed during the George Floyd riots, clearly we should have censored everyone and everything, if it saves just one life and all.
Rob, your comment is an example of sublime idiocy!
21st century logic!
You’re even more of a hysterical Leftist than I even imagined. Get a clue! Words are not violence but your stupidity is toxic and gross!
Sam, a typical right-wing culture warrior reply; deny the facts and make some kind of silly comment!
Quit turning people into symbols. Every person has nuanced beliefs. We are not bees. We do not group think. Engage in face to face conversations and listen. Exchange and defend your ideas and LISTEN to those who disagree. This deepens both your knowledge and theirs. Shouting in each other's face does nothing other than creating divides that eventually become insurmountable. Hate destroys you from the inside and hollows your spirit.
DTucker, question, why didn’t you give Sam the same advice about turning people into symbols? I’m confused by your critique; I listen to their comments and usually present facts.
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.