The Begining of the Regressive Left
On Valentine’s Day 1989, the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran reviewed Sir Salman Rushdie’s 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses. Khomeini did not just offer criticism, but condemned the publication and called for Rushdie’s death, as well as for the killing of anyone involved in its publication, a decree known as a fatwa.
While Rushdie is still alive today, religious fanatics killed two translators and several others involved with publication, simply for aiding in the publishing of a work of fiction. However, something happened during this scenario that was almost more astonishing than the violence itself: the reaction of many Western people to Rushdie’s actions. The media and British intellectuals condemned Rushdie for “provoking” the hostilities against him. Members of Parliament, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a former U.S. president, and even the Vatican condemned him for his writings.
While Rushdie is still alive today, religious fanatics killed two translators and several others involved with publication, simply for aiding in the publishing of a work of fiction. However, something happened during this scenario that was almost more astonishing than the violence itself: the reaction of many Western people to Rushdie’s actions. The media and British intellectuals condemned Rushdie for “provoking” the hostilities against him. Members of Parliament, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a former U.S. president, and even the Vatican condemned him for his writings.
The condemnation of Rushdie illustrates the begining what has become a broad and deep pattern of many individuals, often in the liberal and Democratic community, stomping out liberal values like free speech in favor of avoiding any offense to Islam or the Muslim community.
These regressive leftists are a large and vocal community of western liberals who act as hand-holders of Islamism and, as a result, attack the people to point out injustices in the Muslim world, rather than condemn an obvious affront to liberal values. Continue to the Digital Forum section to learn the different vioces talking about this issue. |
Turner, Graham. Salman Rushdia Wins the 1988 Witbread Award. Digital image. Theguardian. The Guardian, 1988. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini . Digital image. Biography.com. N.p., 8 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini . Digital image. Biography.com. N.p., 8 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.