I always have such a hard time with Rushdie since liking his work seems to be some sort of litmus test for moderate Islam.  Non-Muslims will typically ask me in a skeptical or demanding manner how I like Rushdie’s work.  I tell them the truth.  I haven’t read any of it.  But I have not read a whole bunch of contemporary fiction by well-respected authors.  I tried to read White Teeth, couldn’t get through it.  Pamuk, couldn’t get past the 3rd chapter of My Name is Red.  I haven’t read most of the contemporary greats of American fiction, either.  But it so pisses me off that Rushdie is a litmus test, I now refuse to read his work.  It further pisses me off that honoring him is a mark of supporting moderate Islam a la "the Man."  It even further pisses me off that he feeds off of all that.  He is Mr. "I’m the Litmus Test for Freedom."  In other words, "If you do not like my work, you do not support FREEDOM."  You wish he wouldn’t have taken the knighthood?  How could he have not?  It is too "Rushdie."

Didn’t realize my spelling corrections would "bump" post order. Sorry! I had to correct to "baccalaureate".

You make a good point, Zeeshan.  I think I remember reading about how people like Nehru would vacillate between imitating British dress and customs, and rejecting things British in favor of traditional Indian attire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawaharlal_Nehru

African Americans use the term "Oreo" for someone who is black on the outside, but white on the inside. (An Oreo cookie is chocolate on the outside, with white icing on the inside.)

In the Philippines, one sees a sad "colonial mentality", in the sense that the most popular movie stars look European, the criteria being "the rounder the eye, the whiter the skin, the thiner the lips, the longer the nose, the better." They have these characteristics because they are "mestiza" (one parent European and the other Asian) and the European traits are dominant.

Often we are influenced by the enemy or oppressor in strange ways.  One devout Hindu I know speaks of her "heavenly Father" which I am certain is a term that crept into her vocabulary from Christianity.  I have seen Muslims use the expression "Saint Aiyesha", yet it seems to me that the world "saint" might scarcely be found in the Quran/Hadith search engines.  I once entered an "Orthodox Church of (South) India" and watched as the preacher, dressed like an Imam, paced back and forth, gesturing and preaching to a Sari-attired congregation.  We ape each other, consciously or unconsciously. And, stop and think, why is it that EVERY country has a flag and an anthem.  Who started that?  If each nation were individualistic and unique, it would seem that at least some would reject such flag/anthem paraphernalia.

In fact, I even read a stalwart letter from one co-wife, in Egypt, to another co-wife, encouraging her with a form of rhetoric which is clearly Paul’s rhetoric in the Epistles.

I once commented that if Pakistan ever nuked Great Britain, it would in a sense be karmic, poetic justice, for all the years of colonial oppression inflicted upon "The Jewel in the Crown."

On a different topic, I just now searched this forum on "Wafa Sultan" and found only a few mentions, but no mention of the video of her criticisms.  A friend of mine from Scotland emailed me a link to the video. I found a transcript of what she said, and blogged it at my 
blog     .....  I decided not to post it here, feeling that it might be an offensive or inconsiderate thing to do. Yet obviously, many here must have seen it.  Since I so admire Zeeshan’s intellect, I thought I would sneak mention of this, perhaps bringing my interest in  the topic of the video to his attention and eliciting some commentary.

Back to the Rushdie topic, whenever I think of the fatwa, I think of the iconoclastic American author, Samuel Clemens.  No one gave a thought to executing him, and yet he made fun of everything established and sacred.  I also think of Kazanzakis’ "The Last Temptation of Christ".  There were Greeks who reviled him, saying that "he spit upon the Church."  Yet Kazanzakis never feared for his life.  Ironically, decades later, there are actually seminaries where Kazanzakis novel is studied.  Kazanzakis never denied the divinity of Christ in the novel, but simply embellished the gospel story with his own speculations regarding the personality of Jesus.

I watched Fareed Zakaria’s interview with Rushdie.   Rushdie stated that "if reform of Islam is to come from anywhere, then it will evolve in the multicultural diaspora."  I am told that Rushdie was knighted in part for his efforts to encourage such reform.  I see this website as an effort to achieve reform or change of some sort, or at least tolerance for differences.

Yesterday, as I searched and read on Shahada, I found mention of the Quranis, who reduce the formula for conversion to a simple statement of monotheism, which omits mention of the Propet’s name, arguing that there is no clear statement of Shahada in the Qu’ran.  Reform seems to be going on all the time, even in the absence of a reformer.  If this were not true, then we would not have all the differences Shia, Sunni, Kurd, Sufi, etc.

But, Zeeshan, it suddenly occurs to me that your seeking a degree from Harvard is something similar to Rushdie’s knighthood.  I know I once asked you why, and you posted here your reflections regarding your education in the USA.  Perhaps there will be someone in your country who will feel there is a tinge of betrayal in your choice of Harvard over some more Islamic traditional setting.  Obviously you had your reasons Zeeshan, for studying and accepting your degree at the hands of Harvard, who perhaps academically may be viewed as an oppressor similar to the British Empire.  Knighthood! Baccalaureate!  Doctorate! All these have their ligitimate uses, and unfortunate abuses.

My Egyptian cab driver last year swore solemnly to me that he would kill Rushdie with his own hands, if he had the opportunity.

The name Rushdie came up only in passing, but the driver became enraged and made this declaration.  At first, I thought perhaps he was joking, so I asked him if he were seriously anxious to possibly ruin his entire young life by such an assassination. He answered with firm resolve, "Yes. Rusdie insulted the Prophet."   What further surprised me was that this young man, in his early 20s was in his final year of Pharmacy school, and had been in the USA since he was 13.  I think it is important to realize that such a person as this would feel as he does. I mean, it is not as if being in the USA since the age of 13, and going through the public school system in any way made him more moderate in his views.

Just now, I decided to search on "knighthood" to see what wikipedia has to say.

I came across THIS link   which describes some of the violent reactions in Pakistan and Iran to the beknighting.

The gospel writers appear to be good sports when they write "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you".

But, in the Qu’ran, in the Surah Lahab as one of many examples, one sees a preoccupation with insults, and taking revenge upon insults.

For some reason, Islam seems to encourage retaliation with violence as a knee-jerk reaction.  Ten years ago, I posted many arguments which were quite inflammatory to Christians.  I did it to give them a taste of their own medicine, and see how it feels to be a Hindu or Buddhist, attacked and threatened by Christian missionary rhetoric.  I never once during a period of several years, received a single threat of violence from any Christian.  But when I criticised Muslims,  I received many threats. One fellow, in AOL messaged me in IM to say that he was coming to burn down my house.  This palpable presence of  a tendency towards violence as a first resort, rather than a last resort, seems to me a far more important issue than a fatuous title bestowed upon one celebrity.

His position as the darling of the Islamophobic right and hate-object of the conservative Muslims only dates from after Satanic Verses. Try reading Imaginary Homelands, his brilliant book of essays from the days when he was a mere mortal and not the demigod of Freedom. It’s brilliant. As I said, it’s incredibly disappointing to me that someone of his calibre would just sell out.

I have my own sociological explanation for the violent expressions commonplace among Muslims. They tend to live in third world countries with poor governance and very poor law and order. In such environments, the government usually does not protect the rights of the people. If people want rights, they often have to take matters into their own hands. So violence becomes rational and normal behaviour.
It’s not just Muslim countries who are like this, by the way. Ever see the brilliant film City Of God, about life in a Brazilian slum? Incredible.

I find your explanation has merit. I shall place City of God at the top of my NetFlix list. Thanks.

I may have posted this before: When I watched Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai, at the beginning of the film, there was an explanation of how lawless the land was in those times, and the only source of order came from the Warlords and their Samurai.  I was instantly reminded of the clans and warlords decribed in places like Pakistan.

I still have to start the works of Paul Auster!  Rushdie can stay on my no list. 

I had to google for Paul Auster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Auster

Ironically, when I follow this link in wiki/Paul_Auster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEN_American_Center

I find that Paul Auster is Vice President of this organization which defends freedom of speech for writers, and, Lo and Behold, we are not so far off topic after all!

Over the years, PEN American Center’s membership has been comprised of many of the leading lights in the American literary establishment, including James Baldwin, Willa Cather, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Thomas Mann, Arthur Miller, Marianne Moore, Susan Sontag, Paul Auster, Salman Rushdie and John Steinbeck.

In addition to defending persecuted writers, PEN American Center sponsors public literary programs and forums on current issues, sends prominent authors to inner-city schools to encourage reading and writing, administers literary prizes, promotes international literature that might otherwise go unread in the United States, and offers grants and loans to writers facing financial or medical emergencies.

Since 2005, PEN American Center has hosted the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature in New York City, which brings renowned writers from around the world together to share ideas, give public readings and talks, and foster debate on literature and freedom of expression.

PEN is the largest of the 144 centers that belong to International PEN, the worldwide association of writers that defends those who are harassed, imprisoned and killed for their views.

PEN is also a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network of nongovernmental organizations that monitors free expression violations worldwide and defends journalists, writers, human rights activists and Internet users who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

And what of "Gravity’s Rainbow" , Thomas Pynchon (who’s voice appeared in a Simpson’s episode!)

salman rushdie is the man. I’m trying to stalk him so I can convince him  to promote my works in NYC!

I’m glad we have Salman Rushdie. It would be a great honour to meet him. He is the Muslim Voltaire. Long live  Rushdie!

I have read all of Pynchon’s work except Mason and Dixon.  Gravity’s Rainbow is in my Top Ten.  I think Slothrup got smacked in the head by a soaked copy of Satanic Verses in the sewer after he went down the toilet in the Audubon Ballroom.  

Personally, I never read all of Satanic Verses- for me, it wasn’t engaging enough. But Shalimar the Clown rocks. It’s the story of a love triangle between a Hindu/Muslim Kashmiri couple, and the German man that comes between them, as an allegory for colonialism and post-war politics between the global North and South.

My personal favourite is actually The Ground Beneath Her Feet, just for all the pop music references =) Although I love Shame as well.

And also David Irving too… should get a special award!

Knighthood for him….isn’t such a bad idea!

after all… his work is finding the ultimate truth!

But no…. We send Academician to jail for this kind of blasphemy!

and if he won’t chance his way… we can send our secret death squad to kill him!

And then claim it as just a suicide!

After all we have our blood libel right…. to all other People of the Nation(Goy)