Scotland’s anti-free speech law is terrifying. I hope we’re not heading the same way. Group think does not produce great ideas or intelligent discourse.
Maybe You just caught me in the right mood, but this seems to be one-a Your most outstanding articles to date. The first few articles on social cohesion will merit a more detailed reading. I can't wait to read the executive summary by Dame Sara Khan. It looks to be fascinating. That You have a committee looking into this shows how far advanced You are, across the pond, than we are over here.
The other articles were great too.
I want to especially thank You for putting this one together, and wish You a Happy Easter, Michelle. Best o' luck on the Art Fact Sheet. It sounds like a difficult proposition, in the circumstances. And glad to "hear" about Paddy, of course. TYTY.
The interview with Morris was indeed interesting. I like this Morris much better than the one of the Oslo days. IMO his conclusions about the repeated Palestinian rejection of offers to a state are correct; it is a resistance based on the conviction that Islam is The One True Religion and Islamic lands should never be ceded to infidels. However, the commenter who said that Morris’s earlier works have done permanent damage to Israel’s reputation is also correct.
A Jewish friend told me I should read it and I found it interesting.
It chimes with my current thinking about the rise of militant Islam (more a reaction to Ataturk and whole West is better/more modern which held sway in the early to mid 20th century former Ottoman empire.
Thank you for the Easter wishes. Hopefully you had a pleasant Passover.
This is a leap year, so Passover isn’t till mid-April.
A few years back, I read a book called Taj Mahal, thinking it would be about the construction of the famous monument—but it also included a history of the Mughal empire, including the rulers from Babur to Aurangzeb. They were quite varied in their outlook on and practice of Islam, which greatly influenced the courses of their reigns. Akbar, for instance, was extremely liberal and interested in comparative religion, whereas Aurangzeb was a Muslim fundamentalist. It was the first time I realized that the way a ruling Muslim power perceives and practices Islam Islam can vary wildly. I *highly* recommend Taj Mahal (Diana and Michael Preston), which is one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. You would especially enjoy reading about Jahangir’s wife Nur Jahan, who was the power behind his throne and operated with a power unprecedented for a Muslim woman (who lived in a harem yet!) in those times.
That book sounds fascinating. I will put it on my tbr pile.
A few years back I did a lot of reading about the Ottoman Empire -- the mother of the Sultan ended up with tremendous amounts of power (basically because the Sultans were practically mad when they finally took the throne).
People do forget that there are these power struggles within Islam and the fall of the Ottoman Empire and indeed the fall of the Mughals caused ructions. Sometimes, history has too much of a Western focus (and the premise that the West is terrible...).
Thank you for putting me right about this year's Passover.
I know there are different ways to determine when Easter is. It was the subject of the Whitby Synod back in the early 600s. I think the Orthodox Easter happens at a different time to the Roman Easter.
I agree that our Western Civ classes tend to be too Western-focused. That said, there’s only so much time in the school day for history, and even less in the TikTok-addled attention span of the typical high school student.
Do you have a book to recommend about the Ottoman Empire? I don’t know much about it, outside their role in WWI and the history of Palestine.
I believe Orthodox Easter is May 5 this year? Only because I happened to see a comment from someone from explaining why. My knowledge of the schism between the western and orthodox churches and Julian calendar is also shaky.
Happy Easter to you and the family, Michelle!
Hope you are doing well Allison.
Good to "see" Ya, Alison!
You too, JT!
Scotland’s anti-free speech law is terrifying. I hope we’re not heading the same way. Group think does not produce great ideas or intelligent discourse.
Totally terrifying. I know some of the women who are challenging it.
Thank God for Jo Rowling and her brave stance.
Yousaf does not realise what he has done. The Police Scotland are massively overstretched as it is without having to intervene in petty squabbles.
Hello Northumberland!
Maybe You just caught me in the right mood, but this seems to be one-a Your most outstanding articles to date. The first few articles on social cohesion will merit a more detailed reading. I can't wait to read the executive summary by Dame Sara Khan. It looks to be fascinating. That You have a committee looking into this shows how far advanced You are, across the pond, than we are over here.
The other articles were great too.
I want to especially thank You for putting this one together, and wish You a Happy Easter, Michelle. Best o' luck on the Art Fact Sheet. It sounds like a difficult proposition, in the circumstances. And glad to "hear" about Paddy, of course. TYTY.
I *think* at least they are starting to become aware of the problem. The report by Sara Khan is fascinating.
I found the interview with Benny Morris really interesting and pertinent to today's situation.
The Hate Crime thing is going to be interesting to see how it plays out.
ANd as ever thank you for your comments.
The interview with Morris was indeed interesting. I like this Morris much better than the one of the Oslo days. IMO his conclusions about the repeated Palestinian rejection of offers to a state are correct; it is a resistance based on the conviction that Islam is The One True Religion and Islamic lands should never be ceded to infidels. However, the commenter who said that Morris’s earlier works have done permanent damage to Israel’s reputation is also correct.
Wishing you a most blessed Easter!
A Jewish friend told me I should read it and I found it interesting.
It chimes with my current thinking about the rise of militant Islam (more a reaction to Ataturk and whole West is better/more modern which held sway in the early to mid 20th century former Ottoman empire.
Thank you for the Easter wishes. Hopefully you had a pleasant Passover.
This is a leap year, so Passover isn’t till mid-April.
A few years back, I read a book called Taj Mahal, thinking it would be about the construction of the famous monument—but it also included a history of the Mughal empire, including the rulers from Babur to Aurangzeb. They were quite varied in their outlook on and practice of Islam, which greatly influenced the courses of their reigns. Akbar, for instance, was extremely liberal and interested in comparative religion, whereas Aurangzeb was a Muslim fundamentalist. It was the first time I realized that the way a ruling Muslim power perceives and practices Islam Islam can vary wildly. I *highly* recommend Taj Mahal (Diana and Michael Preston), which is one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. You would especially enjoy reading about Jahangir’s wife Nur Jahan, who was the power behind his throne and operated with a power unprecedented for a Muslim woman (who lived in a harem yet!) in those times.
That book sounds fascinating. I will put it on my tbr pile.
A few years back I did a lot of reading about the Ottoman Empire -- the mother of the Sultan ended up with tremendous amounts of power (basically because the Sultans were practically mad when they finally took the throne).
People do forget that there are these power struggles within Islam and the fall of the Ottoman Empire and indeed the fall of the Mughals caused ructions. Sometimes, history has too much of a Western focus (and the premise that the West is terrible...).
Thank you for putting me right about this year's Passover.
I know there are different ways to determine when Easter is. It was the subject of the Whitby Synod back in the early 600s. I think the Orthodox Easter happens at a different time to the Roman Easter.
I agree that our Western Civ classes tend to be too Western-focused. That said, there’s only so much time in the school day for history, and even less in the TikTok-addled attention span of the typical high school student.
Do you have a book to recommend about the Ottoman Empire? I don’t know much about it, outside their role in WWI and the history of Palestine.
I believe Orthodox Easter is May 5 this year? Only because I happened to see a comment from someone from explaining why. My knowledge of the schism between the western and orthodox churches and Julian calendar is also shaky.
So much to know, and so little time!