Ghost of a flea: Modernists in medieval clothing

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August 01, 2009

Modernists in medieval clothing

Theodore Dalrymple reviews Kenan Malik's From Fatwa to Jihad: The Rushdie Affair and Its Legacy and, in so doing, casually dashes my hoped for retro-utopia.

Even in Islamic countries, fundamentalists are not medieval throwbacks, however they may see themselves. They derive their ideas, even if they do not acknowledge it, at least as much from Lenin, Gramsci, and Mao as from Mohammed. They claim to want to return to seventh-century Arabia, but this is no more realistic or sincere than the wish of Victorian admirers of the Gothic to return to the Middle Ages.

So much for my plan. At least I have The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to look forward to.

I am most curious how they plan to convince us we are in snowy Hogsmeade when it is midsummer in Florida with its wall of heat and we are surrounded by fat people in shorts speaking thirty languages. Perhaps a uniform requirement is in order.

On a related note, Emma Watson has legs: Yes, I realize I started this post on a serious topic. It's Saturday morning. Also, I am certain whatever Watson is talking about (with her flawless diction) is quite fascinating so you can always avert your eyes.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at August 1, 2009 07:27 AM

Comments

Just another reason why I'm thankful I had two sons...and no daughters.

She would have had me so tightly wrapped around her little finger. (And you're right...somehow the ending consonant in American speech seems to have left the building.)
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Posted by: OregonGuy at August 3, 2009 08:11 PM