“Desi, I’m saying that the behaviour of newspaper columnists isn’t so different from polemicists on the left… who raise and agitate about specific issues that fit into their own narrative.”

Ok.

I think their worry is that the person doing the criticising does it from the Martin Amis standpoint – where criticism is not made because they genuinely care or are active in agitating for better human rights, but only so they can feel morally superior.

There is an element of that. For example, I consume Indian culture but that doesn’t mean I sign up to the wife-beating or dowry demanding sexism. People see other cultures as homogenous but their own as varied. Like Boyo / Morgoth for example.

You’re using Mishra’s critique on journalists to argue that the left is hypocritical. I don’t understand this connection of yours unless you are claiming that all newspaper columnists, bloggers, etc are leftists…

Desi, I’m saying that the behaviour of newspaper columnists isn’t so different from polemicists on the left… who raise and agitate about specific issues that fit into their own narrative.

perhaps it wasn’t the “west”s pressure but the fact that muslims elsewhere across the board were pretty horrified too. ( and busy distancing themselves from ‘desert’ religion.. not that desert religion ever influenced anyone, ooh no, not that we’ve ever heard!) and perhaps the Saudis realised if they went ahead, everyone would just think ‘shit those islamophobics are right about these nutters’..?

good question Desi. Sunny you should make it a bit more explicit who you talk about when you’re referring to the ‘Left’. you mean commentators really don’t you? or don’t you.
i have a feeling it probably doesn’t include anyone/everyone in the general public who might left leaning views, ( cos he/we wouldn’t know what they’re doing or not doing, what causes they’re supporting or not) but a sub-section – of commentators/writers/journalists/blogger-activists/which will include people who spend their time ‘debating’ about these issues for a living, (and also i think, then often ending up taking sides for a living too. but then i’m a cynical old cow so ignore me)

anyway sunny you said ‘their causes’ – that seems like a dead giveaway to me – is that a freudian slip? who is ‘theirs’? feminists? its not ‘their’ causes, its everyone’s. and need i remind everyone that in all this sorry tragedy nd awful violence, the girl was not the only one raped, the man with her was raped too. the focus was all on the woman, poor thing, but the whole sorry episode is about more than just what happens to a woman. its the complete lack of justice and its a shame on the custodians of the two holy mosques.

Indeed, seemingly oblivious to their own, actual, racism, ie that just because that criticised culture is not white or European its members are not entitled to the same post-Enlightenment rights, and responsibilities, as everyone else.

In order to place themselves beyond criticism, they would need to be much more of an enemy, not an ally or client, of the US.

“They develop an interest in women’s rights across the Muslim world but are curiously silent about the attack on abortion rights in the UK or in other parts of the world.”

Then, you state that Pankaj Mishra recently pointed out that

“Almost every day newspaper columnists berate Islam, often couching their prejudice in the highly moral language of women’s rights.”

So how are you linking what Mishra said about newspaper columnists, bloggers, etc with your argument that some leftists are hypocritical because they’ll criticize women’s rights in the “Muslim world” but not abortion? You’re using Mishra’s critique on journalists to argue that the left is hypocritical. I don’t understand this connection of yours unless you are claiming that all newspaper columnists, bloggers, etc are leftists…

They are our equivalent of the frothing Morgoth type (JUst mention ‘Surestart’ – light the touch paper and retreat! There is something about working class kids getting access to aspects of a wealthier start in life that really really really annoys Our Mr Goth!)

newspaper columnists / bloggers – they all merge into one.

I’m not saying the left only consists of the anti-imperialists or the anti-totalitarians. I’m saying they are on the margins… but that’s why the broader left needs to be more vocal about thesr issues.

“I believe the broader liberal-left should make a big stink about such issues (including forced marriages / honour killings)”

I’m not sure why you make the argument that the left is composed the “anti-totalitarian left” on the one end of the spectrum and the “anti-imperialist left” on the other, and that leftists aren’t silent about issues like abortion being under attack in the UK. I do think there are plenty of leftists who are pretty consistent with their views (not all leftists, obviously, but there’s isn’t a lack of) across the board on both domestic and international issues.

“They develop an interest in women’s rights across the Muslim world but are curiously silent about the attack on abortion rights in the UK or in other parts of the world. As Pankaj Mishra recently pointed out:”

But Mishra is talking about newspaper columnists, not leftists specifically…or did I miss something here? (Full disclosure: I didn’t read the article you linked to because I am at work).

Come off it Sunny, being silent about restricting access to late-term abortion because of increased understanding of child development is hardly the “moral equivalent” of supporting 200 lashes for a rape victim.

I don’t want to make sweep generalisations, but one thing that really pisses me off – and I have witness that in Britain – is the way some Indians treat people who serve in restaurants and shops, as if they were completely beneath them.