An artist made scathing sculptures of Mao over a decade ago. Now, he’s detained for slandering China’s heroes, family says

Under Xi, the ruling Communist Party has vowed to eradicate “historical nihilism” — or any views that question or challenge its official version of history, including glorified images of sanctified national heroes.China passed a law in 2018 banning any insult or slander of national “heroes and martyrs,” including military personnel. The offense was added to… Read More An artist made scathing sculptures of Mao over a decade ago. Now, he’s detained for slandering China’s heroes, family says

Harris wants to bring ‘joy, joy, joy’ to Americans. And more bombs for Palestinians

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the Democratic convention have been met with stony faces, jeers – and violence GAZA casualties, live statistics NB: What does it mean, when tens of thousands of Palestinian corpses and mutilated children mean less to you than Israel’s so-called right to commit genocide? What kind of peace will descend upon Palestinians who… Read More Harris wants to bring ‘joy, joy, joy’ to Americans. And more bombs for Palestinians

‘Monument to history’ battle between US and China over future of Mao’s secretary’s diary

Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past: George Orwell, 1984 When you have a monopoly over power, you develop an obsession with secrecy: Frank Dikotter Amy Hawkins Senior China correspondent In the early hours of 4 June 1989, Li Rui, a veteran of the Chinese Communist party (CCP), was… Read More ‘Monument to history’ battle between US and China over future of Mao’s secretary’s diary

I myself am a woman: Selected Writings of Ding Ling (1904-1986)

First posted October 15, 2019 In the winter of 1930, the father of Ding Ling’s child and 23 other Communist activists and writers were executed by Chiang Kai-shek. Her response was swift and irrevocable: she joined the revolutionary struggle I MYSELF AM A WOMAN: Selected Writings of Ding Ling.  Reviewed by Susan Brownmiller (1989) (Scroll… Read More I myself am a woman: Selected Writings of Ding Ling (1904-1986)

Policing language: Why the West created a new dictionary for Israel and Palestine

Seeking ideological uniformity on the issue, western officials and their media accomplices have long recognised the centrality of language to their political indoctrination project Joseph Massad n the official West and its mainstream regime media, there exists a specialised dictionary and thesaurus to translate to the western public all matters Israeli and Palestinian. Officials and journalists… Read More Policing language: Why the West created a new dictionary for Israel and Palestine

South Asian University Issues Notice to PhD Student Who Cited Criticism of Modi: Report

According to the Indian Express, the university also initiated a disciplinary inquiry against the student’s supervisor, who subsequently resigned. New Delhi: The citation of American linguist Noam Chomsky’s criticism of the Narendra Modi government in a doctoral research proposal has resulted in a show-cause notice for the PhD scholar and a disciplinary inquiry against his supervisor… Read More South Asian University Issues Notice to PhD Student Who Cited Criticism of Modi: Report

Academic research on Rushdie’s literary work sabotaged by Deoband Ulema / Resist the Climate of Intimidation in Academics

First posted April 25, 2012 NB: Over the past four months, the Deoband Ulema has contributed to the climate of intolerance and religious bigotry in India. First by opposing Rushdie’s presence at the Jaipur Literature Festival, and now by sabotaging a perfectly legitimate subject for research. In the first instance they succeeded by riding on the… Read More Academic research on Rushdie’s literary work sabotaged by Deoband Ulema / Resist the Climate of Intimidation in Academics

Why is Bella Hadid in the headlines? Because it distracts from the hell on Earth that is Gaza

NB: Attacking Hadid feels like a great distraction from the (US taxpayer-funded) hell on Earth that is Gaza. It’s fascinating to see which media outlets have chosen to write about this fake shoe controversy, but have ignored recent stories such as a 24-year-old man with Down’s syndrome being attacked by an IDF dog in Gaza… Read More Why is Bella Hadid in the headlines? Because it distracts from the hell on Earth that is Gaza