The conversation doesn't start with questioning what Matar says or thinks. It starts with "I forgive you. I love you. I pray for you." Wondering what or why is a waste of time. Forgiveness doesn't mean that you don't want him to pay for his crimes, but it is the first step in your healing. He does not control you. Hate is a poison you take hoping the other person will die. Once you are free of him, you can redouble your efforts to be a better person and love humanity more deeply.
As to why it happened, contrary to dunce ex-President Carter who is always ready to excuse Islamist violence, it is all Matar's fault. He chose to do it. He chose violence. He is part of a death cult.
The very wise Ms. Avant said it best yesterday. She noted that she "didn't give a shit" about her mother's killer. She "forgave" only to liberate herself from allowing that vile piece of human trash to occupy her every waking thought.
I think "not giving a shit" about her mother's killer is not the same as forgiveness. Indifference is hate without the passion. Forgiveness is an act of love -- of others and of self. I may think differently about Avant's "forgiveness" after I finish the podcast, but from what I've heard so far, she doesn't get it.
Those were Ms. Avant's own words Steven. I agree with you that they weren't the classic stance of forgiveness, but they worked for her. And I agreed with her.
I've listened to the rest of the interview and agree with you. I think she meant more that she would not let hatred for her mother's killer consume her because it is not worth wasting one's own life. I hope others can adopt her example.
The implication here is that only believers in God can forgive. Perhaps instead of loving and praying for one’s attacker (disingenuous?) a more reasonable stance would be to hope for someone to wake up to their ignorance and realize the error of their ways.
I don't mean to give that impression. Anyone can forgive. Hoping for someone to wake up and realize their errors, however, leads to a lifetime of disappointment and bitterness. Forgiveness frees one's own soul. And just maybe it will have an impact on the perp.
Enlightenment on the perp's part? From the example of being forgiven. To forgive is to see someone as truly human. For most violent offenders this is a foreign concept. I don't say it works on them every time.
Mr. Rushdie wondered if Jimmy Carter had been right? No, rest assured, Mr. Rushdie, the American public answered that question for you. They sent him packing. And ever since then, Carter has justified that rejection by acting the well-meaning fool; supporting leftist causes and excusing the evil and atrocity attendant to them.
And thank you for giving us the truth and a name for Islam - the Satanic Verses. Says it all.
“To regret what your life has been is the true folly, I told myself, because the person doing the regretting has been shaped by the life he subsequently regrets.”
If I had a dime for every time the NYT published an embarrassing op-ed, I could stop playing the lottery.
Rushdie is an international treasure, and I would hope that his works are on the mandatory reading lists of whatever remains of English departments in American universities.
London or New York, it doesn’t matter. The murderous Islamic fundamentalists are everywhere and they will perpetrate their evil wherever and whenever they can or want to. We aren’t doing enough to stop them. Rushdie is an extraordinary man but he won’t be their last victim.
Your old friend, Christopher Hitchens, would be proud of you and your recovery. Your decision to rebuild and continue your life is the best possible answer to those who would silence you, and that you are able to ask yourself whether you were saved by a supernatural power is simply a sign of an enquiring and intelligent mind. If there were to be a God, he would be proud of your spirit.
I read most of Rushdie's books and I can think of only two other writers in the English language, alive today, of his stature: Ishiguro and McEwan. Every day that Rushdie lives and writes is a gift to all of us. And yet I don't see where the miracle lies. He was saved by the quick and level-headed action of a few people at the scene, by prompt and dedicated care, and not least by the incompetence and stupid fury of his attacker who stabbed him many times but fortunately failed in his enterprise.
On a silly level, I'm glad Mr. Rushdie came out of the shadows. He had a small part in one of my favorite movies, Bridget Jones' Diary. And I'm so thankful he wrote a book after this attack. The printed word will survive long after his assailant.
Thanks for the reminder of the grossness of Jimmy Carter. His malevolence has long been forgotten and he will likely be remembered for building houses not his ever growing hostility to Israel and his own country in favor of Islamic terrorists.
ICBW but I really do not see him as malevolent. The opposite actually - a devout man who really believed in kindness and enlightenment. To the point thst he had no self-interest. For himself or those on behalf of whom he was supposed to act. But it is really just taking the easy way - refusing to see much less face hard truths.
Are you kidding. Habitat was mostly paid for by Arab money. I am not a conspiracy person but maybe he had connections to Iran before the hostage debacle.
I am sure in his own mind he feels that wah. But his behavior and actions have been incredibly malevolent. Unless you don't consider meeting with murderous terrorists malevolent.
I see your point. In my personal life I do not meet with those I deem unworthy. But I actually prefer leadership that is strong enough to face anyone. The problem.with Carter was that he did not have that strength. Sort of Ike the current one. Just say "Don't" is not an effective strategy.
I'm In for the Fatwah on the Ayotllah's, these people are not humans but animals. Are there not enough Muslims in the world who need to learn to live without Western Aid and Support then attack the very people who try to assist them. The Palestinians' could exist without Western Aid they produce little or nothing they rely on others for their very existence yet they attack Israel at every opportunity. Start with cutting the aid most of which seems to flow to Hamas. Time to bring Iran to heel as well, no good can come from allowing this to continue.
The conversation doesn't start with questioning what Matar says or thinks. It starts with "I forgive you. I love you. I pray for you." Wondering what or why is a waste of time. Forgiveness doesn't mean that you don't want him to pay for his crimes, but it is the first step in your healing. He does not control you. Hate is a poison you take hoping the other person will die. Once you are free of him, you can redouble your efforts to be a better person and love humanity more deeply.
As to why it happened, contrary to dunce ex-President Carter who is always ready to excuse Islamist violence, it is all Matar's fault. He chose to do it. He chose violence. He is part of a death cult.
The very wise Ms. Avant said it best yesterday. She noted that she "didn't give a shit" about her mother's killer. She "forgave" only to liberate herself from allowing that vile piece of human trash to occupy her every waking thought.
I think "not giving a shit" about her mother's killer is not the same as forgiveness. Indifference is hate without the passion. Forgiveness is an act of love -- of others and of self. I may think differently about Avant's "forgiveness" after I finish the podcast, but from what I've heard so far, she doesn't get it.
Those were Ms. Avant's own words Steven. I agree with you that they weren't the classic stance of forgiveness, but they worked for her. And I agreed with her.
I've listened to the rest of the interview and agree with you. I think she meant more that she would not let hatred for her mother's killer consume her because it is not worth wasting one's own life. I hope others can adopt her example.
The implication here is that only believers in God can forgive. Perhaps instead of loving and praying for one’s attacker (disingenuous?) a more reasonable stance would be to hope for someone to wake up to their ignorance and realize the error of their ways.
I don't mean to give that impression. Anyone can forgive. Hoping for someone to wake up and realize their errors, however, leads to a lifetime of disappointment and bitterness. Forgiveness frees one's own soul. And just maybe it will have an impact on the perp.
If you expect something in return for forgiveness, it isn't a sincere forgiveness.
Correct. You forgive to forgive. The other benefits are a bonus.
Where would such "enlightenment" come from?
Enlightenment on the perp's part? From the example of being forgiven. To forgive is to see someone as truly human. For most violent offenders this is a foreign concept. I don't say it works on them every time.
I agree. The question is more of a philosophical one.
Huzzah for Salman Rushdie.
It is time for the sane and secular world to declare a fatwah against every ayatollah alive.
Mr. Rushdie wondered if Jimmy Carter had been right? No, rest assured, Mr. Rushdie, the American public answered that question for you. They sent him packing. And ever since then, Carter has justified that rejection by acting the well-meaning fool; supporting leftist causes and excusing the evil and atrocity attendant to them.
And thank you for giving us the truth and a name for Islam - the Satanic Verses. Says it all.
Carter was on the take of Middle Eadtetn money for his charity Habitat for Humanity.
Why would such folks care abt. building homes for poor people in the U. S ??
The poor old fellow. Imagine all the peace the religion of peace wishes on him. The same people you reprobates on the left support over lonely Israel.
I love this:
“To regret what your life has been is the true folly, I told myself, because the person doing the regretting has been shaped by the life he subsequently regrets.”
Me too. Wrote it down.
If I had a dime for every time the NYT published an embarrassing op-ed, I could stop playing the lottery.
Rushdie is an international treasure, and I would hope that his works are on the mandatory reading lists of whatever remains of English departments in American universities.
Maybe you could suggest it to the Midfle Eastern studies dept. at Columbia University.
London or New York, it doesn’t matter. The murderous Islamic fundamentalists are everywhere and they will perpetrate their evil wherever and whenever they can or want to. We aren’t doing enough to stop them. Rushdie is an extraordinary man but he won’t be their last victim.
Your old friend, Christopher Hitchens, would be proud of you and your recovery. Your decision to rebuild and continue your life is the best possible answer to those who would silence you, and that you are able to ask yourself whether you were saved by a supernatural power is simply a sign of an enquiring and intelligent mind. If there were to be a God, he would be proud of your spirit.
“NOT TODAY, SATAN!” -Salman Rushdie (citation needed)
Best comment here. IYKYK.
Belief in a “sane and secular” world, is the deepest fantasy.
I read most of Rushdie's books and I can think of only two other writers in the English language, alive today, of his stature: Ishiguro and McEwan. Every day that Rushdie lives and writes is a gift to all of us. And yet I don't see where the miracle lies. He was saved by the quick and level-headed action of a few people at the scene, by prompt and dedicated care, and not least by the incompetence and stupid fury of his attacker who stabbed him many times but fortunately failed in his enterprise.
I am glad Mr. Rushdie survived so his story can be told over and over again.
It’s interesting…to live in a world where you don’t believe in miracles. For me, that’s like saying you don’t believe in the sky or trees or the sun.
On a silly level, I'm glad Mr. Rushdie came out of the shadows. He had a small part in one of my favorite movies, Bridget Jones' Diary. And I'm so thankful he wrote a book after this attack. The printed word will survive long after his assailant.
Thanks for the reminder of the grossness of Jimmy Carter. His malevolence has long been forgotten and he will likely be remembered for building houses not his ever growing hostility to Israel and his own country in favor of Islamic terrorists.
ICBW but I really do not see him as malevolent. The opposite actually - a devout man who really believed in kindness and enlightenment. To the point thst he had no self-interest. For himself or those on behalf of whom he was supposed to act. But it is really just taking the easy way - refusing to see much less face hard truths.
Are you kidding. Habitat was mostly paid for by Arab money. I am not a conspiracy person but maybe he had connections to Iran before the hostage debacle.
I did not know that.
I am sure in his own mind he feels that wah. But his behavior and actions have been incredibly malevolent. Unless you don't consider meeting with murderous terrorists malevolent.
I see your point. In my personal life I do not meet with those I deem unworthy. But I actually prefer leadership that is strong enough to face anyone. The problem.with Carter was that he did not have that strength. Sort of Ike the current one. Just say "Don't" is not an effective strategy.
I'm In for the Fatwah on the Ayotllah's, these people are not humans but animals. Are there not enough Muslims in the world who need to learn to live without Western Aid and Support then attack the very people who try to assist them. The Palestinians' could exist without Western Aid they produce little or nothing they rely on others for their very existence yet they attack Israel at every opportunity. Start with cutting the aid most of which seems to flow to Hamas. Time to bring Iran to heel as well, no good can come from allowing this to continue.