.

Dear Foxy,

.

I appreciate your reassurance that I have not misinterpreted your thoughts on this highly contentious operation of unraveling the Gordian knot at the intersection of Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Expression.
.

Dear Is Mise,

.

I too tried to read Rushdie’s Satanic Verses when the Ayatollah’s fatwa hit the headlines, but I’m afraid I gave up before the end of the first chapter because I couldn’t understand what he was talking about.

Now that the subject has come up again, I thought I’d have another crack at it but can’t find the book anywhere among the thousands my wife and I have collected over the years.

I see that it is available as a free PDF on the internet, but don’t fancy reading the 574 pages (if I manage to get past the first chapter) on my computer screen :

http://ia902800.us.archive.org/3/items/learnislampdfenglishbookthesatanicverses/learn%20islam%20pdf%20english%20book%20__%20TheSatanicVerses.pdf

.

Foxy,
Please accept my apologies, l see now that Banjo was all right.

Banjo,
I read the “Satanic Verses” the first time because my host asked me to, as he wanted my reaction, it coincided with his.
I actually read it a second time as I was in hospital and reading material was short, I must say that Salman can write, but, in this case not coherently.

Dear Banjo,

I tried my best to untie the Gordion knot.
I failed. You didn't. Thank you.

Hi Is Mise,

Thank you for your apology.

It was nice of you to offer it.
I appreciate it.

I see that Queen Elizabeth is said to have died of 'old age'.
That statement on her certificate of death concerns me a trifle.
As I remember it, no one dies of old age.
They die because one or more critical parts of their body cease to function as they should.
So we die because something fails.
I wonder why it has been listed as it has.
But however curious we are, but I don't think we have any right to know anything more of the true circumstances.

Today is Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday.
2nd October 1869.

A man who employed non-violent means to gain independence
from British rule in India. Something to think about here
in Oz.

Australians all we should rejoice
We can be one and free
But we need to give our First People a Voice
In this land that's girthed by sea

We no longer sing "God Save The King"
But "Advance Australia Fair"
'Cause our people come from many lands
With pride we do declare

Do we need a British Crown
And all of its regalia?
King Charles can always visit us
And Camilla can root for Australia

Foxy,
Gandhi was a man who used violence; he deliberately provoked the British in India knowing that if pressed far enough they would react with violence, he did it time and again.
Whilst he refrained from overt personal violence he was not averse to causing it for political gain.