From: larryd@milton.u.washington.edu (Larry Desoto)
Subject: Re: Salmon (sic) Rushdie's insight into America
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 05:00:59 GMT

db@matilda.vut.edu.au (David Bowman ) writes:

>In article <larryd.703051805@milton> larryd@milton.u.washington.edu (Larry Desoto) writes:
>>>>>...
>>>>>>>> ... armed bodyguards ...
>>>>>
>>>>>The amusing thing in the entire Rushdie episode is he spent a good deal
>>>>>of his time his prior to the Iranian threat expounding on how the
>>>>>British government was fascist.  I suspect 1) he hasn't endeared himself
>>>>
>>>>I don't see anything amusing about this. Everyone has a right
>>>>to the services of their government regardless of whether they
>>>>voted for them.
>>
>>...Services of their government---three full-time, live-in, armed bodyguards
>>ho ho ho...
>>
>Well what would you suggest that the British government does
>about this unfortunate situation. It is not just a matter of the
>rights of Rushdie, but a broader principle is involved, that
>of freedom of speech. I am interested in what you would
>see as a good solution.

Rushdie is in the position of poking his finger into the eye of
someone a *lot* meaner and tougher than he is then running to big brother
and demanding protection.  To some extent, there is nothing wrong with 
this.  What is irritating about Rushdie is that not only does he wants
to get his cheap shots in while someone else fights his battles, he
also wants to take cheap shots at the people he needs to protect him...

Frankly, the only thing that will help Rushdie is if either the British
or US threaten to use force and make the threat credible.  Now that isn't
going to happen.  Anyway, that would be immoral according to you.  From
Rushdie's point of view, he may well have a problem with no solution
except maybe they will forget about him after a while.

What do you suggest we do?  Continue to provide him with round the clock
bodyguards?  Why should we if these services are not available to *me*?
Fight a war over it?  Tell them they are naughty and we are going to make
them stand in the corner?  Do tell "Dave," just what do you suggest we do?

>>The ironic thing is that you aren't going to get those "services" if
>>you are not politically connected, or in Rushdie's case, going to be
>>an embarassment if you get bumped off.  Rushdie spent years telling
>>and maybe even believing that the British (and US) governments were
>>uncivilized.  Somewhere along the way, he lost sight of the fact that
>>there *are* institutionally uncivilized governments.  Now he is in a
>>pickle and *demanding* protection from a government he claimed was
>>uncivilized.  Even better yet, he has lately been in the USA trying to
>>get a little official help with his problem from Uncle Sam.

>Don't you think that all citizens have rights, regardless
>of their political opinion? In the case of Rushdie and the US,
>I thought the US was meant to support freedom of speech. Many
>US writers support Rushdie and would like to see their government
>make a stand. 

All citizens of the USA do have rights (and responsibilities); something
you have been trying to deny up until now.  I guess as we sometimes say,
the wrong ox is getting gored.

I wouldn't mind if Uncle Sam took a hard stand.  We would all be better
off in the long run.  However, lets look to see what would happen if
Uncle did something like that.  All the "intellectuals" currently claiming
that we should do something would immediately start condemnimg the US
for poking its "imperalistic nose" into other people's business.  "Concerned
individuals" such as yourself would be demonstrating in front of the US
embassy and burning US flags in protest.  

Horrors, what if you set yourself on fire while demonstrating?  You might
even be seriously hurt while waiting for the fire department to show up
(govs problem to put it out you know).  It would be a tough time to find
out that your government's level of fire service wasn't up to snuff.

--
Larry                                   |   Thunder makes all the noise;
                                        |   lightning gets the job done.
larryd@milton.washington.edu
I have my opinion; the university has its own.