a thinking woman's thoughts
Reader comment on item: The Worst Book of 2007?

Submitted by Rebecca Moulds (United States), Oct 28, 2007 at 12:23

The variety of topics,from the Khalil Gibran book to the Gene W. Heck book, requires a variety of responses, so here goes:

1) Having read some of Gibran's poetry, which was required reading in my high school, I am to this day, still not impressed with his style, which I found pedantic, flowery and verging on the pavonine. I would rather sit through a hundred performances of "Eugene Onegin" than read Gibran.

2) The main reason for so many editing mistakes lately is simply the inability to conduct proper research, to sift the truths from non-truths, and to get the facts straight before writing and publishing anything. Just plain laziness really, and indicative of the general paralysis of the brain which seems to be more and more prevalent in the world.

3) About the Wayne State disrupted talk: I have watched several of these video clips and agree that most of these instigators come to the talks merely to cause disruption, not to listen to Dr. Pipes. I think we have to redefine exactly what "freedom of speech" is, because the borders have become blurred. A new law at universities should be enforced, one that states that only parties interested in actually listening to lectures and talks by guests would be allowed inside, and all others would have to be excluded.

Any person interrupting the talks would be removed immediately from the auditorium. At the end of the talks, a question and answer session would supplant the usual disruptions. Naturally there will always be contrary views to whatever the guest speaker has to say, but these views should be done in a civilised and mature manner, respecting the guest. If that sounds like a pipe dream (no pun intended) then I'm sorry, I am a dreamer.

4) It is heartening to note that Michael Mukasey agrees with Sam Brownback about Shari'a law, and how the laws of the country supersede any religious laws. This topic is one area that more Americans need to learn about and to understand the importance of keeping it and other Islamic ideas out of our country.

5) The duet of President George Bush and Dr. Daniel Pipes is out of tune and I believe neither really was comfortable with the other, although both tried. One problem (definitely not the main one) is that Pres. Bush is stubborn to the point of absurdity and has been poorly advised, which frustrates Dr. Pipes, who has tried to make this administration understand what mistakes have been made. This arranged marriage just didn't work, but hopefully the future will provide another opportunity for our government to get it right.

6) The book by Gene W. Heck, When Worlds Collide, is one book that I won't waste my time reading, even to critique it. Anyone who believes that "the Wahhabi movement in innocent of aggressive intentions" must be re-educated, and urgently, too.

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