Women for Islamic law
Sir: Douglas Murray’s article (‘After spring, winter’, 26 November) was well written, but it missed a crucial point. What we are seeing in the Arab Spring is an awakening of a political Islam that is neither strictly ‘Islamist’ nor compatible with liberal ideals of freedom. The phenomenon is driven in large part by Muslim women, who want rid of secular autocracy but also believe that government should be run according to Islamic laws and principles. There are many contradictions and tensions within this emerging phenomenon. Yet it is important not to ignore it. Sadly, however, the movement seems invisible to most western journalists — on either side of the political spectrum — who cannot distinguish between Islam and the dark ages. Patronising liberals would rather portray the Arab Spring as an outbreak of enlightenment; while paranoid right-wingers see extremism in every Arab.
Lahki Patel
Reading
Once a revolutionary…
Sir: I do not believe James Delingpole experienced ‘A refreshing weekend of real conservatism’ (26 November) at David Horowitz’s Restoration Weekend gathering in Florida. Horowitz remains a temperamental Jacobin, even if he has turned his former leftism on its head. The utopian wars and security-state bureaucracy he and his fellow neoconservatives supported during the George W. Bush administration today cost American taxpayers $1.2 trillion a year. If, as Delingpole says, ‘The USA… is on the brink of collapse’, mock conservatives like Horowitz and Glenn Beck bear much of the blame. The moral and strategic damage inflicted upon America by middle-aged ex-radicals overcompensating for their sordid pasts has been incalculable.
Daniel McCarthy
Editor, the American Conservative
Arlington, Virginia
Don’t forget Newt
Sir: Daniel W. Drezner’s article (‘Republicans vs the world’, 26 November) nicely identifies the idiocy of Republican candidates when it comes to foreign policy. But we could have done with more on the madness of Newt Gingrich, who is now the Grand Old Party’s frontrunner. Gingrich seems to base his diplomatic ideas on the terrorism thrillers of Alex Berenson and William R. Forstchen (he co-wrote a novel with Forstchen). In 2009, he urged President Obama to read Forstchen’s novel One Second After, about an electromagnetic pulse attack on America, before dealing with North Korea, Iran and Hamas. This man could be president. Bill Forstchen could be secretary of state. Poor America.
Miles Kitchin
New York
What to say about rape
Sir: I wish I had confidence in Ken Clark’s ability to accept good advice from anywhere, but it was kind of Rod Liddle to make the effort on what can and cannot be said about rape (26 November). For my part, the safest suggestion I can offer is to announce ‘All rape is equally heinous — but some especially so’.
Martin Sewell
Kent
Canton contentment
Sir: I was interested in James Bartholomew’s article saying that democracy makes you happier (‘Vote for happiness’, 26 November). He says that the canton with the highest democracy rating (Basel Land, which does not include the city of Basel) has a notably happier population than that with the lowest (Geneva) and reports that the results were adjusted for demographic variables and income levels. What I wondered was: is there a more obvious explanation? Is it maybe the case that in Switzerland regions with smaller populations have more autonomy? Could it be the case that Swiss people living in the beautiful mountains are happier than their urban compatriots?
Georgia Little
Pembrokeshire
Who does no one like?
Sir: Igor Toronyi-Lalic mixed up his south London football clubs (19 November) in what was an otherwise superb article on an oft-maligned musical genre, minimalism. It is the fans of Millwall who sing ‘No One Likes Us And We Don’t Care’ (to the tune of ‘Sailing’ by Rod Stewart) and not the relocated Dons! With the repetition of NOLU, it could be argued that the chant falls into this genre. Rod Liddle has probably already brought this to your attention.
Ralph Winston McLean
Devon
Overkill
Sir: Thank you, Simon Hoggart (Television, 26 November)! I too have been watching the Killing II and I too can’t quite see what the fuss is about. Yes, the series is exciting and addictive, but people talk about it with such reverence, as if it were TV’s answer to Proust. At least now I know I am not alone.
Susan Scott
Yorkshire
Plane-speaking
Sir: I must admit I gasped at James Delingpole’s comment (Television, 19 November) at the end of his review of Pan Am. I agreed with everything he said about the frothy series until he wrote that it would nonetheless appeal to ‘gay men and straight women’. Speaking as a ‘straight woman’, I was astounded at such a sweeping condemnation. Then I calmed down and decided that he must have been joking.
Margot Kafno
London NW5
A Thrifty Christmas
No sign of an end to the world’s financial troubles, so do readers have any tips on how to economise this Christmas? Please send helpful hints to letters@spectator.co.uk and we’ll print the best in our Christmas issue.
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