I hope that I shall one day find myself standing next to Howard Jacobson at a urinal. I shall hold my tongue till we are zipped and tell him how much I enjoyed this superb article.
Beautifully written and true I think.
Are Howard Jacobson’s books or essays studied at all for English Lit at schools or universities ?
I hope they are.
I doubt it. He’s far too white and Jewish for those woke racist turds.
Last edited 2 years ago by Richard Craven
Adam McDermont
2 years ago
Anti free speech zealots are unfortunately not confined to the elite. I remember being at university around the time of the Charlie Hebdo attack. I was surprised by the number of people who reasoned that those killed had it coming. Large sections of the public have reached an accommodation with Islamist savagery. The cultural divides in the West are so pronounced. Perhaps it is too much to hope that a peaceful solution to all of this can be found. If some sort of secession occurred, then I think there would be many leftists who would seek refuge in a culturally homogenous state having been scorned by mass immigration and Islamic terror. In this circumstance, I do not think they should be granted succour.
I had the same discussion with a “lefty” friend who thought they’d incited it and bought it on themselves.
George Venning
2 years ago
I don’t think I have ever seen the word “jocose” used in a critical sense before.
“Drat this novel, it is so playful, so full of jokes and merriment. Should its utterly unserious author ever face threats to his life on the basis of these confounded witticisms, I shall certainly not raise my voice in defence of all this mirth.”
I find the use of the word “jocose” to be jejune.
But it is a good word for describing J. K. Rowling’s novels. I haven’t read Rushdie’s, but I admire him for his bravery.
Michael James
2 years ago
‘I don’t doubt that a sense of exclusion from a charmed circle of the righteous explains why so many writers who might have been expected to be vocal on Salman Rushdie’s behalf weren’t.’
I do doubt it. I suspect they were just cowards.
Conrad Goehausen
2 years ago
I must admit, I couldn’t get past the idea that calling Rushie’s novels “jocuse” is even a criticism. They are deliberately humorous, funny, even ridiculous in parts. I suppose one’s values are one’s own, but humor is one of my primary values, so I don’t get the idea that this is even wrong. The problem is that some people, like Islamists, have no sense of humor about many things, and poking fun at them is very dangerous. I get that not everyone likes Rushie’s writings, or they just don’t find him funny. I do, and I wouldn’t want anyone to stop writing simply because people don’t like anyone making fun of “sacred cows” just because they don’t find them funny.
btw, aren’t Jacobson’s own novels “jocuse”?
Absolutely right, Conrad. Howard Jacobson’s novels are playfully funny, insightful and beautifully crafted. They are as humorous and profound as Kundera’s. Jacobson’s radio essays are well worth seeking out too. BBC Radio 4 – Point of View.
No it’s not the same as being stabbed to death but cancellation amounts to destroying someone’s life and career and means of making a living which is the end result that the cancellers seek. Even an abject apology will not be deemed sufficient. Look at the recent case of Kate Clanchy.
David Simpson
2 years ago
“to freely listen” – not so easy, or very common.
Luke Chan
2 years ago
If Jacobson had only just discovered that the fatwa was simmering instead of snuffed, he is a blind man indeed: Will Lloyd’s piece for this publication is instructive in how western society has, if anything, embraced it.
Gary Miles
2 years ago
Well said Howard, I hope that this terrible event marks a turning point in the constant attack on free speech. And I hope those dullards at the Pleasance read this. They need to.
Brendan O'Leary
2 years ago
Thanks Howard, good to see you back.
(if you’ve ever been away)
It’s nothing new either – I was at a Jerry Sadowitz event in the Green Room in Manchester over twenty years ago and he walked out after 10 minutes due to the audience booing at his ‘upsetting’ jokes. I tried to follow to buy him a drink but he had rushed off.
This would have been even better hearing Howard read it. He is a regular contributor on Radio 4’s Point of View.
Catch up on BBC Sounds – or your preferred podcast platform (whatever that is!)
Robert Devaney
2 years ago
Let’s hope they washed their hands prior to shaking them
Jeremy Stone
2 years ago
It is surprisingly difficult to discover what Sadowitz actually did or said. Except that, like Jacobson at the urinal, his member was on display (although in Sadowitz’s case to a slightly more numerous audience, and one which differed from Jacobson’s audience, Rushdie, in not expecting it). Context is important, you see. It does appear that Sadowitz, unlike Rushdie, starts from the intention to offend, and his defence is that the offensive speech is said to be encased in the quotation marks of art. Because the detail is so sparse, it is hard to know if this is true (or whether there are also dis-quotation devices at play, that get the offensive utterances out there all by themselves, after all). I have a nagging sense that when Jacobson defends Sadowitz he is invoking a free-speech defence when free speech is not the point at issue – namely the freedom to express beliefs that people disagree with. Sadowitz’s p***s is not a belief and probably it is not art, either.
Yousuf Hasan
2 years ago
No I do not agree with h some of the contents of the book. The author must understand the mentality of Salman. Why civilized reader dislike him? No matter Jew, Christian or Muslim that they believe Religion is a very sensitive issue. The respect of Prophet Peace Be Upon Him is an accepted fact. Why to disrespectful? Salman act is intolerance and Fatwa or No Fatwa he will remain most punishable person in Muslim world. The writer favoring remarks do not justify in civilized world.
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I hope that I shall one day find myself standing next to Howard Jacobson at a urinal. I shall hold my tongue till we are zipped and tell him how much I enjoyed this superb article.
No, it’s OK to speak up from the word go.
Really?
I tend to shrink from conversations started at the urinal while I have other matters in hand.
Reported. You should be banned from the site for posting such filth. How do you sleep at night?
Remember to shake, wash hands, then shake again
Beautifully written and true I think.
Are Howard Jacobson’s books or essays studied at all for English Lit at schools or universities ?
I hope they are.
I doubt it. He’s far too white and Jewish for those woke racist turds.
Anti free speech zealots are unfortunately not confined to the elite. I remember being at university around the time of the Charlie Hebdo attack. I was surprised by the number of people who reasoned that those killed had it coming. Large sections of the public have reached an accommodation with Islamist savagery. The cultural divides in the West are so pronounced. Perhaps it is too much to hope that a peaceful solution to all of this can be found. If some sort of secession occurred, then I think there would be many leftists who would seek refuge in a culturally homogenous state having been scorned by mass immigration and Islamic terror. In this circumstance, I do not think they should be granted succour.
https://theheritagesite.substack.com/
I had the same discussion with a “lefty” friend who thought they’d incited it and bought it on themselves.
I don’t think I have ever seen the word “jocose” used in a critical sense before.
“Drat this novel, it is so playful, so full of jokes and merriment. Should its utterly unserious author ever face threats to his life on the basis of these confounded witticisms, I shall certainly not raise my voice in defence of all this mirth.”
Doesn’t sound like something someone would say.
Am I failing to read something between the lines?
And to use it twice! Yikes. I recoiled like Woody Allen at the word “jejune”.
Maybe he just learned what it means. People often try to use words they’ve just learned to show them off, but use them inappropriately.
I find the use of the word “jocose” to be jejune.
But it is a good word for describing J. K. Rowling’s novels. I haven’t read Rushdie’s, but I admire him for his bravery.
‘I don’t doubt that a sense of exclusion from a charmed circle of the righteous explains why so many writers who might have been expected to be vocal on Salman Rushdie’s behalf weren’t.’
I do doubt it. I suspect they were just cowards.
I must admit, I couldn’t get past the idea that calling Rushie’s novels “jocuse” is even a criticism. They are deliberately humorous, funny, even ridiculous in parts. I suppose one’s values are one’s own, but humor is one of my primary values, so I don’t get the idea that this is even wrong. The problem is that some people, like Islamists, have no sense of humor about many things, and poking fun at them is very dangerous. I get that not everyone likes Rushie’s writings, or they just don’t find him funny. I do, and I wouldn’t want anyone to stop writing simply because people don’t like anyone making fun of “sacred cows” just because they don’t find them funny.
btw, aren’t Jacobson’s own novels “jocuse”?
Absolutely right, Conrad. Howard Jacobson’s novels are playfully funny, insightful and beautifully crafted. They are as humorous and profound as Kundera’s. Jacobson’s radio essays are well worth seeking out too. BBC Radio 4 – Point of View.
Jocose, not jacuse (jacuzzi?) has a self conscious Pickwickian weight to it. Ho ho ho I’m being funny- geddit? An astute comment by Jacobson .
“There are no jokes in Islam”.
Ayatollah Khomeini
It’s a terrifying quote, isn’t it. Thank you for the reminder.
Yesterday on Spiked they asked the very pertinent question where is the ‘Je suis Salman’ movement? The silence of the French left has been particularly telling.
https://www.spiked-online.com/podcast-episode/where-is-the-je-suis-salman-movement/?utm_source=Today+on+spiked&utm_campaign=ea4cc8d3f7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_08_18_05_35&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6dc1b7df1-ea4cc8d3f7-99520242
No it’s not the same as being stabbed to death but cancellation amounts to destroying someone’s life and career and means of making a living which is the end result that the cancellers seek. Even an abject apology will not be deemed sufficient. Look at the recent case of Kate Clanchy.
“to freely listen” – not so easy, or very common.
If Jacobson had only just discovered that the fatwa was simmering instead of snuffed, he is a blind man indeed: Will Lloyd’s piece for this publication is instructive in how western society has, if anything, embraced it.
Well said Howard, I hope that this terrible event marks a turning point in the constant attack on free speech. And I hope those dullards at the Pleasance read this. They need to.
Thanks Howard, good to see you back.
(if you’ve ever been away)
It’s nothing new either – I was at a Jerry Sadowitz event in the Green Room in Manchester over twenty years ago and he walked out after 10 minutes due to the audience booing at his ‘upsetting’ jokes. I tried to follow to buy him a drink but he had rushed off.
This would have been even better hearing Howard read it. He is a regular contributor on Radio 4’s Point of View.
Catch up on BBC Sounds – or your preferred podcast platform (whatever that is!)
Let’s hope they washed their hands prior to shaking them
It is surprisingly difficult to discover what Sadowitz actually did or said. Except that, like Jacobson at the urinal, his member was on display (although in Sadowitz’s case to a slightly more numerous audience, and one which differed from Jacobson’s audience, Rushdie, in not expecting it). Context is important, you see. It does appear that Sadowitz, unlike Rushdie, starts from the intention to offend, and his defence is that the offensive speech is said to be encased in the quotation marks of art. Because the detail is so sparse, it is hard to know if this is true (or whether there are also dis-quotation devices at play, that get the offensive utterances out there all by themselves, after all). I have a nagging sense that when Jacobson defends Sadowitz he is invoking a free-speech defence when free speech is not the point at issue – namely the freedom to express beliefs that people disagree with. Sadowitz’s p***s is not a belief and probably it is not art, either.
No I do not agree with h some of the contents of the book. The author must understand the mentality of Salman. Why civilized reader dislike him? No matter Jew, Christian or Muslim that they believe Religion is a very sensitive issue. The respect of Prophet Peace Be Upon Him is an accepted fact. Why to disrespectful? Salman act is intolerance and Fatwa or No Fatwa he will remain most punishable person in Muslim world. The writer favoring remarks do not justify in civilized world.
I regret that I have only one down vote to give you.
I regret that I have only one up vote to give you.
“The respect of Prophet Peace Be Upon Him is an accepted fact. Why to disrespectful?”
Because Mohammed was a paedo.