Salman Rushdie Knighted



(image via deadlyheadlines)

Granted, the concept of "Knighthoods" is archaic and more than a little bit silly, but we cannot think of a British subject more worthy of that damn thing than an intellectual heavyweight like Salman Rushdie. Still, we wonder: Will this add fire to the conspiratorial arguments in the Muslim world that the War on Terror is in fact a civilizational war between the West and Fundamentalist Islam? From The Associated Press via Observer:

"Queen Elizabeth II conferred a knighthood on 'The Satanic Verses' author Salman Rushdie on Wednesday, a year after the announcement of the knighthood provoked protests from the Muslim world.

"Some Muslims accused Rushdie him of blasphemy in the book and Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini pronounced a death sentence on him in 1989.

"'I really have no regrets about any of my work,' Rushdie told reporters after being asked about 'The Satanic Verses.'

"'This is, as I say, an honor not for any specific book but for a very long career in writing and I'm happy to see that recognized,' he said."

And whether or not Padma Lakshi is indeed married to Salman, she is, and always will be, a Lady.