It’s now being called “the Battle of Brick Lane” — the mostly Bangladeshi residents of London’s Brick Lane district have used what some would call protests and others, including Dibs!, would call threats to keep a film version of Monica Ali’s novel Brick Lane from being shot in their neighborhood. The Guardian reports that veteran feminist author Germaine Greer supports the “Brick Lane activists” and that fellow author Salman Rushdie, who spent years in hiding after being saddled with a fatwa, has lashed out against Greer. Rushdie wrote a letter, published in the Guardian today, which calls Greer’s stance “philistine, sanctimonious, and disgraceful, but it is not unexpected. As I well remember, she has done this before. At the height of the assault against my novel The Satanic Verses, Germaine Greer stated, ‘I refuse to sign petitions for that book of his, which was about his own troubles.’ She went on to describe me as ‘a megalomaniac, an Englishman with dark skin.’ Now it’s Monica Ali’s turn to be deracinated by Germaine.” Ouch! And ouch back atcha, as back to the Dark Ages we go. The Guardian continues: “Last night community activists in Brick Lane confirmed a rally would go ahead tomorrow and, in an echo of the burnings of The Satanic Verses nearly 20 years ago, they would burn Ali’s book.” Ahhhh, nothing sez “civilization” like book-burnings. “More than 100 activists are expected to attend the rally, with small delegations travelling from Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham…. Enthusiasm for tomorrow’s protest has been stoked by rumour. In one scare-story gaining unfounded credence in Brick Lane’s restaurants and clothes factories, the movie is said to feature a scene in which a leech falls from the hair of a Bangladeshi woman into a pot of curry. The film company strongly denies any such scene exists.” Rumors sparking mass movements with a potential for violence, eh? Can you say “Hugh of Lincoln”? Thought you could.
Salman Rushdie Calls Germaine Greer “Disgraceful” for Supporting Anti-Brick Lane Agitators
Posted by Anneli Rufus at 6:54 pm, Friday, July 28, 2006
bowman Says:
September 6th, 2006 at 11:25 amVisit bowman
myself I do not think that what Germaine Greer has to say alot of the time is really relevant. I mean come on she considers herself to be worthy of having everyone listen to her but what I just read is enough to make me sick. Her comments on Steve Irwin are disgraceful and mean. As I was told when I was a child if you do not have anything nice to say do not say anything at all and believe me right now was the time that she should be quiet. We were all given a way to voice our opinions but we were also given a brain to help us to decide when to make those opinions known and right now she is not using her brain. If she had any common decency or compassion for people she would have said nothing at all for the meantime but as the other saying goes “what goes around comes around” and she will get that later on in life when she has to answer for comments that she has made about people and issues over the years.
Sarah Says:
September 6th, 2006 at 12:29 pmVisit Sarah
I have read this woman’s comments about Steve Irwin on MSN and I am so disgusted with her. Steve Irwin was an amazing educator and advocate for animals, docile or aggressive. He taught about conservation, propogation, and saving species that otherwise would be destined for extinction. So Ms. Greer, please stick to topics you think you know something about- Birth control, communism, etc- and leave zoologist to their passions, and their jobs. The animal and human world lost an amazing, intelligent man in Steve Irwin.
Animal Right Activists Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 11:43 amVisit Animal Right Activists
I found your blog via Google while searching for animal right activists and your post regarding Salman Rushdie Calls Germaine Greer “Disgraceful” for Supporting Anti-Brick Lane Agitators looks very interesting to me. I have a few websites of my own and I must say that your site is really top notch. Keep up the great work on a really high class resource.
contraceptive Says:
September 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pmVisit contraceptive
Germaine Greer has a very whacked out views that even other feminist have trouble comprehending.
Slimming Clubs Says:
August 30th, 2009 at 2:56 pmVisit Slimming Clubs
Not sure I even understand Germaine Greer’s points of view. What she says is certainly not mainstream opinions.
4 foot beds Says:
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:13 amVisit 4 foot beds
They don’t want any shooting in the neighborhood? It’s messy anyway, the shooting and you got lots of people who would simply watch and it would be an inconvenience.
Luis Molton Says:
April 15th, 2011 at 9:27 amVisit Luis Molton
@slimming clubs, not mainstream opinions but still threading ones, right? I also noticed that one. Let’s just leave their war just for themselves.
Jake Thomas Says:
April 29th, 2011 at 12:58 pmVisit Jake Thomas
If you do not want a movie filmed on your front doorstep then you should have the right to object especially if it could possibly cause violence
Gus Says:
May 2nd, 2011 at 7:24 amVisit Gus
The Greer Woman really has outdone herself this time. Just goes to show how irrelevant she has become.
Gus from pet insurance cost
Diet plans for women Says:
May 2nd, 2011 at 7:35 pmVisit Diet plans for women
Germaine Greer’s opinions are more famous than her works which says pretty much all you need to know.
wordpress hosting Says:
May 9th, 2011 at 6:40 amVisit wordpress hosting
Why would anyone be against having their city filmed? It would indeed bring exposure to the city in some ways. I guess it does truly depend on what is being filmed.