false equivalents | qualiasoup & theramintrees [cc]

A reflection on the use of false equivalence and ‘levelling’ tactics, with special reference to the recent appalling developments in Brunei.
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opening quote:
It’s always the same with these bogus equivalences: They start by pretending loftily to find no difference between aggressor and victim, and they end up by saying that it’s the victim of violence who is ‘really’ inciting it.
—Christopher Hitchens, ‘Arguably’ [in reference to criticism of life-endangered ex-Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali]
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references:
Geertz, C. [1966] Religion as a cultural system. In Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion. Ed. Michael Banton. Tavistock Publications, London. pp.1–46.
Hitchens, C. [2011] Arguably. Atlantic Books, London.
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Brunei’s death penalty for apostasy:
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/apostasy/index.php
http://www.agc.gov.bn/AGC%20Images/LAWS/Gazette_PDF/2013/EN/s069.pdf
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miscellaneous news references:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/12/world/asia/brunei-stoning-law-defense.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/brunei-brings-in-death-by-stoning-as-punishment-for-gay-sex
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/22/brunei-defends-stoning-death-gay-sex-letter-eu
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/05/brunei-says-it-will-not-enforce-lgbt-gay-sex-death-penalty-after-backlash
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/05/sultan-brunei-drops-death-penalty-gay-sex-backlash-led-george/
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