Salman Rushdie Attacker Convicted in Terrorism Trial
The Spin
Rushdie brought this on himself by deliberately mocking religious figures for fame and notoriety. Free speech doesn't give one a blank check to demean what's sacred to billions — actions have consequences. Playing with fire and feigning surprise at the burns is a choice. Don't pretend otherwise.
Free speech is worthless if it only protects comfortable, uncontroversial ideas — the whole point is protecting speech that offends. Blaming Rushdie for getting stabbed over words written decades ago is a dangerous deflection from the real issue: radicalized violence against any kind of expression.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 0.5% chance that a non-state actor will develop their own nuclear weapon by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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