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June 18, 2007
Sir Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie was knighted today—his birthday—and naturally the Muslim world is inflamed. I’ve read a couple of Rusdie’s books and he’s been a guest on my favorite podcast, Point of Inquiry. He is a thoughtful, eloquent speaker and I actually had the chance to wait on him when I was working at Obachine restaurant in Seattle. The whole time I was serving him mediocre pan-Asian food, there was a guard stationed at the door and one sitting across from him at the bar—both talking into their sleeves.
Not only is Rushdie a great secular thinker, he’s also married to Padma Lakshmi who is not only hot, but she also hosts one of my favorite television shows, Top Chef. Cheers to Sir & Lady Rushdie!
Too bad Sir Rushdie has to deal with asshats like Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq who had this to say on his Knighthood:
The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism, (But) If someone exploded a bomb on his body, he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes and withdraws the sir title.
Mr. ul-Haq is a Pakistani cabinet minister. All of this for writing a book.
Update: Looks like the marriage didn’t last.