Mumbo jumbo

I've been very quiet because I've been very gloomy, with nothing particularly going right over the last few weeks... Discovered that my thyroid has gone bonkers again, which explains my general sluggishness and the fact that I've been going to bed at 9pm and falling fast asleep (which I actually quite enjoyed...) Now I'm back on medication it's as hard as it ever was to nod off. Been reading a lot (13 books so far this year) including Francis Wheen's brilliant account of the rise of mumbo jumbo. Wheen takes 1979 (Khomeini and Thatcher coming to power) as his starting point and explores how since then, in various ways, we have all fallen victim to modern day snake oil salespeople - whether they've been motivational self-help gurus, creationists, Islamic fundamentalists or monetarist economists. A great book, but slightly depressing at the same time.

Doing the ayatollah...

Comments

[Hossein Kazemi]

I have not read Wheen's Mumbo Jumbo at all,butI studied some its parts printed in "Sydney Morning" Newspaper.
The author's opinion about Ayatollah Khomeini is not correct.
If Ayatollah was Tacther's delegate or his revolution was beneficial for UK to dominate on the Oil,why he and his government were encountered with a lot of troubles and problems during 25 years and were not supported by UK to do his mission in a confident and calm space?
Saddam Hussain fought 8 years with Ayathollah.The terrorists groups killed hundreds of Ayatollah's friends even his president,prime-minister and parliament members.Ayatollah had decided to expand Islamic revolution to other Muslim countries which majority of them are big producer of Oil.Why UK did not support Ayatollah to achieve this goal and Islamic revolution was locked in Iran if he was a smoother for Tatcher's plans? Look,even 25 years after existing of Islamic government in Iran and despite Ayatollah has been dead since 15 years ago,the western governments have undertaken to military ways to approche to the Oil-Sources.Do not be silly,even kids know challenging with terrorism is main excuse to comming aruond Oily-regions.If Ayatollah and his subsequent Islamic governments were not real Islamic fundamentalists and were western's delegates,why they need to undertake heavy expenses of military movements?It is not evident that Ayatollah and his government has been barrier for them based on Islamic trainings?They are clerics who have challenged for justice since 1300 years ago.The majority of them were prisoners under persecutions in king's jails for years and a lot of them were executed.Ayatollah Khomeini went to his small home in Qum city when he came-back to Iran after 15 years as a leader in 1979.The Iranian people brought him insis to establish government and 98% voted to his first government.
Although the Wheen is famous author,I think he must more study about Ayatollah Khomeini,Current Clerics in Iran and in generally history of Shia.They do not trade their beliefs with thousands of Oil well.

Posted by: Hossein Kazemi at November 9, 2004 04:35 AM

[Hossein Kazemi]

Dear Sir/Madam
I have not read Wheen's Mumbo Jumbo at all,butI studied some its parts printed in "Sydney Morning" Newspaper.
The author's opinion about Ayatollah Khomeini is not correct.
If Ayatollah was Tacther's delegate or his revolution was beneficial for UK to dominate on the Oil,why he and his government were encountered with a lot of troubles and problems during 25 years and were not supported by UK to do his mission in a confident and calm space?
Saddam Hussain fought 8 years with Ayathollah.The terrorists groups killed hundreds of Ayatollah's friends even his president,prime-minister and parliament members.Ayatollah had decided to expand Islamic revolution to other Muslim countries which majority of them are big producer of Oil.Why UK did not support Ayatollah to achieve this goal and Islamic revolution was locked in Iran if he was a smoother for Tatcher's plans? Look,even 25 years after existing of Islamic government in Iran and despite Ayatollah has been dead since 15 years ago,the western governments have undertaken to military ways to approche to the Oil-Sources.Do not be silly,even kids know challenging with terrorism is main excuse to comming aruond Oily-regions.If Ayatollah and his subsequent Islamic governments were not real Islamic fundamentalists and were western's delegates,why they need to undertake heavy expenses of military movements?It is not evident that Ayatollah and his government has been barrier for them based on Islamic trainings?They are clerics who have challenged for justice since 1300 years ago.The majority of them were prisoners under persecutions in king's jails for years and a lot of them were executed.Ayatollah Khomeini went to his small home in Qum city when he came-back to Iran after 15 years as a leader in 1979.The Iranian people brought him insis to establish government and 98% voted to his first government.
Although the Wheen is famous author,I think he must more study about Ayatollah Khomeini,Current Clerics in Iran and in generally history of Shieh.They do not trade their beliefs with thousands of Oily platform.