While I have a great deal of personal sympathy for the awful experiences Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Irshad Manji and Asra Nomani (female genital mutilation in the case of the former, and being exposed to intolerance, hatred and demands of unquestioning submission for them all), I find it difficult to understand what often seems like their deliberately fostered ignorance of Islam in its diverse history and heterogeneous present.

Of course, by mentioning them in the same sentence, I by no means imply that they embody the same degree of hostility to Islam. Ayaan is most certainly the most vituperative, Nomani is clueless but idealistic, and, recently, Manji seems to be attempting to gain a better understanding of it all.

Admittedly, there is quite a bit of “all” to get one’s head around. I’m still trying to do that after thirtysomething years on the planet.

I thought about deconstructing Ayaan after hearing her speak in SF earlier this year and again after the LA Times op-ed by Rushdie and Harris a few days ago but then thought - what’s the point of getting one’s knickers in a twist? Living beautifully is the best revenge after all.

Unless one is a brilliant lampooner, of course. In which case, head over to ‘Aqoul, which shows yet again that a little bit of Ayaan knowledge is a ridiculous thing.