In a recent interview with Sky News, Sir Salman Rushdie expressed his deep concern over the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attributing it to the pervasive gun culture in the United States. Describing the assassination as “an appalling act of violence,” Rushdie emphasized that this tragic event reflects a broader societal issue linked to the country’s relationship with firearms.
“They have more guns in private ownership than there are people in the country,” Rushdie noted, highlighting a troubling aspect of American life. He depicted a scenario where children are raised in households that normalize gun use, often with weapons stored unsafely. “It’s a country in which violent gun-related crime happens almost every day,” he remarked, listing Kirk’s assassination as one of the more brutal manifestations of this reality.
The Indian-British author also touched on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, expressing relief that the attempt was unsuccessful but stating he had little further comment on the incident. Rushdie himself is a survival of an assassination attempt in 2022, when he was brutally attacked at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. Following extensive injuries, including damage to vital organs and loss of vision in one eye, his assailant, Hadi Matar, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
In addition to discussing violence and its roots in American society, Rushdie shared insights about his writing and upcoming works. His memoir, “Knife,” delves into his experiences following the attack, while his new fiction piece, “Eleventh Hour,” marks a return to narrative storytelling.
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Rushdie also critiqued artificial intelligence, expressing skepticism about its ability to replicate the emotional depth and creativity found in human art. He remarked on his limited experiments with AI, which have led him to conclude that it lacks originality and a sense of humor. “Good art is original,” he asserted, questioning whether AI could ever achieve the same level of nuanced expression.
The interview addressed several important themes, including the ongoing conversation about book bans and the status of free speech in the United States. Those interested can watch the full interview on Sky News.
