Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed:
“Religious ‘outrage’ is an almost unknown phenomenon in our culture: but it is so common on the Islamic street that one often wonders: do Muslims know any other public mood? And whereas I can ask this question today, might it not be blasphemous under Dermot Ahern’s new law? For some Muslims might hold that it is grossly abusive or insulting to things they hold sacred, to dispute their right to endless public anger.”
Kevin Myers, Irish Independent, May 7 2009
While I support your cause, I’d baulk at having a hatemonger such as Kevin Myers on my side.
The media images we so often see of Muslim “public outrage” is usually in response to some Act of terror perpetrated by the Jewish fundementalists of Israel or the Christian Free Market Fundementalists of the US/UK axis.
In fact it might be fair to argue that as these acts of “public outrage” often have the effect of insulting some other religion – infidels, then the blasphemy law might also make it illegal.
The net effect would be silencing, not only the atheists and secularists, but also the fundementalists. So who wins? Only censorship.
Comment by Marcas MacCaoimhín — May 11, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
I think the point here is only that Myers should be allowed to express these feelings openly in a free and democratic society, not that they’re necessarily endorsed.
Comment by Adam Dinan — May 11, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
“I disagree with what you say, you xenophobic windbag, but I will defend to death your right to say it”, as Voltaire might have said in this case.
Comment by Woesinger — May 12, 2009 @ 11:28 am
Yes, of course Myers has the right to say what he wants but my point was that there’s a
difference between freedom of speech and actually promoting a viewpoint you disagree with.
E.G. If Myres logs on here to put his point accross then fair enough but quoting him is an
entirely different matter.
Comment by Marcas MacCaoimhín — May 18, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Hey Guys, steady on there.
Mr. Myers might not be everyone’s cup of tea. However If we agree on free speech, Mr. myers is entitled to our support.
GIVE IT TO HIM, but attack, as you feel fit, any and all of his ideas and pronouncements. DO NOT ATTACK HIM.
His Ideas are welcome, not least so that we can discuss the matter in a “fair and ballanced” way. (OK Fox, go ahead and sue me!)
Comment by Jack Butler — June 13, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
I agree with you Jack. I hate to say it but Myers is perfectly correct – for once.
Comment by Feardorcha — July 27, 2009 @ 11:18 am
Well, Marcas, the arab world has a point in showing political outrage, as they are the ones under attack, but we are talking about something different here. If a mere cartoon about their prophet cannot be tolerated either, what comes next? No arab or moslem country is known for tolerance, in fact they are known for quite different things. Wars or occupations may contribute to their confused state of minds, although we had wars and occupations in Europe as well but without such religious bigotry, at least not since 17th century.
Comment by Anna — January 4, 2010 @ 2:05 am