Here are the opening speeches from the Atheist Ireland AGM on Saturday, which focus on the blasphemy law now passed by the Oireachtas.
Introduction and opening speech by Senator Ivana Bacik
Second half of opening speech by Senator Ivana Bacik
Messages of support from Richard Dawkins, Father Ted writers and EHF
[...] keen to see the legal response to the deliberate blashpemous statement from Atheist Ireland in protest of this law. [...]
Pingback by BrainJunk » For God’s sake, Ireland — July 15, 2009 @ 3:17 am
Senator Bacik made a a wonderful and incisive speech on Saturday. I always enjoyed her speeches, when she was President of the Students Union in TCD back in my day. A class act as always. Let’s campaign to amend the constitution so we can elect her to the highest office in the land!
Comment by Derek the heretic — July 15, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
Your AGM got a good write up in the Irish Times today…lol, here’s a snippet: “Perhaps it is a symptom of its sudden emergence into the light, but Irish-style atheism seems as yet unable to define itself other than in contradistinction to versions of reality it declares to be false. I would be interested to hear an Irish atheist speak for 10 minutes to his subject without relying for material on the wrongs of the Catholic Church.” Classic.
Comment by Mujahid — July 17, 2009 @ 2:05 am
“I would be interested to hear an Irish atheist speak for 10 minutes to his subject without relying for material on the wrongs of the Catholic Church”
there are plenty of irish atheists who could do that – just ask any former member of the Workers Party or the CPI.
Comment by threequarks — July 17, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
Controversial laws facing presidential challenge:
Good news?
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/controversial-laws-facing-presidential-challenge-419112.html
Comment by travors — July 17, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Yeah, that comment about Irish Atheists – speaking on Atheism for 10 mins without bringing up the wrongdoings of the Catholic Church ltd – got on my nerves.
My understanding is you have to keep things relevant, sure you could talk about Pentacostal Churches in the States performing exorcisms on kids with ADHD and homosexuals, but it’s hardly relevant in an Irish context. Especially in the wake of the Ryan Report, you have to talk about contemporary issues.
I cannot John Waters is defending the church, he’s mixing with a bad lot.
Comment by Stiof — July 21, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
Thanks for the link Travors, but did you see who’s on the council of state? Not too many mensa heads there, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Bertie and Albert Reynolds the dancehall king, guardians of our lovely sectarian constitution, appointed to protect it. So no chance of success there, you’d have more chance in Iran.
Comment by Derek the heretic — July 21, 2009 @ 10:23 pm