Comments on: Is the Blasphemy Law Unconstitutional?

By: Garlandgreen

Garlandgreen — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:12:54 +0000

Mujaahiid,

Doth the lady protest too much?

If you think this law is worth anything I’m sure you can just complain to thye police since it’s now a criminal offence

Regards

G,G

By: Saidhbhin Bhreatnach

Saidhbhin Bhreatnach — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:31:36 +0000

Thank you for putting together this intelligent and well-balanced letter. I only hope that it has some effect on the situation. I am very disappointed that Ireland continues to shift her policies towards the suppression of civil rights and I feel many of these policies are born of ignorance. I wonder if all MPs back-packed around the world would they be a bit more open-minded?

By: Talia Al Ghul

Talia Al Ghul — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:03:01 +0000

I agree with derek about not getting Involved with fringe lefty groups

But i think AI should still go ahead and Issue a blasphemous statement asap
If no statement is issued,its gonna look like caving into Intimidation of threats of boycotts
if the boycot threat wasnt made it be one thing.
But since its being made I think AI Should go ahead with the blasphemous statement
and show AI wont be Intimidated with threats

And Heres what some may call a blasphemous statement

The Newist pat Condell Video up online

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4FpTvp0tgs

By: Mujaahid

Mujaahid — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:31:43 +0000

That’s a useful contribution Derek, I sincerely hope Michael and Co. will rethink their plan to release a blasphemous statement, don’t be sidelined by the O’Doherty’s of this world whose abject hatred for Islam blinds them to the greater good. You have nothing to gain from a public pronouncement and everything to lose.

By: Derek the heretic

Derek the heretic — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:19:46 +0000

Michael, an excellent letter. Hard luck though.

Here are a few general thoughts I’d like to share.
If AI is to achieve critical mass and gain some political influence (as Libertas did in barely a few months albeit with millions to spend) it must tackle the public perception that Atheism is extreme or dogmatic rather than just being a moderate philosophy of religion. It will also need to work with other groups depending on the issue at hand such as ET and the humanists while not replicating their work. But beware your fellow travellers. There are, as I’m sure you well know, fantasists out there who call themselves atheists with a capital “A” but are nothing of the sort. They are ideologues who place their faith in political religions which have in fact retarded the atheist cause. Hard left groups such as the SWP or Black Flag will seek to infiltrate in order to recruit and could damage the credibility of AI. This is Dublin 2009, not Paris 1968. Ill conceived situationist public acts should not even be considered by any organisation which seeks to convince rather than polarise. AI would do best to adopt a militant centrist approach and publicly distance itself from the far right and left. Then ape like journalists would not be able to make monkeys of you and I might even join.

By: Their puzzling devoutness « Sentence first

Their puzzling devoutness « Sentence first — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:13:10 +0000

[...] taking of offence is more important than free expression.” Despite an eleventh-hour twist and the best efforts of a newly formed lobby group, the defamation bill was passed today, including the aforementioned [...]

By: Mujaahid

Mujaahid — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:44:16 +0000

Michael – I’m aware of the incitement to hatred law, however you will agree that it has done little to protect religious adherents from the abject harm that insult and offense bring, which is why I support the Blasphemy bill. But let’s talk about this and work to allay fears and anxieties on both sides.

By: Michael Nugent

Michael Nugent — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:30:41 +0000

Mujahid, there is already a law that prohibits incitement to hatred based on religion. It is the Prohibition of Incitement To Hatred Act, 1989.

Under this Act it shall be an offence for a person to publish or distribute written material, to use words, behave or display written material, or to distribute, show or play a recording of visual images or sounds, that may be or are threatening, abusive or insulting and are intended or, having regard to all the circumstances, are likely to stir up hatred.

The Act defines “hatred” as hatred against a group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, membership of the travelling community or sexual orientation.

I will try to reply to your other comments later.

By: Mujaahid

Mujaahid — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:07:50 +0000

I’ve looked at the Christian site Michael and yes there are similarities. I believe the issue is one of decorum, you can oppose something without resort to gratuitous insult. As a practicing Muslim I am opposed to homosexuality, but that doesn’t negate the necessity of civility and decorum in discussions on that topic. The easy option is to resort to insult, but as I’m sure you will agree it is rather base and only attracts the neanderthal-like goons in society. One thing I miss is the affability and decorum that defined argumentation in the past.

By: Mujaahid

Mujaahid — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:57:50 +0000

Michael, I have no beef with you personally, though I do find your insistence on separating religion from the individual somewhat disingenuous. From all accounts I have heard you seem a reasonable fellow, why not sit down with religious adherents and talk this through instead of publicly insulting them? Why not debate in public forums, iron out contentions in a civil manner? Abuse and insult have never benefited any society and I would humbly ask you to reconsider your promised blasphemous statement. It is a concern to us, not only on account of its negative impact on religious adherents but also because of the how others might view Ireland. If there was a law that condemned incitement to religious hate, we might find some agreement – as it is we don’t.