http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=50017 is a letter to the Church Times written by closet gay Bishop Lindsay Urwin
As a gay man, he is nonetheless using his position to oppress other gay people.
He is a hypocrite and is suffering from internalised homophobia.
He thus deserves to be outed
Friday, January 25, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Organ donation
Organ donation is an area of medicine which has greatly expanded in recent years. Despite the attempt to publicise organ donation cards, still many organs are lost simply because there is no knowledge of whether the person consents to donation or not.
I strongly and passionately support the proposed change which will ensure that organs can be used unless the individual opts out of donation. No doubt the usual religionist cries will be heard (and they are supposed to be 'pro-life'...don't make me laugh) but they have a simple remedy - be selfish and opt out if it offends their delicate little religionist sensibilities.
For those not encumbered by delusion, this is an opportunity to really make a difference and to give people genuine quality of life. I hope it is passed by parliament as soon as possible.
I strongly and passionately support the proposed change which will ensure that organs can be used unless the individual opts out of donation. No doubt the usual religionist cries will be heard (and they are supposed to be 'pro-life'...don't make me laugh) but they have a simple remedy - be selfish and opt out if it offends their delicate little religionist sensibilities.
For those not encumbered by delusion, this is an opportunity to really make a difference and to give people genuine quality of life. I hope it is passed by parliament as soon as possible.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Capital of Culture 2008
Well, it came as something of a surprise to find on the doormat this morning, two free tickets to Liverpool - The Musical, at the new Echo Arena. I applied for them weeks ago and assumed that they weren't to be forthcoming...anyway, we felt that missing a unique event like this would be daft, so we ended up spending the evening there, despite my bad back and David's minor operation yesterday...
It was good fun. The stadium is impressive. the seats are comfortable and large, the views are excellent, and the sound quality good too.
Capital of Culture gets off to a good start.
It was good fun. The stadium is impressive. the seats are comfortable and large, the views are excellent, and the sound quality good too.
Capital of Culture gets off to a good start.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Repeal SOCPA
Just been drawn attention to the Government consultation on the repeal of SOCPA - The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
The deadline for responses and some useful information can be found on the website calling for its repeal.
http://www.repeal-socpa.info/
The deadline for responses and some useful information can be found on the website calling for its repeal.
http://www.repeal-socpa.info/
Nuclear Power
When Gordon Brown became leader of the Labour party, I thought about re-joining. I hoped that some of the excesses of the Blair years would be in the past - and, indeed, I am pleased to see that faith school expansion has been placed on the back burner, and that there seems to be a distancing from the US government's foreign policy
But the announcement that nuclear power stations have been recommissioned is something which makes it far less likely that i could vote Labour next time, let alone rejoin the party. The links between nuclear weaponry and power are obvious - we recognise that to be the case with Iran. The question of nuclear waste is something which no-one has an answer to. And how about active development of clean coal technology and alternative energy sources - all put on the backburner in the name of the military-industrial complex?
I recall a t-shirt with a slogan which read:
The earth is flat, pigs can fly, and nuclear power is safe.
Nothing has changed.
But the announcement that nuclear power stations have been recommissioned is something which makes it far less likely that i could vote Labour next time, let alone rejoin the party. The links between nuclear weaponry and power are obvious - we recognise that to be the case with Iran. The question of nuclear waste is something which no-one has an answer to. And how about active development of clean coal technology and alternative energy sources - all put on the backburner in the name of the military-industrial complex?
I recall a t-shirt with a slogan which read:
The earth is flat, pigs can fly, and nuclear power is safe.
Nothing has changed.
Bloody Chickens
This week, we have been treated to a barrage of propaganda about chicken welfare by Channel 4.
Now, I usually buy free range. Simply because it tastes better.
But I am all too aware that many people aren't in the financial position to be able to afford free range - which is something in the region of three or four times the price.
So, the unedifying sight of posh boy Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (clearly of council tenant origin) lecturing single mums as to why they should buy free range - what planet does this bloke live on? Same with the future Lord Oliver. He is a multi-millionaire - its easy for him to advocate free range.
When it comes down to it, cheap food for people is more important than chicken welfare.
Now, I usually buy free range. Simply because it tastes better.
But I am all too aware that many people aren't in the financial position to be able to afford free range - which is something in the region of three or four times the price.
So, the unedifying sight of posh boy Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (clearly of council tenant origin) lecturing single mums as to why they should buy free range - what planet does this bloke live on? Same with the future Lord Oliver. He is a multi-millionaire - its easy for him to advocate free range.
When it comes down to it, cheap food for people is more important than chicken welfare.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
So, other developments
The world of politics and religion has proved interesting.
I suppose i should comment on Mr. Tony's joining Vatican plc. No surprise and given that his family are members, quite logical. Amusing to see the conservative catholics get so angry. They always hated him anyway and the fact that he has been welcomed without an insistence that he publicly denounces all he did in Parliament which they didn't like amuses. I wouldn't touch Rome with a barge pole but its his business, no-one else's.
As for Michael Nazi-Rally, bigoted homophobe and Roman Catholic son of a convert who manages to be an Anglican Bishop too, he is clearly positioning himself to be the British head of the breakaway conservative Anglican communion, gaining publicity by some well placed alarmism about Islam which he loathes with the typical zeal of the convert - even though he shares much more with their ideas than he would with me. Almost a mirror image - he also appears to think it is the job of Government to promote Christianity! Now, it is clear enough that without immigrants, church attendance would be lower still than it is now, but he cannot expect a secular democratic state to make his religion look attractive when he so clearly fails to do it himself every time he opens his mouth.
The US elections: Barack Obama's success is an encouragement - I hope he goes on and wins the Democratic nomination.
I suppose i should comment on Mr. Tony's joining Vatican plc. No surprise and given that his family are members, quite logical. Amusing to see the conservative catholics get so angry. They always hated him anyway and the fact that he has been welcomed without an insistence that he publicly denounces all he did in Parliament which they didn't like amuses. I wouldn't touch Rome with a barge pole but its his business, no-one else's.
As for Michael Nazi-Rally, bigoted homophobe and Roman Catholic son of a convert who manages to be an Anglican Bishop too, he is clearly positioning himself to be the British head of the breakaway conservative Anglican communion, gaining publicity by some well placed alarmism about Islam which he loathes with the typical zeal of the convert - even though he shares much more with their ideas than he would with me. Almost a mirror image - he also appears to think it is the job of Government to promote Christianity! Now, it is clear enough that without immigrants, church attendance would be lower still than it is now, but he cannot expect a secular democratic state to make his religion look attractive when he so clearly fails to do it himself every time he opens his mouth.
The US elections: Barack Obama's success is an encouragement - I hope he goes on and wins the Democratic nomination.
Monday, January 07, 2008
In Las Vegas, with the neon lights....
Well, where can one start? Its quite a place. Unique, in fact, and whilst I don't think we will be regular visitors, its certainly a lot of fun. Its quite the most profoundly extravagant and over-the-top place I have ever visited. Where else has a fake Venice, a fake Eiffel Tower, a fake Pyramid - its all quite hilarious. And fake, but in such an in your face way that you can't help but smile.
Highlights of the trip. The food. Its excellent, and the exchange rate meant that we could do some fine dining at reasonable cost. The days we spent exploring the valley of Fire National Park, and the Red Rock canyon, both of which are curiously beautiful, albeit in a bleak, lunar way. Barry Manilow, who we went to see at the Hilton - a great self-deprecator, acknowledging that he has left the world with songs murdered nightly in karaoke bars everywhere. And the show Le Reve, which was stunning - imagine 18 Dermot O'Leary lookalikes in swimming trunks for a start (Gary Mac, if you are reading this, put it down - now!)
We travelled cattle class with BMI. Not ideal. They have a system where you can request seats and then they go ahaead and totally ignore your requests. Its a bit like a longhaul version of Easy jet - not even a free gin and tonic.
We also managed to spend opur time there without gambling at all - is that a record.....
Try it for yourself.
Highlights of the trip. The food. Its excellent, and the exchange rate meant that we could do some fine dining at reasonable cost. The days we spent exploring the valley of Fire National Park, and the Red Rock canyon, both of which are curiously beautiful, albeit in a bleak, lunar way. Barry Manilow, who we went to see at the Hilton - a great self-deprecator, acknowledging that he has left the world with songs murdered nightly in karaoke bars everywhere. And the show Le Reve, which was stunning - imagine 18 Dermot O'Leary lookalikes in swimming trunks for a start (Gary Mac, if you are reading this, put it down - now!)
We travelled cattle class with BMI. Not ideal. They have a system where you can request seats and then they go ahaead and totally ignore your requests. Its a bit like a longhaul version of Easy jet - not even a free gin and tonic.
We also managed to spend opur time there without gambling at all - is that a record.....
Try it for yourself.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
just to say hello....
Back from Las Vegas a couple of days ago. Will be fully updating the blog in due course.....watch this space.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Dangerous cults?
I don't know if anyone caught the Jeremy kyle TV programme which looked at religious cults, focusing particularly on the 'Jesus Christians'.
On a personal level, I have no time for any of these organisations, which appear to be largely led by authoritarian personalities, attracting those who feel the need to follow.
The problem is that many of the so-called anti-cult organisations have their own, inevitably evangelical Christian, agenda.
They are not interested in the real problems of mind-control and authoritarianism, for if so, they would give up their own religion. What really counts as a 'cult'? Seems to me it should be about the way they treat people, not whether they have any kooky beliefs (which could be aimed at any set of beliefs)
I would, this, have great suspicions about anti-cult groups who do not start from a neutral position but believe that the main problem with cults is not the way they operate, but what they believe. I would certainly question people like Graham Baldwin, who appears to start from the position of being 'a Christian'. That makes his entire operation suspect. He merely wants to replace one set of beliefs with another. Which one is the 'cult'? Both propagate supernaturalist fairy-tales which cannot be verified. The question is what methods do they use and how much harm they do.
I would suggest that the anti-contraception position of Vatican plc and the homophobia of evangelifundamentalists does far more harm in terms of actual amount of damage done.
The original cult-busters were not operating from a religionist perspective. Their concern was the activity of particular groups. I remain to be convinced that this is so with regard to those operating from their belief that their sort of cult's beliefs are true, and others not so.
On a personal level, I have no time for any of these organisations, which appear to be largely led by authoritarian personalities, attracting those who feel the need to follow.
The problem is that many of the so-called anti-cult organisations have their own, inevitably evangelical Christian, agenda.
They are not interested in the real problems of mind-control and authoritarianism, for if so, they would give up their own religion. What really counts as a 'cult'? Seems to me it should be about the way they treat people, not whether they have any kooky beliefs (which could be aimed at any set of beliefs)
I would, this, have great suspicions about anti-cult groups who do not start from a neutral position but believe that the main problem with cults is not the way they operate, but what they believe. I would certainly question people like Graham Baldwin, who appears to start from the position of being 'a Christian'. That makes his entire operation suspect. He merely wants to replace one set of beliefs with another. Which one is the 'cult'? Both propagate supernaturalist fairy-tales which cannot be verified. The question is what methods do they use and how much harm they do.
I would suggest that the anti-contraception position of Vatican plc and the homophobia of evangelifundamentalists does far more harm in terms of actual amount of damage done.
The original cult-busters were not operating from a religionist perspective. Their concern was the activity of particular groups. I remain to be convinced that this is so with regard to those operating from their belief that their sort of cult's beliefs are true, and others not so.
More from the Bigot of the Year
Some people really have no shame....
Elected Bigot of the Year, Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis, is now whining about how hurt he feels about being called a bigot and having 'derogatory' remarks made about him.
Easy answer to that, matey.
1. Admit you are wrong, that you broke the law, and that you would not to the same again
2. Offer penitence for your homophobia and join LGCM or Changing Attitude
3. Recognise that it is your beliefs which are unacceptable - they have the same moral status as racism and thus it is quite reasonable to address you in that light.
You know, the sight of Christians playing the victim is just risible. These people have a bloody state religion to play with yet still they whine because their particular brand of premodernism isn;t seen as appropriate to run a contemporary country. There is a victim in this instance - John Reaney.
Not you, Priddis. You are the bigot and tormentor who broke the law. You should feel ashamed, and any hurt you feel is simply your unrecognised guilt.
Remember that next time you partake in your sacramental activities. How about a bit of confessing?
Elected Bigot of the Year, Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis, is now whining about how hurt he feels about being called a bigot and having 'derogatory' remarks made about him.
Easy answer to that, matey.
1. Admit you are wrong, that you broke the law, and that you would not to the same again
2. Offer penitence for your homophobia and join LGCM or Changing Attitude
3. Recognise that it is your beliefs which are unacceptable - they have the same moral status as racism and thus it is quite reasonable to address you in that light.
You know, the sight of Christians playing the victim is just risible. These people have a bloody state religion to play with yet still they whine because their particular brand of premodernism isn;t seen as appropriate to run a contemporary country. There is a victim in this instance - John Reaney.
Not you, Priddis. You are the bigot and tormentor who broke the law. You should feel ashamed, and any hurt you feel is simply your unrecognised guilt.
Remember that next time you partake in your sacramental activities. How about a bit of confessing?
Money, money, money....
The scandals about party funding appear to have died down somewhat, but I certainly don't expect them to be over by any means.
It seems to me that there has to be some sort of lasting and workable solution. This means, in my view, that we need to reach a situation where parties do not need to expend so much effort raising money. That means a downsizing: spend less money and there won't be the need to raise so much.
Of course, both parties really don't want this, and its interesting to see both the union funding and the money of rich individuals justified on a number of politico blogs. It appears to me that we need to move to a situation where the need to raise such large sums is no longer necessary. I have yet to hear a good case against this.
It seems to me that there has to be some sort of lasting and workable solution. This means, in my view, that we need to reach a situation where parties do not need to expend so much effort raising money. That means a downsizing: spend less money and there won't be the need to raise so much.
Of course, both parties really don't want this, and its interesting to see both the union funding and the money of rich individuals justified on a number of politico blogs. It appears to me that we need to move to a situation where the need to raise such large sums is no longer necessary. I have yet to hear a good case against this.
Vatican plc bigots strike again
This time on Five Live's phone-in, where a particularly nasty and intemperate version of Bigotus Catholicus made an appearance last night.
What is really good is that he made a fool of himself and in dispersing with the warm words, showed his true colours.
What I really want to know is why reasonable people - particularly gay people - have any truck at all with this thoroughly evil and corrupt institution. In my view its about self-hatred - not properly coming out, not having open relationships and so on. Its somewhere for the fearful to hide, even though if the truth were known, they would be unable to partake in the central sacrament of that church. For me, living in such a hypocritical state simply isn't acceptable. Living a lie cannot be a positive way to live one's life. That doesn't mean any sort of expectation of very visible 'outness', but the fact is that the RC church doesn't offer being gay and in a relationship as an acceptable option - thus, there must be a level of self-hate in wanting to be part of such an organisation.
In any case, the Christian myths look ever more ridiculous to me. There are some of the key messages which are worthwhile, but they can be found in other philosophies without the need for the supernaturalist mumbo-jumbo. Jesus was a premodern Jewish mystic and radical who along with many others, was killed by the authorities, and a cult of worship linked up with stories about coming alive again, virgin births and so on, developed around him, spread by his followers.
Still, they can believe what they want. But when they spread their homophobic poison, they absolutely must be opposed. Fortunately, they regularly do the job for us.
What is really good is that he made a fool of himself and in dispersing with the warm words, showed his true colours.
What I really want to know is why reasonable people - particularly gay people - have any truck at all with this thoroughly evil and corrupt institution. In my view its about self-hatred - not properly coming out, not having open relationships and so on. Its somewhere for the fearful to hide, even though if the truth were known, they would be unable to partake in the central sacrament of that church. For me, living in such a hypocritical state simply isn't acceptable. Living a lie cannot be a positive way to live one's life. That doesn't mean any sort of expectation of very visible 'outness', but the fact is that the RC church doesn't offer being gay and in a relationship as an acceptable option - thus, there must be a level of self-hate in wanting to be part of such an organisation.
In any case, the Christian myths look ever more ridiculous to me. There are some of the key messages which are worthwhile, but they can be found in other philosophies without the need for the supernaturalist mumbo-jumbo. Jesus was a premodern Jewish mystic and radical who along with many others, was killed by the authorities, and a cult of worship linked up with stories about coming alive again, virgin births and so on, developed around him, spread by his followers.
Still, they can believe what they want. But when they spread their homophobic poison, they absolutely must be opposed. Fortunately, they regularly do the job for us.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Come on Amazon, get some copies in....
Well, the book has made it to Amazon's hallowed listings, though they don't seem to have any in stock at present
Freedom of speech, teddybears and fascists
It was refreshing to see Caroline Flint's straightforward and honest performance on tonights Question Time. More politicians like her, please.
Freedom of speech is back on the agenda. We had the infamous debate at the Oxford Hooray Henry's Glee Club. I think it had precisely nothing to do with free speech and everything to do with publicity seeking tossers. Neither Irving nor Griffin are prevented from expressing their vile views within the law. But to invite them to do so - no.
As for Sudan. It goes without saying that I sympathise with Ms. Gibbons, and disagree with the Sudanese government. This is largely about political points being made by a government in a strop with the West, and Ms. Gibbons has been caught up in the mess. I do think, though, that it makes sense to be cautious whilst she remains in custody. I am also surprised that she seemed so naive as to what Sudan was actually like - surely someone from the school must have explained? I do think that one needs to be aware of the risks of working in countries with these sort of regimes.
When she is released, all aid should be automatically stopped until they are prepared to change. I would do the same for nearly all foreign aid, unless the country is prepared to sign up to secular democratic values. If they won't, then we will keep our money, and they can go stuff themselves. The third world lobby will whine as per usual, but if there's one issue I lean to the right on, then that's it. Why support a bunch of pre-modern homophobic religionists of either Christian or Muslim variety? The most civilised and progressive countries are both liberal and secular, and religion is kept in its proper place - for private piety, not public governance. The answer, though, is not to march in with troops in the hope that somehow one will be viewed as some sort of saviour - particularly when your own government has so many shortcomings.
Freedom of speech is back on the agenda. We had the infamous debate at the Oxford Hooray Henry's Glee Club. I think it had precisely nothing to do with free speech and everything to do with publicity seeking tossers. Neither Irving nor Griffin are prevented from expressing their vile views within the law. But to invite them to do so - no.
As for Sudan. It goes without saying that I sympathise with Ms. Gibbons, and disagree with the Sudanese government. This is largely about political points being made by a government in a strop with the West, and Ms. Gibbons has been caught up in the mess. I do think, though, that it makes sense to be cautious whilst she remains in custody. I am also surprised that she seemed so naive as to what Sudan was actually like - surely someone from the school must have explained? I do think that one needs to be aware of the risks of working in countries with these sort of regimes.
When she is released, all aid should be automatically stopped until they are prepared to change. I would do the same for nearly all foreign aid, unless the country is prepared to sign up to secular democratic values. If they won't, then we will keep our money, and they can go stuff themselves. The third world lobby will whine as per usual, but if there's one issue I lean to the right on, then that's it. Why support a bunch of pre-modern homophobic religionists of either Christian or Muslim variety? The most civilised and progressive countries are both liberal and secular, and religion is kept in its proper place - for private piety, not public governance. The answer, though, is not to march in with troops in the hope that somehow one will be viewed as some sort of saviour - particularly when your own government has so many shortcomings.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Politics....
So, who else listens to music when doing the shopping? Yes, that slightly crazed, animated person with the mp3player making his way round Formby Waitrose is me (yes, Waitrose, yes, I know I am a champagne socialist...)
Which brings me on to the fact that the last two times I have been shopping, the two albums on my Mp3player were both anti-Tory political pop albums. The Housemartins' biting satires set to pretty little popsongs - can you listen to 'Five get Over-Excited' without thinking of Cameron's arrogant, oleageanous face just waiting for someone to thump it. Sorry, but he makes me want to vomit. Wankers like him are the very reason every public school in the country should be firebombed (No, not literally..there I go, back on the MI5 security risk list).
But on Friday, pride of place went to the Style Council's excellent 'Our Favourite Shop'. A superb expose of everything wrong with Thatcherism and the Conservative party. But, listening to it again, my thoughts were....some of this could equally apply to this lot.
Now, I don't think that the two parties are exactly the same. But there comes a time in every government's life where it simply runs out of steam. In this case, it coincides with Brown's ascension. I think that's something of a coincidence. In many ways we have simply returned to the tiredness of late-Blair. What appears to be the case is that the Government has little direction and is still beholden to the mistakes of the Blair years. Listening to the Style Council album brought back memories of how much I detested the Thatcher regime, and I certainly don't feel the same about the current government. But I do feel a sense of...boredom? Lack of any real enthusiasm or feeling that they know where they are going and why? And positively no enthusiasm for what they have to offer....not that the alternatives offer anything more. Clegg has the same effect on me as Cameron. I just don't like public-school wankers trying to be trendy. Piss off to the Tory party where you belong, Nicky-boy.
So, how about a few radical ideas.
1. tell the old gits whining on about defence that they should, firstly, keep their mouths shut, and secondly, that we quite agree that the current money doesn't cover current commitments. There's a simple answer to that. Pull out of Iraq, with one months notice, and halve the commitment to Afghanistan. There we go. Easy, wasn't it? Plenty of money, to be reduced each year and spent on something worthwhile, not propping up the military-industrial complex
2. stop sucking up to religious bigots of all colours, disestablish the church, and remove religion from public life. Keep it where it belongs. In private life, personal faith to follow, not interfering in the State's workings.
3. abandon PFI and nationalise all current hospital buildings without a penny of compensation to those who wanted to make money out of 'investing' in the NHS
4. get rid of the plastic coppers and spend money on proper police. And get rid of the ridiculous amounts of paperwork. That may require getting the Germans in to show us how to run IT schemes successfully
5. start taking reparative community sentencing seriously. Imprison people who are a danger to others only, and deal with the others in a constructive way, not in universities of crime
There's five for starters....
2.
Which brings me on to the fact that the last two times I have been shopping, the two albums on my Mp3player were both anti-Tory political pop albums. The Housemartins' biting satires set to pretty little popsongs - can you listen to 'Five get Over-Excited' without thinking of Cameron's arrogant, oleageanous face just waiting for someone to thump it. Sorry, but he makes me want to vomit. Wankers like him are the very reason every public school in the country should be firebombed (No, not literally..there I go, back on the MI5 security risk list).
But on Friday, pride of place went to the Style Council's excellent 'Our Favourite Shop'. A superb expose of everything wrong with Thatcherism and the Conservative party. But, listening to it again, my thoughts were....some of this could equally apply to this lot.
Now, I don't think that the two parties are exactly the same. But there comes a time in every government's life where it simply runs out of steam. In this case, it coincides with Brown's ascension. I think that's something of a coincidence. In many ways we have simply returned to the tiredness of late-Blair. What appears to be the case is that the Government has little direction and is still beholden to the mistakes of the Blair years. Listening to the Style Council album brought back memories of how much I detested the Thatcher regime, and I certainly don't feel the same about the current government. But I do feel a sense of...boredom? Lack of any real enthusiasm or feeling that they know where they are going and why? And positively no enthusiasm for what they have to offer....not that the alternatives offer anything more. Clegg has the same effect on me as Cameron. I just don't like public-school wankers trying to be trendy. Piss off to the Tory party where you belong, Nicky-boy.
So, how about a few radical ideas.
1. tell the old gits whining on about defence that they should, firstly, keep their mouths shut, and secondly, that we quite agree that the current money doesn't cover current commitments. There's a simple answer to that. Pull out of Iraq, with one months notice, and halve the commitment to Afghanistan. There we go. Easy, wasn't it? Plenty of money, to be reduced each year and spent on something worthwhile, not propping up the military-industrial complex
2. stop sucking up to religious bigots of all colours, disestablish the church, and remove religion from public life. Keep it where it belongs. In private life, personal faith to follow, not interfering in the State's workings.
3. abandon PFI and nationalise all current hospital buildings without a penny of compensation to those who wanted to make money out of 'investing' in the NHS
4. get rid of the plastic coppers and spend money on proper police. And get rid of the ridiculous amounts of paperwork. That may require getting the Germans in to show us how to run IT schemes successfully
5. start taking reparative community sentencing seriously. Imprison people who are a danger to others only, and deal with the others in a constructive way, not in universities of crime
There's five for starters....
2.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Interesting to see the rather overblown reaction to the appointment of Joel Edwards of the Evangelical Alliance to the Equality Commission. I have a feeling that some conservative religionists think that his purpose will be to oppose LGB equality.
Lets make it clear. I don't have a lot of time for Edwards, and even less for his organisation. However, the Commission exists to put into practice the law which exists - it has no role in changing the law. Thus, Edwards will have to work within the confines of all the legal boundaries - which includes all the legislation they were so unenthusiastic about. And I am sure that the other Commissioners will be there to remind him of that fact!
His presence there reflects the fact that faith/religion is a category which is also included within the legislation - he is there to advise on that strand of the legislation and to provide that representation, not as a mouthpiece for the anti-gay lobby. His statement and the corresponding Government statement make that clear enough - but I don't think the spinners of the right-wing religioso have been listening!
Lets make it clear. I don't have a lot of time for Edwards, and even less for his organisation. However, the Commission exists to put into practice the law which exists - it has no role in changing the law. Thus, Edwards will have to work within the confines of all the legal boundaries - which includes all the legislation they were so unenthusiastic about. And I am sure that the other Commissioners will be there to remind him of that fact!
His presence there reflects the fact that faith/religion is a category which is also included within the legislation - he is there to advise on that strand of the legislation and to provide that representation, not as a mouthpiece for the anti-gay lobby. His statement and the corresponding Government statement make that clear enough - but I don't think the spinners of the right-wing religioso have been listening!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Spin pt. 2
I shall never cease to be amused by the attempts of the religious right-wing to spin things to their liking. The couple who created such a fuss about the gay equality and anti-discrimination clause in the adoption and fostering agreement mentioned below have now climbed down and agreed to sign the document. The document has not been altered or changed. So, its reasonable to assume that they realised that they had no choice but to sign.
However, the 'morality' merchants have taken the false claims of their original spin ( that fosterer's would be expected to 'promote' homosexuality - which of course they will not, and were never expected to - that was purely in their over-fertile and sex-fuelled imaginations!) and claimed that the council, not the couple, have climbed down, even though their policy remains absolutely intact and the document has been agreed to without amendment.
I suppose we should sympathise. After all, we know they are prone to believing delusions by their very existence, but the poor dears have so little to celebrate these days!
However, the 'morality' merchants have taken the false claims of their original spin ( that fosterer's would be expected to 'promote' homosexuality - which of course they will not, and were never expected to - that was purely in their over-fertile and sex-fuelled imaginations!) and claimed that the council, not the couple, have climbed down, even though their policy remains absolutely intact and the document has been agreed to without amendment.
I suppose we should sympathise. After all, we know they are prone to believing delusions by their very existence, but the poor dears have so little to celebrate these days!
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