"a Muslim law for non-Muslim people" Kev Myers on EIREstan's Blasphemy Law

[Clanrickard]

I don't deny it but he could be a little more balanced. Do you honestly believe that the Legion of Mary or Opus Dei or Coir or some such conservative Catholic grouping would not jump on the bandwagon of this legislation with equal glee?

No they wouldn't.

[corelli]

It is only insults against the Islamic religion that will endanger your life and health that is why he mentions Islam.

I appreciate that but balance is supposed to be the hallmark of decent journalism. Do you think that some conservative Catholic groupings, for instance, would not utilise the legislation if passed to serve their own ends?

[corelli]

No they wouldn't.

You seem very sure. I, on the other hand, would not trust extremest elements of any religion. That is why I would not support the introduction of the Legislation.

[Clanrickard]

I appreciate that but balance is supposed to be the hallmark of decent journalism.

No facts are the hallmark of good journalism not pandering to multicultural sensibilities. There is nothing in his piece that is inaccurate in my opinion.

[iartaoiseach]

I don't deny it but he could be a little more balanced. Do you honestly believe that the Legion of Mary or Opus Dei or Coir or some such conservative Catholic grouping would not jump on the bandwagon of this legislation with equal glee?

Oh I do indeed. but by far the greatest threat is unfortunately from our islamic fundamentalist pals as evidenced by the thread earlier here re this intended law. we had muslims from outside the state contacting ahearns office in support of his intention. and in fairness I don't remember a lot of other support for it from anyone of any other religious persuasion.

[imokyrok]

He is spot on. The multiculturalist Left should now see where this ideology is leading us. If you accept the principle of cultural-neutrality by the State, then blasphemy-laws come with that.

Ah would you go away with your left this and left that. You were on the blasphemy thread and know full well that those from all political viewpoints were up in arms about it.

[Clanrickard]

You seem very sure. I, on the other hand, would not trust extremest elements of any religion. That is why I would not support the introduction of the Legislation.

I am opposed to it as well. But in the event that it is introduced it will be used by Muslims to silence criticism of their religion. No point in trying the old moral equivalence because Opus Dei has never tried to shut anyone up using the law or tried to physical harm to anyone.

[Clanrickard]

Ah would you go away with your left this and left that. You were on the blasphemy thread and know full well that those from all political viewpoints were up in arms about it.

Agreed. Everyone from across the political spectrum was against it.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Ah would you go away with your left this and left that. You were on the blasphemy thread and know full well that those from all political viewpoints were up in arms about it.

A lot of the Official Left (and some FF backbenchers) have been fairly quiet about this, most notably the Greens and SF. If they don't speak out, we are entitled to draw conclusions. We are also entitled to look at parallels in other countries like the UK where a blasphemy-law has been replaced with essentially the same thing under an expanded concept of 'incitement to hatred' under which blasphemy is effectively banned anyway - and this was under a Labour govt. The same happened in Canada, with aggressive prosecutions of figures who criticise radical Islam including Mark Steyn. I make no apologies in calling for vigilance against the same thing happening here.

[imokyrok]

Frankly never mind the blasphemy legislation that article should be looked at under the incitement to hatred legislation and I only got half way down before giving up in disgust. He fails to mention that it is a right wing catholic who's proposing this legislation and that all churches including the muslim mosques have made it clear that they didn't look for it.

It is dreadfully poor journalism and unfair comment to take the deranged warblings of the Egan cult and apply them to a whole community, no more than Family Solidarity are representative of all catholics. Did it ever occur to Myers that many muslims might like Ireland because we don't have religious laws - or at least didn't. It wouldn't surprise me to find that to be the case. Most people don't go looking for additional oppression.

Myers is the worst kind of hack imaginable.