Yes, Ireland, those zany people who gave us all those whacky years of war between catholics and protestants, now brings you war against everyone that isn't catholic. Remind you of another group of religious loonies?

In Ireland now, you can be handed a $33,000 fine if you criticize the Catholic church. Taking the brilliant idea from the other retards who sit in the UN building in NY, they have decided to pass blasphemy laws.

What is considered blasphemy, you ask? They don't say exactly, other than you just better watch your tongue.

Needless to say, this is going over like a lead zeppelin with free speech advocates and people with IQ's over 40.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/02/AR2010010201846.html?hpid=moreheadlines

The Republic of Ireland is about as close to a Catholic theocracy you are going to see outside of Vatican City.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Hey Numbers, you should be a little more clear. The fine applies to anyone who criticizes ANY religion, not just the Catholic Church.

However, I still think that this is ABSURD! I am religious (As you well know), but I find this to be utterly stupid. Thank God for our Constitution here in the U.S.

==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).

Numbers,

If I didn't know better, I might think you "spun" that story to reflect a bigotry, on your part.

The article stated:
"Under the law, which went into effect Friday, a person can be found guilty of blasphemy if he or she publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion."

This is just another absurd hate speech law. What is the purpose of these ridiculous laws.... to assuage hurt feelings?


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/us/12hate.html

Canada, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and India all have laws or have signed international conventions banning hate speech.

A few examples of this stupidity:

France:
2008...Actress Brigitte Bardot was fined $23,000 for her racially insensitive comments when she criticized a Muslim ceremony which involved the slaughter of sheep.

Canada:
2008... After MacLean's magazine published an article arguing that the rise of Islam threatened Western values, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal held five days of hearings to determine if the newsweekly had committed a hate speech crime and should, therefore, compensate Muslims for injuring their "dignity, feelings and self respect."

Canada, France, Germany:
It is a crime to deny the Holocaust. (imagine Vince in one of these countries)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/us/12hate.html

Alias Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Numbers,
>
> If I didn't know better, I might think you "spun"
> that story to reflect a bigotry, on your part.


How so? Bigotry against who? Everything I stated in my post was spot on, except the amount of the fine is $35,000 instead of $33,000. This law stands on its own stupidity and needs no spin from me or anyone else.

I don't believe there is such a thing as "Hate Speech" or "Hate Crimes". There is simply speech and crime. People should be able to say whatever they want to say, even if it hurts someones feelings. The reason(s) why one commits a crime is irrelevant and if convicted, should be sentenced the same.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2010 12:20AM by Numbers.

"There is simply speech and crime."

"The reason(s) why one commits a crime is irrelevant and if convicted, should be sentenced the same."

Okedoke.