Jim, Ian and the Pope
The 12th is just getting underway. All appeared calm overnight, but, true to form, a few people have been lambasting others. Whilst our dolphin friendly MEP (see below) is concerned about "intelligent mammals" being caused needless suffering, the other unionist MEP is showing no such mercy to the intelligent mammals who used to be his party colleagues.
Instead Jim Allister used a County Antrim bonfire to launch an assault on his former leader Ian Paisley who last year talked about sharing power with "IRA/Sinn Fein" over his dead body. The independent MEP accused the Doc of being "Marty's buddy. The glee says it all; giggling constantly with IRA leader McGuinness. Shame on him!"
So far the DUP leader hasn't hit back directly. But he has taken a side swipe at the Pope saying his recent statement that the Catholic church was the only true church and others are merely religious associations is "startling." Ian regards this as the excommunication of all Christendom by the Pope, and claims that resisting the Pope's dogma is "the chief battle of the day. There is no other."
Of course the day is young and when politicians and preachers take to their platforms things may change, but for now the message to Jim seems to be 'lay off Ian, or the Pope gets it'.
UPDATE: As predicted, Dr Paisley avoided politics during his speech in Ballymoney, sticking to concerns about religion and the breakdown of marriage. No direct mention of his erstwhile MEP. It was left to another Jim, the Assembly member for South Down Jim Wells, to use his speech to raise concerns about the IRA Army Council. Most importantly, despite some isolated incidents, it's been a remarkably relaxed Twelfth of July.
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Again I say Jim allister is a clown who doesnt earn no ones respect. why doesnt he go to the sahara desert and take to his "friends"
Why does everything in NI come back to religion? Dr Paisley isn't a Catholic, so the Pope's various pronouncements are nothing to do with him. Yet he can't resist the urge to snap back, and does nothing but alienate people nearer to home.
I'm relieved my family left NI for more peaceful shores.
Perhaps the Privince should be designated a Faith Free Zone??
Why didnt Jim Allister do us all a favour and jump into the bonfire....
I agree with "Poppaea" why does everything in N. Ireland come back to religion. Why doesnt Jim Allister move on and congratulate Paisley and Co for ensuring that people are not being murdered on the streets? Jim A clearly wants violence so he can say "I told you so". Jim move on and wise up.
A faith free zone? Like the USSR? Aye, that would be nice.
Nothing wrong with being non-religious, but being anti-religion is as bigoted as anything else.
RJ:
Having the opinion that religion is basically harmfull is not new. There are those of us who passionately believe that religion only ever does more harm than good.
However, most people would not want to suggest we "designate" the country as religion free, but rather remove any official support from any particular religion. Prayers in schools ought not to be a legal requirement (it's shocking that they still are in 2007).
Religion should just be allowed to quietly die away, as it has been gradually doing over the past few centuries.
It's an embarrasment that some people in NI are still having arguments that were settled in most western countries 2 centuries ago.
Catholic vs Prodestant? Who cares? They're both wrong!
-=danny=-
tho i respect peoples opinions what religion, i dnt accept the view that religion does more harm than good, nor accept that we are better off living in a atheist state,
after all 3/4 of a million people were killed because the french wanted an atheist state back in the 18th centuray, with mmore common example beign USSR and China.
Religion is not an issue in the country, its just used as a label (same as celtic and rangers), get rid of it, we will just find another label to stick beside nationalist and unionist.
as for religion slowly dying away, i think u need to check ur facts!