This morning I was walking the dog and met three different strangers in quick succession. Each one I greeted with a cheery, “Good Morning”. And yet not one, I repeat, not one, replied. The first put his head down and quickened his pace. The second pretended not to hear. The third made a kind of grunting sound. But it didn’t even approximate to a “hello”, never mind a “Good Morning.”
Now that is not typical. Most people, here, are quite good at greeting strangers out on morning walks. But there is this new, creeping tendency towards lack of manners. I don’t claim to be the most gregarious type of person – but I can always muster a greeting to a fellow morning walker. I always find it strangely upsetting to be completely blanked in return.
Now I know I’m a bit of a political trouble-maker – but it’s all about constructive, good-humoured argument. I don’t wish anyone ill. Deep down I consider myself a relatively gentle person – my political rants are mostly bluff and bluster. And, therefore, it pains me to say that I do get rather a lot of rude and nasty comments on this site. Ironically, often these tirades are from people who claim to be Christian and who take exception to my secularist/Humanist stance.
As a result I have had to reinstate the comment moderation feature of this site. I’m happy to publish comments that differ from my opinion – that encourage debate. However, I am now deleting offensive, puerile or potentially libelous comments of a highly personal nature (particularly if they are directed at me).
But I’d also suggest that, as a society, we should try to return to one that is gracious and kind. We can disagree, we can be spirited in discussion, we can be strident. But we should also have manners. Because manners maketh the man.
Seeing as you are secular to the core I was wondering how you would react if Labour MEP Mary Honeyball wanted to meet you?
I’d be delighted to meet her. She seems like an interesting character.
Remember the last time I sent you an email regarding Mary Honeyball’s views on the Catholic church having a vice like grip on parts of Europe blocking abortion rights and that mp’s should take the government’s whip over the pope’s and you came out in agreement with her views? That’s what I am meaning!
Yes I did enjoy the comments about the Pope’s whip.
Damien McKee, she went further and openly questioned whether Catholics should be allowed to serve on the front bench. One wonders why she doesn’t just agitate for the repeal of the Catholic Emancipation Act. I hope Jeff Peel does not agree with her bigotry.
Cranmer, not known for his popery, also took exception to her comments:
http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/2008/06/labours-anti-catholic-attitudes.html
Her comments about a ‘vice like grip’ are peurile. Abortion is legal in almost every EU country, and the Catholic Church has every right to lobby governments, just like trade unions and their influence on the Labour Party is immeasurably more potent than any influence the Pope has on the European Union.
You know something, Shane, I sometimes question whether certain religionists, like Ruth Kelly, should serve on the front bench of government too. One really has to question whether they can make decisions based on rationality and logic rather than dogma.
Which religionists do you mean by ‘certain religionists’? Would you include DUPes like Iris Robison and Nelson McCausland? I hope you would not favour a written ban.
Well I was thinking of Westminster front benches – the Assembly is a lost cause when it comes to ministerial craziness. No written ban but I’d hope that most UK goverments would be largely secular. Cameron, despite his Songs of Priase appearance, is certainly no God-squadder.
What is your view on Polly Toynbee seeing as she is a humanist just like you!
I respect Polly and agree with some of her views – especially those on faith and humanism. Polly is President of the British Humanist Association – and I chair the Conservative Humanist Association, which is affiliated with the BHA. However, on social and economic policy I’d disagree with Polly on many issues. She has, in the past, been a New Labour supporter. I have never been.
Seeing as you have issues with religion what do you think of Tory mps such as Edward Leigh who are actively anti abortion and vote against gay rights and did you agree with Nadine Dorries’s attempt to cut the abotion time limit from 24 weeks to 20 weeks?
Neither would be my cuppa tea. They are on the socially illiberal side of the Party – but I don’t believe they are representative of the wider Party.
However, I’d tend to agree with the 24 to 20 weeks issue. It’s a sad fact that around 50% of teenage pregnancies are aborted – abortion is a form of contraception for too many.
But whatever term is agreed the Abortion Act should be extended to Northern Ireland.
What was your view on the case of the Christian couple who were falsely accused of abusing their Muslim guest when it turned out she went out of her way to offend them with statements such as Jesus was a minor prophet and the bible wasn’t true.The female half of this couple stood up for her beliefs saying Jesus died for us but of course the authorities are afraid of the reaction they would get if they didn’t prosecute but thankfully a judge with some common sense overuled them and cleared them. Off the topic however, I was wondering, seeing as you were active in trying to get the Tories to set up in Northern Ireland if you recall a former mp called Teresa Gorman who was very much in favour of that and mentioned Laurence Kennedy in her autobiography!
Damien, I was aware of the case but am not aware of the full detail. The Muslim woman I have seen in the media before and seems to be an attention seeker. It seems bizarre that such an issue should have come before the courts. There are more serious issues for the legal system to deal with. As for Teresa, yes I do indeed remember her. Indeed she made me (and Laurence Kennedy) tea in her home in Westminster on one occasion. Teresa represented (in her own maverick, non-formal way) the libertarian Conservative wing of the Thatcherite Conservatives.
Which Tory mps do you thibk you would get on with and with whom would you not see eye to eye with?
I take it you are a fan of the anti religion “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins?
Damien, have to say that God Delusion was not my favourite Dawkins book. I think it’s very easy to take a pop at religion – Dawkins is much better when he writes about science and genetics in particular. In my view The Blind Watchmaker is Dawkins’ best book. I had the pleasure to meet Richard and present with him at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party Conference in 2008. Wonderful man and an amazing communicator.