Sectarian article regarding new cabinet in Irish Times?

The Waltzing Consumer

"If we want equality in Ireland, everyone is just going to have to vote along religious lines. Then we can have a truly modern democracy."

This is the ending of quite an unusual article by Newton Emerson in the Irish Times.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0316/1224292265087.html

I read the bio of Emerson and found out he is a political commentator and satirist. So I am not 100% sure if this is meant to be a joke or a serious article.

Am I alone in not having have a clue or interest whatsoever in the religion of candidates? Not this journalist though.

Look at some of these quotes and tell me it is not a joke:
"Those of us of the reformed faith might have settled for Joan Burton because at least she looks Protestant,"

"The country is once again to be ruled by Catholic men and some women despite the clear role Catholic carelessness played in destroying the Irish economy." So it was not greed and incompetence, it was being catholic?

"Among the other junior ministers, John Perry has a solid English name and Willie Penrose has an Ulster-Scots ring to it but sadly both appear to have been Catholic from birth. The rest are simply papists." So, again, nothing about their actual characters, experience or ability, it is about their religion and surnames?

If this is satire, it is pretty bewildering considering I have never met a candidate or voter who thought religion was such an important issue to determine their vote and therefore be open to satirising. It is also hard to see it as a joke when the tone is so full of scorn and pretty nasty comments regarding appearances (Joan Burton looks like a catholic/protestant??? ) ,surnames (Perry & Penrose) and his quite unusual attack on Brian Hayes character, when after discussing he came from mixed religious parents and describing the wedding, Emerson says in reply:
"Nobody with an ounce of Protestant character would mention such shame to anyone, let alone the nation."

copacetic

I thought it was pretty funny myself. I'm 100% sure it was meant as a joke.

Jan O’Catholicname offers scant solace for forgotten Protestants

as the first line is a bit of a give away.

Biggins

"If we want equality in Ireland, everyone is just going to have to vote along religious lines. Then we can have a truly modern democracy."

I hope thats satire from him - if its not ...well he needs help!

R P McMurphy

I would say it is satire, reads that way anyway

GSF

Of course its satire. Its superimposing the views of many in Northern Ireland as regards elections on the recent election down south.

celticbest

The Times wouldn't risk printing something like this unless it is satirical.......

Biggins

...Then he probably still needs help! LOL :pac:

The Waltzing Consumer

celticbest wrote: »

The Times wouldn't risk printing something like this unless it is satirical.......

That's what I was thinking. The only reason I was confused is because religious affiliation is such an non-issue for me and everyone I know, it is hard to satirise something which is not really in the majority of peoples minds. If it was about the North and their assembly, I would get it, but in the Republic, it is a bit of a non-issue.

snickerpuss

Newton Emerson has a regular satirical column in The Irish Times. Don't worry OP, twas all in jest!

GSF

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

That's what I was thinking. The only reason I was confused is because religious affiliation is such an non-issue for me and everyone I know, it is hard to satirise something which is not really in the majority of peoples minds. If it was about the North and their assembly, I would get it, but in the Republic, it is a bit of a non-issue.

What about the abortion issue, if religion is such a "non-issue"?

The Waltzing Consumer

GSF wrote: »

What about the abortion issue, if religion is such a "non-issue"?

Thread killer :mad:

You had to go bring in abortion. Oh yes, above employment, health, education, finances, political reform, emigration, abortion certainly soared above these pesky issues to rear its head in national importance. We have laws regarding abortion and as such, it was not an election issue for vast majority of candidates, maybe the fringe catholic solidarity candidates, but they only got, what?, five votes or something. So it was as topical as carrots.

Riskymove

GSF wrote: »

Of course its satire. Its superimposing the views of many in Northern Ireland as regards elections on the recent election down south.

Perhaps he was too subtle for some:rolleyes:

I got the feeling the satire was related to the recent cabinet gender balance controversy

Riskymove

GSF wrote: »

What about the abortion issue, if religion is such a "non-issue"?

positions on abortion are not 100% along religious lines, one can have religious beliefs and be for abortion and vice versa

Penfailed

GSF wrote: »

Of course its satire. Its superimposing the views of many in Northern Ireland as regards elections on the recent election down south.

Exactly! He also writes a column for the Irish News (Eye of the Newt). I enjoy his ramblings

GSF

Riskymove wrote: »

positions on abortion are not 100% along religious lines, one can have religious beliefs and be for abortion and vice versa

true but I dont think religion is dead as an election issue yet. Its just resting, while the economy melts...

Riskymove

GSF wrote: »

true but I dont think religion is dead as an election issue yet. Its just resting, while the economy melts...

i think my point is that while some religious issues may be election issues, the actual religion (or lack of) of candidates means little to a lot of the electorate

for example the amount of people who vote (or do not vote) for Alan Shatter because of his religion is likely to be very small

GSF

Riskymove wrote: »

for example the amount of people who vote (or do not vote) for Alan Shatter because of his religion is likely to be very small

in leafy South Dublin yes. Try running Shatter down the country.

Riskymove

GSF wrote: »

in leafy South Dublin yes. Try running Shatter down the country.

if he had run for FG in Mayo he'd have been elected!!!

Godge

Riskymove wrote: »

Perhaps he was too subtle for some:rolleyes:

I got the feeling the satire was related to the recent cabinet gender balance controversy

When I first read the thread I thought nobody had got it. Not believing that was possible, I had a second look. You were the only post who did.

The satire is clearly directed at the Joan Burton issue and the fuss made by women's groups over the lack of women in the Dail and the Cabinet. The reference to Joan being acceptable because she looked like a Protestant was a giveaway for those who had missed it.

Good to see Newton picking up on this. There are something like eleven categories of discrimination in the Equality Acts - why was it only the women we heard from? Surely the traveller's rights groups, the national disability authority or some of the others should have had their say about the lack of representation.

aquascrotum

Putting aside the fact that someone thought this column was anything other than jest, Newton gained fame from his satirical website the Portadown News. It hasn't been active since about '04 but the full archive of all back issues is on the site and is well worth a look. Some very funny stuff but it might be a bit too nordy for some!

http://www.portadownnews.com/index.htm

(go into the site and look for the previous issues link)...

southsiderosie

Jaysus, has everyone in Ireland lost their sense of humor? I'm a Yank, and even I got that this was satire. Maybe we're not all as thick as you think we are!

Dave!

He should have added one of these at the end to make it more clear -> :pac:

imme

The guys IS a satirist. Some times he funny, sometimes not.