Atheist Ireland did not make a statement after the cross was vandalised on Carrauntoohill and neither did we contact any journalist or the media in general. The first time that atheists were mentioned in relation to the cutting down of the cross was by a Fianna Fáil Councillor from Kerry County Council and that was reported in an article in the Irish Times. This particular Councillor put forward the recent motion regarding erecting a cross in Kerry County Council as he stated that he was fed up being ashamed of his religion. On foot of the Irish Times article various radio stations contacted us for interviews with regard to the cross and one actually asked us did we cut it down. We did the interviews and suggested that if a new symbol was put up that it might be an inclusive one. At no stage during these interviews did our representatives state that we were offended by the cross on the top of Carrauntoohill. It would be very difficult for us to be offended as we did not know it existed. We have never thought it important enough to even discuss religious symbols on mountains as we never even knew they were up there. Our main focus with regard to religious symbols has been in the education system where some schools have a religious crest on their school uniform and minorities have no choice but to wear a particular religious symbol to gain access to their only local publicly funded school, this would includes religious minorities as well. We are also in correspondence with Kerry County Council regarding the erection of a cross in the Council Chamber. Well this is Ireland and we have now been informed that we are going to burn in hell, are intolerant, pushing our views on everyone, seeking attention, gleeful, did not give the local people enough sympathy etc etc and should be tarred and feathered and run out of the country. Pol Pot, Stalin, Mao and Hitler are in there somewhere as well. Nothing new here, this is all the usual stuff with just a different subject except for one person just said that he did not like us. That is just so quaint that we might frame it.
Username32 wrote: » Oh come on now your not seriously equating the struggle for rights for gay people and gender equality with a mindless objection to a cross on a hill. That's the kind of "only atheist in the village" nit picking that annoys me about so call spokes people for atheism. We are living I'm a post Catholic church dominated ireland. Could some atheists start to understand that. I am an atheist, let the cross stay where it is, I'm not in the slightest bit offended by it. Or the grottos holy wells cribs or any other relic on Catholic Ireland. I happen to like the crib at Christmas and yea even in a hospital, as when I lived in the UK I liked the Hindu festival my neighbors celebrated. So spokes people for atheism - can you make clear you dont speak for all atheists. Ian o Doherty has got it right on this one and that's saying something.
expectationlost wrote: » Video of the Carrauntoohil Cross being cut down sent to journalists http://www.thejournal.ie/carrauntoohil-cross-3-1810988-Dec2014/ oh dear
swampgas wrote: » Well that's definitely the end of the metal fatigue hypothesis!
expectationlost wrote: » Atheist Irelands statement this morning
Shrap wrote: » Ha! Gosh, we DO have militant atheists in Ireland. Who knew?! Oh...and, em...down with this sort of thing :P
robindch wrote: » Did either of these get posted? Don't think so. Cora Sherlock weighs in. We've reached Stalin by the third paragraph. Original screed here
Hotblack Desiato wrote: » Who knew the KLF were planning a comeback?
Absoluvely wrote: » What makes you so sure they were atheists? Theists of all religions suffer grievances over the Catholic domination of schools too, Catholics included.
expectationlost wrote: » Atheist Irelands statement this morninghttps://www.facebook.com/AtheistIreland/posts/10152870872549017 We have never thought it important enough to even discuss religious symbols on mountains as we never even knew they were up there.
Volvoair wrote: » its back up again.....http://www.thejournal.ie/carrauntoohil-cross-repaired-1807277-Nov2014/
jank wrote: » If AI are going to come out with this and they then subsequently peddle/lobby their AI viewpoint (religious symbols = bad etc..) with an aim of a larger goal (which of course they have a right to), then perhaps they should stay silent on this one as it shows them up massively. They cannot cry afterwards if people criticise them. Seriously though, no one in the whole organisation knew that on some Irish summits there are crosses? Really? I think it shows massive ignorance on their part. I know there is a rural/urban divide in most of these interest groups but come on! The last paragraph is like it was written by a 12 year old that has taken his ball home from the playground. AI are normally a slick operation, this statement is anything but.
shruikan2553 wrote: » Its hardly their fault when people are waiting to twist what they say. They would have to stay silent on everything to prevent that.
shruikan2553 wrote: » If you dont climb many mountains how would you know?
jank wrote: » Admitting that they didn't even know these crosses existed yet somehow feel compelled to offer the party line will be seen as reactionary and divisive to the mainstream of Ireland and the local people who, you know live in the area and know more about Carrauntoohil than some blogger from South Dublin. If they put their foot in it, then it is nobodies fault but their own. Kinda makes my previous point.
obplayer wrote: » So if you have never known about something which would upset you but then find out about it, you should still not be upset because you should have known sooner? So if I find my wife has been having sex with the neighbour then, because I never knew, when I do know I should be ok with it? 'Shure it did me no harm for all these years!'
jank wrote: » If you are comparing the emotional distress of finding your wife/husband in bed with a neighbour to finding out that there is a cross on a mountain that you never climbed than I frankly do not know what to say.
Turtwig wrote: » Clearly they're not making that comparison. The mode used is asking you to consider whether being previously unaware of something means you can't object to it once you become aware of it.
Turtwig wrote: » Husband in bed being an example to illustrate this. In the poster's context the mode of comparison has nothing to do with emotional distress. It's the fact that a person who was once oblivious of something is now aware of it. A brilliant example if I may say so.
jank wrote: » Do AI have any Kerry members or mountain climbers? Or is it primarily an organisation of middle class Dubliners. Maybe they are not as inclusive as they claim to be.
Hotblack Desiato wrote: » Seriously, you are surprised that more rural and isolated areas of this country remain significantly more indoctrinated than average, and this is somehow AI's fault?
