Blasphemous Libel is too stupid for words
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | 47 Comments
I was going to post a well researched piece called ‘The 10 reasons why God, and any tard that believes in him, is a complete cunt’.
But then I saw the new Defamation Bill which makes Blasphemous Libel a crime. I capitalised it because it’s so important. I thought to myself ‘Goodness, if I blaspheme then I could be in serious bother. Someone might sue me for the hurt I have caused them and take every last penny I have. And I don’t have too many pennies’.
But then, right, I got to thinking that if I call God a cunt then it’s not libel, as I don’t think calling someone a cunt is libel. Unless that person wants to get really pedantic, proving in court that they are actually a woman’s front bottom. So God is a cunt. And Dermot Ahern is a cunt. Show me your labia, Dermot, and I’ll happily retract. Until then you’re a fucking cunt.
But let’s say I say all Catholics are cunts. Still not libel. If I say all Catholics are child molesters that’s probably the right kind of territory but how is that going to work? Are ALL Catholics going to sue me for blasphemous libel? A class action suit against lil ol’ me? Unlikely.
And if we accept that God or Gods or whatever do exist, and I realise that I’m asking you to believe in something which is about as likely as the Tooth Fairy, but exist in a different plane from the rest of us, how can they use human laws when they’re Gods? And Jesus, you can’t libel Jesus. He’s dead. You can’t libel the dead.
If I got a TV sketch show and I had a character called Shylock McGinty, the loveable one-legged Jew from the Liberties who was an alcoholic but had a really big nose and was somewhat miserly with his money, would that open me up to this new bill? I don’t think so. It’d be simply rehashing old stereotypes about religions, it’s not blaspheming.
And if we accept diversity in what people think and believe then surely we have to accept that what might be good for the Jewish goose is not as good for the Muslim gander?
What exactly do you have to do blaspheme? How can they prove it’s actually blasphemous? And what’s stopping me, should I be prosecuted under this bill, from setting up my own religion which has a fundamental teaching that being sued for blasphemous libel is blasphemous to my own religion, thus seeing me counter-sue and we have a vicious, blasphemous circle?
I have no doubt at all this is one of the most stupid, archaic, pointless and nonsensical pieces of legislation I have ever seen. It’s making other countries laugh at us. Even ones full of radical Islamists who we know don’t find anything but chopping people’s heads off funny.
But surely nobody is ever going to get prosecuted under it. Are they?
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47 Responses to “Blasphemous Libel is too stupid for words”
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July 23rd, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
I wouldn’t bet on it.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
There’s always Judgement Day.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
Isn’t that Terminator film?
July 23rd, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
Ah that Dermo and his japes.
A load of bollox from a hack politican.
Mind you you won’t be laughing if you get your ass fatawed.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Being fatawed is against my religion. I’m calling a ‘Berzongnip’ on them.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
If Irish libel law is anything like UK libel law, then you are entirely clear to say the following:
Ahern is a cunt – Abuse is NOT libel
All Catholics are cunts – Abuse is NOT libel, and you cannot libel groups above (although no number is specified) twenty
Jesus is a cunt – He’s dead, so therefore NOT libel. Also, it can be argued that as a convicted criminal (death sentence, no less) he has no reputation to damage
So, as you were, that man.
At any rate, the first Irish conviction for Blasphemous Libel will be laughed out of the European Human Rights Court, so it’s hardly worth the hot air apart from making Invisible Sky Zombie followers look stupid.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
I’m wondering what other legislation they pushed through while using the Blasphemous Libel one as a smoke screen.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 3:05 pm
Ta, Scary.
HM – it’s real end of adminstration legislation. They’re desperately bringing through shit they want knowing they’re not going to be around.
I have to say I don’t know enough about the law to comment properly on the Criminal Justice Bill but how anybody can’t see how this is open to huge corruption is mental.
‘Opinion evidence’, fuck me.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 3:09 pm
I think there will be prosecutions but without convictions. And this is the purpose, the shame of a trial in an increasingly vain glorious Ireland. It’s symptomatic of our return to abject poverty where the priest, politician, teacher and the cop know everything . Dermot Ahern – total and utter.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
Our President is religious freak. I thought the fact that she referred it to the council she might refer it to the high court but of course she reverted to type. You don’t need a tax clearance cert to sit on that council; I see Bertie Ahearn is on it as a “previous taoiseach”. http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=16&lang=eng
Our former taoiseach used to get a massive lump of ash put on his forehead on ash wednesday to appeal to the masses of religious loons, And there is so many of them to appeal to. Ah good ‘aul Bertie. But. and this is how cunning he is; for Dail Debates on Ash Wednesday he used to have to have his infamous make-up sessions where the ash was wiped off but, miracously, when he re-entered the dail chamber he had a second lump of ash on his head. Just in time for the 6 O’Clock News to show his big mutton head is gawping out with a lump of ash on his head He was always a detail man; except when it came to other peoples money of course. And Ray Burke. And Liam Lawlor. And Beverly Flynn. etc.
I’ll bet any money that ALL elected TDs go to church every sunday.
So.
Yes; you will see people in court; it suits the people in power for it to occur.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
“We believe that the concept of defamation of religion is not consistent with the promotion and protection of human rights. It can be used to justify arbitrary limitations on, or the denial of, freedom of expression. Indeed, Ireland considers that freedom of expression is a key and inherent element in the manifestation of freedom of thought and conscience and as such is complementary to freedom of religion or belief.”
foreign minister micheal martin at the united nations last year voting against a “defamation of religion” bill sponsored by muslim states.
yeah, right
July 23rd, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
I saw Bertie slumped against a wall down a lane in Phibsboro last weekend. He had sick down his shirt and was holding a half eaten batter burger. His langer was hanging out and he had pissed himself. Cowen had a turd in his pants and was puking all over the chips he had dropped on the ground and Harney was on all fours eating it all up.
If only.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
Atheism usually lasts until your lying on the death bed.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
Holemaster Says:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I saw Bertie slumped against a wall down a lane in Phibsboro last weekend. He had sick down his shirt and was holding a half eaten batter burger. His langer was hanging out and he had pissed himself. Cowen had a turd in his pants and was puking all over the chips he had dropped on the ground and Harney was on all fours eating it all up.
If only.
ha. Nice one. It’s like the aristocrats joke; a lovely image holemaster. thank you.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 7:32 pm
heh, I’m sure I have a draft saved of an Aristocrats joke but I decided against publishing it because it was just too foul.
I was going to try and get other blogs involved etc.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGVL_reIuJM&feature=related
There is a documentary about this joke. This is the opening scene. The comedian is making a joke 2 days after september 11th about how he is finding it difficult to get a ticket to LA. the crowd murmur. One guy can be heard saying “too soon”. Now these are pretty black-humoured people; it’s a Playboy gig. The comdedian senses the change and switches gears.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWVOkoWc21M
July 23rd, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
I’ve seen that documentary, it’s a big back slappy but some of it is really funny.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
that’s much better, excellent. cartman. my hero.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
Not a fan of your president, hateful troll that she is, but according to Eamonn McCann’s excellent book (Dear God, the Price of Religion in Ireland)way back when she was adviser to the Hierarchy at the Forum For A New Ireland and prochancellor of Queen’s University, she got her legs slapped for daring to opine that a Catholic can raise questions about Church teaching and still be in good standing.
Frankie Boyle on TV earlier “I’m not a dwarf, I’m a lesbian“.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:04 pm
god created me and gave me freewill, freewill to call him a cunt.
July 24th, 2009 @ 12:05 am
Best version of the aristocrats is by Bob Saget…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HW4mPZmKPM
July 24th, 2009 @ 1:21 am
Burn in Hell
you mother fucking heatnen shower of cunts
Amen
July 24th, 2009 @ 1:25 am
oh ye’ll be “heatnen ” alright
July 24th, 2009 @ 1:30 am
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0723/tubridyr.html
I assume you were 2nd twenty. this country is so fucking fucking fucked up it’s a fucking fuck. fuck.*
pugh. that was less than a minimum wage night tonight. dream on.
* lots of that nicked froma scene in the wire
July 24th, 2009 @ 3:01 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8164844.stm
The Dail ( and Stormont)is knee deep in snakes.
July 24th, 2009 @ 6:16 am
Next time you find something too stupid for words, why not just accept it? And omit all the friggin’ words.
July 24th, 2009 @ 8:44 am
Where’s the fun in that?
July 24th, 2009 @ 9:25 am
The economy is going down the toilet, they’ve broken the country and it may never be fixed again in our lifetimes and they waste time on this nonsense, FF you incompetent cocksuckers! I’m reminded of the Al Pacino character’s rant in “Glengarry Glenross”; “You are here to help us, not to Fuck Us Up. Does that seem clear to you? You stupid fucking cunt”
July 24th, 2009 @ 10:02 am
In fairness to McAleese despite being personally a Catholic she has been quite secular in the role as president. She has also had several rows with the Catholic Hieriarchy over the years.
Ultimately the reason the laws were not referred to the courts is because it is very unlikely that they are unconstitutional. The President can’t refuse to sign a law just because it’s stupid, they have to show that it is unconstitutional
July 24th, 2009 @ 10:47 am
I thynke that a true and juste punyshmente for the heynous syn of blasfemye should be to locke the perpytratores in stocks craft’d from the most solyde Wicklow woode (lest the brygands attempte to flee) within the confynes of Dublyn Castle so that the noble and virtuous cytizenry of the citye may hurle at them fruites and vegetables of a most rotten and putryde state.
Lets face it, a law from the fucking middle ages deserves a punishment from the middle ages.
July 24th, 2009 @ 11:27 am
The President can’t refuse to sign a law just because it’s stupid, they have to show that it is unconstitutional
That is wrong Mark, it is not the President’s role to decide on the constitutionality, but it IS her role to refer it to the proper place for that decision, the courts. ” very unlikely that they are unconstitutional” admits of doubt and as such the constitutionality should have been decided by the courts.
July 24th, 2009 @ 11:28 am
“Show me your labia, Dermot, and I’ll happily retract.”
I’ll bet you fucking would. That’d put a satyriasist off his game.
July 24th, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
I thynke that a true and juste punyshmente for the heynous syn of blasfemye should be to locke the perpytratores in stocks craft’d from the most solyde Wicklow woode (lest the brygands attempte to flee) within the confynes of Dublyn Castle so that the noble and virtuous cytizenry of the citye may hurle at them fruites and vegetables of a most rotten and putryde state.
Oh this is so lovely :)
I always wonder about laws like that – very strange thing to do, legalising God and his/hers good name.
If God exists, surely he doesn’t give a fuck what is his reputation. If he/she doesn’t like someone saying something about him/her, simple ‘accident’ would be sufficient.
If I were God I would spend my entire days laughing at atheists.
July 24th, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
I’m going to start me own religion and declare all taxes blasphemous. Stick that up your jacksee Ahearn ya god-bothering bastard son of a shit-eating nun turd.
July 24th, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
is there any connection at the timing of this law and these reports about abuse? just wondering. all these ahern’s are up to their bollix’s with the RC church.
July 25th, 2009 @ 8:23 am
Although the very fact that it was signed into law is laughable enough, I can’t see how anyone could be prosecuted for blasphemous libel. As an atheist, it’s inherently impossible to blaspheme, innit? I’m fairly sure the first time(if ever) it’s applied it’ll go straight to the high court, and be laughed out. Then again, this is the republic where you can find enough dumb country cunts in one constituency to allow filth like Beverly Cooper Flynn continue to hold public office.
July 25th, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
“I was going to post a well researched piece called ‘The 10 reasons why God, and any tard that believes in him, is a complete cunt.’”
It just so happens, I had just saved you the bother – see: http://is.gd/1MfN6
July 26th, 2009 @ 10:46 am
is there any connection at the timing of this law and these reports about abuse?
I suspect it’s more likely to be to protect the Church as regards the Eucharistic Congress 2012!
About abuse though, reading Dermot Keogh’s Book, Ireland Nation and State. One of the first thing’s de Valera’s government tackled was the abuse of children which was recognised as a serious problem in the 1920s. No mention of clerical abuse though.
July 26th, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Well, they’ve accomplished the one thing they were trying to which is taking most peoples’ minds off the fact that the country is going down the fuckin bog in a hurry.
September 24th, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
A short film on the Blasphemy Law:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDRYwxji6lw
August 30th, 2010 @ 3:28 am
well twenty i bet you’re not pleased to see me back on your page. but (and i’m sorry if i’ve offended your fucked up atheist sensibilities) the likes of yourself and Dawkins ~it’s like you’ve got your own little fundamentalist religion ~a religion that preaches not only despair but also hatred and intolerance.I know an awful lot of abominations have taken place in the name of religion but Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse Tung were responsible for the deaths of more people than all previous wars.And guess what?
August 30th, 2010 @ 3:34 am
They were all ATHEISTS!! I had run out of space on the last comment just thought I’d let everyone know why 2 comments in a row.
August 30th, 2010 @ 9:11 am
What’s your point?
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:07 pm
With regard to Hitler, the churches, especially Catholicism, were the focal point of resistence to his regime in the years before WW2 so the eradication of all religions, not merely Judaism, would have been central to consolidation of his regime. Stalin once said “The Pope ? How many divisions has he got?” and often declared his atheism. Mao also stated “Religion is poison.” The same man personally oversaw the killings of 700,000 people and the Great Leap Forward – an initiative that not only made China a
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:28 pm
(cont. from above) nuclear power in his lifetime and also caused a famine that killed as many as WW2 – can be attributed to him. That’s without mentioning the Cultural Revolution and all the people executed for resistance to his regime which would bring his victim tally to approximately 70 million. One of his goals was to create an atheist utopia. Atheism seems to be quite a diabolical philosophy.
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:47 pm
So all atheists are despotic dictators or all despotic dictators are atheist?
Not sure what you’re trying say here.