Apology.
Reader comment on item: My Debate with London Mayor Ken Livingstone
in response to reader comment: Pope Marmalade and The Imam

Submitted by Maurice Keenan (Ireland), Apr 10, 2007 at 07:25

Firstly may i apologise for the Paranoia comment as it was unfair Eamonn and you obviously feel very strongly about, and may well be justified in your comments. It is interesting that the CEO would issue a carpet ban on such a name. One would wonder about the motivation for such an action.

If you were to attempt to release the series Fr Ted in Ireland 40 years ago there could well have been Riots, Dermot Morgans earlier incarnation of Fr Trendy resulted in some criticism. Nowadays the Catholic population have had to develop a thick skin as everyone from Monty Python to the National Media poke fun at not only the church but even the crucifixion of Christ himself. Buddists have to put up with a bar in Ireland being called the Budda Bar , with large statues of the Budda overseeing the drunken behaviour of the non buddist Irish.... lovely. The Simpsons cartoon had a laugh at Hindu weddings, and the cartoon Southpark seems to specialise in finding new ways of slagging off the christian and Jewish faith in equal measure.

However while most religions seem to have developed a tolerence for being slighted, be it to their credit or be it a failing, those of the Islamic Faith do not take lightly to having their religion mocked. At any level, and of course that is a huge generality as i'm sure there are some who are not as upset as others. We saw the anger that a line drawing cartoon in a newspaper created last year with death threats against staff members at the paper. In this regard, i guess it is a question of respecting others beliefs I'm not sure if some people would be offended by the name the Imam of Terenure, maybe they would and if so better play safe given the sheer level of anger that can erupt. Or maybe I'm suggesting an excuse for something which is in fact far more sinister. But when I see race riots in India because of the actions of Jade Goody that eminent spokesperson for the west... I do wonder if there is any hope for mankind at all. Once again sorry for the comment.

All the Best.

PM3

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