How Annoying!

WYD in Sydney

Published on July 10, 2008 By Phoenixboi In Politics

In the next week Sydney will be overtaken by Catholics from around the planet as the pope and his ilk descend on our city for world youth day. Not only is this costing us 92 million tax payer dollars but it is also going to disrupt the entire city with road blocks and road closures. What has also happened is that our state government has passed laws which in effect take away the rights of the citizens of this city to protest. We are coming to know it as the 'Annoyance law". This means that if anyone annoys, irritates or disrupts world youth day events or their participants then they can be arrested and or fined $5500.

This article says it all.. http://blogs.smh.com.au/newsblog/archives/dom_knight/019325.html

Not only is this happening at the moment but it has also been revealed that cardinal Pell the most senior figure of the catholic church in Australia has been covering up sexual abuse cases. He now says that this was an oversight and that he did not correctly read the original documents. (perhaps he was partaking too much of the holy wine?) see this article... http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/10/asia/australia.php

What I would like to know is when did Australia become a theocracy and how long are the people going to put up with this state government who seems to think that it can impose apon the people whatever it sees fit at the time withut proper debate or consultation?

Comments (Page 2)

Polijunkie

on Jul 14, 2008

little-whip

While I do know what ilk means you are correct in that I assigned a negative connotation to it for which I have apologized and have already acknowledged the fact that I was defensive when I shouldn't have been. Religion is something that gets to me so I will limit myself to speaking more on matters of Politics and the 08' election.

Moderateman

on Jul 14, 2008

hey PB good to "see" yer mug around again. We do seem to have gathered a few Newbees, that seem to home in on a word or two, Immediately draw a conclusion about the author {racist, Bigot, Homophob>> etc.} And miss the entire point the author was trying to express.

Phoenixboi

on Jul 14, 2008

What is in fact rude, totally disgusting, and childish, is enacting a law that prohibits free people from expressing themselves. Talk about intolerance!

My point exactly Mason

As for this conversation... all points have been made and since we are all capable of disagreeing without being disagreeable can we agree to end this coversation now.

Excuse me?

Well since it isn't your thread or blog it's pretty disrespectful of you to presume to call and end to the discussion don't you think?

Thankyou!

That law was the real point of the post and the one you chose to ignore.

Exactly.

First of all it is good to see you.

Thanks Maso good to see you too!

The only example of intolerance occurring here is the intolerance the State government has for those taxpayers who want to have their say without being called 'annoying'.

This is what I think is annoying... http://www.smh.com.au/news/world-youth-day/leave-your-cars-at-home/2008/07/14/1215887540820.html

The key is to find the others, even if they are in a different creed/church. I hope you do.

I have

Phoenixboi

on Jul 14, 2008

What exactly is his “ilk”? Only the author knows and doesn't elaborate.

Im sure you have a dictionary

You know what's REALLY annoying? People who take offense over a word like 'ilk', assigning a negative connotation to it that simply does not exist. I see it's time for a basic vocabulary lesson.

I love you Whip

I assigned a negative connotation to it

Maybe you need to see a priest about that.

Thanks Moderateman. Has anything changed??

Dr Guy

on Jul 14, 2008

I have

That is more important than any single faith, and the reason there are so many.

I am glad you have found your faith home. Dont be a stranger! Good to see you back as well.

dynamaso

on Jul 14, 2008

if the author’s feelings are widespread among other Australians, how this would be interpreted by potential tourists. Religious intolerance is exactly how the front page would read if there were massive protests. Disagree if you like.

If anything, people here are going to be protesting not because they disagree with Catholics or they don't like the Pope but because the State government has said they can't. I have read that quite a number of organisations who had no protests organised and weren't even considering protesting the Pope's visit and WYD08 have now organised protests because of the draconian 'annoyance' law. This is not about religious intolerance, it is about freedom of speech.

MasonM

on Jul 14, 2008

So I thought it interesting, if the author’s feelings are widespread among other Australians, how this would be interpreted by potential tourists. Religious intolerance is exactly how the front page would read if there were massive protests. Disagree if you like.

Heaven forbid a government put it's people's rights ahead of money!

dynamaso

on Jul 15, 2008

Thankfully, the Australian Federal Court has seen sense. This is a win for free speech, not for, as some might think, intolerance.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world-youth-day/court-dumps-annoy-law/2008/07/15/1215887596459.html

Phoenixboi

on Jul 15, 2008

Thankfully, the Australian Federal Court has seen sense. This is a win for free speech, not for, as some might think, intolerance.

Awesome!! FInally some sense.

Dr Guy

on Jul 15, 2008

This is not about religious intolerance, it is about freedom of speech.

Thank you! And good luck with the protests!

Nitro Cruiser

on Jul 16, 2008

Heaven forbid a government put it's people's rights ahead of money!

Exactly! And that's the real point.

Im sure you have a dictionary

I sure do! Now maybe you should look up rhetorical question.

LW thanks so much for the definition. now try this one "context" the words, phrases, or passages that come before and after a particular word or passage in a speech or piece of writing and help to explain its full meaning. You can call someone buddy and still not mean it in a frendly way. My comments are not directed explicitly to the author, I don't know him or her from Adam. So it wan't my intent to hurt any feelings. It was merely the perception of someone living outside Australia.

This is a win for free speech, not for, as some might think, intolerance.

Sure some will feel that way, especially if they are holding signs in support of free speech, but if the signs read "pope go home" others may see it differently, it's called perception and everyone's is slightly different. So back to my entire reason for posting, how will others see it? No right or wrong answer here, just speculation.

MasonM

on Jul 18, 2008

Exactly! And that's the real point.

Huh? Aren't you the one who posted

The author here does not mention the financial means of the visitors, so it's logical to assume that if someone visits a country, that country would hope to make a good enough impression so that the people might return or tell their friends, all good for tourism. So I thought it interesting, if the author’s feelings are widespread among other Australians, how this would be interpreted by potential tourists.

Seems to me like you're supporting finance over rights here. Pure bullshit in my opinion.

Dr Guy

on Jul 22, 2008

Sure some will feel that way, especially if they are holding signs in support of free speech, but if the signs read "pope go home" others may see it differently

I see it as a victory for free speech. And I would be Holding up a sign saying "Welcome Pope Benedict". But I am very glad that the others have the right to hold up their signs as well.

Nitro Cruiser

on Jul 23, 2008

Seems to me like you're supporting finance over rights here. Pure bullshit in my opinion.

No just the hypocrisy. I can careless who does or doesn't want the Pope to visit. I find it amusing that Australia is spending large amounts of money on tourism ads abroad, yet some support what could be a large negative PR event. My post was just an observation, an outsider looking in, not meant to enrage you, hurt the author’s feelings, or anyone else. Or for anyone that thinks other people with a different view from their own is bullshit (unlike you I respect your opinion) for that matter. You obviously do not get what I allude to, and I don't care to elaborate anymore on this dead topic. So you understand my position:

Free speech - Hooray, love it.

Pope’s visit- Matter for Australia to consider, I don't care if he (or any public figure) goes or not. Now some satire (for those who don’t understand what that is) Australia tourism ad: Come visit Australia, unless you’re catholic. End of satire.

Protests- boring and over used IMO, everything is a protest these days. Everyone picks and chooses their cause, but with globalization it seems to me it's more about the special interests than the majority. Free speech is great unfortunately free annoyance comes with it.

DaffidSantosHubina

on Jul 29, 2008

Dude, your country is 63.9% Christian. Got a problem with Christians? GTFO. Try your luck in Nigeria, or maybe Lebanon, I think you'll do well there.

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