WE learn today from the New Humanist that at least two members of the Welsh National Assembly are objecting to a planned reading by Patrick Jones of his controversial poetry in the Assembly next month.
Trish Law AM, who wants the 'blasphemous' poems stifled
Jones had been invited to give a reading after Waterstones in Cardiff suddenly cancelled a book-signing event by the poet earlier this month. Lily-livered management took fright after receiving threats from low-grade Christian terrorist Stephen “Birdshit” Green.
Jones tells the NH that the Welsh AMs are now trying to get the reading cancelled due to
Blasphemy and profanity in the poems.
On a more positive note, the bookshop, Borders, has stepped into the fray by offering to launch Jones’ new book – Darkness is Where the Stars Are – on Dec 11 in Cardiff, with a further reading at a branch in London.
Jones added that the venues at which he will do do readings
Are being bombarded and threatened with calls and emails from Christian Voice members.
According to this report, Trish Law, the independent AM for Blaenau Gwent has written to the Assembly’s Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas to complain about the planned reading of Jones’ poems in the Assemply
While I uphold freedom of speech I cannot condone the reading of blasphemous, obscene and perverted poems in the National Assembly. We are still a Christian country, yet one that acknowledges and readily accepts other religious beliefs and values. So while we would not tolerate other religions and religious leaders being insulted through verse or deed neither should we expect Christ and Christianity to be subjected to a tirade of anti-Christian rhetoric and profanity.
I implore you to put a stop to this reading on December 11 in the name of decency and humanity.
The line of attack from Conservative Jonathan Morgan is not the same but the upshot of his argument is: the reading - hosted by two AMs, Lorraine Barrett and Peter Black - should not happen.
Patrick Jones seems to think that the freedom of speech is a convenient shield to be used when under attack for being offensive. In exercising that freedom, and in respecting it, we should do so responsibly. I do not believe that AMs should be wading into the debate by hosting a reading. It is a mistake and opens up the institution to the accusation that it is siding with one opinion without giving the other the same chance of expression.
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The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
November 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
the more you try to ban or stifle something the more publicity it gets.
i don’t believe there is such a thing as blasphemy. i don’t believe anyone has the right to take offence. nothing should be banned.
but i would rather that well written poetry gets an airing and from what i’ve seen of mr. jones suff - frankly, it’s laughable bad.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
The swift answer to these AM’s is, “If you don’t want to listen, DON’T ATTEND”
November 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
What the hell?! What are we living in? Texas? Jesus, will someone tell these AMs to pull their knickers out from the clenched angry arse cheeks and get a grip. It’s just poetry and if God doesn’t like it, he ought to speak out instead of sending his minions to do his dirty work.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
In the article ‘Birdshit’ is described as a ‘low grade christian terrorist’. Are we talking in the mode of ‘crap suicide bomber’ where every times he tries to say something incendiary it blows up in his face?
November 20th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
If politicians really want to stop offensive speech in the various UK parliaments, maybe they could start by banning compulsory prayers to start each morning session.
To parapharase Jones -’freedom of religion is a convenient shield to be used when under attack for being offensive.’
November 20th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Interesting to see which parties and individuals at the Assembly support free speech - and which don’t. Welsh Nationalists were justifiably angry at the way their native language and culture was suppressed for generations. So are they in favour of free speech for others?
November 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
So many people like Trish Law start a rant with, “While I uphold freedom of speech…” and then proceed to explain exactly why they believe that doesn’t apply here. Either there is freedom of speech or there isn’t: it’s not right to say one thing and practice another.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Not to mention, Matt, the way Stephen Green whines about others being anti-free speech, even when they’re really not (such as gay men exercising their right to bin his leaflets unread) while Green himself is probably the most obsessive and sensitive would-be censor in the country.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Valdemar –
I don’t see any Welsh nationalists calling for the readings to be banned. Trish Law is an independent (albeit of the dyed-in-the-wool old labour stripe) and Johnathan Morgan is a Tory.
Being a member of the Welsh Assembly doesn’t automatically make you a Welsh Nationalist.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hi Tim, sorry my comment was ambiguous! I meant that the nationalists should be backing free speech more loudly in this case. I’d looked up the AMs involved. I wasn’t surprised to find a Tory - the party of traditional liberties one minute and banning everything the next. I was disappointed (but not, frankly, surprised) to find that Trish Law’s background is Labour.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
None of your contributors seems to care about offending or hurting people or being rude about their beliefs - I wonder why that is. The language they use sounds very bitter to me.