Even the Guardian has now abandoned the Labour party by today announcing that they are endorsing the Lib Dems:
Its all over for both Albert Owen and his party I fear.
UPDATE: For the best analysis of the Guardian's defection to the Lib Dems, read this. Incidentally, I must say Doctor Huw's daily updates on the election campaign have been daily must reads for the Druid.
16 comments:
tonight there was a church hustings in holyhead. by all accounts Albert Owen will be pleased with the support he got, while Antony Ridge Newman came across as synthetic and affected.
he should take a leaf out of Peter Rogers and Albert's books, who showed they understood the audience and both came across in a workmanlike way, understanding the social challenges and showing how they can relate to people.
Ridge Newman was almost trying too hard and used too much religious invective. in the end he said "i dont want you to don't vote for me, but pray and He will guide you to the right decision."
such talk does not go down well in Holyhead, I can tell him that.
there were questions on the family, B&B for gay people, attitudes to alternative lifestyles, Wylfa, local schools and overseas aid.
Oh yes, on the Lib Dems, well, their candidate couldn't make it.
The Christian Party candidate believes God's laws are above the laws made by man (or woman). Well, isn't that what the Ayatollah's think?
And Plaid candidate made a token reference to the New Testament, quoting chapter and verse. Very impressive for a midweek Bible class, for sure.
But Anglesey's next MP...?
And how many times was the word "tolerant" mentioned? = 0
And "Love"? = 0
So much for the Christian idea of love, or Agape!!
But there was plenty of fire and brimstone, judgement and damnation.
Conclusion: ....a couple of hours of one's life on a Friday evening wasted.
Hen Lanc - thanks for the update, very interesting.
Sad but not really important, its the likes of the Sun that has more influence with its readership
lets just get this election over -soon
Hi Mam - You're right that the Sun has more influence, but I think the symbolism of the Guardian turning against its long time favourite party is significant.
Hi, I have to say that I found some of the comments from the audience and panel at the church meeting (a meeting that welcomed the religious and non-religious alike) were shocking.
There was little tolerance, empathy or understanding for anyone who didn't fit some tightly defined normality, i.e a married man and woman together with a 'normal' family unit. The comments were relating to whether the b&b could rightly 'ban' a gay couple, whether a doctor could choose not to take abortion cases as a matter of conscience and the 'terrible' situation where we are forcing teachers to teach sex education to pupils of a young age. I can't believe that such attitudes are in such prevalence today. No wonder then that young people are disengaged from the political process.
Albert Owen to his absolute credit was a voice of reason regarding legal protection and social tolerance of all, regardless of age, race, religion, family status or sexual orientation.
I thought I knew which way my vote was going before the meeting and now I am unsure.
"There was little tolerance, empathy or understanding for anyone who didn't fit some tightly defined normality"
And there we have the best definition of the typical British person. "I'm not racist, but..."
I've lived and worked in this area all my life, speak welsh, pretty easy-going. Yet, all I had to do to encounter intolerance was to move five miles to a new area. Eh? Who are you then? Where you from? Not around here, that's for sure.
I have to agree with hen lanc about the meeting. Up to now, I have been impressed with Ridge Newman, from his fliers and his website, but actually seeing and hearing him for the first time yesterday - yeuch! what a pious 'trendy-Christian' he came across as. I know it was a church hall, and maybe this was his way to 'relate' to the audience, but in my case I'm afraid it was a massive turn-off. Perhaps it is his style? When he presented to the business groups was it 'hi, I'm a business man' and to the farmers 'hi, I'm a farmer'?
I thought that Albert got the balance absolutely right 'I'm a Christian, but I live in the real world' (to paraphrase).
And here's my dilemma: out of the candidates for Ynys Mon, Albert stands out for me, but I can't entertain voting for that gurning buffoon Gordon Brown. I'm inclined towards Cameron for PM, but am now very dubious about 'happy-clappy' - his own words - Ridge Newman.
And finally: if Jesus Christ had attended that meeting last night at St. David's church, he would have been appalled at how his teachings have been twisted and 'interpreted' by the average church-going resident of Holyhead, judging from some of the views expressed!
The girls mentioned this in the snug at Wellman's last night. They said Tada would be pleased and I wept a few, quiet tears.
Lady Megan
Thanks, All, for the reports about the Church Hustings. Being a Druid I obviously couldn't attend... ;)
Interesting twist to preach tolerance in today's society, as some commentators do, and then condemn a candidate because of his honest declaration of his own faith. Still leaves the same old questions. What, if anything, has this Labour government and your Labour MP done for you, what can the lesser parties really offer and do we need a strong government to restore our fortunes? In my book there is only one party, and therefore one candidate on the voting paper, who can deliver on that one but to each his own.
The Rock: "Interesting twist to preach tolerance in today's society, as some commentators do, and then condemn a candidate because of his honest declaration of his own faith."
I agree with the hen lanc maes:
It was not the reference to his faith in and of itself that is at issue. Rather it was the subtle use of his faith to convey a rather distasteful, reactionary and intolerant policy platform that is judgmental of others and seeks to marinate political discourse with a narrow interpretation of morality.
To have a christian faith and have lifestyle preferences arising out of that faith is not, in itself, intolerance of alternative faiths or lifestyles and I certainly do not think such was intended or implied in this case. Maybe your interpretation of what was conveyed needs closer examination but, whatever, the real issue is which party offers the best hope for our nation. After all, around the constituencies there are candidates standing of differing religions as well as those of no faith. Do we not vote for someone because he is a Sikh, say, or is gay? I think not if he or she represents the party we want to govern.
An interesting piece in the Observer today about a Tory candidate who is also head of a right wing religious policy think tank set up by Ian Duncan Smith. They claim that they have influenced 70 Conservative policies. Her name is Stroud and she beieves that Homosexuality is the result of demonic possesion and can be "cured" by prayer. There is a description of one woman's experiences when she was prayed over by Ms Stroud and others to rid her of her Lesbian tendencies.
Ms Stroud has written a book. In one quote in the Observer there is reference to a young girl "cared for" by Ms Stroud. This young girl apparently failed to become a convinced Christian and as a result was "Called Home" by the almighty. She choked on her own vomit.
When I think of the Christian right and their Tory Devotees I think that I might be "Called Home" in much the same way.
Wow, Anonymous 15:39, let's hope you are not tempting fate, or possibly the almighty with such comments, for yours is the 13th on this item. You only need a 666 somewhere in the next few days and things could really hot up (excuse the pun).
Joking aside, to reject a political party as a choice because of the strange views of one candidate is a bit like rejecting another because its leader was today depicted in some papers with hands clasped and eyes elevated skywards in prayer for a miracle. Or is it only Tory Christians you have a problem with?
Anonymous said:
"Her name is Stroud and she beieves that Homosexuality is the result of demonic possesion and can be "cured" by prayer. "
Are you sure this woman is not a member of the Christian party of Wales?
And what if she were? The people in CWP are broadly representative of the evangelical church worldwide, all of whom would agree that homosexuality is sinful on biblical grounds. The issue of demonic possession is more controversial within the body of evangelicals, but the gospels describe dozens of cases of Jesus delivering people, so for anyone who believes the Bible, there must be something in it.
As for Anthony Ridge-Newman's expression of his faith, that was entirely appropriate for a meeting that had been arranged by a Christian organisation - and Dylan Rees was also clear about his Christian faith, though all the criticism here seems to have been directed at Anthony.
It is now normal for politically active non-Christians to be anti-Christian, in accordance with the progressive 'gospel' which is challenged only by 'bigots'. 'We tolerate everyone - provided they agree with us on all moral issues'.
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