IF YOU thought WE have some morons in government, cast your eyes over to Northern Ireland, which is fast gaining the dubious reputation of having some of the biggest prats on the planet in its parliament.
Take Christian fundie Mervyn Storey, for example. He is a Democratic Unionist Assemblyman and chairman of the Assembly’s education (education?!) committee – and he is pissed off big time this week because the Ulster Museum in Belfast is mounting a series of events to commemorate Charles Darwin.
Assemblyman Mervyn Storey
The über-religious Storey has threatened a legal challenge against the event unless it stages a creationist exhibition to counter-balance its evolution events.
According to the Guardian, the North Antrim assembly member called for an “alternative exhibition” promoting creationism.
Storey, a born-again Christian advocate of creationism and so-called intelligent design, said that as the museum in Belfast’s university district was publicly funded it should be subject to the province’s equality legislation.
The brainless Bible-basher said the museum could be subject to a legal challenge under equality legislation if they chose to ignore alternative views that many people here in the Province believe in.
He also described Charles Darwin as a “racist” over his description of aboriginal peoples in his other classic tome The Descent of Man.
In this politically correct society we live in today, if Darwin expressed those views about other peoples of the world now he would not be put on any pedestal.
He added:
I am not against the museum or anywhere else promoting Darwin’s theory, but I think it would be in the public’s interest to give them an alternative theory as well … there are others in the scientific world who question that thesis and their voices should be heard in publicly funded institutions like the museum.
In the past, when I have written to the museum about necessity to show the public an alternative to Darwin’s theory (and let’s stress it is still only a theory), they have been quite dismissive.
And so it bloody well should be!
Storey underscored his idiocy by revealing that he had written to the National Trust complaining about information on display around Ireland’s most famous landmark, the Giant’s Causeway in his constituency. The politician – who believes in the literal truth of the Bible and that the earth was created only several thousand years before Christ’s birth – said he objected to notices informing the public that the rock formation was about 550 million years old.
It will come as no surprise that the former school teacher is also campaigning to have creationism and intelligent design theory taught in Northern Ireland’s schools. However the Sinn Fein education minister, Catriona Ruane, insisted they would not form any part of the schools’ curriculum.
The backbone of the DUP – the largest party in the Stormont assembly – is made up of evangelical Christians, many of whom have been members of Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian church. It has left the more secular wing of the party to have to deal with maverick statements from the DUP evangelicals.
Four days before Storey went off on one about the museum, the DUP’s Northern Ireland environment minister, Sammy Wilson, railed against the idea that climate change is man-made, and used his powers to ban a government-paid climate change TV advertisement. Wilson, a climate-change sceptic, claimed the ad was “insidious New Labour propaganda.”
Last year Iris Robinson, a DUP MP and wife of Northern Ireland’s first minister, caused outrage when she condemned homosexuality as an “abomination” that could be “cured” with psychiatry. Her remarks are the subject of a police investigation after complaints that the comments allegedly incited hatred against the local gay community.
Evolution clearly has a lot of catching up to do in Ulster before the province enters the 21st century.
Hat tip: Michael Cohen
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
February 14th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Why are you frightened of free speech Barry? You delete my posts and now you object to a creationist asking for a balance in presenting evolution alongside creation. You go on about free speech, prove that you really believe it by allowing my posts!
February 14th, 2009 at 9:52 am
When a country has physical barriers to prevent catholics from killing protestants end elect murderers to represent them, the attitude of these politicians seems relatively normal to me.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Where else but Ulster would you expect religious mania to infect politics with such severity?
This Storey bloke has an apt name, as he believes the stories in a book of Bronze Age myths are as valid as a couple of hundred years’ worth of scientific research into the facts.
Upping the lunacy quotient still further, I find myself in total agreement with a Sinn Fein minister over what should be taught in NI schools. If religious fundamentalism – Christian and Muslim – gains ground in England we’ll no doubt have similarly weird situations.
Oh, here’s something for Bob and the rest of the believers…
‘Let a man attach himself to a particular party, contend furiously for what are properly called evangelical doctrines, and enlist himself under the banner of some popular preacher, and the business is done. Behold a Christian! a saint! a phoenix! In the meantime, perhaps, his heart and his temper, and even his conduct, are unsanctified; possibly less exemplary than those of some avowed infidels. No matter–he can talk–he has the shibboleth of the true Church–the Bible in his pocket, and a head well stored with notions.’
William Cowper, 1731-1800.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:15 am
The posts I delete, my fundie friend, are those tedious copy and paste “repent” and “accept Jesus” messages which expose you as a complete retard. Stop posting them! They do not constitute “free speech” and they will routinely be binned. If you want to evangelise,as you have been told countless times before, do it elsewhere. Tosser!
Presenting creationism as a valid alternative to evolution is not the job of a museum, which has to be meticulous in reflecting science and fact. Creationism is neither. It is absurd fundamentalist propaganda.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Whoja delete then, Barry? Not Bob, again?
February 14th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Barry: “They do not constitute free speech”. What does “constitute free speech”? Who decides what is free speech and what is not? You rightly protest against Jackboot Jacquie’s decision to violate Mr Wilders free speech but if you delete my posts you are no better. I have gone on other humanist/atheist blogs and explained Gospel truths and they have welcomed me – clearly they are more enlightened than you!
February 14th, 2009 at 11:07 am
In this politically correct society we live in today, if Darwin expressed those views about other peoples of the world now he would not be put on any pedestal.
If Darwin were alive at all today, I’d say that’d be a hell of an accomplishment in itself.
February 14th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Mervyn Storey does have a point though. Until fairly recently the United Kingdom, which includes Northern Ireland, had a plethora of publicly funded institutions where those who believed in creationism/ID could expound their views at taxpayers expense.
Unfortunately the Thatcher government closed most of them down as part of their ‘Care in the Community’ program.
Valdemar – I too agree with Sinn Fein on this point, but that in itself raises another issue. A lot of people cannot see the difference between agreeing with someone on a single point at issue, and adhering to the entire doctrine they expound.
This week I have been most vocal in my support of Geert Wilders and his right to express his views in a public forum. I have discussed this matter on blogs, emails and actual conversations. What I have found is that the more ‘Liberal’ or ‘New-Leftie’ the other person is the more they are against free speech.
I was even told by a neighbour, a card carrying Lib-Dem and former local candidate, that if I believed in free speech so much I should join the BNP. This from someone who refuses to see Fitna as he claimes it incites violence.
If there is one thing I have learned this week, it is this – You humans are fucking weird!
February 14th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Barry does, you contemptuous prick. It’s his blog, he says what goes on it. This isn’t a street corner, so he has ultimate veto over what stays here and what goes. He’s already told you that he won’t stand for your retarded fundie bible copypasta bollocks. Get the fucking message.
No, they’re just more tolerant of your boring retarded repetitive bullshit.
February 14th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Oh Bob. You are being a little economical with the truth again. You claim that you have been welcomed on other atheist blogs. I noticed you posted anonymously on Bunc’s Ayrshire Blog.
You spouted the usual drivel about Redeeming Christ as Your Repenter, or whatever.
Bunc’s response was very offhand. If you want to waste your breath with that nonsense then feel free.
Hardly an endorsement eh Bob. But I suppose that if one longs for human contact a kick in the balls is better than nothing!
February 14th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I think everybody who’s got some cockamamie notion of how the world began and how life came to be what it is ought to sue to get an exhibit of their own. And if there aren’t enough, make up some.
February 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Remmy: I did not say I was endorsed, but I have been welcomed in that my post was not deleted and the person concerned said I should “feel free” to post. I have also been on another blog and posted Christian stuff which was not deleted, so I am not being “economical with the truth”. The anonymous label was a mistake in that I pressed the wrong button, but I have since posted as Bob.
Nullifidian: Calm down. I was pointing out Barry’s inconsistency. To rail against jackboot Jacquie for violating free speech and then deleting me is hypocrisy.
February 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Typical, stupifying ‘It’s all about us!’ attitude. By this logic, does he believe that every church in Ireland should have literature on evolution in the interest of balance?
February 14th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I am calm. However, you seem to be having knipschens for Jebus because Barry won’t tolerate your pointless spasmodic assertions.
Barry is not inconsistent because a) the UK is (supposedly) free where even wingnuts like you can spew your idiocy for all to see, and b) this blog is private. There’s no comparison.
You’re argument is the equivalent to reasoning that dogs can shit in the park therefore they should also be allowed to shit in your living room.
February 14th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
You’reYourFebruary 14th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
“if Darwin expressed those [racist] views about other peoples of the world now he would not be put on any pedestal.”
And God picking Jews as his “chosen people” and (for example) killing the firstborn in all Egypt isn’t racist?
Most people have the sense to know that Darwin was a product of his time. Yes, Darwin had racist views – but so did most Victorians, who like Darwin were born into a (Christian) racist society.
Darwin is respected for his new discoveries not his old beliefs. (Probably something Storey fails to appreciate, being a fan of a very old creation belief himself).
February 14th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I wish these religious muppets would make their bleedin’ minds up. For weeks now on Radio 4′s spectacularly self indulgent bullshit ‘Thought for the day’ slot, fundies have been falling over themselves to suck Darwin’s cock by saying, suddenly, there’s no conflict between religious belief and Darwin’s overwhelming evidence for evolution. At all. Despite years of saying exactly the opposite, in the face of the blindingly obvious truth of what Darwin was saying. Now this Irish retard and his mates are showing the fundies up for the inconsistent brainless morons they really are.
February 14th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
No wonder the Irish are the butt of so many jokes with morons like Mr Storey. Clearly he does not understand the concept or meaning of theory; creationism and ID are propositions with no evidence to formulate a theory. Science has made great strides since Darwin’s time including particle physics, carbon–dating and Watson and Crick’s remarkable discovery of DNA, so we have sufficient evidence to prove that Darwin is correct and his theory stands the test as factual. Yes Bob, we are all monkeys and in the main, pretty stupid ones at that.
February 14th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
#(and let’s stress it is still only a theory),#
Arrrrrrrg, sorry but every time I hear that from a fundie, I just have to scream.
So Mr Storey wants a creation exhibition in the museum?
Just what the fuck is he going to exhibit?
And Bob, try posting your buy-bull shite at thinkhumanism.com, and I guarantee you’ll get short shrift.
February 14th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Alan C. Whenever I hear some twerp say “only a theory” I suggest they test the theory of gravity by jumping off a tall building and then repeat their statement. I suggested to Bob that he do this, clearly he has not.
February 14th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
In light of what he is whinging about, does it amuse anybody else that ‘Mervyn Storey’ is an anagram of ‘Event my sorry’?
February 14th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Yeh, more’s the pity.
February 16th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Quoting Bob:
“..but I have been welcomed in that my post was not deleted..”
Ah, Bob, hello again you nutter.
I deplore your twisted logic;
I too have been ‘welcomed’ when watching City at Reebok Stadium in the home crowd – i.e. I did not get my head kicked in.
Bob, you prick, you were not welcomed, you were tolerated – you self serving, ignorant hypocrite.
I really wish I had as much free time as you do blogging away – should you not be feeding the homeless or doing something more ‘christian’ with your time you arsehole?
February 16th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
If we want to include Creationism as an alternative to science, why does it have to be a Christian Creationism? What about the Egyptian Creation myths? Or Norse ones? Shinto ones?
All about as plausible as the Christian one. At least the Egyptian one’s so insane that it makes Revelations look like a Ken Loach documentary.
‘Just a theory’? Sigh. If he knew a damned thing about science he’d know that ‘theory’ doesn’t mean ‘pulled it out our arse just to annoy everyone’, but a hypothosis gained from extensive evidence, tried and tested, experiements, measuring/remeasuring, genetics, fossils, remnants of asteroids and comets that have fallen to Earth, biology, chemistry, geology and, of course, evolution still goes on right in front of us today. Jellyfish adapt to conditions almost instantly in evolutionary terms and there’s a breed of sheep in Scotland that evolved in only about 200 years so they can live on seaweed.
I went to a Catholic school and my biology teacher taught us evolution, but prefaced it ‘Well, I don’t believe in this, but…’ At the time I thought it was odd, but now it makes me so angry! How can a teacher, who presumably did a degree in science, still believe in this religious bullshit?!
Sometimes humanity makes me feel very helpless indeed.