Comments on: Iris Robinson http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:39:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lynne Featherstone MP http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1127 Lynne Featherstone MP Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:48:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1127 Sounds to me as if the people are delivering their verdict on her already.<br/><br/>Better to have public condemnation of her stinking bigotry surely - then anything else.<br/><br/>We can't stop people believing what they believe - or having unpalatable views.<br/><br/>But you can criticise and pull apart those views - and so persuade others. Sounds to me as if the people are delivering their verdict on her already.

Better to have public condemnation of her stinking bigotry surely - then anything else.

We can't stop people believing what they believe - or having unpalatable views.

But you can criticise and pull apart those views - and so persuade others.

]]> By: John Self http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1126 John Self Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:06:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1126 What's interesting is that this has remained in the news for a week now and shows no signs of dying down. I think for once Iris Robinson has overestimated the tolerance of Northern Irish voters for this sort of bigotry (I speak as one of her husband's constituents).<br/><br/>A <a HREF="http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Robinson-Gay" REL="nofollow">petition</a> on the PM's website calling for a reprimand for Robinson has gathered over 3,000 signatures in five days.<br/><br/>It's worth offering a transcript of part of the radio interview to indicate just what she said:<br/><br/>Stephen Nolan: Do you think for example that homosexuality is disgusting?<br/><br/>Iris Robinson: Absolutely<br/><br/>Stephen Nolan: Do you think that homosexuality should be loathed?<br/><br/>Iris Robinson: Absolutely<br/><br/>Stephen Nolan: Do you think it is right for people to have a physical disgust towards homosexuality?<br/><br/>Iris Robinson: Absolutely<br/><br/>Stephen Nolan: Does it make you nauseous?<br/><br/>Iris Robinson: Yes<br/><br/>Stephen Nolan: Do you think that it is something that is shamefully wicked and vile?<br/><br/>Iris Robinson: Yes, of course it is, it’s an abomination.<br/><br/>When interviewed later about her comments, she justified them thus: "Just as a murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so can a homosexual. ... If anyone takes issue with that, they're taking issue with the word of God."<br/><br/>It would be lovely to think she doesn't really believe all that, but I have a horrible feeling she does. What's interesting is that this has remained in the news for a week now and shows no signs of dying down. I think for once Iris Robinson has overestimated the tolerance of Northern Irish voters for this sort of bigotry (I speak as one of her husband's constituents).

A petition on the PM's website calling for a reprimand for Robinson has gathered over 3,000 signatures in five days.

It's worth offering a transcript of part of the radio interview to indicate just what she said:

Stephen Nolan: Do you think for example that homosexuality is disgusting?

Iris Robinson: Absolutely

Stephen Nolan: Do you think that homosexuality should be loathed?

Iris Robinson: Absolutely

Stephen Nolan: Do you think it is right for people to have a physical disgust towards homosexuality?

Iris Robinson: Absolutely

Stephen Nolan: Does it make you nauseous?

Iris Robinson: Yes

Stephen Nolan: Do you think that it is something that is shamefully wicked and vile?

Iris Robinson: Yes, of course it is, it’s an abomination.

When interviewed later about her comments, she justified them thus: "Just as a murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so can a homosexual. ... If anyone takes issue with that, they're taking issue with the word of God."

It would be lovely to think she doesn't really believe all that, but I have a horrible feeling she does.

]]> By: Stephen Glenn http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1125 Stephen Glenn Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:51:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1125 If Mrs Robinson in response to an attack on a Jew living in Belfast had turned around and said that Jews could be 'cured' by psychiatric treatment, even though the Royal Society for Psychaitry does not recognise Judaism as a psychiatric condition, by the lovely doctor she knows I'm sure Lynne would also have taken the same line. If Mrs Robinson in response to an attack on a Jew living in Belfast had turned around and said that Jews could be 'cured' by psychiatric treatment, even though the Royal Society for Psychaitry does not recognise Judaism as a psychiatric condition, by the lovely doctor she knows I'm sure Lynne would also have taken the same line.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1124 Anonymous Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:54:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1124 Oh Lynne, I hear what you say loud and clear but as an elected LibDem MP you disappoint me greatly. <br/>I just wonder if you would have the same opinion if it was the Jews that Mrs Robinson had criticised in this appalling way. Oh Lynne, I hear what you say loud and clear but as an elected LibDem MP you disappoint me greatly.
I just wonder if you would have the same opinion if it was the Jews that Mrs Robinson had criticised in this appalling way.

]]> By: Lynne Featherstone MP http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1123 Lynne Featherstone MP Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:40:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1123 No - she is free to say what she said - and I am free to criticise what she said - and I have. Don't believe a referral to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is the right response - public criticism in my view is. No - she is free to say what she said - and I am free to criticise what she said - and I have. Don't believe a referral to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is the right response - public criticism in my view is.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1122 Anonymous Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:39:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1122 I hope you would be willing to submit a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.<br/><br/>http://politicalarguing.blogspot.com/2008/06/iris-robinson-offers-to-help-gays-turn.html I hope you would be willing to submit a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

http://politicalarguing.blogsp.....-turn.html

]]> By: Stephen Glenn http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1121 Stephen Glenn Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:37:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1121 Sammy while it may not be against the law for her to express her opinion, the same freedom of speech and thought should apply to does that she considered need psychiatric help, no matter what they wish to engage in. As chair of the Assembly's Health Committee she should be concerned about actual health issues that effect the LBGT community she represents in that role rather than creating ones which even the Royal Society of Pychiatrists don't recognise.<br/><br/>The Nazi's, and modern day Iran also thought similar things about homosexuality and we know where that led them while in power.<br/><br/>Mrs Robinson must be ashamed that the largest school in her constituency managed to educate a liberal, homosexual, christian like myself. I guess I'll just have to pray that she turns away from such prejudiced thoughts and gets on with representing the needs of all the people she represents. Sammy while it may not be against the law for her to express her opinion, the same freedom of speech and thought should apply to does that she considered need psychiatric help, no matter what they wish to engage in. As chair of the Assembly's Health Committee she should be concerned about actual health issues that effect the LBGT community she represents in that role rather than creating ones which even the Royal Society of Pychiatrists don't recognise.

The Nazi's, and modern day Iran also thought similar things about homosexuality and we know where that led them while in power.

Mrs Robinson must be ashamed that the largest school in her constituency managed to educate a liberal, homosexual, christian like myself. I guess I'll just have to pray that she turns away from such prejudiced thoughts and gets on with representing the needs of all the people she represents.

]]> By: turfsniffer http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1120 turfsniffer Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:24:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1120 This woman is the wife of N.Ireland's first minister. Respecting Freedom of speech is one thing, but its another to abuse her position in politics by using the media to advertise her own personal prejudices. I don't think she's broken any laws but she's certainly crossed the line and I reckon she should be slapped on the wrist for misconduct. Politicians do have rules on conduct don't they? This woman is the wife of N.Ireland's first minister. Respecting Freedom of speech is one thing, but its another to abuse her position in politics by using the media to advertise her own personal prejudices. I don't think she's broken any laws but she's certainly crossed the line and I reckon she should be slapped on the wrist for misconduct. Politicians do have rules on conduct don't they?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1119 Anonymous Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:53:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1119 I agree with you Sammy but lets have a level playing field here. We don't have freedom of speech to criticise religions. I agree with you Sammy but lets have a level playing field here. We don't have freedom of speech to criticise religions.

]]> By: Sammy http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2008/06/iris-robinson.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1118 Sammy Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:13:00 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=1755#comment-1118 Her views may be horrible, but it should not be against the law to say them. Freedom of speech is an important value too. Her views may be horrible, but it should not be against the law to say them. Freedom of speech is an important value too.

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