Rubber bands and red herrings
I arrived back in Belfast last night, after a delayed flight from Gatwick, in time to present Talk Back today (I'll be sitting in for David Dunlseith all week). Phone-in shows are always unpredictable. You start with a story that ticks all the journalistic boxes -- it's a live, of-the-moment story that's developing and has, prima facie, great public interest. Then you watch while another story, lower down the running order, triggers a small avalanche of calls and comments from listeners. This is what happened today. We began with a debate about the Beijing Games, then I interviewed a caller about his frustration with postmen who drop red rubber bands in his garden. We couldn't keep up with the reaction to the rubber band story.
Then, since it was the Monday following this year's Pride parade, we interviewed a Christian minister who marched on the parade in support of gay rights. The Rev Chris Hudson is minister of in south Belfast. He came into the news studio to speak passionately about his support for Northern Ireland's LGBT community, and to respond to criticism from more conservative Christians. One text to the programme read: 'I don't go to church, but I'd go to Chris Hudson's church.' Other texts and calls challenges his Christian credentials on the basis of his stand on gay rights. We reported on the unprecedented attendance at this year's Pride parade of local politicians, including Basil McCrea of the Ulster Unionist Party. The only party not respresented on the parade was the DUP. Has Northern Ireland politics just reached a tipping point on the issue of gay rights, with local politicians now willing to walk in a gay pride procession? Will we see more politicians on the parade next year? And what of church leaders: will they join the ranks of politicians and human rights groups -- such as Amnesty International, which brought a very large group of supporters and well-wishers to the parade -- in walking next year? Needless to say, our phone-in audience was divided on these and other questions.
My favourite moment in the debate was when we had a call from one of the conservative protestors who demonstrate each year outside City Hall during the parade. The lady explained why she felt it was important to join the religious protest, and another caller challenged her claim that 'homosexuality is a abomination'. The caller mentioned the Old Testament's ban on the eating of shellfish (also an 'abomination' according to the text), and the conservative protestor replied, 'The shellfish is a red herring'. Priceless.
I fully expect to get through tomorrow's programme without any items dealing with sexuality -- or crustaceans. I can't promise that red rubber bands won't make an appearance, though.
Comment number 1.
At 4th Aug 2008, John Wright wrote:B-e-a-utiful.
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Comment number 2.
At 5th Aug 2008, jovialPTL wrote:How about a red rubber band parade?
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Comment number 3.
At 5th Aug 2008, gveale wrote:I think postmen should have the right to express themselves whatever way they wish. Who are we to say they are littering? Perhaps they are providimg free-gifts.
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Comment number 4.
At 5th Aug 2008, smasher-lagru wrote:why exactly were Amnesty International there? Which prisoners of conscience were they defending?
Oh, silly me, they don't do that any more.
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Comment number 5.
At 5th Aug 2008, anti_apostate wrote:William Crawley wrote: Then, since it was the Monday following this year's Pride parade, we interviewed a Christian minister who marched on the parade in support of gay rights. The Rev Chris Hudson is minister of All Souls Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in south Belfast.
The reality is, that the man whom William interviewed is "not" a Christian minister, he is an opposer of the Bible (because he supports sodomy) and also he denies the Blood Atonement of Christ! Anyone with half a brain could see that this man is not a christian!
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Comment number 6.
At 5th Aug 2008, portwyne wrote:AA - it appears we are in complete agreement! I can totally see why those with only half a brain would fail to perceive the deep Christian faith and exemplary witness of Chris Hudson - fortunately those of us possessed of a normal quantity of brain cells have no such difficulty. Chris' commitment to living the love of Christ is clear and unmistakeable - long may he flourish. Chris, almost thou persuadest me to be a (non-subscribing) Presbyterian...
SMASHER - I was rather hoping for at least some sort of bombastic rant (if not a more reasoned 'Apologia pro ecclesia mea') in response to my posts on the Cardinal Kasper thread...
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Comment number 7.
At 6th Aug 2008, smasher-lagru wrote:Portywne - ok, I've left you something under Kasper.
Problem was there were too many anglican threads - bit like the anglican communion - all unravelling.
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Comment number 8.
At 10th Aug 2008, The Christian Hippy wrote:Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Those ministers that preach and worship the false god of human reason have taken Jesus Christ captive as their personal prisoner to the false reason of their own mind and they also hold the hell bound sinner in bondage to the shackles of sin because they have fallen for the forbidden fruit of rationalism making the mind of man their god, they formulate human reason and exalt it above the teaching of scripture they are as guilty as the Roman Catholic church who exalt tradition above scripture, making their man made reason their divinity, human reason becomes their false prophet, false priest and false king, the ministers that feed the lost sheep this false message are only ravenous wolfs dressed as sheep for they have crept into the church unnoticed, these churches preach rationalism above that of a crucified Christ holding the sinner captive to this false message instead of setting the captive free this is another gospel, sinners need to be set free from this form of man made religion which has reasoned away the consequences of death and sin. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Christ is the author of liberty who sets the captive free from sin and from hells cells, Satan鈥檚 prison, Christ has set us free not rationalism. What I would say to these rationalists is this 鈥淩EAD THE BIBLE鈥 and what it says.
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Comment number 9.
At 10th Aug 2008, portwyne wrote:Gosh Puritan - that was almost poetic...
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