Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Arrowman · 11-12-2002, 06:19 PM

See this article in the Sydney Morning Herald:

<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/12/1037080729229.html" target="_blank">http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/12/1037080729229.html</a>

quoting Amanda Vanstone in the Senate debate on stem cell research, in particular:

Quote:

I think living by a decent set of values is far more important than defending [religious] dogma. I'm confident that if you lead a good life and there is a kingdom of heaven you will be welcome. Your religion is your business and no one else's. My personal view is that when you make your religion an issue, you drag it into the political domain and you tarnish it. It follows that I attach very little importance to [such] arguments.

My point is quite simple: each to his own religion. If you say to me that doing something is against God's will, then I will respond by assuring you that, if God is annoyed, God will punish whomever has done that thing. The state should never be used as God's enforcer. Over the years, as I have been approaching 50, I can assure you I have had every confidence in God's ability to settle accounts. It has not been my experience that he or she usually waits until you are dead. Many people who have done the wrong thing have met their maker in a practical sense while they were still alive ...

I simply ask those who, because of their beliefs, have a very genuine concern about this bill, to accept that they are entitled to follow their beliefs. They are not entitled to demand, by legislation, that everybody else does the same.

I like Mandy

In a Geoffrey Robertson Hypothetical a few years ago, Sen Vanstone was playing Justice Minister, and was faced with deciding whether to send the Federal Police in to prevent a religious cult from committing mass suicide. When she said she would, Robertson challenged her that the people in question were of sound mind and responsible for their own decisions. I don't recall her reply word for word, but it was something like this:

"Well, I'd say when you've got 40 people about to top themselves en masse then something tells me they're a brick short of a barbecue."

Carlos · 11-12-2002, 07:56 PM

It's nice to see that there are still sensible politicians around. Now if only we could clone her and get a few of her elected in this country!

Arrowman · 11-12-2002, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cau:
<strong>Now if only we could clone her and get a few of her elected in this country!

</strong>

Take your pick, we're giving them away on special this week...

Anderson · 11-13-2002, 12:05 PM

The second one from the bottom is kinda cute.

Belle · 11-13-2002, 02:14 PM

I like the first one myself

Hypernovean · 11-14-2002, 11:44 PM

I like how she refers to god as "he or she"

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11-12-2002, 07:56 PM	#2
Carlos Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 545	It's nice to see that there are still sensible politicians around. Now if only we could clone her and get a few of her elected in this country!

11-13-2002, 12:05 PM	#4
Anderson Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Boonies, New York. Posts: 44	The second one from the bottom is kinda cute.

11-13-2002, 02:14 PM	#5
Belle Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 498	I like the first one myself

11-14-2002, 11:44 PM	#6
Hypernovean Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: - Posts: 67	I like how she refers to god as "he or she"

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