07.25
I shan’t even attempt to suggest that this will be a balanced article. It wont.
In order to illustrate that, below are two pictures of the odious David Barker – aspirational federal member for bigotry and ignorance.
Someone feed that man
Casting calls for Star Wars 7
Barker has been disendorsed – and rightly so – by the Liberal party as a direct result of his bigoted comments about atheists and Muslims.
The disgraceful Barker describes himself as a “man of strong Christian faith”, and, in a state of apparent psychotic delusion suggested that he was “going to win this seat… claim it as mine and when I get in I will give my votes all of them to God who is on the side of the Liberal Right”.
He then went on to accuse non-Christians of “worshipping a false god”, attacking Julia Gillard for being an “atheist” and his opponent Ed Husic, for being a “strong Moslem”.
At the same time, he described federal Liberal leader, Tony Abbott as “God’s mouthpiece in politics” before going on to say “I don’t believe God would have called me to run in this seat if he didn’t expect me to win,”
Clearly this man is delusional, a clear case for atheism if I have ever seen one. Perhaps he isn’t to blame however, he looks like he is merely half a chromosome away from being burdened with Down Syndrome.
It is hard to take someone seriously when they mention an Invisible Sky Monkey at the best of times, but when someone then goes on to say things like:
“I vote for freedom of worship if the worship is of Jesus Christ or The Jewish God anyone else well they are worshipping a false god anyway so who cares.”
“Voting should only be voluntary for Liberal and National voters the rest can not bother since with every vote they bring the nation closer to the brink of disaster and closer to the hands of a (sic)muslim country.”
“Someone get me into parliament … and watch me go. They will see my talent as the voice of … God himself.”
… it is obvious that there is something not quite right in the rats nest of synapses that they call a “brain”.
To summarise what this clown has said:
- An Invisible Sky Monkey speaks to him
- His Invisible Sky Monkey is the only real Invisible Sky Monkey
- Freedom is ok, so long as it is the kind of freedom that he approves of
- Only people who subscribe to his extreme views should be allowed to vote
It is scary that such a warped, delusional and bigoted individual was ever endorsed by a major political party in the first place. I could understand those twisted clowns at Family First or the CDP running with such an ignorant candidate, even putting him up on a pedestal and plastering Australia with posters of his deluded visage – but the Liberals?
A cynic might suggest that this kind of bottom feeding, disgusting individual; is exactly the kind of person who appeals to the traditional “aspirational” Liberal heartland (those inherent racists who don’t make enough money to be a Liberal voter though have delusions of grandeur and hope to one day be able to afford a bottle, not a cask of wine) – though one must give kudos to the “muscular Catholic”, the “mad monk”, Tony Abbott for the swift punishment that he dished out to the detestable Barker.
He was disendorsed and Abbot said: he is “gone, he’s finished”. “Attacks on people based on their religion have no place in this election campaign,”
A reasonably brave move given that he is running against an atheist and risks alienating the Christian right… actually, what the fuck am I saying, the Christian right are rusted on conservative voters come hell or high water. Still, I have to give credit where it is due, and Abbott is either maturing as a leader and a human being during this campaign or has some very talented advisors grooming him 24×7.
At the heart of the issue though is something that the slug like Barker himself raised:
‘But I don’t know if we want at this stage in Australian politics a Muslim in the parliament and an atheist running the government.’
Of course, a fundamentalist Christian is in a much better position to tell us what we can and can’t do in both our public and private life, because the one true god speaks to him and is on his side.
Religion has no place in politics, be it Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Sikhism, Scientology or any other kind of paranormal whackiness. Politics should always be based on pragmatism, logic and reason – what is best for the people no matter what their creed.
Odious, bigoted, ignorant, detestable cretins like David Barker have no place in our political landscape (or in civilised society) and we, one and all, atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, humanist, Hindu, Sikh, worshipper of the Flying Spaghetti Monster alike; should unite to ensure that these vile human beings are never afforded a position of power in our society.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Monica and leapingjudas, Edward Adam Jackson. Edward Adam Jackson said: RT @leapingjudas: David Barker – Aspiring member for bigotry and ignorance http://bit.ly/b0EkXh #ausvotes #debate #atheism #religion [...]
How does a Christian decide where to cast their vote when an election is looming? It is not simply a matter of placing ticks in boxes on a ballot paper and hoping your chosen candidate wins their seat. If it were that simple then I would not be writing this blog.
A person with the right to vote in an election also carries a very real responsibility to ensure that their vote is not wasted, or ‘bartered’ away in some back room deal. They need to know what policies their chosen candidate and their political party stand upon.
http://justmeintchristian.blogspot.com/2010/07/faith-and-politics.html
Thanks for commenting – though I am not quite sure what it has to do with the original article.
I approved the comment nonetheless as I don’t approve of censorship – even if your comment does contain a link to some terribly ignorant and bigoted writing.
The more people that have a chance to view your site, the more chance that there will be another atheist waking up tomorrow.
@leapingjudas when Mr Barker finds this article, oh boy, are you going to get sued! You have dishonored the man, and going to court is all about dishonor -someone has to win and someone has to lose.
See @leapingjudas you fell into the perfect media trap. The media don’t use words like “Odious, bigoted, ignorant, detestable cretins” -believe me, re-read their articles. For example, the comedian Russell Peters puts it best -how the media plays with your mind, they show a picture of a car crash and then a picture of an Asian, and ask you what you think. And of course your mind puts the two images together. The media is very clever.
In this case what the media have done is ingenious, they have used Mr Barker’s own words against him and made him look like a zealot -which is not right. The media is trying to kill discussion on the topic by discrediting Mr Barker. What Mr Barker is suggesting, there’s a conflict of interest here -is the Labor candidate really fair and balanced or is there an agenda here? Remember the words of Cicero – who benefits?
Mr Barker is free to sue me if he wishes – I am not sure why on earth he would though.
You have some very strange views Mr Giordano, but that is your right I suppose.
I fell into a trap? Hmm, ok… not quite following you there, nor do I quite understand what on earth you are on about when you claim that “the media” used the despicable Barker’s “own words against him and made him look like a zealot” and then seem to be saying that reporting what someone says and letting people judge them on that isn’t right.
You seem to be quite confused my dear fellow.
In my opinion, Barker and his ilk are “odiuos, bigoted, ignorant [and] detestable cretins”.
They use the fairy tales of ignorant shepherds some 2000 years ago to pass judgement on their fellow human beings and enforce their own personal prejudices, using said tales as justification for their bigotry.
You sound like a conspiracy theorist to me.
In your opinion, is an atheist or a Muslim, a Hindu or a Jew just as entitled to hold a position of power in this country as a Xian?
“Is there an agenda here?” – what, the Islamification of Australia?
Who benefits from a parliament that comprises of representatives of our diverse multicultural society?
*Everyone*
I have a tinfoil hat that I no longer use if you wish to take it off my hands.
Judas, your belief in an equal society is very strong, and I dare say, a little angry, but anger can be good thing. Like conspiracy guy (and yes I’ll take your tin hat) Michael Tsarion says, anger (without violence) leads to action, anger followed by jokes leads to inaction.
I agree with you, Mr Barker’s big mistake was posting his opinion on the internet while running for parliament. I still stand by my comment -the media character assassinated Mr Barker for being a Christian.
I think the Common Law in this country is being Balkanized, that’s the agenda. Division of Wentworth to the Jews, division of Chiefly to Muslims, division of Greenspan to Hill Song -and each with their own agenda.
Look at Mr Husic, he has every right to run for parliament, but he still hasn’t declared any conflict of interests. For example, Union associations, ethnic or religious groups in Chiefly. Remember the media said that Mr Husic is a Bosnian Muslim, and we all know what happened during the horrific Bosnian war -where neighbor turned on neighbor. No one can say this war didn’t affect him -that’s why he has to declare.
Judas, in an age where faith and reason are dead, where there’s nothing left but power for it’s own sake (just ask MP Gillard how she got the job), I’m glad there are people like you who are not shy to speak up. Good show.
Giordano, thank you once again for your contribution.
You are a very clever and somewhat dangerous individual, and I see no point in debating you – I don’t agree with your subliminal assertions, but they are your right.
For the record though, David Barker was not “assassinated” for being a Christian, rather for being a bigot.
John Howard was a Christian, Kevin Rudd a media Christian, Tony Abbott a “muscular catholic”.
Personally I think that people like Rudd and Abbott are unfit to govern due to their reliance on guidance from a supernatural manifestation of human ignorance – this measuring stick I would also apply to a Muslim or Jew who sought power.
I am very curious as to your assertion that both faith and reason are dead… if one is dead then the other must, by definition be resurrected – I would like to hear more from you on that matter.
You are interesting – dangerous; yet interesting.
I’m amazed that people are actually trying to defend this fellow.
When your own words are making you look bad, perhaps it’s not an elaborate media conspiracy.
Though, I guess an imagined victim complex is what drives these kind of people to demonize others who are unable to defend themselves.