Monday, June 30, 2008

you will RESPECT their religion

or you WILL pay a $5,500 fine.

That's right. RESPECT their religion. Not just tolerate it. Not just not discriminate against it. You must actually RESPECT it.

Catholic World Youth Day is being held this year in Sydney Australia from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.

And while that Catholic event is going on...

Thou Shalt Not Annoy Them.
EXTRAORDINARY new powers will allow police to arrest and fine people for "causing annoyance" to World Youth Day participants and permit partial strip searches at hundreds of Sydney sites, beginning today.

Possible offensive behaviors include
-wearing a T-shirt with a message on it,
-undertaking a Chaser-style stunt,
-handing out condoms at protests,
-riding a skateboard
-or even playing music.

If clothing is offensive to them... I wonder how they feel about the burqa or the Shiik head towels (wtf are they called?), or the Jewish yamaka?

If stunts annoy them, what if they stumble upon a Muslim responding to one of the 5 calls to prayer?

What if they pass a store with a Buy One Get One sale on Trojan brand condoms?

How the fuck is skateboarding anti-catholic? That's a new one to me. Or is it just because getting passed on the sidewalk by a dude on a skateboard is annoying for about 3 seconds?

Notice the vagueness of the law. Who gets to decide what is annoying? The one wearing the gun and taser. And you WILL comply and you WILL respect them or you WILL pay AU $5,500 for your annoying behavior.

BUT get this. If you flash a CWYD participant, the fine is only AU $1,100. So if you must protest the event, show them your willy but NOT your copy of Atheism: the Case Against God book, and do NOT wear your "Jesus is a fraud" t-shirt and do NOT play that Beatles song "Imagine" around any of them.

This "law" will be in effect for the entire month of July, not just the five days of the event itself.

Thanks for the pic Sean! :)

7 comments:

Half rabbit said...

... because as you know, every time someone rides a skateboard, baby Jesus cries.

But the State Government said "World Youth Day is a happy and positive celebration of youth"

Yeah, right. Ostracize a bunch of people, shut down free speech so no one can peacefully protest. Suuure it will be a happy celebration of youth. *sigh* Here's to some chaser style pranks, no matter the fines. It's all we have left (and a huge backlash against the government that will probably never happen :) )

Poodles said...

WOW! But honestly I could see that happening here sometime. The Mormon church can throw protesters off the public sidewalk, so why not?

Sean Wright said...

I will be in Sydney during this month wearing my godless cap - silly buggers didn't think about caps did they?

Fucking unbelievable

Poodles said...

Sean... that is excellent!

Green-Eyed Momster said...

So let me get this straight, if I skateboard by, playing Buckcherry, handing out condoms, wearing a T-shirt that says "Maybe next time I'll wave at you with all of my fingers"; while undertaking a chaser-style stunt, I'll only have to pay $5,500 total? I think it'd be worth it unless it's $5,500 for each offense....LOL!!
Hugs!

fejkat said...

I'm declaring World Atheist day in Sydney next month. They can then arrest anyone wearing those highly offensive macabre little crucifix earrings. And strip searches to arrest anyone circumcised for religious reasons. And those wacko cult members in 18th century dresses, goddammit. I'll be there with a big happy, positive and celebratory smile on my face :)

Richard said...

The leading minds of the late Western World, in the 1700s, were a lot smarter.