Roger, I doubt whether an advent of humanists or atheists would make any
difference to the platitude output of TFTD. As I see it, in its half-baked
way, it is doing a service in admiting the voices of other traditions (Sikh,
Moslem, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist) in an anodyne way to the actuality of
Britain. what is noticeably absent is the 'God-squad' - the right-wing
fundamentalist evangelical Christians - they don't get air-time.
Yes, its a fuzz, so are the services on long wave too, but I would rather
that fuzz than other things. The way I read it is that it is a sprout from
the liberal-humanist tradition (which is what is responsible, to an extent,
for what elements of being civilised this country has) - Bertrand Russell,
if he were still alive, would not be out of place on it.
All the Best
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Day" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: Thought for the day
I think Patrick got it about right. The fact that the people on TFTD
sound so reasonable and cosy and warmsy marmite doesn't lessen their
status, or their fundamentalism. The fact that they're not (currently)
caling for anyone's head to be chopped doesn't essen their potential,
or the anomaly of this secular nation being treated to their
half-baked ideas and platitudes on a daily basis. A better leavening
of atheists and humanists wouldn't go amiss. Also, the anomaly of the
daily service on R4 long wave - that should have been dunked years
ago. The BBC sometimes feels as if the 1940s never ended. Orwell would
be quite at home, I think.
The religious in the UK have their own radio and TV stations these days.
Roger
On 11/5/05, David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Well there was a certain irony in my choice of post title, Patrick. I
think
> you might give a rather wrong impression of the beeb thing to our US
> cousins - it's not, is it, by any means God-spouting fundamentalism, it's
> rather soft and soggy and very very multi-cultural : Sikhs, Muslims, Jews,
> Hindus as well as Christians do the speak. I think they had an atheist
once
> as well. It is, generally speaking, quite harmless, and forgetable, apart
> from some of Rabbi Lionel Blum's jokes (at times!)
>
> Poets get a look in on R4 early too - there was Mr Horowitz inimitably
> singing his ideas of how Blake should be a little while back. The
presenters
> have been known to quote Milton from memory (on Today I'm talking about
> now) - imagine that across the waters.
>
> Best
>
> Dave
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Patrick McManus" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 9:37 AM
> Subject: Re: Thought for the day
>
>
> > 'Thought for the day' on our radio is religious propaganda/
> > brainwashing-/toshing posing as serious ideas-the BBC is breaking its
> > charter on balance here -why not instead of religious pundits have some
> > real thinkers (now not allowed)or god help us!!!bring on the lions or
even
> > some poets spouting off-protest now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> > P atheist P
>
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