Tonight, entirely from left field, came a personal attack on Deborah and I from the Leader of the Council that because we do not take part in the (generally Christian) Prayers at the start of a Full Council meeting we are disrespectful to the IW Council, its Chairman and the Isle of Wight. The response from many of the Conservative group was to applaud their Leader. The Council Chairman by his subsequent inaction effectively endorsed this attack.
I was compelled - though I would have preferred to do practically anything else - to articulate my sincerely held view that religion or faith has no place in the Council and that to attack Deborah and I - both committed atheists - for not participating is to effectively say that we are not welcome within this Council. When we got no meaningful assurances from the Chairman of the Council, Deborah and I both left this exclusive Full Council meeting. We will not be returning until this is resolved to our satisfaction.
I will now be reporting both the Council Leader and possibly the Council Chairman to the Standards Board of England for breaches of the councillor's Code of Conduct.
I feel abused.......
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4 comments:
This was a display of unbelievable arrogance and insensitivity. Of course we are all used to that from the Council Leader, but I must say these displays seem to becoming more frequent, despite the Chief Executive's assurances that things would change.
You gave a very dignified speech on a most unedifying occasion. I do wonder what the electorate would make of his display and,almost as bad, the behaviour of those other Conservative Councillors who were cheering and applauding his personal abuse. They should be ashamed of themselves, but I doubt they will be.
YOU HAVE MY TOTAL SUPPORT. STAND UP TO THIS BULLYING. REPORT HIM TO STANDARDS. M
The controlling group at County Hall seem currently trying to put over a stance of crass stupidity as a mere misunderstanding. How disingenuous of them.
However much stock some people put in religion it is, by definition, a belief and not a systematic grid of self-evident truths.
Once one understands this simple tenet, one goes on to accept that some people will not share those beliefs.
Should those people then act with the crowd and display a tacit but hypocritical acquiescence - or do they do as the two Labour Councillors did which was to courteously and respectfully avoid any conflict by staying out of it.
Wise heads would choose the latter course. The controlling group, however, are totally bereft of wise heads.
Thanks Kenn. Wish you were here. Could do with another wise head to help deal with this stuff !
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