Richard Dawkins talking bells got exactly the responses he deserved
Non-god botherer Richard Dawkins was enjoying a lovely summer’s day when he thought he’d do this.
Listening to the lovely bells of Winchester, one of our great mediaeval cathedrals. So much nicer than the aggressive-sounding “Allahu Akhbar.” Or is that just my cultural upbringing? pic.twitter.com/TpCkq9EGpw
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) July 16, 2018
And if it was a reaction he wanted (of course it was a reaction he wanted) then that’s exactly what he got. Here are our favourite 17 responses online
1.
I have the same relationship with it as you have with the “Bells of Winchester”; but what you suggested here is ignorant and flat out wrong. As an atheist, you should stop this ironic dance of hate on the lines between religions.
— Morteza Behrooz (@lessteza) July 16, 2018
2.
It's just prejudice, mate. https://t.co/XlkU6FjNtF
— Aditya Chakrabortty (@chakrabortty) July 17, 2018
3.
OR This tweet translated into English “I’m going to spend my whole career arguing rationally and for the importance of rationality and then make some stupid comment based on a completely irrational (not to mention offensively prejudicial) mode of thought in a public sphere”
— Matthew Kaner (@mattkaner) July 16, 2018
4.
Imagine being so morally and emotionally impoverished that on experiencing majestic, transcendant beauty your immediate instinct is to troll a billion of your fellow humans. https://t.co/PsthQtozxX
— Hicham Yezza (@HichamYezza) July 17, 2018
5.
Dear Richard: Arabic is my mother tongue. When properly translated, “Allahu Akbar” means “we love all people but hold a special fondness for Jews, women, and gays.” Don’t worry. It’s a message of love, tolerance, and liberalism.
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) July 16, 2018
6.
Bigotry maybe? You could just have enjoyed the bells without any reference to Islam or a religious ritual being ‘aggressive-sounding.” Which plays into the ‘they’re not like us’ narrative. So yeah, bigotry I reckon. https://t.co/yxE1BPEKZT
— Mark Thomas (@markthomasinfo) July 17, 2018
7.
Until 1965 they’d toll the main bell to signal an execution, so you could say it’s a question of perspective
— The Bounder (@The_Bounder) July 16, 2018
8.
🔔Prejudices fester,
Say the bells of Winchester. 🔔 https://t.co/bmgsv8afY7— Brian Bilston (@brian_bilston) July 17, 2018
