Sunday 20 December 2009

Thin-Skinned, Whiny, Self-Righteous, Insecure...

...why are none of the atheists and non-believers that I know like that, whereas no other sort ever seems to make the papers?
Olive Jones, a 54-year-old mother of two, who taught maths to children too ill to attend school, was dismissed following a complaint from the girl’s mother. She was visiting the home of the child when she spoke about her belief in miracles and asked whether she could say a prayer, but when the mother indicated they were not believers she did not go ahead.
Oh, for the love of..!
Mrs Jones was then called in by her managers who, she says, told her that sharing her faith with a child could be deemed to be bullying...
Well, if that is the case, it must be the single, solitary exception to the bullying rule then.

The one that says we don't take bullying seriously (unless it takes place among parents rather than children), but we'll sack anyone else who does or, if we can't sack them, we'll make them otherwise unwelcome on our premises.

And what do these people think will happen if someone offers to pray for them? If they don't believe in anything themselves, then nothing, right? So why the rush to complain? If Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormans show up at my door (always clean and immaculately dressed and polite, I might add), a polite 'No thank you' sees them off. I don't burst into flames, or feel the need to run upstairs to wash off the Jesus cooties...

And now, of course, lawyers are involved and the local authority is hastily backpedalling:
She said that although she was clear that she had been sacked, she had recently been approached by a senior education official who had said the complaint was still being investigated and had suggested a meeting.

She said she believed the approach had been triggered by the involvement of the Christian Legal Centre, and she was now taking legal advice about how to proceed.
The world's gone mad!

7 comments:

Joe Public said...

And after someone sneezes, don't for God's sake, say "Bless you"

Eckersalld said...

Potty.

All her bosses had to do was bring her in, and point out that offering to pray is a nice thing, but it's an idea to just go ahead and pray without mentioning it because people are, in general, arseholes.

Since anything above officially given friendly-advice would be over the top, sacking her is practically orbital.

I'd be irritated a little if someone in a professional capacity offered to pray for a family member, but I'd take it in the spirit it was offered, and most certainly wouldn't complain. Unless employed by your religion, it's best to clock it out when you clock in for work.

wv: stropier - the snow makes me so!

Nick M said...

It's a case of the Rampaging Dawkins.

WF - rallygal

Anonymous said...

...who taught maths to children too ill to attend school, was dismissed following a complaint from the girl’s mother.

No good deed goes unpunished. It's government policy.

...Mrs Jones was not on a contract...she had effectively worked continuously for the unit for nearly five years.

Only possible in the public sector.

I also suggest the mother take care in the coming years. A daughter so conspicuously genetically unfit will not be looked upon kindly by our utilitarian masters.

Anonymous said...

Forgot to mention kaye.palmer-greene@n-somerset.gov.uk. Though you may need to make an appointment before you send your message.

Oldrightie said...

Labours' trailer trash society.

JuliaM said...

"Since anything above officially given friendly-advice would be over the top, sacking her is practically orbital."

It seems they are walking that back now, according to long-time Labour stooge Bob Piper.

"It's a case of the Rampaging Dawkins. "

Possibly, though I wonder if this family has ever even heard of him?

"Only possible in the public sector."

That is sadly true...

"Labours' trailer trash society."

Indeed. There's a tendency to assume middle class meddling, but trailer trash comp-en-say-shun seeking might be equally to blame?