BBC TFTD

Correspondence

The following letter was sent after a Daily Telegraph leader furiously attacked the suggestion of both the British Humanist Association and National Secular Society that non-religious contributors might be featured on Thought For The Day.

Since the letter was sent, the Freethinkers have again featured on Manx Radio’s Thought for the Day programme and been invited back for a fourth session.

To date there have been no reports of rioting.

The Editor

Letters Page

Daily Telegraph

February 2006

Sir,

I read your recent article and editorial on BBC’s ‘Thought For The Day’ with huge amusement.

Here on the Isle of Man secular voices have been heard on the local radio ‘Thought For The Day’ spot for some time. No-one has yet rioted in the streets or burnt their neighbours at the stake to the best of my knowledge.

Isle of Man Freethinkers, a group founded by local humanists, secularists and atheists a few years ago, simply approached Manx Radio and asked to contribute. They were received with interest, offered technical advice and have now provided two weeks worth of talks.

Two humanists also appeared on a Sunday night Christian talk show hosted by a local vicar in front of a live audience. Neither the clergyman nor his guests were struck by thunderbolts - or even home made buns!

A small island not exactly noted for woolly liberalism and a national radio station run on a shoestring manages these things without a murmur. Why can’t a huge media institution the Manx must also subsidise (even though it offers us no services in return) do the same?

Stuart Hartill

1, The Sycamores,

Walpole Road

Ramsey

Isle of Man

IM8 1LU