General Chat

as someone who also has family serving in iraq, im with nvneve on this one. we have lost too many good men and women in a war waged by our government and the americans for us to just sit back and say nothing. i have been reading this thread on and off most of the day and although im not a racist, i am struggling to see this in a good way. yes the park is open to all but you have to follow the muslim guide lines set out by the hirers. thats all well and good for anyone who knows about it but i hadnt heard anything at all until i saw this thread. ive checked teletext and there is nothing. if i had travelled over 100 miles to go to AT on this day and then found out that i couldnt go on rides with my oh or even my male children then think i might be a tad upset. wanted to use other word but dont fancy being banned. also if u turned up by chance on that day in say, vest top and shorts would they provide clothes to cover up with ??? i agree that any group can book/hire a venue but i also feel very sorry for the couple who are getting married there the day before.

Maybe some people have deleted their comments from this thread because they have thought about it and decided they were wrong! Nothing wrong with changing your mind. I was about to post the comment that we should all remember that we cannot see other members and do not actually know what colour or creed they are - why should we, what does it matter? but your comments could be very hurtful to them. Then I saw the post from the lady who says her children are Muslim - I hope a few people who posted to this thread are ashamed of themselves now. OC

Yes Elaine, but Alton Towers should not have mixed up two different 'parties' wishing to hire the premises for the day. Surely one of the parties must have made their reservation first. Anyway, Alton Towers organisation team seem hopeless if you ask me and they should be responsible for sorting it all out. Margaret

I say live and let live What a fuss over one day out of however many months its open ! Religious groups as said before have hired out Butlins for a week, no one bats an eye lid. My friend is part of a christian fellowship group and they often hire out venues Celebrities often hire out theme parks for their own use for a limited time The Royal Albert hall once had been hired for the night by spiritualists and mediums. If the park was for hire and has been paid for then fine ! Had the press not latched on, no one would be talking about it now. All people would be told is that its closed for a private function. What I find offensive is that people are so greedy they object to any one person or group taking one day out of a year to do something exclusive to them. That's one day they cant use the park, one measly day. Its not as if its closed all the rest of the year. Elaine x

Today i attended the funeral of a 27 year old British soldier blown up by the taliban. Very upsetting and particularly hard as my husband is serving in Iraq at THIS governments behest. It is very sad that world wide events are effecting public opinion. This is a very tolerant country compared to most of the world and i do not believe I am wrong to have been proud to see the union Jack laying proudly on that young mans coffin. R.I.P

I have nothing against any associations, centres, groups booking Alton Towers for the day BUT not when it's already been booked by somebody else. If they want an all Muslim day that's fine, but Alton Towers should not have made a double booking. What on earth is the poor wedding party, who wish to entertain their guests the day after their wedding going to do now? After all, they seem to have given Alton Towers plenty of notice. When did the Muslim group make their reservation? This is the organisers' at Alton Towers' fault. I certainly hope they help the married couple find somewhere else to entertain their guests and give them their money back! Margaret

can i just ask...... will the rides be staffed by males when they have male visitors on them and females when they have females on them, if so surely that will mean Alton Towers will have to have double the amount of staff as normal?????

Yes i agree Dave, but as you said Freedom of speech, and what i said was my opinion. Lil Negative / Racist different meanings

hi lil and jeannie jeannie how are you duck been transcribing for freecen having a bit of a rest. lil, there is nothing wrong with a good debate and freedom of speech i am all for it, but some of the remarks were a little negative. regards jackie.

Freedom of speech also means that people are entitled to point out if they think something is racist. There's no need for anyone to delete anything unless they want to.

I like the comment about there being no alcohol. Hardly a disaster if you're going to a theme park, I know that I for one wouldn't want to be parking a tiger at the top of the loop-de-loop! ;)

I dont think people on this thread are being Racist at all, people are just expressing there view's right or wrong does it matter Alton Towers are there to make money, that's all it's about at the end of the day. i have noticed since the word Racist was mentioned this thread is decreasing as people are deleting, freedom of speach is my Moto. Lil

Hello Jackie!! Its ages since I have seen a post from you . I still value all the help you gave me in the past. Warm regards Jeanie

hi all sorry i dont normally add to threads only read them, this one starts of good then turns a little nasty as you go on. regards jackie.

As in most things, (soon to be ALL things I'm afraid) money talks louder than anything else. Alton Towers can hire out their theme park to whomever they want as long as they get their money. It is definitely up to them. JJH

well said jackie

hi all i cant believe some of the comments on these threads, what is all the fuss about, they are not segregating they are inviting anyone to the event all they ask is that you dress decent, my children are muslim my daughter will be wearing jeans and loose top. regards jackie.

can't see the problem they can hire where they like Just like you and i so whats the problem

When I was at the Chester meet on Saturday someone was suprised that she had never heard of me even though I have been a member for over 3 years. I told her that I spent the first year on the tips board since I was learning my FH craft. On the second year I started joining in some of the General board posts but was put off by the racist comments of many of them. She had no idea what I was talking about. I hope she is reading this because this is what I was talking about. What underlying hatred and misunderstanding there is. Maybe the people who object so much should join in on the day. This is a privately run function. At least you wont be pestered by drunks and have smoke blown into your face. Jeanie A.

Sorry, I think I deleted my post by mistake! What I was saying was that I think the comment about religion and food choices was interesting. Many religions have food 'rules' and no-one bats an eyelid. Jews eat kosher food, christians eat fish on Friday - or used to - and other religions forbid meat of any kind. Halal meat is procured by a method many would say is less cruel than a modern abattior. No-one is saying as far as I can tell, that halal meat MUST be eaten at the event, only that halal meat will be for sale - ie take a picnic if you want. For goodness sake, no-one would object to being excluded from a corporate event, a family event or an event with some other theme that held no interest (e.g. a gay day or a craft fair). What's the difference here? Especially when the day is open to all, not like the first 2 examples I gave.