This is one of my heroes, John Waters. John Waters is a journalist, author, newspaper columnist and former magazine editor. He was born and reared into a catholic family in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. At the age of 20 he became an agnostic and stayed an agnostic for 20 years. Then he realised that he had been fooling himself all along and that of course there God exists. In 2008 he wrote a book 'Lapsed Agnostic'. This book will stay with you forever after reading it. Because he saw the other side he has great insight as to how agnostics see things and he also has the benefit of being a believer. It's a great, enlightening book.
In 2009 an amateur artist painted a painting of Brian Cowen, our leader, at the toilet. So what, you might say and it's true that's no big deal. He emailed his 'masterpiece' to radio stations but naturally enough they weren't interested. When this 'artist' couldn't get famous after belittling our overweight leader, he went to one of the most famous art galleries in Dublin and hung it up himself. (this he denied later until he was indentified on cctv putting it up himself) This too went unnoticed so he made sure that RTE television and Sunday Tribune journalists knew about it (a month after it happened) and that it became a big deal. During this time it was so 'uncool' to be seen to be supporting Brian Cowen and his family. The internet was full of 'have a sense of humour' and 'but it's really funny' stuff which was really hatred and bullying disguised. John Waters was the ONLY journalist to write out against this bullying and hatred. He wrote this iconic piece of prose www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0327/1224243541278.html about it that will be eternal. Sure enough the bloggers, as if to prove him absolutely correct, tried to make fun of him. Google 'John Waters Cowen Paintings' and read what these cyber BULLIES wrote at the time. John may not be a crowd pleaser or a rabble-rouser but he will always be a hero to me and all decent people in Ireland. A man who's not afraid to be 'uncool' and to speak his mind.