|
|
|
|
There are no simple answers to these types of problems and primarily because combating this kind of hatred and religious bias needs to be done on a wider basis and with greater emphasis.
Cabinboy & Acam, what these situations truly boil down to at a basic level, is that a person's humanity is taken away because of belief regimens that are in place that allow for this horrid religious persecution behaviour to continue. While it may seem acceptable to 'Monday-Morning' quarterback an opinion or two, [borrowing that quaint phrase from my yank friends] there still remains this reality below and both of you are just a tad bit too glib about this topic. It's not about uncivilised, it's about humanity.[Africa is NOT full of ignorant tribal customs exclusively either by the way....]
From Joe.My.God & Reuters reports:
The Malawi gay couple arrest for "gross and indecent acts" has been sentenced to the maximum of 14 years in prison at hard labor.
The judge said he wanted to protect the public from "people like you". Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, have been in jail since they were arrested in December after holding an engagement ceremony. The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country. The British government, Malawi's largest donor, expressed its "dismay" at the sentences, but has not withdrawn aid. The US state department, meanwhile, said the case was "a step backwards in the protection of human rights in Malawi." Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa described the actions by Malawi's first openly gay couple as an affront on Malawi's moral code. The courtroom was packed and hundreds more people stood outside, peering through windows. The case has ignited debate over homosexuality in Malawi, a conservative country where religious leaders equate same-sex liaisons with Satanism.
But the impoverished southern African nation has come under pressure from Western donor nations and agencies. They have cautioned Malawi to tread carefully over rights of minority groups, such as homosexuals, or risk being black-listed on governance issues, which may have aid implications. Some 40% of the development budget in Malawi is from donors. But despite the outcry, the authorities won't budge. President Bingu wa Mutharika dismisses homosexuality as alien. Handing down sentence in the commercial capital, Blantyre, Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa told the pair: "I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example."
The crowd outside the courtroom shouted abuse at the pair as they were led away, with some screaming that the two deserved longer sentences.
{All they did was want to love each other.} What happened in the past to create these scenarios should only be noted for historical purposes to serve as a warning as to what could happen. What ALL of us need to do is redouble our efforts to PREVENT these situations from happening so that folks who love each other don't end up like this:
[Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, Photo By Reuters]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
 |
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
|
|
|
This means that we must, each of us, individually, do our part. This means yet again, especially in the UK where we have just had an election, lobby our elected representatives to put pressure on these nations.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Who thinks the pope is civilised? Or the Roman Catholic church? Who thinks the right wing bible belt is civilised? Who thinks Pat Robertson is civilised?
I hope I'm not putting words into CabinBoy's mouth when I say I don't think he or I would think these and many like them are.
'uncivilised', you know, isn't an adjective with a universally agreed descriptive meaning.
It's a term of abuse!
Surely people whose business is conveying ideas in writing should know that?
Love,
Anthony
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
|
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
|
|
|
Ok, let's argue about semantics and have some fun.
Or maybe we could do something constructive and make our feelings known through channels likely to be in a position to actually DO SOMETHING
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
|
] 
A Place of Safety
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
To Cabinboy & Acam- It's NOT about uncivilised folk....... 
