Quote:
Originally Posted by Trollheart
Come on, seriously: how can any country in the twenty-first century pass a law that criminalises homosexuality? And not only that, but one of the most piss-poor countries in Africa! Even Ireland are sending them aid. And now our government are "considering their position"? Jesus! If it was up to me I'd cut off all funding immediately. How can you support such a regime?
And of course, as usual, it's fundamentalist (mental is right!) religious groups pushing the agenda, mostly Christian surprise surprise! I'd love to know where in the Bible it says "thou shalt not be gay". Just because it's said "marriage is between man and woman" does not automatically mean it can't be love between man and man, just that it wasn't specifically mentioned. Didn't Jesus, after all, tell us to love our brother? That all men should love each other? Talk about twisting his words. 
I know Iran have a similar policy, and I abhor it, but they are at least self-sufficient with their oil reserves and supported by the Arab states around them. The President or Prime Minister or whatever the **** he is of Uganda says "We see homosexuality as a kind of sickness of the mind." No pal: discriminating against others, threatening them with jail, signing it into law, and putting their lives at risk because you don't agree with their sexual orientation --- THAT'S a sickness of the mind!
This law makes me sick, and Uganda --- it's not just their president and government: apparently this law is supported by the "vast majority" of Ugandans --- makes me ashamed to be a human. A regime like this, a country like this should in my opinion be totally ostracised for passing such a hateful and evil law.
Thoughts? |
Having been to Africa twice in my life time, I feel like I may shed some light on a couple things for you. The political situation there sucks wind. As I am sure you know. In Kenya (at least where I was at.) it's extremely rare to get into a political conversation with a local. What you have is lack of information being spread there. Yes it's the 21st century, and yes we are modern people. But that doesn't matter when you have a select handful of generals, and war lords in power, who are not concerned with the social problems of modern society. When I lived in Kenya 1 out of every 7 people was infected with the HIV virus, (That was in the late 90's) and if you asked them where they thought they might have contracted it, they would tell you witchcraft. And this was a widely excepted answer as the truth. Not because they (the Kenyans) believed it of their own accord, but because it was what had been told to them throughout their lifetimes. Believe me I spent hours a day inside a "modern hospital" teaching, that yes indeed it will kill you, and no it's not from the witch in the hut down the road, but it is a sexually transmitted disease.
I honestly think Trollheart you anger is misdirected at the people of Uganda. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, whom you are mad at is the government, and people in power for spewing their propaganda, and the Ugandans not being able comment on it, in fear of being locked up or killed. (This is the reason Kenyans won't talk politics with you, and that is not really an African country riddled with warlords and violence.)
As far as the missionary thing goes, yes it can be quite disgusting and disgraceful at times the things the church will tell lesser educated folks. The thing I saw the most that sickened me, would be driving by an empty field and you would see 16 Africans huddled around an elevated White man. (No really he was on some sorta of stool) Waving the bible around and shrieking. At 17 that disgusted me. At 27 I wanted to be a pastor, and the mentality I discovered was, that yes indeed most missionaries are good people, and yes they want to help. But what they don't realize when the church is closed and the doors are locked, and the thing most pastors won't tell you. MISSIONARY TRIPS, are big business. Not for the missionary, who is out there legitimately thinking they are 'saving souls' but for the church that is stateside. **** I have seen entire church parking lots shut down due to the fact that one famous missionary was in town for a conference. Now if you add up the ticket price to hear this woman speak about living in the dirt in whatever African country she was in, add up the price of all her books, add up the jewelry, and whatever other Jesus paraphernalia she was schelping, and you look at the amount of things that are actually sent back over to Africa with the help of your donations. Seems to me, like the church walked away with a hell of a lot more, then the average African will ever see in their life time.
Seems like they will tell you whatever the **** they want, the sky is green, or whatever, because the more people we are over there
'saving' and educating. The more money goes into the collection plate on Sunday. There are famous missionaries in Africa that preach to congregations in the millions, you can't tell me, that some money doesn't go into the pockets of the people in power over there. You can't. So passing a law, that makes homosexuality illegal, and makes it a biblical issue, keeps people like Rhineheart Bunke in bisuness.