Today, the Obama Administration took a huge step against lgbt persecution worldwide:
Also, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a monumental speech in Geneva in which she basically broke it all down to the simple fact that gays rights are human rights.
The Obama Administration was no doubt spurred by acts of lgbt persecution in such places as Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, and South Africa. In Nigeria, Uganda, and Russia, the legislature is considering laws which would imprison lgbts and those who support them. In South Africa is a practice called "corrective rape" in which a lesbian would be sexually assaulted in hopes of turning her heterosexual.
Naturally, religious right groups and some of those on the right in general aren't happy with the Obama Administration over this new policy or Clinton's speech.
Amidst the usual whinings about the so-called radical gay agenda, two statements stand out.
One is from Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry:
Aside from the usual offensive "real Americans should tolerate gays like one tolerates a dog which wets on the rug" semantics coming Perry is the sad fact that he totally omitted the reason why the Obama policy is necessary, i.e. the persecution of the gay community in other countries.
Bear in mind that this is the same guy who led a prayer rally earlier this year while claiming that America needs to call upon Jesus to save the country from calamities.
Apparently Perry seems to have overlooked the statement by Jesus which said:
And then there is this statement by Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel:
So in Barber's world, is it a traditional principle to imprison a man simply because he is gay and his mother because she didn't report him as being gay? Is it a moral thing to beat a woman within an inch of her life and violently rape her because she is a lesbian?
Barber statement is a cruel irony when one takes into account that earlier this morning, the Liberty Counsel was whining about a Macy's employee who was fired for harassing a transgender customer in violation of the store's policy.
It's a strange world we live in when someone harassing a customer at a department store can be seen as a Christian martyr, but speaking out against injustice is seen as a evil plot to destroy values.
It's a sad statement on what Christianity has become in America.
And with all of the statements and vigorous adjectives thrown out, not one of these so-called upstanding morality groups or people has said one word about the true victims - the lgbts worldwide who are being victimized, who are being chased out of their homes and beaten, who are being persecuted and raped, who are being brutally murdered and disposed of in humiliating and devaluing ways.
Oh sure, some of those folks practically break their backs in their eagerness to rise and talk about the "evils of gay marriage." They will clap their hands sore when some well-dressed charlatan gets them together in an expensive ballroom to wax about how they are being "stomped out" by the radical progressives. And they will practically raise blisters on their feet with their desires to march against their gay and lesbian neighbors being afforded the same protections under the law.
But what about true cases of persecution? True cases of people being forced out of their homes by an evil agenda of intolerance? True incidents of mothers losing their sons, fathers losing their daughters, and children losing their parents to hate wrapped up in a religious cloth?
Where are these Christians then?
The next time any of these folks get together in one of their silly rallies whining about persecution and godless homosexuals, I don't think they should expect Jesus to be there.
He will be in Nigeria. He will be in Uganda. He will be in South Africa. And He will be in Russia.
The Obama administration is announcing a wide-ranging effort to use U.S. foreign aid to promote rights for gays and lesbians abroad, including combating attempts by foreign governments to criminalize homosexuality.
In a memorandum issued Tuesday, President Barack Obama directed U.S. agencies working abroad, including the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, to use foreign aid to assist gays and lesbians who are facing human rights violations. And he ordered U.S. agencies to protect vulnerable gay and lesbian refugees and asylum seekers.
Also, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a monumental speech in Geneva in which she basically broke it all down to the simple fact that gays rights are human rights.
The Obama Administration was no doubt spurred by acts of lgbt persecution in such places as Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, and South Africa. In Nigeria, Uganda, and Russia, the legislature is considering laws which would imprison lgbts and those who support them. In South Africa is a practice called "corrective rape" in which a lesbian would be sexually assaulted in hopes of turning her heterosexual.
Naturally, religious right groups and some of those on the right in general aren't happy with the Obama Administration over this new policy or Clinton's speech.
Amidst the usual whinings about the so-called radical gay agenda, two statements stand out.
One is from Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry:
“But there is a troubling trend here beyond the national security nonsense inherent in this silly idea. This is just the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country. Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americas of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong.
“President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles. I will not make that mistake.”
Aside from the usual offensive "real Americans should tolerate gays like one tolerates a dog which wets on the rug" semantics coming Perry is the sad fact that he totally omitted the reason why the Obama policy is necessary, i.e. the persecution of the gay community in other countries.
Bear in mind that this is the same guy who led a prayer rally earlier this year while claiming that America needs to call upon Jesus to save the country from calamities.
Apparently Perry seems to have overlooked the statement by Jesus which said:
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
And then there is this statement by Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel:
It is "frankly offensive" . . . that President Obama feels "compelled to export American culture's decline in morality, and export that immorality to other nations that are trying to adhere to traditional principles relative to human sexuality."
So in Barber's world, is it a traditional principle to imprison a man simply because he is gay and his mother because she didn't report him as being gay? Is it a moral thing to beat a woman within an inch of her life and violently rape her because she is a lesbian?
Barber statement is a cruel irony when one takes into account that earlier this morning, the Liberty Counsel was whining about a Macy's employee who was fired for harassing a transgender customer in violation of the store's policy.
It's a strange world we live in when someone harassing a customer at a department store can be seen as a Christian martyr, but speaking out against injustice is seen as a evil plot to destroy values.
It's a sad statement on what Christianity has become in America.
And with all of the statements and vigorous adjectives thrown out, not one of these so-called upstanding morality groups or people has said one word about the true victims - the lgbts worldwide who are being victimized, who are being chased out of their homes and beaten, who are being persecuted and raped, who are being brutally murdered and disposed of in humiliating and devaluing ways.
Oh sure, some of those folks practically break their backs in their eagerness to rise and talk about the "evils of gay marriage." They will clap their hands sore when some well-dressed charlatan gets them together in an expensive ballroom to wax about how they are being "stomped out" by the radical progressives. And they will practically raise blisters on their feet with their desires to march against their gay and lesbian neighbors being afforded the same protections under the law.
But what about true cases of persecution? True cases of people being forced out of their homes by an evil agenda of intolerance? True incidents of mothers losing their sons, fathers losing their daughters, and children losing their parents to hate wrapped up in a religious cloth?
Where are these Christians then?
The next time any of these folks get together in one of their silly rallies whining about persecution and godless homosexuals, I don't think they should expect Jesus to be there.
He will be in Nigeria. He will be in Uganda. He will be in South Africa. And He will be in Russia.
5 comments:
Alvin,
I read one of your blogs a while back - possibly one of your early ones - where you expressed doubt about yourself and your abilities to be a good, informed, gay blogger, especially since this apparently not your main job.
Let me be very clear on this. You have grown into a fantastic writer, a serious and reliable news source, and an opinion leader head and shoulders above the rest.
Many of your blogs are short and to the point. But your essays, such as this one, are things of beauty. You write clearly, concisely, and poetically. Your carefully chosen words and phrases carry power beyond their mere syllables.
I congratulate you on growing into a powerful voice for our communities - yes, i believe there is no one single gay community - but we do have our commonalities. You regularly find the ties that bind. Your gentle thoughtfulness is a breath of fresh air to me as I read you daily.
Keep it up. Stay fearless.
Peace,
jimi in San Francisco
Jimi,
thank you for your very kind words ;p. It always lifts me up when people appreciate my work ;p
these religious wrong people need to study the bible the way it is to be studied which it shows many pastors were asleep during hermeneutics class...for those of you that do not know what that is is the techniques in how you interpret the bible.
"...Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americas of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong."
but its fine to promote and support a regime that commints horrendous acts of violence against peaceful citizens? That rule by force and terror?
Somewhere there is something seriously wrong with these so-called Christians logic. It is both sad and frightening that they have risen to positions of power on the back of such twisted interpretation of christianity.
Christianity is hard work. A Christian is supposed to put others before themselves, even to the point where they could put themselves in danger of toil, penury, injury or death. Much better to be a Christianist: all the piety and none of the inconveniences. I'm not a Christian and never will be but I at least appreciate the sacrifices that Christians make on my behalf. As for the Christianists, they can go f*** themselves.
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