Executions in Uganda

[IbPervert (imported)]

I assume this is legit, but even if it is not it is troubling the executions could be about anyone...Christians, Muslims, Jews, Whites, Blacks, etc...

IbPervert

Executions in Uganda

Posted by Mollie

Uganda Leads The Way In Africa's Fight Against AIDS

A bill being debated in the Uganda legislature would execute homosexuals who are infected with HIV. Here’s a bit from an Associated Press story on the sad matter:

The Ugandan legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. “Serial offenders” also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

Anyone who “aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality” faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with “religious, political, economic or social authority” who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.

How awful that people who most need care from their neighbors might instead receive the sword. Human rights groups, including various Christian groups, have been critical of the bill. World magazine and the Baptist Press reported on evangelical opposition weeks ago. Other Christians with varying views on homosexuality issued a joint statement this week. Rick Warren, though, said his job as pastor is to “never take sides.” (He clearly has never met any of my pastors.)

Anyway, the AP story strongly insinuates that Christians are behind the legislation in various ways. I’m not sure how well they make the case. Here:

The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.

The use of the word “after” makes it seem as if the legislation is a result of the visit by the three gay therapy activists. But if that’s the case, the reporters in no way show that to be true. The only substantiation for the statement is as follows:

Debate over the Ugandan bill follows a conference in Kampala earlier this year attended by American activists who consider same-gender relationships sinful, and believe gays and lesbians can become heterosexual through prayer and counseling.

Of the three Americans, two didn’t respond to interview requests and the third said he thought the proposed legislation was awful. In another interview, he says he’d prefer that Uganda’s current laws be liberalized.

There are a lot of people in the world who believe that same-sex relationships are sinful. That doesn’t mean they’re calling for the execution of people infected with HIV. Now, maybe there are American evangelicals who are pushing for this legislation. If so, the article can’t just allege it — it has to back it up with information for readers. I mean, it doesn’t even mention Rick Warren’s “not taking sides” approach, which is at the very least relevant to the issue at hand.

We also get this snippet. The Ugandan ethics minister disagrees with the AP belief that the law is the result of foreign evangelical influence but gay activist David Cato says otherwise:

“In the beginning, when the missionaries brought religion, they said they were bringing love,” he said. “Instead they brought hate, through homophobia.”

Now, it’s certainly fine to include such a statement in an article. But that is a very serious charge and the missionaries should be given a chance to respond. None are quoted in the article or characterized, even. That’s not right.

I also fear that the article is framed with such a progressive worldview that it doesn’t even attempt to understand the cultural and ethical values of the Ugandans. I mean, I oppose capital punishment as a rule, but I also know that advocates of capital punishment don’t view said punishment as “hate” — as the article portrays it. They view it as a tool of punishment for particular crimes. I learned very little, if anything, about how the Ugandans view this issue.

I mean, Thomas Jefferson — who is not generally considered a Founding evangelical — authored the Virginia penal code that punished sodomy with castration. Some people view homosexual behavior as a crime and one deserving of punishment. Other people think gay sex is all good. Still others think it’s a sin but not a crime. There’s a spectrum of belief here.

But this Uganda story isn’t even about crimes for homosexual behavior, per se. It’s about having HIV being a capital crime, along with many other draconian provisions.

This makes no sense to me and the story doesn’t even attempt to explore the reasoning behind this. I doubt that there’s anything that could be said that would make me feel less hostile to this legislation, but I’d still like to know a bit more about why others might support it.

http://www.getreligion.org/?p=22731 (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=22731)

[Misha999 (imported)]

It is legit.

There is no reasoning behind it, just cruelty and hate.

There isn't much we as individuals can do when a foreign government goes mad within its borders and decides to codify bigotry and hatred. The only way these kinds of laws can be rescinded is if there is a sea change in the population as a whole or if those wronged will find the courage to appeal either to the UN or to their brother citizens to defend them. Good luck with that!

M

I assume this is legit, but even if it is not it is troubling the executions could be about anyone...Christians, Muslims, Jews, Whites, Blacks, etc...

IbPervert

Executions in Uganda

Posted by Mollie

Uganda Leads The Way In Africa's Fight Against AIDS

A bill being debated in the Uganda legislature would execute homosexuals who are infected with HIV. Here’s a bit from an Associated Press story on the sad matter:

The Ugandan legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. “Serial offenders” also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

Anyone who “aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality” faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with “religious, political, economic or social authority” who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.

How awful that people who most need care from their neighbors might instead receive the sword. Human rights groups, including various Christian groups, have been critical of the bill. World magazine and the Baptist Press reported on evangelical opposition weeks ago. Other Christians with varying views on homosexuality issued a joint statement this week. Rick Warren, though, said his job as pastor is to “never take sides.” (He clearly has never met any of my pastors.)

Anyway, the AP story strongly insinuates that Christians are behind the legislation in various ways. I’m not sure how well they make the case. Here:

The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.

The use of the word “after” makes it seem as if the legislation is a result of the visit by the three gay therapy activists. But if that’s the case, the reporters in no way show that to be true. The only substantiation for the statement is as follows:

Debate over the Ugandan bill follows a conference in Kampala earlier this year attended by American activists who consider same-gender relationships sinful, and believe gays and lesbians can become heterosexual through prayer and counseling.

Of the three Americans, two didn’t respond to interview requests and the third said he thought the proposed legislation was awful. In another interview, he says he’d prefer that Uganda’s current laws be liberalized.

There are a lot of people in the world who believe that same-sex relationships are sinful. That doesn’t mean they’re calling for the execution of people infected with HIV. Now, maybe there are American evangelicals who are pushing for this legislation. If so, the article can’t just allege it — it has to back it up with information for readers. I mean, it doesn’t even mention Rick Warren’s “not taking sides” approach, which is at the very least relevant to the issue at hand.

We also get this snippet. The Ugandan ethics minister disagrees with the AP belief that the law is the result of foreign evangelical influence but gay activist David Cato says otherwise:

“In the beginning, when the missionaries brought religion, they said they were bringing love,” he said. “Instead they brought hate, through homophobia.”

Now, it’s certainly fine to include such a statement in an article. But that is a very serious charge and the missionaries should be given a chance to respond. None are quoted in the article or characterized, even. That’s not right.

I also fear that the article is framed with such a progressive worldview that it doesn’t even attempt to understand the cultural and ethical values of the Ugandans. I mean, I oppose capital punishment as a rule, but I also know that advocates of capital punishment don’t view said punishment as “hate” — as the article portrays it. They view it as a tool of punishment for particular crimes. I learned very little, if anything, about how the Ugandans view this issue.

I mean, Thomas Jefferson — who is not generally considered a Founding evangelical — authored the Virginia penal code that punished sodomy with castration. Some people view homosexual behavior as a crime and one deserving of punishment. Other people think gay sex is all good. Still others think it’s a sin but not a crime. There’s a spectrum of belief here.

But this Uganda story isn’t even about crimes for homosexual behavior, per se. It’s about having HIV being a capital crime, along with many other draconian provisions.

This makes no sense to me and the story doesn’t even attempt to explore the reasoning behind this. I doubt that there’s anything that could be said that would make me feel less hostile to this legislation, but I’d still like to know a bit more about why others might support it.

http://www.getreligion.org/?p=22731 (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=22731)

[tugon (imported)]

http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=D ... _article=1

Death penalty for gays? Uganda debates proposal

Dec 8 02:00 PM US/Eastern

By KATHARINE HOURELD and GODFREY OLUKYA

Associated Press Writers

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - Proposed legislation would impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report them to authorities. Even landlords could be imprisoned for renting to homosexuals.

Gay rights activists say the bill, which has prompted growing international opposition, promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. They believe the bill is part of a continentwide backlash because Africa's gay community is becoming more vocal.

"It's a question of visibility," said David Cato, who became an activist after he was beaten up four times, arrested twice, fired from his teaching job and outed in the press because he is gay. "When we come out and ask for our rights, they pass laws against us."

The legislation has drawn global attention from activists across the spectrum of views on gay issues.

The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.

The Ugandan legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape.

"Serial offenders"

also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

Anyone who "aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality" faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with "religious, political, economic or social authority" who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.

The bill is still being debated and could undergo changes before a vote, which hasn't yet been set. But gay-rights activists abroad are focusing on the legislation. A protest against the bill is planned for Thursday in London; protests were held last month in New York and Washington.

David Bahati, the legislator sponsoring the bill, said he was encouraging "constructive criticism" to improve the law but insisted strict measures were necessary to stop homosexuals from "recruiting" schoolchildren.

"The youths in secondary schools copy everything from the Western world and America," said high school teacher David Kisambira. "A good number of students have been converted into gays. We hear there are groups of people given money by some gay organizations in developed countries to recruit youth into gay activities."

Uganda's ethics minister, James Nsaba Buturo, said the death sentence clause would probably be reviewed but maintained the law was necessary to counter foreign influence. He said homosexuality "is not natural in Uganda," a view echoed by some Ugandans.

"I feel that the bill is good and necessary, but I don't think gays should be killed. They should be imprisoned for about a year and warned never to do it again. The family is in danger in Uganda because the rate at which vice is spreading is appalling," said shopkeeper John Muwanguzi.

Uganda is not the only country considering anti-gay laws. Nigeria, where homosexuality is already punishable by imprisonment or death, is considering strengthening penalties for activities deemed to promote it. Burundi just banned same-sex relationships and Rwanda is considering it.

Homophobia is rife even in more tolerant African countries.

In Kenya, homosexuality is illegal but the government has acknowledged its existence by launching sexual orientation survey to improve health care. Nevertheless, the recent marriage of two Kenyan men in London caused outrage. The men's families in Kenya were harassed by reporters and villagers.

In South Africa, the only African nation to recognize gay marriage, gangs carry out so-called "corrective" rapes on lesbians. A 19-year-old lesbian athlete was gang-raped, tortured and murdered in 2008.

Debate over the Ugandan bill follows a conference in Kampala earlier this year attended by American activists who consider same-gender relationships sinful, and believe gays and lesbians can become heterosexual through prayer and counseling.

Author Don Schmierer and "sexual reorientation coach" Caleb Lee Brundidge took part; they did not respond to interview requests.

A third American who took part in the conference in Uganda, Scott Lively, said the bill has gone too far.

"I agree with the general goal but this law is far too harsh," said Lively, a California-based preacher and author of "The Pink Swastika" and other books that advise parents how to "recruit-proof" their children from gays.

"Society should actively discourage all sex outside of marriage and that includes homosexuality ... The family is under threat," he said. Gay people "should not be parading around the streets," he added.

Frank Mugisha, a gay Ugandan human rights activist, said the bill was so poorly worded that someone could be imprisoned for giving a hug.

"This bill is promoting hatred," he said. "We're turning Uganda into a police state. It will drive people to suicide."

Buturo played down the influence of foreign evangelicals, saying the proposed legislation was an expression of popular outrage against "repugnant" practices. But activists like Cato argue anti-gay attitudes are a foreign import.

"

In the beginning, when the missionaries brought religion, they said they were bringing love," he said. "Instead they brought hate, through homophobia.

"

Susan Timberlake, a senior adviser on human rights and law from UNAIDS, said such laws could hinder the fight against HIV/AIDS by driving people further underground. And activists also worry that the legislation could be used to blackmail or silence government critics.

Cato said he thinks the Ugandan bill will pass, perhaps in an altered form.

"It's such a setback. But I hope we can overcome it," he said. "I cannot believe this is happening in the 21st century."

___

Associated Press Writer Katharine Houreld reported from Nairobi, Kenya.

[IbPervert (imported)]

It is very similar to what the Nazi's did during WW2 in that they want to round up everyone that disagrees with them or they do not like.

[Dave (imported)]

Search for "rachel maddow uganda" in Google and then click on the video results link either at the upper left or in the search results.

Or if that doesn't work, you can try this link if you use firefox. Google optimizes itself for the browser you use...

http://video.google.com/videosearch?cli ... 9736719713

Maddow does an excellent job of describing this bill under the title of "Uganda Be Kidding" and there isn't anything funny about the story.

[speedvogel (imported)]

My God! Even Rick Warren has come out in opposition to this horrid bill.

Speed