We know what the US would look like if radical theists like Warren, Robertson, Dobson, James Kennedy, or any doughy sweat-stained evangelical were in a position of real authority.
We know.
Because other countries, even 'secular' ones, dont have the same luxury of the separation of church and state as we do. People in other countries are forced to live their lives under the greasy shadow of beautiful, hope inspiring religion.
Senegal: Court Sentences Nine Men to Heavy Jail Sentences for Sodomy
On January 8, 2008, the nine men appeared in court to respond to charges of criminal conspiracy and engaging in acts against the order of nature. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) was informed that lawyers for the defense had had limited access to case files and little time to prepare for the court hearing. The men were condemned to a sentence of 8 years in jail although the prosecutor had asked for a sentence of 5 years, which is the maximum penalty provided by Senegalese law in sodomy cases.
But these werent just your average Allah-hating faggots that deserve to be killed. These were HIV/AIDS advocates. And while sane humans like you and I know that ~60% of HIV cases in Senegal are heterosexual women, which means those fine, upstanding, moral Muslim men cheat on their wives/girlfriends with prostitutes, these nine men were targeted by the Senegal police (Criminal Investigations Division) because of their HIV advocacy.
Homosexuality is illegal, AIDS is a fag disease, therefore if you are an AIDS advocate or HIV+ youre a fag and youre going to spend the next 8 years in jail.
What. The. Fuck.
We cannot solve the HIV/AIDS crisis while theistic homophobia is supported by the government. It keeps 'non-fags' from testing, being open with their sexual partners, and away from treatment. And yet... we have 'Conservative Christians' and 'Conservative Muslims' fighting for precisely that kind of 'religious freedom'. Freedom to have their secular governments enforce religious law.
Can you honestly tell the difference between these comments from Muslims in Senegal, and comments we hear day in, day out from evangelicals in the US?
In a statement, CAIS [Collective of Senegalese Islamic Associations] denounced "the increase in homosexuality in Senegal" and proclaimed that "for several years, homosexual lobbies have led a wide-ranging offensive aimed at destabilizing our society. The recent escalation of this insidious homosexual campaign has led to a scandalous celebration of an unnatural marriage which gravely threatens to undermine our moral values and our country's stability." The group called upon authorities to "combat homosexuality before it's too late."
"degradation of morality and disrespect for religious values"
"undermining decency and an unnatural marriage"
"invite the active forces of the country to face what it considers to be the repeated assaults by the enemies of faith and morality, who unscrupulously attack those sacred values which constitute the very essence of the noblest virtues of our society."
"the advent of so many forms of media in Senegal has led to a degradation of morality, because these radio and TV programmes do not conform to our cultural and religious realities."
... When it comes to the 'faith and morality' of CAIS or Rick Warren, Im quite proud to be an 'enemy of faith and morality', thank you very much.
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What is it with Atheists looking at stupid people and saying "This is religion"? The problem in Senegal is not a problem of religion but of pure ignorance and lack of education.
How is the religious bigotry in Senegal any different than the religious bigotry in the US as displayed by the religions right?
Religious bigotry is the same, regardless of which invisible sky being is alluded to.
Yes Shadow Caster, ignorance and lack of education is the problem. Funny how religion always manages to insert itself into the knowledge vacuum though. It's almost like it thrives in that environment.
"What is it with Atheists looking at stupid people and saying "This is religion"? The problem in Senegal is not a problem of religion but of pure ignorance and lack of education."
Oh, it might have something to do with the fact that the proffered justification for these penalties is religious.
What is it about squishy, PC, multi-culti liberals looking at explicitly religious pronouncements and concluding it's solely a failure of education?
Would you write a post referring to black people as 'niggers', hm?
Gabriel, it should be obvious to anyone with an I.Q. above room temperature that she was using the epithet in an ironic way to make fun of hardcore Christian/Muslim attitudes toward gays. Try not to be so self-righteous.
Perhaps someone should start tapping their shoes in Senagalese government bathrooms.
One of the things that i love about science is that no one is above reproach.
To 'Shadow Caster' you state: "What is it with Atheists looking at stupid people and saying "This is religion"? The problem in Senegal is not a problem of religion but of pure ignorance and lack of education."
My reply:
Religion is the ONLY thing that makes a "moral" judgment on another human possible.
Who says it is "right" or "wrong" to do anything?
Certainly not science or algebra...it is, has always been and will always be 'religion'.
It is a well-known fact, documented in the USA, that Americans living in "red states" who tend to be more bible readers have more violence, rape, murder and divorce.
To 'Shadow Caster' you state: "What is it with Atheists looking at stupid people and saying "This is religion"? The problem in Senegal is not a problem of religion but of pure ignorance and lack of education."
My reply:
Religion is the ONLY thing that makes a "moral" judgment on another human possible.
Who says it is "right" or "wrong" to do anything?
Certainly not science or algebra...it is, has always been and will always be 'religion'.
It is a well-known fact, documented in the USA, that Americans living in "red states" who tend to be more bible readers have more violence, rape, murder and divorce.
Tyler, my dear, if think you dodged the question. Would it be acceptable to use, even in so-called ironic diatribe circunstances, the word "nigger"? If you answer "yes" and I think you will, then perhaps our good Erv's effervescent way of writing could end up stirring the mood of some less able readers, as you implied. I'm sure you are aware how serious the implications of certain words can be when among self-righteous liberal. Now, if you instead use an offensive word, even with the most pure of intentions, for another minority, one that insulting is less of a burden than the other, it's no big deal. Alas, can't you see the double standard here? I bet even the most ironic blogger in the fairly civilized zone of the Blogosphere would avoid the use of the N-word because of unwanted consequences. It can be a huge headache if the wrong people read it in the wrong way, don't you agree? But what about the homosexuals then? Surely the damage would be minimal, it's almost a risk-free endeavour; after all, the most insulting terms are common-words, everyone blamelessly uses it. What I call here, Mr. Tyler, is for fair treatment, that's all. If comes the day there will be no taboos on terms used to satirise, I'll be pleased to read every single one of them; but until then, I recommend restraint.