"Put Away For Life...Or Put To Death"

From CNN:

As a gay man in Uganda, Frank Mugisha is used to the taunts, the slurs and the daily harassment of neighbors and friends.

But if a new bill proposed in the east African country becomes law, Mugisha could be put away for life, or worse, put to death for having sex with another man.

"Right now, you can't go to places that are crowded, because the mob can attack us or even burn us. We can't walk alone. We are ostracized by relatives. But if this bill passes, it will become impossible for me to live here at all. And that part hurts the most," Mugisha said.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill features several provisions that human rights groups say would spur a witch hunt of homosexuals in the country:

• Gays and lesbians convicted of having gay sex would be sentenced, at minimum, to life in prison

• People who test positive for HIV may be executed

• Homosexuals who have sex with a minor, or engage in homosexual sex more than once, may also receive the death penalty

• The bill forbids the "promotion of homosexuality," which in effect bans organizations working in HIV and AIDS prevention

• Anyone who knows of homosexual activity taking place but does not report it would risk up to three years in prison

"Who will go to HIV testing if he knows that he will suffer the death sentence?" Elizabeth Mataka, the U.N. Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa, told reporters last week. "The law will drive them away from seeking counseling and testing services."
....

In April, the Observer newspaper published tips to help readers spot homosexuals. And over the summer, the Red Pepper tabloid outed 45 gays and lesbians.
....

In the United States, a coalition of Christian leaders (pdf) released a statement Monday denouncing the bill.

"Regardless of the diverse theological views of our religious traditions regarding the morality of homosexuality, in our churches, communities and families, we seek to embrace our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters as God's children, worthy of respect and love," the statement read.

And this is the bill that our dear leader of the "Anglican Communion", Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and his brother archbishop, John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, will not publicly condemn. Perhaps it's worth noting that Abp. Sentamu fled for his life from Uganda, when Idi Amin was president.

Henceforth, when I write "Anglican Communion", I shall use quotes, because I am no longer certain that such an entity exists.

Thanks to Ann for the link.

My Thrill Of The Day From Diane Savino

After seeing the video of Sen. Savino's eloquent and passionate speech in the New York State Senate, I wrote to her expressing my admiration and gratitude. Today, I received the following email:

Dear June,

I am sincerely grateful for your kind words. Marriage Equality will be a reality in New York, as well as the rest of the nation, and it will be through people like you.

Sincerely,
Senator Savino

And through people like you, Sen. Savino.

Take her words to heart, my friends. She speaks truth.

PS: I asked Grandpère if he thought Diane was a babe. He said, "I'll put it this way. I wouldn't kick her out of bed." I am soooo hurt. He did not want me to add the PS to my post, but I did it anyway to get my revenge.

Christmas Joy

“Good news is that I truly outdid myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after two days.

I had people come screaming up to my house. But two things made me take it down. First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents, as they almost had a wreck when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn’t realize that it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of the many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn’t take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.”

Thanks to Ann.

"Can Christianity Be Rescued From Christians?"

I know. You're busy. It's six and a half minutes long, but if you have not already seen the video, it's worth a view.

Thanks to John for sending me the link to Frank Schaeffer's website.

Whales

I remember when the whales had
wings, she said. Whatever happened? I
said. It got to be too noisy with all the
airplanes & other stuff, so they flew
into the ocean & never came back. Some
days, she added, I think about going too.


From StoryPeople

Lindy’s Wuxi Photo Journal

Below are the first set of pictures from the collection that Lindy sent me from her new home in China. They're wonderful, and I love her captions. I'll post a set from time to time when I'm not too lazy. I lost the captions to the pictures for a while, but then I found them again. I'm not good at arranging pictures artfully, so here they are all in a row.

About ten feet from my door the workmen were burning bamboo to heat this vat of tar. They are always very considerate of me, stopping work and lining the sidewalk until I pass. We say nee-how to one another and then laugh about it. They are very interested in what I wear, especially my watch. Not a bad way to start the day, though I can see that it will get old after just a bit.

This is the little path I take if I want to walk out to the main gate. Of course, I can have a car meet me at my apartment but it’s a nice walk. The grounds are well landscaped and I see lots of people on my way. You can see the gate house there in the distance, just to the right of the light pole.

The sky in Wuxi is not really that blue. I’ve helped it along. Usually the sky is white or light brown, reflecting the smog. Occasionally a little blue peeps through. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I am waiting.

This is the little store, located right here in the compound. It has only a few items but one of them is Diet Coke! The primary enterprise of the store is delivering water to the community. You may know that the water in China is contaminated by heavy metals and I imagine a few other things too. It’s OK for bathing and even tooth brushing. But, we all drink only bottled water or wine. Some people drink beer.

This is the little dog who lives at the store. In the previous photo he’s just outside the door. His guardians keep him clean, and I think he is well cared for, if often ignored. There are many dogs and cats in China. I would love to gather them up and take them to the vet and the groomer. Those are my middle-class western values. Not always appropriate here in China.

This is one of the security guards at Venice Gardens. It is his duty to protect us. He’s one of the nicer ones. Always smiles when calling me a car.

On A Boat

Sez Wade: "I thought this was good advice."

Sez I: "Yes."

Pearl Harbor - In Memoriam

"Battleship Row"

From the Naval Historical Center:

The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant.

World War I, or The Great War, was to be the war that ended all wars, but - Alas! - it was not to be. The twentieth century was full of bloody wars. Early in 21st century, we are once again at war on two fronts. When will we ever learn?

World War I

World War II

The Cold War (A good many near misses)

Korean War

Vietnam War

Desert Storm

War in Afghanistan

War in Iraq





Prayer For Those in the Armed Forces of Our Country

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, p. 823)

Prayer for Peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, p.815)

Photo by the U. S. Navy.

Please Pray For Ellie

Ann asks for prayers for her great niece Ellie, who is ill. She is only 15 years old and is very scared. Her diagnosis is, for now, uncertain.

To Clear The Air - A Sign From China

I recommend that you follow the directions to the letter - or else!

Thanks to Wade.