For a long time, Uganda was an outlaw nation. It was ruler by one of the bloodiest of all dictators, Idi Amin, and even operated as a safe haven for international terrorists. With the death of Amin, I had hoped that Uganda would finally join the growing list of civilized and humanitarian nations.
It's beginning to look like that was a futile hope though. Uganda is now considering a new law that would institute draconian punishments for homosexuals, and it looks like that law will be easily approved. The law has been pushed by American fundamentalists from The Family -- they couldn't get their vicious views approved here, so they have convinced the Ugandan government to do it.
Many American fundamentalists like Rick Bowen, who participated in President Obama's inauguration, and Pat Robertson are refusing to condemn the new Ugandan law. The law would make any person convicted of having homosexual relations subject to receiving a LIFE SENTENCE. If that sex was with a minor or a person with a disability, the person could receive the DEATH PENALTY.
Fortunately there are some nations that still believe in equal rights and human rights. The prime ministers of both the United Kingdom and Canada have said the Ugandan legislation is unacceptable. Sweden has gone even further, and said they will be cutting their foreign aid to Uganda (they give about $50 million a year).
I have to wonder, where is the outrage from the American government? The United States is very good about preaching about human rights to other countries. Isn't it about time to take some action to back up our big talk?
At a minimum, the United States government should cease all foreign aid to Uganda, and they should do this immediately and publicly. If the Obama administration really supports human rights, it is time for them to show it and Uganda would be a great place to start.
I completely agree.
ReplyDelete