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Madison bans discrimination against atheists
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2015-05-04 12:59:43
UN aid worker suspended for leaking report on child abuse by French troops
Quote: A senior United Nations aid worker has been suspended for disclosing to prosecutors an internal report on the sexual abuse of children by French peacekeeping troops in the Central African Republic.
Sources close to the case said Anders Kompass passed the document to the French authorities because of the UN’s failure to take action to stop the abuse. The report documented the sexual exploitation of children as young as nine by French troops stationed in the country as part of international peacekeeping efforts.
I can see why they suspended the aid worker, but it's still shitty.
Quote: 2006 incident
UN troops face child abuse claims
Quote: Children have been subjected to rape and prostitution by United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti and Liberia, a BBC investigation has found.
Girls have told of regular encounters with soldiers where sex is demanded in return for food or money.
A senior official with the organisation has accepted the claims are credible.
The UN has faced several scandals involving its troops in recent years, including a DR Congo paedophile ring and prostitute trafficking in Kosovo.
The assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations acknowledges that sexual abuse is widespread.
So, humans being humans? Not saying that we should accept such activity, but is it really such a surprise?
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:02:35
but is it really such a surprise?
On some level it is to me because I don't get these types of violations.
Well, to clarify, I hate to say I don't "get" things, because I do. It's about power and domination and basically controlling others for your own gratification or benefit. I understand the literal and obvious "why".
But I don't get the mindset that says that's okay. Why don't these people have a trigger in their head saying "this is wrong, I shouldn't do this"? How is it that so many people lack the simple empathy to not commit horrendous acts of violation?
And why aren't we forcing these scum to be castrated, or at least sterilized?
Leviathan.Chaosx
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By Leviathan.Chaosx 2015-05-04 13:04:43
(I'm aware we don't spend hundreds of billions on Belgium) They make some good beer there, so it's possibly worth it.
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By fonewear 2015-05-04 13:05:23
(I'm aware we don't spend hundreds of billions on Belgium) They make some good beer there, so it's possibly worth it.
Not to mention chocolate !
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:07:11
(I'm aware we don't spend hundreds of billions on Belgium) They make some good beer there, so it's possibly worth it.
Not to mention chocolate !
Don't forget the waffles!!!!!!
*runs away before his old Belgian lsmate logs in and starts throwing things at him*
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Leviathan.Protey
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By Leviathan.Protey 2015-05-04 13:11:43
The concept I live by is: "If it doesn't affect me in a noticeable way, I don't care about it."
So if something like the Rwandan Genocide happened again in the world where 500,000 to a million people were brutally murdered, you wouldn't care at all since it doesn't affect you in a noticeable way?
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:13:04
The concept I live by is: "If it doesn't affect me in a noticeable way, I don't care about it."
So if something like the Rwandan Genocide happened again in the world where 500,000 to a million people were brutally murdered, you wouldn't care at all since it doesn't affect you in a noticeable way?
Worked for Bill Clinton.
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2015-05-04 13:14:02
Why don't these people have a trigger in their head saying "this is wrong, I shouldn't do this"? Because they think they can get away with it. And in some cases, they can.
And why aren't we forcing these scum to be castrated, or at least sterilized? Agreed, if it wasn't for 8th Amendment.
Now, if the rest of the world starts castrating these sex offenders, then the 8th Amendment wouldn't apply....
VIP
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By Odin.Jassik 2015-05-04 13:15:25
Agreed, if it wasn't for 8th Amendment.
It's funny where we draw the line on that one.
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:18:34
Because they think they can get away with it. And in some cases, they can.
Yeah, but, no. Not what I mean. Why do they want to get away with it? Why doesn't thinking about comitting the act repulse and disgust them?
Agreed, if it wasn't for 8th Amendment.
Now, if the rest of the world starts castrating these sex offenders, then the 8th Amendment wouldn't apply....
*shrug* We still execute people. Of civilized non-theocratic countries (possible redundancy at play), only Japan also still executes people, I believe.
Leviathan.Protey
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By Leviathan.Protey 2015-05-04 13:21:55
Yeah, but, no. Not what I mean. Why do they want to get away with it? Why doesn't thinking about comitting the act repulse and disgust them?
Not surprising if you look at the progress of people. Society is moving more and more away from doing what is right toward doing whatever satisfies your selfish desires.
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Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2015-05-04 13:22:00
Lakshmi.Sparthosx said: »Not all Christians are bad??? My God, I can't believe I never realized this before. My eyes have been opened. My soul reinvigorated. My resolve broken by this epiphany. I've been touched.
Spoilers: Judge people by their actions, not by their self-imposed labels.
Spoilers: I may be critical of religion but it doesn't mean I don't respect people who follow it. Just as I expect people to respect my lack of faith and choices therein. Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:25:26
Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
See, that's where the "don't force your beliefs on others" comes into play. If pro-lifers want to pretend that a human being begins at conception, that's their business, but they can't use their belief to tell others they can't have an abortion.
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By Lakshmi.Sparthosx 2015-05-04 13:26:09
It's almost like being pro-choice gives you the choice to decide if you want to keep or abort.
Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2015-05-04 13:27:05
Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
See, that's where the "don't force your beliefs on others" comes into play. If pro-lifers want to pretend that a human being begins at conception, that's their business, but they can't use their belief to tell others they can't have an abortion. How is the pro-choice concept of when life begins not the exact same thing, just in the opposite direction?
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2015-05-04 13:27:15
Yeah, but, no. Not what I mean. Why do they want to get away with it? Why doesn't thinking about comitting the act repulse and disgust them? I wish I could answer that, but I neither practice such behavior nor are versed in criminal psychology (except in cases of fraud).
*shrug* We still execute people. Of civilized non-theocratic countries (possible redundancy at play), only Japan also still executes people, I believe.
Legend:
Dark Green - Abolished
Green - Abolished except for extreme circumstances
Orange - Legal practice but not used in past 10 years
Red - Legal practice
China would be included too, one could argue India also, but I'm not 100% sure if their laws require Buddhism or Hinduism in practices.
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:27:18
Yeah, but, no. Not what I mean. Why do they want to get away with it? Why doesn't thinking about comitting the act repulse and disgust them?
Not surprising if you look at the progress of people. Society is moving more and more away from doing what is right toward doing whatever satisfies your selfish desires.
Yet every report available says crime as a whole is and has been trending downward for a long time.
And no, I don't think that's it either, because rape and sex as a spoil of war has been a concept for a very long time. Practically since society became a thing amongst humans. Hell, the Bible lays down guidelines for it. And, sadly enough, those guidelines are not "don't do it".
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:30:26
China would be included too, one could argue India also, but I'm not 100% sure if their laws require Buddhism or Hinduism in practices.
Yeah. I have to be honest, those other red countries aren't exactly a group -- for the most part -- with whom I want to be associated.
With the exception of China, India, and Japan, they also (appear to me) to all be countries with a very solid Muslim majority/ideology practiced by -- if not outright controlling -- their governments.
Edit: Though not sure how to interpret the South Pacific/Indian Ocean countries represented there. Assuredly some of them are also influenced by their association with China and have some fairly inauspicious regimes of their own...but not all of them.
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:33:36
Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
See, that's where the "don't force your beliefs on others" comes into play. If pro-lifers want to pretend that a human being begins at conception, that's their business, but they can't use their belief to tell others they can't have an abortion. How is the pro-choice concept of when life begins not the exact same thing, just in the opposite direction?
...I don't know many pro-choice folks forcing people to have abortions? Do you? Do pro-choice folks stand outside of churches and ravenously cry for the pregnant women to be handed over?
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2015-05-04 13:36:07
China would be included too, one could argue India also, but I'm not 100% sure if their laws require Buddhism or Hinduism in practices.
Yeah. I have to be honest, those other red countries aren't exactly a group -- for the most part -- with whom I want to be associated.
With the exception of China, India, and Japan, they also (appear to me) to all be countries with a very solid Muslim majority/ideology practiced by -- if not outright controlling -- their governments.
Edit: Though not sure how to interpret the South Pacific/Indian Ocean countries represented there. Assuredly some of them are also influenced by their association with China and have some fairly inauspicious regimes of their own...but not all of them. There are quite a few green/dark green countries that are controlled by a Muslim ideology practiced by their governments also. In this case, I don't think you can make a correlation between ideologies and capital punishment.
Bahamut.Milamber
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By Bahamut.Milamber 2015-05-04 13:36:21
Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
See, that's where the "don't force your beliefs on others" comes into play. If pro-lifers want to pretend that a human being begins at conception, that's their business, but they can't use their belief to tell others they can't have an abortion. How is the pro-choice concept of when life begins not the exact same thing, just in the opposite direction?
...I don't know many pro-choice folks forcing people to have abortions? Do you? Do pro-choice folks stand outside of churches and ravenously cry for the pregnant women to be handed over? Give us your heroines! They are BAD! Federal Reserve bad!
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By Asura.Kingnobody 2015-05-04 13:37:50
Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
See, that's where the "don't force your beliefs on others" comes into play. If pro-lifers want to pretend that a human being begins at conception, that's their business, but they can't use their belief to tell others they can't have an abortion. How is the pro-choice concept of when life begins not the exact same thing, just in the opposite direction?
...I don't know many pro-choice folks forcing people to have abortions? Do you? Do pro-choice folks stand outside of churches and ravenously cry for the pregnant women to be handed over? Give us your heroines! They are BAD! Federal Reserve bad! I admit, I laughed.
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:40:59
There are quite a few green/dark green countries that are controlled by a Muslim ideology practiced by their governments also. In this case, I don't think you can make a correlation between ideologies and capital punishment.
Sharia law vs. not?
("OPEC vs. not" comes to mind to for some reason...edit: perhaps a combo of both, which would indicate a bit of correlation worth further review; keeping people under strict law to control the money and oil! He who controls the spice, controls the universe!)
One way or another, many of those remain countries most Americans wouldn't want to be seen as identifying with.
Leviathan.Protey
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By Leviathan.Protey 2015-05-04 13:49:45
Yeah, but, no. Not what I mean. Why do they want to get away with it? Why doesn't thinking about comitting the act repulse and disgust them?
Not surprising if you look at the progress of people. Society is moving more and more away from doing what is right toward doing whatever satisfies your selfish desires.
Yet every report available says crime as a whole is and has been trending downward for a long time.
And no, I don't think that's it either, because rape and sex as a spoil of war has been a concept for a very long time. Practically since society became a thing amongst humans. Hell, the Bible lays down guidelines for it. And, sadly enough, those guidelines are not "don't do it".
Just because something isn't a crime, doesn't mean it is right to do.
As for the Bible, it condemns having sex with someone that is not your spouse.
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By Odin.Godofgods 2015-05-04 13:56:30
Maybe it's too late for intellectual debate but a residue of confusion remains
Changing with the times and developmentally tortured minds are the average citizen's source of pain
"Tell me what we're fighting for"
I don't remember anymore - only temporary reprieve
And the world might cease if we fail to tame the beast
From a faith that you release comes an atheist peace
Seraph.Ramyrez
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By Seraph.Ramyrez 2015-05-04 13:56:41
As for the Bible, it condemns having sex with someone that is not your spouse.
It also lays out guidelines for marrying someone if you impregnate them by raping them, or what to do if you get a slave pregnant.
"Oh, well in that case, they're just your spouse now. Problem solved!"
Just because something isn't a crime, doesn't mean it is right to do.
I'm specifically talking about things like rape, or forcing children into prostitution. You don't need to believe in god to know those are terrible things to do, and you shouldn't even be allowed to pretend you're a Christian if you do those things.
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Ragnarok.Nausi
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By Ragnarok.Nausi 2015-05-04 14:00:40
Just don't let the pro-lifers have a say, cause before you know it masturbation will be a crime?
See, that's where the "don't force your beliefs on others" comes into play. If pro-lifers want to pretend that a human being begins at conception, that's their business, but they can't use their belief to tell others they can't have an abortion. How is the pro-choice concept of when life begins not the exact same thing, just in the opposite direction?
...I don't know many pro-choice folks forcing people to have abortions? Do you? Do pro-choice folks stand outside of churches and ravenously cry for the pregnant women to be handed over?
Ask a question and you answer something else. How is the pro-life "concept" of "life doesn't start at conception" not being forced on people who believe otherwise by the legality of abortion?
Leviathan.Protey
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By Leviathan.Protey 2015-05-04 14:02:29
As for the Bible, it condemns having sex with someone that is not your spouse.
It also lays out guidelines for marrying someone if you impregnate them by raping them, or what to do if you get a slave pregnant.
"Oh, well in that case, they're just your spouse now. Problem solved!"
Just because something isn't a crime, doesn't mean it is right to do.
I'm specifically talking about things like rape, or forcing children into prostitution. You don't need to believe in god to know those are terrible things to do, and you shouldn't even be allowed to pretend you're a Christian if you do those things.
It says to marry them based on where they were, because in those days if it was within the city then someone would have heard her scream and someone would have come to her aid (how unlike today with people not caring about others), so she must be lying to save face. However if it was in the country then no one could have heard her and so the man would be stoned to death (much stricter punishment than what we have today).
Lakshmi.Flavin
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By Lakshmi.Flavin 2015-05-04 14:03:48
Ask a question and you answer something else. How is the pro-life "concept" of "life doesn't start at conception" not being forced on people who believe otherwise by the legality of abortion? He did answer that. People that do not beleive that are not forced to get abortions or even believe that is the case...
Was that not obvious?
Lakshmi.Flavin
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By Lakshmi.Flavin 2015-05-04 14:04:47
Also, people that consider themselves to be pro-life and still allow for exceptions for cases of abortion or support the death penalty is just ludicrous...
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Quote: Madison bans discrimination against atheists, non-religious
MADISON, Wis. — While conservatives in Indiana and Arkansas were explaining last month why their new religious objections laws weren't invitations to discriminate against gays, the leaders of Wisconsin's capital city were busy protecting the rights of another group: atheists.
In what is believed to be the first statute of its kind in the United States, Madison banned discrimination against the non-religious on April 1, giving them the same protections afforded to people based on their race, sexual orientation and religion, among other reasons.
It's hardly surprising that such a statute would originate in Madison, an island of liberalism in a conservative-leaning state and the home of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. But the ordinance's author, Anita Weier, said it didn't arise from an actual complaint about alleged discrimination based on a lack of religious faith.
"It just seems to me that religion has spread into government more than I feel comfortable with," said Weier, who left the council after the statute passed. "It just occurred to me that religion was protected, so non-religion should be, too."
She said it also had nothing to do with what was happening in Indiana and Arkansas, which rolled back their religious objections laws amid heavy criticism that they were meant to give legal cover to people who cite religious reasons for discriminating against gays.
Although there was no dissent when the City Council passed its new statute, some question the need to protect non-believers in liberal Madison from discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and services. Among them is Julaine Appling, the president of Wisconsin Family Action.
"I don't understand why they would add this to that litany of protections in Madison, of all places," she said. "I thought this was an April Fools' joke."
If any minority group deserves further protections in Madison, which embraces its unofficial motto of "77 square miles surrounded by reality," it's conservative groups like hers, said Appling. For example, she pointed to the City Council's attempts last year to create buffer zones to keep protesters away from abortion clinics, which the U.S. Supreme Court later deemed unconstitutional in a Massachusetts case.
Zach Brandon, president of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, said he hasn't heard city business owners express concern about the ordinance, but that's likely because it "doesn't really do anything."
Brandon said expanding the equal opportunities ordinance to include more protected categories could make it obsolete.
Atheists and other non-believers, though, say the statute marks an important step forward for those who aren't religious.
"I think Madison is way ahead of the curve," said Todd Stiefel, the president of Openly Secular, which helps non-religious people become open about their absence of faith.
Stiefel said people who tell their employers or family members that they are not religious face rejection and harassment. He said he's heard from atheists who were fired the day after sharing their non-religious views with their employers or disinherited by their parents after opening up about their lack of faith.
"It boils down to the misinformation and prejudice that gets passed down generation to generation. People have been raised being told that atheists are evil and they eat babies and they can't be trusted." Said Stiefel, adding that he thinks it will be quite a while before another city follows Madison's lead.
Patrick Elliott, a Freedom From Religion Foundation attorney, said the city that's also home to the University of Wisconsin has recently seen an increase in religiously-owned rental housing. While it had not yet created a conflict, the foundation wants to be sure there could be no discrimination, he said.
"Whether someone could have brought a case, we don't know," Elliott said. "It seemed that way, but we didn't have any precedent to support that."
Even though her ordinance passed without objection, Weier said her fellow council members seemed reluctant to embrace her idea or connect their name to it. She also said timing played a large role in her decision to propose the ordinance.
"If I'd been running again, I don't think I would have brought it forward," Weier said. "I think there's discrimination against atheists."
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