Why Is There So Much Religious Bigotry About?
Two stories have dominated the BBC’s most read list this weekend; the arrest in Pakistan of a disabled girl from a Christian family for blasphemy and the breaking off of talks by Cardinal O’Brien with the Scottish government over gay marriage.
Are those behind the bigotry trying to outdo each other?
With regard to the second story, I suspect that there must be quite a few gay Roman Catholics in Scotland.
A Death Sentence for Dancing
This video is on the BBC’s web site. It tells the story of four women and two men, who may have been sentenced to death at a wedding for dancing. The Pakistan Supreme Court is investigating.
Pakistan Does Things Differently
If say a Hungarian, a Latvian or a Frenchman had helped the Americans find Osama Bin Laden, he would have probably been given a reward.
But not Pakistan, where the Doctor who may have helped the Americas locate Bin Laden, was given a thirty year jail sentence for treason. It’s reported here on the BBC. I should have thought they would have praised him, especially, as Al Qaida has been responsible for the deaths of a large number of Pakistani citizens. Eight Pakistanis actually died in the attacks of September 11th and they are detailed here.
So what could have been their real motive?
Sex Trafficking, Forced Marriage and Honour Killings
Some of the news just gets worse. Take this story about Mexicans trafficking women to the United States and other places for the purpose of prostitution and sex slavery.
Some of the figures in the report are horrendous.
$32 billion – Annual turnover of human trafficking industry
9.8 million – Total involved in unpaid work or prostitution
800,000 – People trafficked across borders each year
79 % – Of those trafficked are women or girls
And then we have the Shafilea Ahmed case, where she was murdered because, she wouldn’t agree to a forced marriage to someone she’d never met in Pakistan.
To me there is little difference. In my view to use threats and violence to exploit women makes those that do it, the lowest of the low.
We probably can’t do much about the problems in Mexico and the United States, but we should put lots of teeth behind the views of Baroness Warsi, her father and everyone, who believe that women have the right to choose how they lead their life.
What Right Do The Taliban Have to Call Themselves Islamic?
We received the news yesterday of the cruel murder of Khalil Dale in Pakistan, supposedly by the Taliban. It is not the first time, they have killed people, who are trying to help the poorest of the poor where they operate. But then that was one of Khalil’s crimes in their eyes.
This sort of behaviuor disgusts me and contrasts so strongly with the guy called, Mohammed, late last night in Marks and Spencer. We talked about the rain and I said that I’d seen the aftermath of the bad accident in the Essex Road the day before. He asked if I was alright. I said yes, but thought the guy wasn’t. That is true compassion and should go with us all. And in fact, does go with most of us. Except obviously groups, like the Nazis and the Taliban.
I for one, hope that like bad fruit, the Taliban and their ilk, just wither and die! But I’m not totally hopeful it will happen!
The New Greek Bailout
Greece is the Pakistan of Europe.
It is corrupt, totally resistant to change and bankrupt in both a financial and moral sense. And as I pointed out earlier, they can’t even spell tax.
When a company goes bust, you put in administrators to see if they can sort out the mess.
Where are the administrators for Greece?
Let’s face it, I’m sure Disney could make a better job of running the Parthenon!
Imran Khan Gives It Straight
I have a great deal of respect for Imran Khan and that has increased after reading this article on the BBC’s web site. Here’s an extract.
Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan has urged the UK to cut aid to his country, saying it fuels corruption.
The former cricketer told BBC Radio 4 that Pakistan was more poverty-stricken than ever but little international aid money reached its intended target.
The UK plans to increase its annual aid from £140m to £350m over the next few years.
But Mr Khan said: “If we don’t have aid we will be forced to make reforms and stand on our own feet.”
The sooner that the west stops giving the Pakistan government any aid the better. After all we gave a lot of aid for the floods last year and can anybody say that that money got to be used for the purpose it was intended.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Addresses Parliament
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, has been speaking in the country’s parliament. It is reported here on the BBC. This is part of the report.
He has launched a defence of Pakistan’s record in fighting terrorism, highlighting the “price paid” in civilian and military losses.
And he strongly denied that there had been any collusion between Pakistan and al-Qaeda to shelter Bin Laden.
“Allegations of complicity and incompetence are absurd,” he told MPs.
The Pakistan people have indeed paid a heavy price, but they have probably suffered just as much because of their inept and corrupt government.
Where is Shergar?
I just heard this on Radio 5.
Now that we’ve found Osama Bin Laden, by a Pakistani military base, should we look for Shergar in Aldershot?
The Anonymous Widower 