Sunday, October 21, 2007
Fidel
In the movie Fidel, we are introduced to Fidel Castro as a young, ambitious man. Fidel is portrayed as a family oriented man, passionate about the progress of his country and removing it from the hands of tyrants. In the beggining, he is even willing to assist another man into power for the better of his country. But, after the coup, he becomes obsessed with Cuban politics, and decides to take matters into his own hands. Ignoring the danger he is putting his wife, Mirta and his son, Fidelito in, he begins a revolutionary campaign to overthrow Batista. He gathers a group of followers and tells them to leave their personal dreams behind, just as he is leaving his wife and son. Now, they only have one dream - Cuba. The movie may portray as Fidel as someone who has Cuba in his best interest, and maybe he did at the beggining, but the surge of power he gained turned him into a tyrant as evil if not more than Batista. Castro was very confident that his July 26 attack would work in weakening the military- but it did nothing but kill the majority of his followers. Castro doesn't care. At this point, for him, there is no turning back for the "liberation" of Cuba.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Whatever I want to say.
I know i'm supposed to think of a topic all by myself but whatever, it's my journal and I'm going to write about whatever comes to mind, no specific topic in general. That's what people have blogs for either way. It's 4:30 am and I am still awake. I have a Microeconomics midterm i've been studying for since 8pm. I can't sleep because i've had too much caffeine because I am a huge procrastinator and decided to study the night before the test. I'm sure thats something everyone can relate to. Now i'm worried everything I studied won't stick in my head. This is unusual. I don't worry about anything ever. The thing is I had such a chill weekend, doing absolutely nothing and didn't find any time to study. That was stupid. I'll probably do the same thing next time, too. What if I am too sleepy in the morning during my midterm? Oh well. I'll suck it up... Now i'm just sitting in my bed in my dark room. This sounds like a crazy person post!!! AAhhh.....whatever. I'm going to go do my peer reviews since it doesn't feel like i'll be going to sleep any time soon.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Homosexuality in Iran
Recently, the president of Iran visited Columbia University in New York City. After the president of the University introduced him as a "cruel and tyranical leader", Mahmoud Ahmahdijend nonchalantly responded to an interviewer who questioned him on the subject of the executions of homosexuals in Iran that "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know whos told you we have it." On the president's website or government run websites, all these references to homosexuality are deleted or edited. This has caused a great stir among International groups, claiming that his comments are "absurd" because several Iranians have been arrested or harassed for allegedly commiting homosexual acts.
The worries of these international groups does not come without reason. On July 19th this summer, a 18 year old male and his boyfriend, a 17 year old male were hung for the public to see. They were charged with crimes of "rape," which was completly untrue. Consensual gay sex of any form is punishable by death in Iran. The perks? Those charged with the crime are able to choose four different forms of death- being stoned, being hung, being halved by a sword, or being dropped from the highest perch. Since 1979, 4000 gays and lesbians have been executed for commiting "homosexual" acts. The barbaric form in which they excute these people is found incredible normal, and being homosexual is above all the most shameful crime one can commit in their culture.
According to their religion (Islam), being gay is one of the worst sins one can commit. The punishments are these:
1)"Tafhiz" (the rubbing of the thighs or buttocks) and the like committed by two men is punished by 100 lashes. On the fourth occasion, the punishment is death. (Articles 121 and 122). If two men "stand naked under one cover without any necessity", both are punished with up to 99 lashes; if a man "kisses another with lust" the punishment is 60 lashes. (Articles 123 and 124). If sodomy, or the lesser crimes referred to above, are proved by confession, and the person concerned repents, the Shari'a judge may request that he be pardoned. If a person who has committed the lesser crimes referred to above repents before the giving of testimony by the witnesses, the punishment is quashed. (Articles 125 and 126).
2)Lesbianism
The punishment for lesbianism involving persons who are mature, of sound mind, and consenting, is 100 lashes. If the act is repeated three times and punishment is enforced each time, the death sentence will apply on the fourth occasion. (Articles 127, 129, 130) The ways of proving lesbianism in court are the same as for male homosexuality. (Article 128)
3) Male homosexuality
Sodomy is a crime, for which both partners are punished. The punishment is death if the participants are adults, of sound mind and consenting; the method of execution is for the Shari'a judge to decide. A non-adult who engages in consensual sodomy is subject to a punishment of 74 lashes. (Articles 108 -- 113)
Sodomy is proved either if a person confesses four times to having committed sodomy or by the testimony of four righteous men. Testimony of women alone or together with a man does not prove sodomy. (Articles 114 -- 119)
No civil rights exsist in Iran to protect gays and lesbians. Discrimination is fully appreciated, and no organizations can be created to fight it because it is prohibited There are no laws to protect homosexuals from violence or harrasment. Articles related to homosexuality are not allowed in newspapers unless they are written in a negative point of view. Many gays have tried to seek asylum in a foreign country, but many have been turned down or deported back to their native Iran. Many European countries have been criticized for this because several of the men and women who are deported end up commiting suicide.
The year is 2007. Several highly developed and important countries are working to abolish anti-gay laws...Canada, Sweden, Holland, Spain.. and we still have those countries who are trying to murder homosexuals: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan just to name a couple. Killing gay people isn't solving anything, especially in a way that is so barbaric and savage. I did some research on the subject when I watched the Iranian president speak on YouTube..and it intrigued me to follow up on what they were discussing. The thing is, this subject has never really been one I am passionate about... but yesterday, following a huge family discussion with my incredibly Catholic family, I came to realize that even the most religious of people can discriminate in ways that are so inhumane. It got to the point that I was arguing with my grandma, a sweet little old lady, because she insists that if you ask God, he can change gay people. I disagree completly.. being homosexual is something you are born with. It isn't something you can just pray away or confess to a priest. Daily, families are torn apart because of this argument. If your son or daughter has a real problem, such as being an alcoholic or a drug addict, that seems to me to be more of a cause for worry then your child being gay.
http://www.globalgayz.com/g-iran.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20999705/
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/07/iran_executes_2.html
The worries of these international groups does not come without reason. On July 19th this summer, a 18 year old male and his boyfriend, a 17 year old male were hung for the public to see. They were charged with crimes of "rape," which was completly untrue. Consensual gay sex of any form is punishable by death in Iran. The perks? Those charged with the crime are able to choose four different forms of death- being stoned, being hung, being halved by a sword, or being dropped from the highest perch. Since 1979, 4000 gays and lesbians have been executed for commiting "homosexual" acts. The barbaric form in which they excute these people is found incredible normal, and being homosexual is above all the most shameful crime one can commit in their culture.
According to their religion (Islam), being gay is one of the worst sins one can commit. The punishments are these:
1)"Tafhiz" (the rubbing of the thighs or buttocks) and the like committed by two men is punished by 100 lashes. On the fourth occasion, the punishment is death. (Articles 121 and 122). If two men "stand naked under one cover without any necessity", both are punished with up to 99 lashes; if a man "kisses another with lust" the punishment is 60 lashes. (Articles 123 and 124). If sodomy, or the lesser crimes referred to above, are proved by confession, and the person concerned repents, the Shari'a judge may request that he be pardoned. If a person who has committed the lesser crimes referred to above repents before the giving of testimony by the witnesses, the punishment is quashed. (Articles 125 and 126).
2)Lesbianism
The punishment for lesbianism involving persons who are mature, of sound mind, and consenting, is 100 lashes. If the act is repeated three times and punishment is enforced each time, the death sentence will apply on the fourth occasion. (Articles 127, 129, 130) The ways of proving lesbianism in court are the same as for male homosexuality. (Article 128)
3) Male homosexuality
Sodomy is a crime, for which both partners are punished. The punishment is death if the participants are adults, of sound mind and consenting; the method of execution is for the Shari'a judge to decide. A non-adult who engages in consensual sodomy is subject to a punishment of 74 lashes. (Articles 108 -- 113)
Sodomy is proved either if a person confesses four times to having committed sodomy or by the testimony of four righteous men. Testimony of women alone or together with a man does not prove sodomy. (Articles 114 -- 119)
No civil rights exsist in Iran to protect gays and lesbians. Discrimination is fully appreciated, and no organizations can be created to fight it because it is prohibited There are no laws to protect homosexuals from violence or harrasment. Articles related to homosexuality are not allowed in newspapers unless they are written in a negative point of view. Many gays have tried to seek asylum in a foreign country, but many have been turned down or deported back to their native Iran. Many European countries have been criticized for this because several of the men and women who are deported end up commiting suicide.
The year is 2007. Several highly developed and important countries are working to abolish anti-gay laws...Canada, Sweden, Holland, Spain.. and we still have those countries who are trying to murder homosexuals: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan just to name a couple. Killing gay people isn't solving anything, especially in a way that is so barbaric and savage. I did some research on the subject when I watched the Iranian president speak on YouTube..and it intrigued me to follow up on what they were discussing. The thing is, this subject has never really been one I am passionate about... but yesterday, following a huge family discussion with my incredibly Catholic family, I came to realize that even the most religious of people can discriminate in ways that are so inhumane. It got to the point that I was arguing with my grandma, a sweet little old lady, because she insists that if you ask God, he can change gay people. I disagree completly.. being homosexual is something you are born with. It isn't something you can just pray away or confess to a priest. Daily, families are torn apart because of this argument. If your son or daughter has a real problem, such as being an alcoholic or a drug addict, that seems to me to be more of a cause for worry then your child being gay.
http://www.globalgayz.com/g-iran.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20999705/
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/07/iran_executes_2.html
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