There are times when I cannot remain silent.
I don’t own a TV, I don’t watch the news but I do keep abreast of things that are happening on the world stage. Last night, as I was relaxing before bed, this:
US votes against UN resolution condemning gay sex death penalty,
joining Iraq and Saudi Arabia
“America one of 13 countries on Human Rights Council to oppose historic vote.”
FOURTEEN countries think killing people because of their sexual orientation is OKAY. Think about that for a moment, just really stop and think about that. Killing people is OKAY. That’s what this vote says. I don’t like how you live, so it’s alright with me, for you to be killed.
And so I wept, and still today, I weep.
I grew up in the shadow of World War II. I say in the shadow of because 1955 was ten years past. I had family who lived through events in Europe that no one should ever experience. I was raised on the stories, stories of hatred, of atrocity, of evil.
My mother grew up in Montreal when Protestants and Catholics hated each other. I grew up there when English and French hated one another. I have seen hatred first hand. I know what happens when life, any life, is disrespected and considered unworthy of being allowed. The world continues to be a scary place for too many people who we consider “less than”.
I have three adult children, each of them, one through marriage, belong to a group of marginalized, disenfranchised members of North American society. Who are “they”, who are we, coming for next?
When we set aside the knowing that every life is precious and demands our protection, for any reason whatsoever, we are on the side of evil.
This is pure evil. There is no justification, no explanation that is worth one grain of salt for having voted against this resolution.
And this tells me, well along with events like transvestites being killed, and little news coverage of it, that too many people agree with this. It’s a slippery slope and too many nice looking, nicely dressed, nice whatever, people think this is okay in their heart of hearts.That’s what it looks like to me. We are embracing evil.
A part of me wants to say the canned “may God have mercy on their souls” but no god, of any kind, has mercy to spare for perpetrators of evil.
There is so much more I could say, and I have cut out bits and pieces over the three hours it took me to write this, but I’ll stop here.
For those who follow my blog and may be aghast that I wandered into this territory, I wish you well as you leave.
“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others
and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us,
and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak,
the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Your words are so moving and true. I had not heard about this UN resolution and I expect others will be as outraged as you and now me. (((HUGS)))
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thank you for your awareness and support., hugs are very welcome on this day when I fear for the future of our world.
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Holy crap! I had not heard that either. Dark days for sure
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On days like this I wonder why the human species!
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💙 I feel more brave speaking my heart lately too. I’m writing another book called What Now. What now is this standing in our hearts I think and holding our ground…the choice to stand with our hearts or support the dark. I love you. xx
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this brought tears. I celebrate you. I love you. I rejoice in your preence in my world.
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Your words touched me deeply too… I could feel the 3 hours of erasing and writing. I know this pain. I know the dark and love are both getting louder. Perhaps it will be strong enough to transform. I know it can happen because I transformed dark in my own heart. You would t know it to read my words….but there was this darkest dark in me and it was transformed. I have hope for us because I have seen the impossible.
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Yes, and most days I see that light, that miracle in so many. I have faith we can heal this world just as we have and continue to heal our own self.
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And it’s so very painful to watch I know.💙
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It is indeed and yet, we should feel pain over these things. And so we go on. Being light, being love and love is always, ever, the best response.
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Yes💙 …
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My heart is breaking too. xx
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yes, let’s continue to take care of our self and of each other.
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….Soon we’ll see we’re all the same self.
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Gentler doesn’t mean easier. xx
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Evil lurks behind smiling faces. I hadn’t heard of this resolution and am aghast. Thanks for bringing it to my
/our attention.
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We have much work to continue doing, those of us who carry a torch of light.
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I have reblogged this because I think many thinking people do not know of the Resolution and the way the US has voted
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Thank you dear Judith. I hesitated to write about it but, eventually, was compelled to do so.
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Never apologize for speaking truth my friend, or calling out injustices. These are dark times for us here in the US…those of us who believe in goodness and equality and love and a god who would never condone the evil that has the national podium these days. There are a great many of us who do no agree with what is happening in our country, and who are doing everything we can to right the wrongs. Please know that and send us your love and strength. xoxo
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Thank you for your encouragement. I do know and am a great cheerleader of those who are fighting the darkness. More and more, we need to speak up and to stand less all we lost.
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Me again, Joss. FB playing up today and I cant repost it there and there’s no reblog link on your page. So maybe if you out it on FB then I could share it
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I see you did manage to share it there. I will see about adding a reblog here
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I read about the UN vote and could not believe it. Dark times indeed in the US. It seems every event divides us more. We must speak up!
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We really must. It feels like the times are getting darker and darker. We have to keep being the light. I don’t know what else to do
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I was born during WWII, in an area being bombed practically every night because of its industries. I was told it was a bad time. But the longer I live, the worse the times seem to get. God help us!
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I continue to wonder why our species seems to evolve backward!
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Bravo to you, Joss. This world is slipping fast down a dangerous slope, mostly due to the bigoted and self-righteous people in charge of it. I’m wondering when all of us who’ve been encouraged to seek longevity through healthy living living or advances in medical care, are going to be considered such a nuisance and burden that we need disposing of through euthanasia D: My husband says it won’t happen in our lifetime, but I’m less optimistic. Back in 2013, I departed from my usual optimistic and uplifting posts to write this one https://sarahpotterwrites.com/2013/03/14/the-slippery-slope-to-compulsory-euthanasia/
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We are living in scary times wondering about history repeating itself. I confess to being selfishly glad I live in Ecuador where the elderly are revered and treated well.
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Perhaps I should move to Ecuador, too!
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A heart warming thought expressed in this past of yours. Hatred and violence is propagating at a reckless rate, but it’s your insightful words that restore my faith in humanity😊
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Wow. Thank you. We need to keep doing that for one another. Restoring each other’s faith in humanity.
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Hi, Joss 🙂 Long time! Just came by to visit and saw this post. Hopefully you’ve seen the clarification made by our state department on this….The Obama administration ALSO voted NO on this resolution, for the same reasons. We love our LGBQT folk here in the US. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/following-backlash-us-clarifies-un-vote-death-penalty-gays-n807151
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Yeah, it’s a longstanding vote, doesn’t make it better. The LGBTQ community rarely feel the love and that’s a worldwide thing. Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
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