5 Things Thursday

A fellow blogger created this series called '7 Things' and I found the idea extremely appealing as it would bring variety to each post. Instead of rambling on about one subject for 12 000 characters which could possibly result in a reader (or even myself) losing interest, I am able to include multiple topics without making them seem inane or irrelevant of one another.

So here goes, a wrap up of the week that was:

1) The Oscar Pistorius Trial. No matter where one goes in South Africa, we are bombarded with up to the minute coverage of the trial. We have a dedicated radio and television channel broadcasting the proceedings live (a world first - fist pump for SA), newspaper headlines lead with the latest developments - it's even all over social media. Now in its' third week, and with no prospect of the end in sight, some members of the public are getting frustrated. What started off as interest has been replaced with boredom. The fact of the matter is he shot dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. No question about it. Now, the issue at hand is whether it was premeditated or self defence, and the sentence he receives will be based on this outcome. Witnesses of all calibers have been called from neighbours of the paralympian athlete to experts from the USA. Everyone has an opinion on what happened that fateful night, but only the court's verdict counts. 

2) The disappearance of flight MH370. The aircraft, carrying 239 people, disappeared on 8 March. No distress signals were transmitted, and according to engineers all modes of communication were severed  a mere hour into the flight, setting off theories of a hijacking. If it was a hijacking, wouldn't the captors have made contact and given their demands? I find the "Lost" theory very hard to believe. Basically the aircraft has landed on some remote island (possibly as part of the hijacking). Seriously, it's a Boeing. It requires a certain distance of runway on which to land, and wouldn't someone have spotted the plane? The chances of these people being found alive are virtually zero. They would not have had enough supplies on which to survive, and if the aircraft landed/crashed into the sea, they would have required immediate rescue. Another interesting theory (and one I'm tending to agree with) was compiled by Chris Goodfellow, a pilot. Read it here.

Earlier today, assumed pieces of wreckage off the western coast of Perth were spotted via satellite. Ships from multiple nations converged on the area but the weather was poor and visibility limited. The search will resume tomorrow, and hopefully some closure will be brought to the matter. I can't imagine what the families of those on board may be experiencing, but to find out what happened may ease their sadness somewhat.

3) William celebrates his birthday this Sunday! My other half will be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the day of his birth, and we are going to spend the day doing whatever he wants. It's only right seeing as though it is his birthday. Happy happy birthday my love, I wish you a year of health, wealth and happiness and a lifetime of joy in abundance.

4) Tomorrow is Human Rights Day in South Africa. Ramsey Clark said "A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no-one can take from you." Be kind to your fellow man, and accept them for who they are. Humanity has fought enough fights. Live and let live.

5) This week I received my first compliment from my boss! Happiness is. 

Wishing you all an awesome long weekend. 

The Problem With... Uganda's New Homsexuality Laws

People the world over reacted in shock and disbelief at this week's human rights abomination.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni stated on Monday that he finds homosexuality "disgusting", and proceeded to sign off an anti-gay legislation that includes life prison sentences for repeat offenders.

Excerpts from his statement, follow below (source News24):

"I have failed to understand that you can fail to be attracted to all these beautiful women and be attracted to a man,"

"That is a really serious matter. There is something really wrong with you," he said.

"Homosexuals are actually mercenaries. They are heterosexual people but because of money they say they are homosexuals. These are prostitutes because of money," he said, asserting that he had taken the time to get scientific advice before signing off on the law.

"No study has shown you can be homosexual by nature," he said. "That man can choose to love a man... is a matter of choice. After listening to the scientists, I got the facts.

"Can somebody be homosexual simply by nature? The answer is no."

Well, Mr President, let me say as a heterosexual South African, that I find your comments disgusting and your lack of knowledge appalling. How did you ever get voted into power? 

Strangely enough this logic sounds familiar - anyone recall Jacob Zuma's ideology to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS? Yes, a shower and some Life Buoy soap - as you do.

This is the very logic that is withholding the African continent from progressing from a third world dimension. Narrow mindedness such as this will hinder growth and development, which is both sad and unfair.

His thoughts on gay oral sex were as follows:
                 
"It is not healthy. You can contract STD [sexually transmitted diseases]. You push the mouth there, you can come back with worms and they enter your stomach because that is a wrong address. You can also contract Hepatitis B," he said.

The poor English and grammar in this statement alone is cause for concern, but the fact that he refers to a component of the human anatomy as an "address" is particularly worrying.

Museveni warned critics of the law not to push the country on the matter.

"I advise friends from the West not to make this an issue because if they make it an issue the more they will lose," he said. "This is social imperialism. To impose social values of one group on our society"

"I would advise Western countries, this is a no-go area," he said. "I don't mind being in a collision course with the West. I am prepared."

Unfortunately the west did not heed your warning, Mr President, and have since issued a statement opposing your views. In my personal opinion, directly challenging the west, or the leader of the United States of America rather, will not end well.  Recently the US amended the constitution to recognize same sex marriages, so Mr Museveni's episode undoubtedly hit a soft spot. The US have threatened to reduce the amount of economic aid it administers to Uganda based on this travesty. 

Has humanity not suffered enough oppression (racism, gender discrimination) that now we need to add same sex couples to the list? 

Love knows no boundaries, be it gender; race or creed.

Live and let live.