Therion

Dec 3, 2008

Spanish judge rules against crucifixes in the classroom

A Spanish judge has ruled that crucifixes on the walls of classrooms contravene the secular and neutral nature of the Spanish constitution.

A parent together with a local secular association complained about crucifixes in classrooms at the Macias Picavea state school in Valladolid. As a result of the ruling the school must now remove all religious symbols from classrooms and public spaces.

This seems obvious ... it is after all a state school. Spain's Education Minister, Mercedes Cabrera, said "the content of this ruling corresponds exactly with the provisions of the constitution and the secular character of the State.”

Despite the requirements of the constitution, Spanish Catholics have persisted in displaying their symbols as though Spain was still back in the days of Ferdinand and Isabella.

The Vatican's mouthpiece, L'Osservatore Romano, said that the decision to remove crucifixes from classrooms was motivated by 'anti-Catholic hatred.'

No, it was motivated by a desire to maintain school spaces that are neutral and welcoming for all students irrespective of their religion or lack-of-religion.

There is also the issue of the crucifix itself. Christians are so accustomed to seeing it - they think of it as just another symbol of the faith. But for a young student who comes from an agnostic or atheist family, it could be quite disturbing to have a bloodied human dangling from a wooden cross while you are trying to focus on math.

Crucifixion was a barbaric form of torture. While Christians might find special meaning in the depiction of Jesus on the cross ... for others it might simply be disturbing depiction of extreme cruelty.

Belgian TV host Tomas de Soete stars in Hitler ads

What is it with the Hitler fetish on the Belgian public broadcaster? National broadcaster, VRT, got into hot water not so long ago for featuring Adolf Hitler's favorite meal on a cooking show. The show was canceled.

Now another Hitler row has erupted. VRT is being criticized for using ads featuring Hitler to promote a travel show. The show airs on Canvas, a channel owned by VRT.

The Hitler ads depict the show's presenter, Tomas de Soete, giving the straight arm salute while posing stripper-style wearing only pants and a swastika armband.

The ads ran in a nationally circulated magazine associated with the daily De Morgan.

VRT claims the ads were part of an effort to expose 'travel cliches' in the travel industry. The caricature appeared under the headline 'Discover the real Europe. Not the cliches."

It's an attempt at campy humor but not everyone gets it. Michael Freilich, the editor of the Antwerp Jewish weekly, Joods Actueel, said the ad proves VRT looks for any excuse to portray Hitler.

Freilich believes that the Hitler ad may be pay back for complaints lodged about Hitler's favorite dish on the cooking show. He added that the Jewish community was furious about the ads.

Last report VRT has withdrawn the ad after being deluged with complaints.

Dec 2, 2008

Vatican opposes UN resolution to decriminalize homosexuality

France currently holds the rotating EU Presidency. It drew up a draft declaration that condemns "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity". All the countries of the European Union have signed on.

On December 10 France will submit the resolution to the UN - a date that as it happens is the sixtieth anniversary of the UN declaration of human rights.

The French resolution will help to give weight to the evolving international effort to counter discrimination against women and homosexuals. A resolution of this sort could well lead to a more formal UN resolution down the road, so from a human rights standpoint it is an important step in the right direction.

The Vatican ... surprise, surprise ... has come out in opposition on the grounds that such a move would formally condemn discrimination against homosexuals and so possibly encourage gay marriage.

The Holy See's permanent representative at the UN, Monsignor Celestino Migliore, said that a UN resolution might pressure countries opposed to same-sex marriage to soften their position. Migliore informed a French Catholic news agency that the Holy See would oppose such a resolution.

More to the point, Migliore and the Vicar-of-Christ don't want to see homosexual relations 'normalized' if they have any say in it - most especially if it pertains to the issue of marriage. They rest easier knowing that the tools of conformity are firmly in place in those countries that relegate homosexuals to the shadows or even to the gallows. Calling for an end to discrimination against gays from a UN platform might lead to ... well ... Lord knows what.

You don't have to look far to find evidence of homophobic views among senior RC clergy. The recent 'psychological guidelines' for evaluating candidates for the priesthood was released by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education. The head of that body, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, has described homosexuality as a "deviation," "irregularity" and a "wound."

An Italian mainstream paper, La Stampa, described the Vatican's opposition to a UN declaration as "grotesque." The editorial pointed out that homosexuality is punishable by death in some societies, and went on to say that the Vatican was afraid of "a chain reaction in favor of legally recognized homosexual unions in countries, like Italy, where there is currently no legislation."

Franco Gillini, president of the Italian gay rights group Arcigay, said the Vatican's reasoning smacked of "total idiocy and madness."

Canadian opposition parties form accord in effort to oust Harper

The Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democrats signed an agreement Monday with the aim of forming a coalition government. They have a written pledge from the Bloc Québécois to stand by the accord for 18 months.

Liberal leader, Stéphane Dion, said the parties reached the accord after watching the "sad spectacle" of Harper's conservatives doing nothing while other countries acted to confront the economic crisis.

Dion said: "Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action."

NDP leader Jack Layton called on Harper to accept the verdict of his colleagues in the House.

Layton said: "Prime minister, your government has lost the confidence of the House and it is going to be defeated at the earliest opportunity."

Harper, one of the biggest political game players around, reacted by accusing Dion of "playing the biggest political game in Canadian history."

He described the move as ... an attempt to govern under threat of veto by "socialists and separatists."

Harper has failed to win a majority each time he has asked Canadians for a mandate. His minority status though hasn't changed his high handed tactics. Harper can say what he wants about the parties opposing him, but acting together they will be more representative of Canadians as a whole than he could ever hope to be - even with a different hairdo.

Venice photos : historic center of the city flooded

Venice has experienced its worst flooding for 20 years.

The sea level on Monday was around 61 inches (156 centimeters). Most of the streets in the historic center were under water.

The flooding was so bad workers were unable to put the wooden walkways in place that are normally used during flooding.

Dec 1, 2008

Rev. Joseph Illo : priest tells Obama voters they need to confess

A California priest, Joseph Illo, has urged his parishioners to attend confession if they voted for Barrack Obama. Confessionals are those boxes that Catholics get into in order to mumble their sinful doings to a priest hunched on the other side of a partition. A bizarre concept in itself.

In Illo's lofty judgment, Obama supporters are unfit to take communion because of the president-elect's position on abortion. Parishioners require the services of the confessional to attain the appropriate 'state of grace.'

In a letter to 15,000 members of the St Joseph's parish, Illo wrote:

"If you are one of the 54 percent of Catholics who voted for a pro-abortion candidate, you were clear on his position and you knew the gravity of the question, I urge you to go to confession before receiving communion. Don't risk losing your state of grace by receiving sacrilegiously."

Illo isn't the only Catholic priest to offer this caution. A priest in Greenville, South Carolina, said that those who voted for Obama had placed themselves 'outside the communion of Christ's church.'

The 'pro-life' Roman Catholic stance on abortion is so dogmatic it has become an obstacle to progress. It is a position arrived at by theologians and others. It certainly doesn't reflect any stated concern of Jesus, since the words attributed to him in the New Testament include no explicit warnings against abortion whatever.

This wasn't because abortion wasn't practiced in his day. It was. Jewish law in fact requires abortion when the mother's life is at risk. Moreover it doesn't dignify the early-growth fetus with the status of 'babyhood' as do many pro-lifers.

The site Religious Tolerance, offers more insight into the Jewish view of abortion:

Halacha (Jewish law) does define when a fetus becomes a nefesh (person). "...a baby...becomes a full-fledged human being when the head emerges from the womb. Before then, the fetus is considered a 'partial life.' " In the case of a "feet-first" delivery, it happens when most of the fetal body is outside the mother's body.

The Babylonian Talmud Yevamot 69b states that: "the embryo is considered to be mere water until the fortieth day." Afterwards, it is considered subhuman until it is born.

"Rashi, the great 12th century commentator on the Bible and Talmud, states clearly of the fetus 'lav nefesh hu--it is not a person.' The Talmud contains the expression 'ubar yerech imo--the fetus is as the thigh of its mother,' i.e., the fetus is deemed to be part and parcel of the pregnant woman's body."

The extremist position of many so-called pro-lifers, is as much part of a cultural and political crusade as it is religious. At times anti-abortion activists are so fanatical, their attitude flies in the face of the very Christianity they claim to profess.

A vote for Obama : better confess!

Nov 30, 2008

Vittorio de Filippis : Libération journalist handcuffed, stripped and body searched by French cops

Vittorio de Filippis, an executive and former editor-in-chief of the Paris newspaper Libération, recently awoke to the sound of knocking on his door at 6.40 AM. Three cops were at the door - two men and a woman.

When the police entered the journalist's home, they informed him that they had a warrant to take him before the Tribunal de grande instance (TGI) high court in Paris. They refused to allow him to contact his attorney. An argument ensued, witnessed by de Filippis' children.

The journalist was ordered to get dressed and transported to Raincy police station, located near his home. He was informed that he had been arrested in connection with libel cases brought by Xavier Niel, founder of the internet company Free, in relation to articles written by Renaud Lecadre. These articles appeared in both Libération and the paper's web site.

Vittorio de Filippis was managing editor of Libération in 2006 when the Renaud Lecadre articles were published.

It appears investigating magistrate Muriel Josie issued the arrest warrant for de Filippis because she believed he had ignored her mailed summons. This was an extreme move on the part of Josie because de Filippis' lawyers were apprised of the details of the case - their numbers are listed in the phone directory, as is the number of Vittorio de Filippis.

After being handcuffed de Filippis was transported to the main courthouse in the center of Paris. He was forced to strip and subjected to a humiliating body search before being locked in a cell.

The following morning at around 10 AM, he was again forced to undress and once again subjected to a body search. This apparently occurred because Muriel Josie insisted that police follow procedure to the letter.

Following this treatment, he was taken to Josie's office. She refused his request to call his lawyers, and as a consequence, de Filippis refused to answer any of her questions. Josie formally notified de Filippis that he was being investigated in a libel case and he was released onto the sidewalk at the front of the court.

The Paris newspaper Libération is a left-wing daily. It has been a strong critic of president Sarkozy. The extensive powers of French police under Sarkozy's law-and-order initiatives allow much leeway when it comes to the treatment of alleged suspects. So it appears to be no coincidence that de Filippis was singled out for extraordinary treatment over a two-year old libel case that may draw a fine, but certainly not a prison sentence.

There is little doubt that these proceedings were designed to humiliate and 'punish' de Filippis. The police conduct under these circumstances was outrageous and has caused an outcry from those who believe that freedom of expression in France is under threat.

This from Reporters Without Borders:

"We are outraged by the unacceptable methods used against Vittorio de Filippis and their humiliating nature. Such a thing has never been heard of in France. To treat a journalist like a criminal and to resort to practices such as body searches is not only shocking but unworthy of French justice."

Washington Post coverage of story here.

Nov 29, 2008

Michael Wolff book : Rupert Murdoch 'despises' Bill O'Reilly

It's one thing for FOX news bully boy Bill O'Reilly to take flack from the left, he's used to that. But when criticism comes from the boardroom of News Corp., and from upper echelons of FOX itself, it's another matter.

Politico received a pre-publication copy of Michael Wolff's upcoming biography of Rupert Murdoch, titled The Man Who Owns the News. Turns out that Murdoch is embarrassed by his ownership of FOX news. In addition, he "absolutely despises" Bill O'Reilly.

It is not just Murdoch (and everybody else at News Corp.’s highest levels) who absolutely despises Bill O’Reilly, the bullying, mean-spirited, and hugely successful evening commentator,” Wolff wrote, “but [Fox News chief executive] Roger Ailes himself who loathes him. Success, however, has cemented everyone to each other.

According to Wolff, Murdoch's purchase of the Wall Street Journal was motivated in part by a desire to distance himself from the "the belligerent, the vulgar, the menacing, the unsubtle ... for the better-heeled, the more magnanimous, the further nuanced."

O'Reilly epitomizes a certain type of macho bravado with his almost pathological control needs and intimidation tactics. He's a journalistic thug with a big following.

When he brings on comedian-of-sorts Dennis Miller it's kind of like watching two middle-aged self-congratulatory smart asses pleasuring each other and it's not pretty.

O'Reilly appeals to people out there who like his authoritarian ways. They get off on watching him savage liberals or jumping all over people he loves to hate, such as Barney Frank.

Bill O'Reilly is an old dog who will never learn new tricks and he's reaching his expiry date fast. It's ironical though that Murdoch of all people, is embarrassed by the Factor host. Perhaps advancing years have a way of mellowing out even cynical and hard nosed news hustlers.

The Wolff revelations create a perception problem for O'Reilly because it's not just liberals doing the dissing any longer. It's big daddy upstairs.

Cool gift : Samsung BL103 10.2MP digital camera

If you're looking for a quality digital camera at an affordable price check out the seasonably red Samsung BL103.

Samsung BL103 specs include a 2.7-inch LCD display, 3x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom.

Here's the link to the detailed Walmart specs on the BL103.

Also eBay price and specs here.

The Walmart price is $69. A camera case is included for an extra $10.

Nov 28, 2008

Italian neo-fascist party offers parents $1,280 to name baby after Mussolini

An Italian neo-Fascist party, MSI-Fiamma Tricolore, is offering cash to parents who name their babies after war time fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, or after his wife Rachele. Parents stand to make 1,500 euros, roughly $1,280, for being Benito-enablers.

The MSI-Fiamma Tricolore party based in the far south of Italy is the descendent of Mussolini's fascist party. MSI is concerned that the names Benito and Rachele might be "at risk of extinction," particularly in the southern Basilicata region.

Benito isn't in the top 100 list of baby names for obvious reasons. In the decades following WW2 not too many Italian parents were keen on the idea of naming their child after a fascist tyrant who was murdered then hung upside down from a gas station roof with the aid of meathooks.

Mussolini's full name was Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini. Perhaps the MSI might consider paying $500 for babies named Amilcare or Andrea. That way when the kids grow up they won't be a target of Mussolini jokes. It would be a humane gesture.

They also wouldn't be burdened with the thought that they were named after a dictator who has passed into history leaving the following memorable quotes:

"People are like women, they go with the winning man."

“Let us have a dagger between our teeth, a bomb in our hands, and an infinite scorn in our hearts”

Italian neo-fascists offer parents money for Benito babies

Nov 26, 2008

Ok So-ri unfairly victimized by S. Korea's adultery laws

South Korean actress, Ok So-ri, had an affair with a friend of her husband. When hubby, actor Park Chul, accused her of adultery she admitted the affair.

After the affair became public, Ok So-ri attempted to challenge the constitutionality of S.Korea's adultery statute. She argued that the law was an infringement of human rights and was often used by husbands to take revenge.

Unsurprisingly, in a society in which the rules favor males, she didn't make much headway. The court ruled that adultery must remain a crime, saying it was 'damaging to the social order' - kind of ironical considering there is no law against incest in S.Korea.

Currently S.Korean prosecutors are demanding an 18-month jail term for Ok So-ri.

There is a huge double standard at play in S. Korean society. Law and punishment isn't the only disincentive facing women who engage in extra-marital relations. In many instances they are ostracized by their families - even shunned. By contrast, men who cheat, or even keep mistresses on the side, rarely risk the same level of humiliation.

Each year in S.Korea, more than 1,200 people are indicted under the adultery law. Roughly half that number are convicted.

At a news conference shortly after news of the affair broke, Ok So-ri was open about the problems in her marriage which she described as 'loveless.' She also said that sex was virtually a non-event ... an unusually frank disclosure in what is still a very conservative culture.

It is ridiculous that such personal matters should be investigated as a 'crime' worthy of punishment, but apparently S. Koreans are prepared to live with this. When they were polled on the subject, 70% said they supported the adultery law.

Giancarlo Gentilini : homophobic, xenophobic and with a fatwa on his head

Giancarlo Gentilini, former mayor, now deputy mayor of the northeastern Italian city of Treviso, suggested not so long ago that the police should "ethnically cleanse" homosexuals.

The deputy is on record as saying that city policemen should be given "the right to carry out ethnic cleansing against the faggots...here in Treviso, faggots and things like that don't have a chance."

Gay orientation has zero to do with ethnicity. Such fine distinctions don't appear to matter to Gentilini who is comfortable with sweeping generalizations, however muddled. In speaking of "faggots" he uses a broad brush to include "things like that." Presumably this means immigrants and any other 'lesser' humans who Gentilini believes should be "cleansed."

Gentilini is a member of the far-right Northern League party. The League was crucial to Berlusconi's election victory in Italy. It claims it isn't racist, but there is much evidence to the contrary. It's leader Umberto Bossi described African immigrants as "bingo bongos" in an interview and suggested opening fire on the boats of immigrants who tried to disembark in Italy. Another League member, Erminio Boso, proposed a separate train for immigrants so that Italians could avoid mingling with them.

Northern League anti-immigrant posters.

Gentilini's bigotry doesn't just extend to gays, he also views Muslims with withering contempt. Like many right-wingers he suffers from mosque-phobia and would like to banish any sign of Islamic worship.

"I want to see a revolution against those that want to open mosques and Islamic centers ... This also includes the members of the church hierarchy here who say that we should leave them alone to pray. No, let them go pray in the desert. I'll open a factory to give them the carpets they need to pray on in the desert."

This has irked a few Muslims. So much so in fact that a fatwa has been issued in response to Gentilini's "blaspheming" of Islam. The deputy mayor's name has turned up on a web site based in Lebanon - ilpadano.com - that lists the names of those to be taken out.

News of the fatwa has led to an increase in police protection for Gentilini, who appears to relish being the target of negative attention. He boasts that he is fearless. For a fearless man he certainly seems to require a lot of protection. He's been living under police guard for five years, as a result of his tendency to shoot off his mouth.

Gays and Muslims aren't the only target of his insults. He holds immigrants in low esteem - so much so, he believes they should be banned from using the benches in the public parks. Not content with merely banning them, Gentilini went further to suggest hunting them: "we should dress them up as rabbits and go bang, bang, bang with a rifle."

When you're wondering how much more xenophobic the deputy can become, he doesn't disappoint. Dogs are also on his hit list. He has an aversion to "non-local dogs" and said "We don't want foreign breeds here."

Gentilini claims that his racism, homophobia and random bigotry against any living thing that somehow or other causes him offence, is because he wishes to "defend my culture, my religion and civilization." The irony of course is that it is ignoramuses like Gentilini who are doing Italy the most damage by promoting xenophobia and contempt.

Giancarlo Gentilini : a big talking man

Nov 25, 2008

Fraudster Conrad Black pleads for clemency from Bush

Despite saying he would never request a presidential pardon, fraudster Conrad Black has asked for one.

The plea isn't in the least surprising. Strip away the British title (redundant in jail), the corporate clout, the coin, the connections, the privileges and perks ... and you have a guy with an identity crisis clinging to the last vestiges of his former self. Black's identity was essentially derivative. It depended to a large extent upon the survival of an image buoyed by a media that has always been a sucker for the Black legend.

Without the trappings Black is unconvincing. His communications from the Coleman Correctional Center are the sort of thing he probably imagines a cruelly maligned hero might write from his prison cell. He works hard at keeping up the impression of the wronged but decent chap who is struggling against the odds to keep the old chin up. Rah rah stuff, but important to his Canadian fans who buy into the 'great man under siege' version. Typically his view of his fellow inmates is patronizing - characterizing them as "quite interesting and affable, often in a Damon Runyon way."

When you state you're not going to ask for a presidential pardon, you stick to your guns. If Black had shown that type of intestinal fortitude a measure of respect would have followed. But the election of Barack Obama, who is no fan of white collar crooks, however well read, has put the wind up Black who now sees Bush as his last hope.

Despite the chipper communications, he wants out badly enough to risk losing face with a very long shot indeed. A shot made even longer by his recent complaints about American incarceration rates - all entirely valid, but coming from Black you have to smile. In his hour of need he suddenly finds something in common with the left he loved to despise. You would think he was speaking out on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Some of his communications create the impression he is a prof in residence. He isn't in jail doing time as 'a criminal' - no he's "writing and reviewing legal initiatives, as well as dealing with my students." The Coleman circus just demonstrates that Black will never be divided from his pompous self-regard, even as he goes down on one knee and grovels to Bush. He has nonetheless become a rather pathetic caricature of his former vainglorious self.

As for his chances of a pardon ... in the midst of dealing with an economy that was screwed over by the greed of corporate shysters such as Conrad Black, the very last thing Bush is likely to do is offer him a break.

Whizzinator : 2 men plead guilty to selling prosthetic penis for faking drug tests

George Wills and Robert Catalano ran an internet company called Puck Technology. Between 2005 and 2008 they sold a prosthetic penis, known as the 'Whizzinator' to help users avoid being outed in drug tests. This week both men pleaded guilty to selling the device in a Pittsburgh court.

The Whizzinator was sold with a heating element and fake urine. The company website described itself as "the undisputed leader in synthetic urine."

"The prosthetic penis is very realistic and concealing is simple, while our quality production and materials assures you that the Whizzinator will let it flow again and again, anytime, anywhere you need it!"

Wills and Catalano are looking at up to 8 years in the clink and a $500,000 fine.

It's not surprising that a product such as the Whizzinator was available. Rules and regulations are increasingly intruding on virtually every aspect of people's lives and liberties.

The use of performance enhancing drugs in sport is obviously a problem that needs to be addressed - also in work situations where there is a high risk element such as transportation. But testing has become more intrusive and it isn't always applied equally across the board.

What about the executive who goes out at lunch and downs a few too many beers and shooters or even a snort of cocaine? A lot of the rules and tests that apply to regular employees rarely impinge on the lifestyles of those whose privileged position shields them from scrutiny. As in many things, the old double standard is alive and well, so I'm sure some Whizzinator users saw it as a way of beating a rigged game.

Nov 24, 2008

Wendy Whitaker and Genarlow Wilson persecuted by stupid Georgia sex laws

This is a horror story if ever there was one.

A woman named Wendy Whitaker, now 29, has been on Georgia's sex offender list for more than 12 years. When Whitaker was seventeen, she gave a blowjob to a student who was just shy of his 16th birthday. They were both sophomores at the time.

The decision to place Whitaker on a sex offender list for this 'crime' was ridiculous. She is suing, claiming that she has endured cruel and unusual punishment.

This is an example of what happens when Christian sex-phobic attitudes and warped laws lead to the type of bizarre sentences that are way too common stateside. Georgia is a state that has laws on the books that make aspects of Islamic sharia seem kinda civilized. Believe it or not, oral sex between married partners was criminalized in Georgia until 1998.

But it gets worse. The laws that have impacted Wendy Whitaker's freedom are linked to another case. A while back in Georgia another 17 year old named Genarlow Wilson was convicted of having consensual oral sex with a 15 year old.

After Wilson's conviction, Georgia legislators came around to the view that the laws that put the star athlete away were a little err ... draconian ... a realization spurred no doubt by the public outcry over the case. They made some needed changes to the law. The sexual activity Wilson engaged in is no longer a crime in Georgia. But legislators voted to prevent the law from applying retroactively. They did this to ensure Wilson didn't get out of jail.

Some believe this decision was driven in part by racism. Genarlow Wilson is black and the girl who gave him the blowjob is white. There are some things that are sure to fan the flames of prejudice in Georgia and interracial teen sex is one of them - particularly when it's recorded on video as it was in the Wilson case.

The decision to keep the law from applying retroactively left Wilson and Wendy Whitaker branded as felons.

Wendy Whitaker has not only been victimized by the legal system, she's fighting to keep a roof over her head. In 2006 when she and her husband were looking for a home, they had to make sure they were compliant with Georgia's sex offender law that prohibited offenders from living within 1,000 feet of where children congregate. The Whitakers found a house that seemed suitable, only to discover later that a daycare in a nearby church placed them in violation of the law. As things stand, the Whitakers may have to face foreclosure.

All in all, an absurd and horrific price to pay for the 'crime' of engaging in consensual oral sex.

Nov 23, 2008

Vatican test for priesthood : blatant targeting of gay applicants

New steps taken by the Vatican to eliminate candidates for priesthood who are considered 'psychologically flawed' is consistent with the anti-gay stance of the the Pope. The psychological test the Church proposes is aimed at identifying gay men, rather than pedophiles.

In a recent Guardian article Peter Tatchell notes that:

The Vatican identifies homosexuality as a deep-seated personality disorder and psychological flaw; condemning same-sex acts as "grave sins", "objectively disordered", "intrinsically immoral" and "contrary to natural law". Even men who have a gay orientation but abstain totally from sex are condemned by the Pope as possessing a "tendency towards an intrinsic moral evil".

The targeting of gay priests, overlooks the fact that in many instances the perps in Catholic child abuse cases were heterosexual. The Vatican's anti-gay measures conflate pedophilia with homosexuality. This is a mistake that is often made and it has led to many false assumptions.

It is ironical that Vatican guidelines require priests to have: "a positive and stable sense of their own masculine identity".

Tatchell :

Surely all this makes Pope Benedict himself a prime candidate for psychological testing and exclusion? After all, he wears a dress, loads of jewellery, Prada shoes and has a penchant for high church, high camp ritual and theatrics. While I don't want to indulge in stereotypes, Benedict is not exactly macho. In fact, he's quite effeminate. He is also surrounded exclusively by men, has an unusually young and handsome male private secretary and has no known close friendships with women.

He would not be the first gay pope. There have been several others, most scandalously Pope Julius III (1487 to 1555), who was more a pederast than a homosexual. He took a 15-year-old boy as his lover and made him a cardinal at the age of 17, showering him with such wealth that he became one of the richest men in Europe.

This move on the part of the Vatican targets gay seminarians in an unfair manner. It is particularly hypocritical given that many of the senior clergy in the Vatican are themselves gay and might well have failed a 'screening test' that in some regards is rather like a psychological inquisition. There is no guarantee that the effeminate Benedict would have passed with flying colors ... 'manly' he is not.

The focus on homosexuality sends the wrong message. The Church should instead look at rooting out child abusers, but then of course this might rock the boot, because some offenders are well placed clerics who enjoy the protection of the Church. It's so much easier to launch a campaign against gay clergy ... but unfortunately it will still leave children vulnerable.

Bel Giorgio and Benny

Nov 22, 2008

Jamaican anti-gay reggae : homophobe Bounty Killer to play in UK

Jamaica has produced some stellar reggae talents over the years. More recently a number of reggae artists from Jamaica have been pushing an anti-gay message. An example is Rodney Price aka Bounty Killer. He comes from Kingston and likes to whip up crowds with his hate and violence lyrics. Price works hard at being bad. When he's on-stage bragging about killing gays he uses simulated gunfire to make his point.

Price has the type of act that gets a big reception in Jamaica where 96% of the people polled said they would oppose the legalization of homosexuality. His anti-gay lyrics includes gems such as "Faggots, I kill every one of them." He also issues threats, promising to drive "batty man" (gays) out of "our community."

There have been rumors that Price may have some gay connections himself and speculation that his anti-gay stance might in part be a smokescreen to play up his straight man credentials. Similar rumors have circulated about other Jamaican artists who perform songs with anti-gay content.

In the case of Beenie Man, Capleton and Sizzla it should be noted that they signed the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007 renouncing homophobia. They agreed to "uphold the rights of all individuals to live without fear of hatred and violence due to their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender." Performers who refused to sign up at that time included Elephant Man, TOK, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton.

Recently Price was given the green light to perform in the UK. This has rightly outraged many in the gay community. Peter Tatchell, parliamentary candidate for the Green Party makes the point that the Home Secretary has refused visas on many occasions to performers with racist views.

Tatchell said:

A white racist singer who advocated the killing of black people would be refused entry to Britain. Why the double standards? This singer encourages and glorifies gang violence - it is reckless and obscene for the Home Secretary to give Bounty Killer a visa and work permit.

Rodney Price is a messenger of hate and division. His lyrics include the lines "You know we need no promo to rub out dem homo" and "Mi ready fi go wipe out this fag."

Protests have had some success. In March two of Price's concerts in Bradford and Birmingham were canceled thanks to efforts by the human rights group OutRage! But more needs to be done to close this guy down so long as he puts himself forward as an advocate of hatred and violence.

Amy Winehouse is dead in Half Gallery

Morbid speculation about the death of Amy Winehouse that has been doing the rounds has now become the subject of a gallery exhibit.

Marco Perego has created a sculpture of Winehouse dead, lying in a pool of blood. The work is called 'The Only Good Rock Star Is A Dead Rock Star.' The sculpture is on show at the Half Gallery in Manhattan's Bowery district.

There is an accompanying figure of the author William Burroughs holding a shotgun. This appears to be an effort by the artist to conflate timelines in order to create a fantasy event, mirroring a real life tragedy. In 1951 Burroughs fatally shot his wife, Joan Vollmer, at a party in Mexico City while playing a game of William Tell.

A spokesperson for Winehouse said : “It’s a funny kind of tribute. The artist seems in thrall to a tabloid persona that is not the real Amy. People often use her image to sell their work.”

'The Only Good Rock Star Is A Dead Rock Star' is going for $100,000 US.

The ongoing photos that have been showing up on the net of Winehouse looking totally wasted and screwed up, have become a sort of sick joke. Problem is she facilitates the media and draws negative attention like a magnet.

Some feminists see a more general theme relating to violence-against-women in the Perego sculpture. But the work can also be seen as a symbol that isn't gender specific. The gender-neutral term "rock star" is used in the title. The sculpture is about celebrity, notoriety and the end that often follows the reckless who tempt fate one time too many. Maybe just seeing it might be a wake-up call for Amy W who seems to be careening down the road-of-no-return at breakneck speed.

Tags: Amy Winehouse, dead, Marco Perego, Half Gallery, William Burroughs

Nobody wants to shake Bush's hand or buy his memoirs

At the recent G20 Summit world leaders appeared to be ignoring Bush and the opportunity to shake his hand. He is pictured on video looking rather forlorn, kind of like the kid in the school yard who everyone secretly hates.

It looks as though the same disinterest extends to the prospect of Bush memoirs. Hardly surprising given the state of the American economy - not to mention the state of the American psyche after being dragged through a protracted, ongoing and extremely costly war.

There is more enthusiasm for Sarah Palin's 'oh-look-I-can-read-and-write' manuscript than a Bush book. More enthusiasm even for Tina Fey's book, reputedly contracted for $6 million.

To add to Bush's rejection complex there is the fact that publishers have been hot for his wife's memoirs. Laura Bush is more popular than the president and what she has to say in print likely to attract a keen readership.

Nov 20, 2008

Thor Steiner 'neo-Nazi' wear causes tensions in Germany

The district of Mitte in Berlin with its ethnic restaurants and international cinema isn't the type of neighborhood you would associate with neo-Nazis or their sympathizers. Appearances can be deceiving. This year a store named Tönsberg opened up in the district. It specializes in clothes popular with right-wing extremists.

The clothing is deceptive because you wont find any swastikas, thunderbolts, SS or other explicit Nazi symbolism. No ... Tönsberg caters to what you might describe as fashion conscious extremists.

Tönsberg promotes the clothing line of Thor Steiner. Back in 2004 the Thor Steiner line was hit with a ban because of the similarity between the company's logos and SS symbols. Following this the company rebranded with a new look that didn't fall foul of the law.

But even with the rebranding effort, Germans know precisely what Thor Steiner clothing represents, so the line has become a sort of subversive messenger for the far right. The words and symbols that appear on Steiner clothing seem fairly neutral - for example the word kontaktfreudig, which simply translates as "outgoing" in the sense of being "happy to make contact." Other symbols are more directly associated with Nazism. For example the use of the numbers "18" and "88" - which refer to "Adolf Hitler" and "Heil Hitler."

The British company Lonsdale has also become fashionable with right wingers in Germany. Some Lonsdale clothing features the letters "NS" which can be interpreted to mean National Socialism. The letter "N" is popular with the German right, which explains the popularity of New Balance shoes.

Much overt far right symbolism has gone underground and resurfaced in the form of fashion statements that can't be explicitly outed for Nazi content.

Even without explicit Nazi symbols the Steiner brand is highly provocative. Der Spiegel describes a recent incident that took place during Kristallnacht demonstrations:

The brand also stirred a recent controversy in Berlin after a plainclothes policeman wore a Thor Steinar shirt while on duty at a demonstration to mark the anniversary of Kristallnacht -- the Nazi-orchestrated pogroms that swept Germany on November 9, 1938. Dieter Glietsch, head of police in Berlin, said ignorance of the brand was not an excuse. "That a police officer walks around wearing Thor Steinar clothes during the anniversary of the pogrom calls for a thorough investigation," he told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. "It is not as if in Berlin people don't know what the label stands for."

Germany's domestic intelligence agency describes Thor Steiner as "an identifying mark for right-wing extremists." They can't do much about it though. A spokesperson for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution said: "We are only watching which symbols they use, to make sure they are not illegal.