The audacity of deviants
A column from The Daily Trust of Abuja.
Note especially this passage: What amazes some of us is the audacity of deviants. The end times are here with us. We will hear and witness many strange things. A minority with an aberrant lifestyle will be pushing to impose their behaviour on the majority. A people who ought to hide their heads in shame want to pressure us to accept and even promote their aberrant lifestyle. In much of the Western world, gay people have compelled society to tolerate or accept their lifestyle but we in Africa have resolutely refused to toe that line. This is one issue that Africa seems to have resolved not to follow the West despite intimidation from those quarters.
And this one: It is certain that if those who signed the genocide convention knew that the definition of genocide is so elastic that it also protects lesbians and homosexuals, they would have hesitated before signing. In these end times, we will continue to see the manifestations of the wiles of Satan. So-called international laws, conventions and treaties that call for universal obedience may be no more than satanic instruments designed and disguised in such a manner that very few may have the wisdom to decode that they are meant to advance the cause of Satan.
I find this clause interesting: "The African Communion of the Anglican Church in particular has been very consistent...." I don't expect that the writer was confused about institutional structures. I think this is more about a mindset, an "Africa-centrism." I'm not suggesting that's a bad thing; but I think we often miss just how social context plays a role in all the sides of our arguments.
Posted by mscottsail | March 22, 2007 1:47 PM
If this madness were not so very dangerous to the lives and limbs GLBT Nigerians, it would be a lot easier to say a resounding "whatever, dudes." As it is, the world will have to deal with this blatant disregard for basic human rights through the United Nations.
Is this really the camp in which Archbishop Williams wishes to pitch his tent? Is this the inhumane direction in which the Anglican Communion will choose - or be forced - to move?
Posted by christopherDC | March 22, 2007 1:52 PM
Wow, I'm still numb from reading the story. The situation is much worse than I ever imagined. When newspapers publish this kind of stuff, people die.
Posted by -frank | March 22, 2007 2:38 PM
So they threw South Africa off the Continent? Or is Chapter 2 Section 9 Part 4 of the South African Constitution just for poops and giggles?
Posted by (The Original) Mary Sue | March 22, 2007 3:08 PM
South Africa's struggle to overthrow apartheid created a peculiar liberatory dynamic that enabled recognition of gay humanity in the context of more general appreciation of non-racial, universal humanity. I had the extraordinary privilege of witnessing something of this; if interested, you can read more here:
http://happening-here.blogspot.com/2006/11/gay-marriage-approved-in-south-africa.html
Posted by janinsanfran | March 22, 2007 3:26 PM
Horrible, horrible, horrible.
But not just in Nigeria. The Polish government is preparing its own version of Clause 28!
Posted by Göran Koch-Swahne | March 22, 2007 4:39 PM
L'audace, l'audace. Toujours l'audace.
Posted by Bill Carroll | March 22, 2007 7:56 PM
David Neiwart in his blog Orcinus describes this kind of rhetoric, known as Eliminationism, in American culture:
"What, really, is eliminationism?
It's a fairly self-explanatory term: it describes a kind of politics and culture that shuns dialogue and the democratic exchange of ideas for the pursuit of outright elimination of the opposing side, either through complete suppression, exile and ejection, or extermination.
... Rhetorically, it takes on some distinctive shapes. It always depicts its opposition as simply beyond the pale, and in the end the embodiment of evil itself -- unfit for participation in their vision of society, and thus in need of elimination. It often depicts its designated 'enemy' as vermin (especially rats and cockroaches) or diseases, and loves to incessantly suggest that its targets are themselves disease carriers. A close corollary -- but not as nakedly eliminationist -- are claims that the opponents are traitors or criminals, or gross liabilities for our national security, and thus inherently fit for elimination or at least incarceration.
And yes, it's often voiced as crude 'jokes', the humor of which, when analyzed, is inevitably predicated on a venomous hatred.
But what we also know about this rhetoric is that, as surely as night follows day, this kind of talk eventually begets action, with inevitably tragic results."
Take a long look at his 12-part series. You'll find a lot of connections to some of the comments made at Virtue and other like-minded sites as well.
http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2006/12/eliminationism-in-america-i.html
Posted by hkins | March 23, 2007 2:36 AM