Tag: human-rights

Viva La France (2024)

On Monday the 4th of March 2024 the French Senate in a vote of 780 for and 72 against, enshrined the right of access for women to a medical termination. Much is being made that France is the first country in the world to enshrine these rights within its constitution but that may require some qualification. These rights or very similar were enshrined into the constitution of Yugoslavia in 1974. Of course Yugoslavia no longer exists but the rights have been inherited by Serbia, with a somewhat vague ‘right to decide on childbirth’ which is perhaps close enough.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/03/04/france-abortion-law-enshrined/72843228007

The important point for me is not that this amendment has been made to or will soon be ratified within the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. What is noteworthy in my opinion is that the right of a woman to undergo an abortion is still news today. It really shouldn’t be and it is perhaps worth noting that abortion has been legally available in France since 1975.

This constitutional amendment seeks to protect sexual and reproductive rights, in the face of an increased global erosion of such rights. This threat to freedom is primarily led by a vocal minority in the United States of America. The overturning of the famous Roe versus Wade ruling in 2022 has sent a warning to the more liberal countries of the world.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/04/france-abortion-constitution

The most shocking aspect of this story is not that the amendment was proposed, it is not even that it has been passed but that such an amendment is considered necessary in a developed country. I reiterate that it really shouldn’t be. We are living in the twenty-first century, sexual and reproductive rights are now our basic rights. These are matters that should not be on the political agenda today; the issue of abortion was settled decades ago and it is deeply concerning to me that these rights could ever be threatened.

The legislatorial bodies of the French Fifth Republic are to be applauded for the stand that they have taken. They have sent a message to the more backward countries of the world but sadly, I think that message may still be ignored by the more insular nation states.

Perhaps it is an example of learning from history but is it not remarkable that it is old Europe who is setting the agenda in regard to civil rights?  It is those ancient states, those with an awful and bloody history of persecution and discrimination, who now lead the way. Today France has declared itself to be the true land of the free, viva la France!

American Christianity & Politics
The Mad, Mad World of Internet Christianity.
Statement on ‘Roe versus Wade’ 4th May 2022
The hate-filled world of You-Tube
The Fourth of July has been cancelled (2022)
La Marseillaise ~ Mireille Mathieu.

Too much objection

‘I will not criticise people for their belief, nor will I criticise people for their lack of belief. I will however, criticise people who may criticise others for their belief or for their lack of belief as that is quite different.’

I wrote the above short paragraph on the 25th of January this year (2024) and it was clearly a response to some news items or similar. Clearly the circumstance of how people object to various things that do not necessarily affect them was on my mind. Unfortunately the specific catalyst that ignited the above thought is lost but it still brings to the fore questions that I should address.

https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/713608971702910976/betty-white-quote

Despite being an admirer of Mary Grant-Seacole, I have little interest in the activities that surround Black History Month. Despite my being an admirer of Oscar Wilde, I have little interest in Gay Pride events. Despite being an admirer of female writers far too numerous to mention, I have little interest in women’s history month. I am not black, I am not homosexual and I am not a women. These statements in no way whatsoever are to be interpreted as being declarations of opposition. They are not even pronouncements of apathy. I absolutely and without any reservation whatsoever, support the principles encapsulated by such initiatives. That isn’t the point and furthermore, some related facts may still on occasion attract my attention.

To quote myself from a previously published post: ‘I am not black but I believe that black people should have equal rights. I am not a woman but I still believe that women should have equal rights. I am not a homosexual, yet I believe that gay men and gay women; should all have equal rights. These statements should not need to be said, it should not be necessary for me to make such a declaration today. Yet we live in a world that sadly requires such obvious statements to be emphasised repeatedly. This is because we live in a world of hatred, bigotry and prejudice.’ The hate-filled world of You-Tube (2022).

The question I ask is really quite simple, why do people object to Black History Month, Gay Pride and Women’s history month when the activities do not directly affect them? This puzzles me. I have no objection to these various initiatives taking place; so why does it bother others? I neither support a football team nor have any interest in the Olympics but I am not going to campaign against either. The objections people express towards the above named leaves me confused and that is because they don’t really convey their objections in an articulate manner.

https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/724752207151562752/liberal-a-definition

Of course I may myself being of a liberal disposition, not be inclined to comprehend any objection raised. It could be argued that my mind-set and my own personal worldview, disinclines my ability to understand these opinions. Furthermore, I have in the past served as a representative on a local Interfaith Forum and I have attended several Pagan Pride events. This serves as an illustration of my own personal philosophy.

My somewhat open and broad-minded approach to spirituality does rather predispose me towards a degree of syncretism. I consider that the Truth is too great to be confined within one path but can be found at the heart of all faiths. I regard all faiths (almost without exception), as deserving of a ‘seat at the same table’ and access to a ‘level playing field’ to use modern terminology.

The Language of Spirit

In my opinion and I do acknowledge that many may not value my opinion, yet I am still going to share it. People, the groups mentioned and many others have the right to assert their identity. These groups have the right to celebrate the achievements of their various social groups and the influence members of those groups have had upon our wider society.

This doesn’t of course answer my original question and I am not now in any way certain that it can be answered. What is this objection that people have towards those who may be on a different life journey? For example, I don’t like tattoos or body piercings, so what? All that means is that I am unlikely to have either.

https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/703971546451099648/what-if-i-told-you

Christians object that others are not Christian; Muslims object that others are not Muslim and both attempt to impose their own ‘laws’ on other social groups. They have no right to do this. Militant atheism is as objectionable as any form of religious fundamentalism. People have the right to faith and the right to practice that faith. People without faith have the right to live in peace. What no one has a right to is the imposition upon others of their own personal religious or political views. That is the point.

Why are people so concerned with how others may live their lives? Why does it anger people so much? Why the distress that others may live a life outside of their own socially accepted normality? These people should concentrate a little more on their own lives and put their own house in order before voicing their objections.

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:4-5 Legacy Standard Bible (2021).

https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/692545964033146880/i-mind-my-own-business
I am against the shepherds
A defence of the ‘Alphabet’ People
Bright morning star – how you have fallen
Winston Churchill in a letter to his mother (1897)
Weltanschauung – Môn vision du monde
An Ethical Extrapolation
GOD LOVES YOU
The hate-filled world of You-Tube
The Wacky World of You-Tube
IN DEFENCE OF INTERFAITH
My Journey With Interfaith
American Christianity & Politics
The Mad, Mad World of Internet Christianity.
Barack Obama – Speech 28th June 2006.
The Internet, Keyboard Warriors and Standards of Behaviour.
Perceptions – Misconceptions & Change
SELF-IDENTITY & LABELLING
Young Earth Creationism and the Televangelist Movement
FROM THE ARCHIVE – LIVING IN TWO WORLDS (2018)