Gays Living in Shadows of New Iraq »

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  Poulenc

  Dec. 18, 2007, 11:08 a.m.

  "It is impossible to say how many gay men and women face persecution in Iraq. According to an Iraqi gay rights group, run by a former disc jockey in Baghdad named Ali Hili who now lives in London, 400 people have been killed in Iraq since 2003 for being gay."

  Institutionalized hate in action.
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  Poulenc

  Dec. 18, 2007, 11:48 a.m.

  One interesting point the story makes is that, before US arrival in Iraq, gay life could be conducted, albeit clandestinely.

  The rise of religious extremism, which has resulted, among other things, in neighborhood raids by Shiite and Sunni death squads, has made gay life in Iraq virtually impossible.
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  Spadecaller

  Dec. 18, 2007, 11:49 a.m.

  The dark ages of sexism and homophobia persists in Iraq and most of the other middle eastern countries. Shameful and cruel!
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  DeadXXXManXXXTalkin

  Dec. 18, 2007, 12:01 p.m.

  I was curious as to what the Qu'ran had to say about homosexuality, so read some on the subject.

  Not surprisingly, the Qu'ran actually has very little to say about it at all, and NO direct condemnation of homosexuality.

  There is a passage concerning adultery when it is commited between two men or two women, and punishment['hurt them both'[floggng?] and house arrest is suggested, but is it for the adultery or the choice of partner?

  then there are a few passages about the biblical account of Sodom and Gommorah, but these are likewise very vague. Is the coming wrath for homosexuality, 'excess' or inhospitable behavior? [Hospitality to guests is big deal in Arab culture]

  The fact is that for such a huge book, the Qu'ran has almost nothing to say about homosexuality, which to me suggests that the writer thought it wasn't that big an issue.

  Most of the textual religious fodder against homosexuality in Islam comes from the Hadith, a collection of sayings attributed to Mohammed.

  Hearsay
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  Poulenc

  Dec. 18, 2007, 12:21 p.m.

  Agreed, Dead. Strictures are imposed by priests and other religious leaders (and their followers), largely, to help perpetuate the faith.

  Thus the need for the heavy-duty management of sexual expression, with its emphasis on reproduction by a "coreligionist" husband and wife only.

  The less "recreational," nonproductive sex--which, among other things, might distract the faithful from their faith--the better.

  In Freudian terms, you want to channel all that libido into "safe" expression, e. g., work and devotion.
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  Poulenc

  Dec. 18, 2007, 1:25 p.m.

  Well, Dead, I think such strictures are conveyed through dogma via basic text, e. g., the bible, through countless iterations of same--that is, preaching--and so on.

  Where does all THAT come from? From human need, un-, sub-, semi-, and fully conscious divisions.
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  Poulenc

  Dec. 18, 2007, 2:18 p.m.

  Dead, we're in the realm of human psychology (if not also that of angels dancing on the head of a pin).

  Think about how you make a decision--any decision--say, about which car to buy.

  Partly, presumably, you do some homework. You "free-associate"--a part-conscious/part-not process concerning needs and practical matters. Then--ah!--there's the unconscious part--the "have-to-have" or "need-to-have" aspect. (And I'm only talking "car"--what about mate? Well, mate is mostly unconscious, no?)

  So, to answer your question, most decisions/motivations are based on a multitude of conscious to un- factors.
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  donotdoubt

  Dec. 19, 2007, 10:13 a.m.

  The answer is simple...move to Iran!!!
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  annestrong

  Jan. 29, 2008, 5:51 a.m.

  Thanks, bro! I'll pay ya later! :-) http://grandpa.theadultvideo.info

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