Nairobi — US President Barack Obama criticised the controversial anti-gay Bill that is being considered by Uganda's parliament.
Speaking during his appearance on Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast, Obama said: "It is unconscionable to target gays or lesbians for who they are. The measure being considered in Uganda is odious."
The organisation that sponsors the breakfast, the Fellowship Foundation, has been associated with efforts to pass the bill, according to ethics group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
The law would punish sexual activity between persons of the same sex with long jail terms or death.
The bill, currently before the Uganda parliament, was sponsored by the Ndorwa West MP, David Bahati, from President Museveni's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
It proposes the death penalty for homosexual acts. The bill also extends the existing penalty of life imprisonment for anal intercourse to all other same-sex behaviour.
The bill has ignited international condemnation from around the world. "We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are," said Obama.
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" .. but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians .."
Here is another example of beguiling rhetoric from Pres Obama: He leaves it up to you make certain conclusions.
"conscience" as in "reason" and "moderation" - according to Ugandans/Africans or Americans/foreigners? [Subjective words indeed. We may ask: Does Pres Obama always determine AND do what is "conscionable"? That issue will be left for another thread.]
Surely we agree to punish pedophiles and murderers too - even if some charge that such punishment is unconscionable. Let them.
Surely, men of goodwill the world over may agree that it is unconscionable to invade a targeted country, rape, torture, kill and dislocate innocent people by the millions so as to secure their crude oil. Surely Pres Obama may not agree with that sentiment.
Surely we may think it unconscionable for one to lob bombs (remotely) into a houseful of terrified civilians and thereby indiscriminately kill scores of kids and their mothers - in the hope that someone opposed to a foreign military invasion and occupation may be there. Yet Pres Obama, the western countries, our obliging UN and the selectively shrill human rights organizations may not agree that such an act is unconscionable.
Indeed, surely we can NOT always agree on what is 'unconscionable' ... and certainly not on the issue under consideration.
" .. the controversial anti-gay Bill .."
A bill of the country of Uganda, introduced by Ugandans, for Ugandans. Pray tell us: Who finds it "controversial" - Ugandans or the foreigners? If the controversy is mostly in the foreigners' minds why should Ugandans and the readers be unduly bothered?