An unknown but reportedly substantial number of gay Iraqis have died since Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a top Shiite cleric, called on his followers in October 2005 to kill gays in “the worst, most severe way” possible.
Yes, I can just feel the love and understanding practiced by the Islamists. The difference between the local Islamists in Iraq getting to live out their holy book fantasies and the Fundies in the U.S. is -
we won't tolerate that here - there is a
majority of people who would not allow that to happen.
In the States, people are shocked and outraged at violence against homosexuals. We, as the majority, shun people who believe in treating homosexuals this way. In fact, people who commit violence against homosexuals are prosecuted. It is a crime, and it is not encouraged behavior by any stretch of the imagination.
When a government is based on religion, as Iraq's, the extremists are free to behave extremely. Remember, the people of Iraq
voted to have a religious-based government. This empowered the fanatics even more. Bush's great experiment in democracy enabled this kind of shit, but the people of Iraq are the ones that voted for precisely this type of
religious environment. Remember all the happy purple fingers being proudly held up for the press? Well, this is the kind of religious crap they asked for.
Be careful what you wish for - it may come true. I hope like hell our own country doesn't go Fundie the same way. So far, we're holding our own. I'll be goddamned if I'll live under the religious utopia pricks like Robertson dream of.