Apparently, in Russia, parliament just passed a bill making it illegal to tell children that gay people exist by 434-0. The bill goes much further than that of course in its defense of ‘traditional sexuality’. Russia, it seems to me is stepping ever closer to the totalitarian nonsense from which it all too recently escaped. In fact, I think its a more dangerous country now than it was before because it pretends to be a democracy.
It never ceases to amaze me how hard some countries, politicians or normal folks go to deny reality and restrict freedom. If there was one thing I could do to change the world it would be this – to teach people that its OK to have your religion, beliefs or views but to stop forcing them on others. This is where everything appears to go wrong when a person or a group believe that they have the truth and exclusively the truth and everyone else should be made to conform to their version of the truth.
Truth is elusive. In fact, I am not sure there is one version of the truth. We all see the world through the lenses of our bigotry and ignorance and it is not possible for us to see the truth. We are only capable of seeing our own warped version of it. As Jesus said “You see the speck in your brother’s eye, but pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. When you take the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Gospel of Thomas). Wasn’t he right!
Unfortunately, the world is full of people who think they are right and right exclusively whether they be the bible bashing Christians, fundamental Muslims or Vladimir Putin. This has apparently been the case for the last 2,000 years and has caused much unnecessary war, death, persecution and destruction.
Mr. Putin, people of Russia, I have nothing against you in fact, I encourage you to live by your belief systems and be true to your ‘truths’. But, if you really believe truth can be legislated then I feel sorry for you. If you really think a person’s sexuality can be dictated by law or that your children should be lied to about it, then I feel sorry for you and and the poor people who will suffer under such an approach (who will also be your friends, children, fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, countrymen etc..
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