Did the Pakistan government know Osama bin Laden was there?

[Gaige]

Originally Posted by June

But Queer folks in committed relationships who pay taxes like everyone else still don't have the legal right to marry under Federal law. Huh.

I'm just thankful to live in a country that doesn't execute someone because they're gay or lesbian. I'm hopeful the marriage issue will change.

[Jess]

Originally Posted by Handsome Devil

I'm just thankful to live in a country that doesn't execute someone because they're gay or lesbian. I'm hopeful the marriage issue will change.

I agree. The comments about cutting off aid to this and/or other countries, made me wonder why we provide so much aid to countries who still condone execution for homosexuals ( among other human rights violations).

It wasn't that long ago that the list of countries represented at the UN who approved of execution was released. I recall being surprised that Haiti, a country who was at that time ( and is still currently) trying to rebuild from such a huge disaster much due to the aid coming from the USA and other countries, is among those countries on the UN list.

Here's that list:

http://www.whatthefolly.com/2010/11/...gender-people/

( scroll to bottom for 79 countries)... just for a source.

Sorry for the derail. I guess it just made me think that if we should cut aid... cut it to ALL tyrants.

[Gaige]

Originally Posted by June

Handsome, I agree with you. Now, our government doesn't kill or imprison queer folks, but they used to. Even into the 60's we faced jail time unless we wore at least 3 pieces of "gender appropriate" clothing. And while our government may not officially sanction our deaths, we are still subject to dying at the hands of our fellow citizens just because we're gay.

I had no idea. Seems we've come a long way. I've been fortunate to never have experienced hate directed towards me because I am gay. Of course I live in a hardcore Democrat state.

[violaine]

i found these during a search for constitution, governance, law and justice, sustainable development, et c.-


http://www.nyulawglobal.org/Globalex/Pakistan.htm


http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/nations/pakistan.php

[Martina]

An article in the NYTimes today that one neighbor thought that the reason the people in the Bin Laden house were so security minded might be hat they had killed someone back in their home village. The implication is that they were afraid of reprisals. So there are other reasons for people to be security-minded in Pakistan. i am sure there are many. Anyway, it sounds like the neighbors weren't hiding his identity.

Edited to add: the U.S. government has announced that they haven't found evidence that the Pakistani govt knew where Bin Laden was.

[atomiczombie]

I see a lot of passion and anger and hurt going on in this thread. I am sad that we aim some of it at each other. I would just like to say that it is important not to get caught up in all-or-nothing-thinking. As Kobi said, there are shades of grey and distinctions to be made. There are lots of legitimate reasons to be angry and upset about the wars and conflicts between the US and other countries, as well as the injustices going on within our own shores. However, painting these issues with an all-good or all-bad brush tends to keep us away from the truth and stuck in our bad feelings. That's all I have for now.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by June

Handsome, I agree with you. Now, our government doesn't kill or imprison queer folks, but they used to. Even into the 60's we faced jail time unless we wore at least 3 pieces of "gender appropriate" clothing. And while our government may not officially sanction our deaths, we are still subject to dying at the hands of our fellow citizens just because we're gay.

Part of me rejoices that we no longer live with what went on back then. Yet, I do wish that US queer youth would do some research into "those days." The recent docs on Stonewall (40 year celebration documentaries) bring back a lot of what it was really like.