Why the animosity against this minority group?

'One of the things that really distinguishes humans from animals is our ability to feel kindness and compassion for the less fortunate.'

Minorities have rights, too, says Ambiga

vox populi small thumbnailSwipenter: Freedom from fear is a fundamental right. There are religions that also advocate that even animals should enjoy certain rights.

One of the things that really distinguishes humans from animals is our ability to feel kindness and compassion for the less fortunate and the disadvantaged.

For those who believe that we are all creations of God, why the animosity against this minority group?

Abasir: Why is it sense and sensibility only seem to come from people like Bersih chief Ambiga Sreenivasan? Why is it none of our so-called leaders speak with such balance?

Cala: I agree with Ambiga. Central to her argument is that while she may not endorse homosexuality, still as individuals, these people deserve to be treated with certain degree of respect.

They are, after all, one of us and we should not expect everybody to behave exactly the same due to biological or environmental factors.

Not too long ago, author Francis Fukuyama quoted Plato as saying that there are three parts to the soul: i) a desiring part; ii) a reasoning part; and iii) a spiritedness part (self-esteem).

While we understand the first two, it is the third part that makes an individual a true person. Without this recognition, the society is reducing him to a sub-human.

M Suresh Kumar: Ambiga, you do talk sense. If more and more humans behave in a humane way, everybody will receive due respect and recognition. Let us learn to understand and appreciate others as we want others to do the same to us.

Fz2379: We don't hunt down gays and homosexuals. There is no policy which discriminates against this group of people, but that doesn't mean we have to condone them by promoting their deviant tendencies openly.

It's a fact that we have homosexuals, gays and lesbians who are gainfully employed both in the public and private sector. Most of them are closet gays and there is no discrimination against them unless they courted troubled by indecent behaviour in public.

The rights of the majority must certainly override the rights of a minute group whose beliefs and practices are clearly against the teachings of all religions on this earth.

Kleo: Fz2379, I don't understand this irrational fear of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.

Seksualiti Merdeka is a platform for educating the public on human rights, not to promote what you consider to be deviant tendencies.

Simple questions with simple answers: Do LGBTs have rights? Yes. Are some of these rights trampled on? Yes. Consequently, the public need to be educated on these rights.

And if any of us still believes as Fz2379 does that because we don't "hunt down gays and homosexuals", they are perfectly well-treated in Malaysia, I'd suggest you actually make friends with one and listen to him or her.


Khaled: Cabinet to let AG decide on UUCA appeal

RR: The judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal was based on sound and fundamental jurisprudence though the single dissenting judgment was shallow, toeing the line of the government.

It is basic - that the constitution is supreme to Parliament. The fact that the cabinet is appealing means the decision will most likely be overturned at the Federal Court.

I hope the Federal Court judges will uphold the fine judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal by reiterating that the constitution cannot be overrun by Parliament.

Windingup: The cabinet is wrong. The Court of Appeal actually affirmed the spirit of separation of powers.

The legislature is supposed to make the laws, and the judiciary is supposed to interpret those laws. That is exactly what the Court of Appeal did, it interpreted the law.

It just so happens that in this particular case, the court decided that Section 15(5) is unconstitutional. And it did so without interference from the legislature or the executive. That is a textbook example of separation of powers.

Tailek: The Umno-controlled cabinet speaks of "separation of powers" when it suits them.

What happened to this doctrine when the court was moved to intervene in the Perak constitutional crisis to install BN's Zambri Abd Kadir as MB.

Where was the separation of powers then when the state parliamentary proceedings should have been sacrosanct and inviolable by the courts.

KeepYourHead: Section 15 was added in the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's time to repress the students.

His followers want to do the same now, not knowing that times have changed and the people have risen.

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