As a new blogger I tend to scan all the news items that reach my ear or eye for potential posting. I had planned to write today about the presidential elections in the US (almost the only issue in the papers anyway) but then I decided to write about Queen Sofia of Spain. Oh my God, I hear you think - do I want to know. May be you need to know.
This morning I found somewhere at the bottom of a page of my newspaper a small article on a newly published biography of Queen Sofia of Spain. Normally not such an interesting event if it did not cause such a stir in Spain. Queen Sofia lines up with a lot of other public and non-public figures who consider it necessary to express negative and discriminatory comments on gays. I will not repeat them. You can read them in the links I provide at the end of this article.
After furious protests in Spain, she off course denied to have ever said such things; she was misquoted etc. Why have people the idea that it is OK to express such hurtful things and get away with it ? "I did not mean it", "I was misinterpreted"; and everything is forgotten. Sometimes I have the impression that they are even surprised that it leads to commotion; "does not everyone believe this?". A simple answer: No. Thank God.
In the last week I read, without even looking for it, several similar articles: about a priest in London, who wanted all gays tattooed with a warning for sodomy, and a member of parliament in Canada, who wanted all gays executed (what sick mind yes, you read it will: executed). And the UK and Canada are civilized countries. If it was not that sad, I could have laughed about such ridiculous remarks.
What is this ? What have we (yes, we) done to deserve this ? Is this fear, hate, ignorance, religious extremism, looking for publicity ? We will never know because they all practice hit and run tactics: express insulting thoughts and then not be available for discussion and not taking responsibility. Why do we have to put up with this ?
Off course they have a right to express their opinion, but they can do that with respect and no offense. Especially public figures, like the Queen of Spain who represents (and is paid by) the citizens of her country, should be extra careful. In the end, the Queen was backed up by Government and that is a shame, because the Zapatero administration has an impressive record on gay rights' issues and fighting the dominance of the Catholic church. Spain can be proud of its achievements in this field; they have come a long way. Maybe behind close doors a few harsh words will be said ...
Well, that is written and it feels good !! Now I can go to bed.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,587673,00.html
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Gobierno/sale/defensa/impecable/papel/Reina/elpepuesp/20081031elpepunac_4/Tes
This morning I found somewhere at the bottom of a page of my newspaper a small article on a newly published biography of Queen Sofia of Spain. Normally not such an interesting event if it did not cause such a stir in Spain. Queen Sofia lines up with a lot of other public and non-public figures who consider it necessary to express negative and discriminatory comments on gays. I will not repeat them. You can read them in the links I provide at the end of this article.
After furious protests in Spain, she off course denied to have ever said such things; she was misquoted etc. Why have people the idea that it is OK to express such hurtful things and get away with it ? "I did not mean it", "I was misinterpreted"; and everything is forgotten. Sometimes I have the impression that they are even surprised that it leads to commotion; "does not everyone believe this?". A simple answer: No. Thank God.
In the last week I read, without even looking for it, several similar articles: about a priest in London, who wanted all gays tattooed with a warning for sodomy, and a member of parliament in Canada, who wanted all gays executed (what sick mind yes, you read it will: executed). And the UK and Canada are civilized countries. If it was not that sad, I could have laughed about such ridiculous remarks.
What is this ? What have we (yes, we) done to deserve this ? Is this fear, hate, ignorance, religious extremism, looking for publicity ? We will never know because they all practice hit and run tactics: express insulting thoughts and then not be available for discussion and not taking responsibility. Why do we have to put up with this ?
Off course they have a right to express their opinion, but they can do that with respect and no offense. Especially public figures, like the Queen of Spain who represents (and is paid by) the citizens of her country, should be extra careful. In the end, the Queen was backed up by Government and that is a shame, because the Zapatero administration has an impressive record on gay rights' issues and fighting the dominance of the Catholic church. Spain can be proud of its achievements in this field; they have come a long way. Maybe behind close doors a few harsh words will be said ...
Well, that is written and it feels good !! Now I can go to bed.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,587673,00.html
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Gobierno/sale/defensa/impecable/papel/Reina/elpepuesp/20081031elpepunac_4/Tes
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