George Bush’s Internatinal Jesus Brigade: a huge step back for countries battling the ravages of over-population and AIDS.
From Peru to the Philippines to Poland, U.S.-based conservative groups are increasingly engaged in abortion and family-planning debates overseas, emboldened by their ties with the Bush administration and eager to compete with more liberal rivals.
The result is that U.S. advocacy groups are now waging their culture war skirmishes worldwide as they try to influence other countries’ laws and wrangle over how U.S. aid money should be spent.
“We don’t expect to see the United Nations change, or Western Europe change,” said Joseph d’Agostino of the Population Research Institute, a Virginia-based anti-abortion group. “But with the Bush administration, pro-lifers feel there’s a real opportunity to stop the U.S. government from promoting abortion and sex education and population control in the Third World.”
Can you believe it? As if sex education and population control are bad things? The Jesus Brigade is also pushing abstinence eucation as the best way to stop AIDS, which it might be – if it worked. It never has before, mainly because the world is too sexually aware to go back to abstinence; it’s pathetically unrealistic, and it threatens proven-effective methods, like condom awareness/distribution.
It’s almost as crazy as believing we could force Western-style democracy down the throats of a factionalized Moslem country with ancient blood feuds between the clans. How strange it will seem when rational eyes look back at this odd period in America’s history….
1
By Gordon
I’ve always held the opinion that when you’re accepting financial assistance from someone else you have recognize that you’re also going to have to tolerate their input or interference as to how you’re managing that financial aid. If you don’t want to deal with their input, then make sure you can support yourself.
The US doesn’t necessarily have the right to tell other countries how to use the money they are giving them, but the do have every right to see to it that other countries aren’t using that money in a way that goes against something the US doesn’t agree with.
Personally, I believe the US should stop funding family planning policies in other countries altogether.
January 15, 2006 @ 8:48 am | Comment
2
By richard
but the do have every right to
see to it that other countries aren’t using that money in a way that goes
against something the US doesn’t agree with
This country believes in a woman’s right to have an abortion.
January 15, 2006 @ 4:53 pm | Comment
3
By shulan
Funny, I always thought the only state in the world that doesn’t agree that condoms are a great achievment is the Vatican.
January 16, 2006 @ 2:13 am | Comment
4
By Keir
But Gordon, how can you say that your country has “every right to see to it that other countries aren’t using that money in a way that goes against something the US doesn’t agree with?” You are a plural society. This isn’t China after all where 1.3 billion people all think the same and no one is capable of wining a Nobel prize for anything. You have contraceptives in the US, no? You allow abortion in the US, no? You teach sex education in US schools, no? So is it not immoral and hypocritical to damn those who do the same bloody thing?!
January 16, 2006 @ 7:08 am | Comment
5
By richard
Precisely. Awaiting Gordon’s response.
January 16, 2006 @ 7:16 am | Comment
6
By Ivan
A pluralistic society?
Jesus (or Brian) to the crowd: “You have to think for yourselves!”
Crowd, in unison: “Yes, we have to think for ourselves!”
Jesus/Brian: “No, no! You are all individuals!”
Crowd, in unison: “Yes, we are all individuals!”
…sorry, couldn’t resist. BUT, seriously, I too await Gordon’s response. Keir was bang on about how (“Life of Brian” notwithstanding the US IS pluralistic – furthermore, freedom of conscience is the cardinal right protected by the Constitution.
The US Constitution is dedicated to pluralism of thought – we have no High Priests and no official ideology except for mutual tolerance under the Rule of Law.
Well, Gordon? ….. 🙂
January 16, 2006 @ 10:54 am | Comment
7
By richard
Gordon, you there, bro’? Hello, here we are!
January 17, 2006 @ 3:26 am | Comment
8
By Ivan
Gordon? Gordon? (Must be away watching Fox News.)
🙂
January 17, 2006 @ 5:24 am | Comment
9
By Gordon
Kier wrote:
Kier,
While I don’t know what the percentages are of those who are for or against, I know there are many Americans here in the US who are not in favor of abortion and the current administration being as conservative as it is, does not support it either.
Personally, I do not agree with abortion, but I respect the right of a woman to make that choice for herself.
That being said, I do not believe the United States taxpayers have any responsibility to fund such controversial programs overseas. It’s none of our business. Those tax dollars could be spent far better helping those in need at home.
January 26, 2006 @ 7:07 am | Comment
10
By Gordon
Sorry Ivan, I got so wrapped up in my Fox News story that I forgot about this thread. 😛
January 26, 2006 @ 7:08 am | Comment
11
By richard
A solid majority of Americans are in favor of a woman’s right to choose. That is a fact. It is legal. It is the American way to give women this right. You said above, America has “every right to see to it that other countries aren’t using that money in a way that goes against something the US doesn’t agree with.” Keir proved this was an irresponsible and deranged statement and now you’re dancing as fast as you can to justify it. Only it’s not working. I suggest you call it a day.
January 26, 2006 @ 7:37 am | Comment
12
By Gordon
Do you really think the majority of Americans support the abortion policies in China?? I haven’t seen any figures on this, but I think I can confidently say, NO!
Abortion and family planning are controversial issues here in America whether Americans support a womans right to choose or not. I’m not dancing around anything, I simply meant that it’s not something we should be funding in other countries and while Americans may support a womans right to choose, the current government does not support abortion and it have every right to pursue it’s policies as it sees fit — which means ending financial support for those programs as it sees fit.
January 26, 2006 @ 9:49 am | Comment
13
By richard
Where did I ever say Americans support China’s abortion policy? Show me where. Otherwise, shut up, as your hero Bill O’Reilly accompanied by your goddess Michelle Malkin would say.
January 26, 2006 @ 5:34 pm | Comment