Ghandi's Parks for Uganda

After an early T-day lunch with co-workers and dinner at Mic-Monk’s house, I realized that I’ve been really missing the energy swapping with humans.  I’ve been travelling so much that I feel out-of-touch and the weekend was, in itself, monumental.   I tap into Facebook (because Martha mentioned a few friends who might want to be my friend).

Half-way down, I see a “sign this petition” link from GayRights: “URGENT! The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament has vowed to pass the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill within the next two weeks, calling it ‘a Christmas gift.’”  It seems that the “leader” of Uganda can’t live with lesbians or gays.  I, on the other hand, can’t live without them.  This world is so much better with all human varieties, any good leader knows this fundamental. 

Here’s what I’m not going to do next—cry for civil minded Americans to sign the petition.  But, if you want to sign the petition, here it is: http://www.change.org/petitions/citibank-and-barclays-condemn-uganda-s-kill-the-gays-bill .   I’m going to take a different approach.  

The originator of this petition, Collin Scott Burton, has brought attention to an injustice in a part of the world that is remote.  However, nothing on this planet can be “remote” as that implies it is tucked in a corner or is difficult to see.   On a globe everything is on an arc’d surface and equally visible.  In any case, Uganda is difficult to see from America and Coll—you can call him that if you’re family—is bringing this horrific plan into our awareness. 

Here is his request: “Ask Citibank and Barclays to publicly condemn Uganda’s ‘Kill the Gays’ bill, and send a loud message to Ugandan legislators that criminalizing homosexuality with lifetime prison sentences and the death penalty won’t be supported by major international businesses.”

 Next to this statement is a graphic:

Below it is an entry form.

At this point, I am no longer grateful for the originator’s efforts and am no longer feeling like an altruistic being.  I do not want to fill in the form.  Scotty Collin Burton requires my personal information.  Then, I notice that he is an employee of the bank.  Hmmm.

I toggle back to GayRights and compare his message with theirs.  They might have written a different—more informative and less excitable—explanation about what Collin “Scooter” Burton wants us to do.

However, I don’t get away that easy.  Part of my brain still wants to sign.  I might be the straw that weighed upon CitiBank-Barclays to negate profits and withdraw from a nation that brutally slaughters human beings.

I look at the rolling graphic and counter with evidence from the count.  283,819 supporters have already looked deep within, withdrew a decision, and filled out the form to state that they—in fact—don’t want humans to be murdered.  Scooter, and/or Citibank-Barlcays, and/or Uganda only need a few more votes.

Huh?   I’m confused.  Does this mean, with the receipt of 16,181 votes:

 a .    Barclays will send a letter to the “leader” of Uganda and tell him to stop it 

      b.      Barclays will shut their doors until the “leader” of Uganda stops it    

      c.      The "leader" of Uganda will stop it

      d.      People have created excitably horrific news for the purpose of collecting my personal info with  absolutely no intent or ability to change the minds of “leaders” at Barclays or “leaders” in the Uganda government

With the assumption that “D” is not the answer, and that Rita Balaka is a real person, why does anyone really need to vote? 

My question isn’t so much about whether or not the originator has mal intent or will be successful in inciting LGBTs who have no voting power.   My question is—what’s in a vote for Rita Balaka?  If 300,000 people state that they don’t want LGBTs to be imprisoned for life or murdered, will this convince Rita Balaka to find her soul and initiate change?  See a, b, or c options above.

I don’t understand the magic of 300K votes.  Is 283K not enough to enlighten Rita Balaka’s soul?  Maybe I’m being *smart*, but I’m getting more serious.   If we (LGBTs and the heterosexuals who love us) think that voting will cause Rita Balaka to step into action and/or cause the “leaders” of Uganda to step up and step down to get some counseling and get into a straight jacket—we will always be a target, a kicking bag and a scapegoat. 

Voting has its benefits in a society that counts the votes.   In this scenario, 1 to 300,000 to 300,000,000 votes are undeniably worthless.  I commend you Scooter for taking the initiative and making it real to Americans who can’t see around the circular corner of this globe.  I hope that this petition reaches the person who has the finger on the button labeled “Justice,” even if that person is Rita Balaka who (according to the “sign the petition” site) can’t find justice on her own.  

It’s all here, clear as crystal.  [This country, this continent, and this globe need a solution that incorporates but supersedes couch-potato voting.]  If not, we get nothing.  We lose—good day sir!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKG07305CBs

P.S.  I’m not saying I have as much gumption as Collin Burton, who has been renamed “Scott" by my fatigue-filled mind.  I’m just—hold on, I need to flick these potato chips from under me on the couch—saying that voting for a psychopath to change his mass manslaughter ways isn’t the most immediate or effective plan to make a change. 

P.S.S  I want to end this misaligned diatribe with a statement by Ghandi because I believe our freedom lies in peaceful resistance, but I can’t bring myself to do it. 

I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving in. 

– Rosa Parks (1913-2005)