Rejecting The Gay and Lesbian Agenda

Rejecting The Gay and Lesbian Agenda

(Writen in 2011, but first published in 2012)

On July 24^th, 2011, the State of New York legalized gay and lesbian marriages aka same sex marriages. There were outbursts of laughter, celebrations and same sex partners were lining up outside New York churches to get married. Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York even presided over the wedding ceremony of two of his top aides. This has sparked world wide debate, specifically in the Bahamas. Proponents of gay marriages are saying that they want equality and they want to be recognized by law. But how can we give equality to an agenda that is flawed and in my view wrong?

 

Gays and lesbians have been around since the beginning of time. But never before has this agenda of equality and acceptance been pushed so vigorously. Additionally, this is not the first time in history that persons with views contrary to the norm tried to impose their will on society.

 

Up to the 19^th century, Africans were removed from their homeland and sold into slavery. The white slave master believed that blacks were dumb and stupid and could do nothing else but be enslaved. The enslavement of Black People was wrong from the start and eventually, the “powers that be’ made this practice illegal on August 1, 1834. The effects of this evil act are still alive and well today because many Black people are still enslaved, albeit mentally.

 

In 1954, the US Supreme Court unanimously outlawed segregation in public schools. Even though the struggle continues for many blacks in America to receive an education comparable to his or her “white” counterpart, a fundamental wrong was righted and even though segregation now exists more than ever in other forms, a step was taken to preserve human rights in America. In my view this was the correct decision.

 

And now enter the gay and lesbian activists. Their struggle has nothing to do with race and as a result we now have blacks and whites fighting in unison to further their cause. They believe that their “struggles” can be compared to the aforementioned events listed above and that the equality that they seek is a basic human right. The term equality has taken on different meanings in recent times because of society’s ever changing views. However, their cause is only adding to a long laundry list of other harmful behavior that is decaying our society and indeed the world.

 

I admit that the government or the society cannot police what people do in their homes. But there is a reason why some things should not be legal or given the air of legality. Men sleeping with men and women sleeping with women in my view are acts that are immoral and should be condemned whether in private or in public in the highest order. Married men and married women who cheat on their spouses should be condemned. Heterosexuals who engage in sexual activity before marriage should be condemned. Single parent homes with mothers or fathers should not be encouraged. Aren’t all these acts contrary to God’s teachings? Collectively, these acts and or lifestyles invariably contribute to society’s decadence and imbalance.

 

Society’s liberal views and lifestyles have opened up a whole new can of worms in recent times. We have become desensitized to care about murder victims, armed robbery victims and even people who loose their homes. We have become a society that does not mourn for ourselves or each other and as long as it does not happen to us we convince ourselves that we are ok. We have ceased to confront problems head on but rather we speak about them in a “hush hush” way and expect them to just go away.

 

We are also now through very careful public campaigns and by way of television programs being desensitized about the immorality of the gay and lesbian agenda and advocates worldwide and indeed in the Bahamas are pushing their agenda in the hopes that lawmakers will pass laws to accommodate the alternate lifestyles that they have chosen. As usual, when confronted with tough issues Bahamians collectively sit back and let the “games go on”.

 

The Reverend Simeon Hall has strongly advocated against gay and lesbian behavior for some years now. Last year, he called for MSM (Men having sex with men) to come forward so that they could be prayed for. While this is admirable and the right thing to do, the good reverend must also realize that in his capacity, he should just as strongly be condemning fornication on all levels and praying for all that fornicate. The message should be clear and balanced. After all, are we not a Christian nation?

 

Inscribed on all United States paper notes and coins are the words “In God We Trust”. But yet laws are being passed in the US that goes contrary to the meaning of those words. In the Preamble to the Bahamian Constitution it says “and an abiding respect for Christian values and the Rule of law”.  But yet we in the Bahamas have supported in principle a very controversial United Nation resolution that affirms equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender. I believe that this vote goes contrary to our Christian principles. I am also made to understand that we have given ship captains the lawful right to marry persons on the high seas with no distinction being made between male and female. I decry that if thus is a truth, this is a shameful act.

 

The actions of some churches have further confused some of our citizenry and given some of them the “green light” to carry on with their immoral behavior. Sinners are rampant in the church, but yet they are allowed to sit on church boards, testify to unsaved members and sing in the choir. It baffles me how the church is using the name of the Lord to sanction gay and lesbian marriages when God has clearly stated that marriage is between a man and a woman and that we as humans should procreate.

 

I speak to and interact with persons of all sexual persuasions daily. This is a normal routine in today’s world. But I cannot support the actions of any one engaged in sexual activities that goes contrary to God’s will. It is wrong. Dead wrong.

 

We need to get back to the basics. Right can never be wrong and wrong can never be right. Will we next have a group advocating for marriage to ten year olds? I listened to Aaron Green, a gay and lesbian activist and I was utterly impressed with her level of intelligence. She was commenting on Bishop Hall’s statement on MSM’s high rate for contracting the HIV virus. She said that Bishop Hall needs to focus on the behavior of all sexually active people as opposed to just one group. I believe that she made a valid point, but I cannot agree with the lifestyle that she supposedly supports.

 

Some will say that the liberalization of the gay and lesbian marriage agenda will add to our tourism figures, being that a lot of our visitors come from New York who last year legalized gay and lesbian marriages. This may be true but someone once said that if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. The line where we stand in the Bahamas should not be drawn in the sand but it has to be chiseled in concrete.

 

The gay and lesbian agenda goes contrary to humanity’s moral and survival code. Activists are using great penmanship and campaigns to try to convince the majority of citizens of the world to accept their alternate lifestyle, but deep down, most of us still have a good sense of good and moral behavior. And we need not only tell our children the difference between right and wrong, but we have to show them as well.

 

I firmly believe that we should be condemning “scheming” between men and women just as we are condemning gay and lesbian activities. Our values have deteriorated as a people and as a world. Jean Toomer said that “Acceptance of prevailing standards often means we have no standards of our own”.

 

Are we to keep shifting the stake and let the chips fall where they may? Or are we going to get back on track and enforce the values and moral systems that we as Bahamians know to be Godly and Christian-like?

 

Dehavilland Moss

Police Brutality in the Bahamas

Police Brutality in the Bahamas

My understanding of police brutality is the unwarranted rough treatment of residents while in the commission of an arrest and or while in protective police custody. Protective custody means that the police have assumed responsibility for the health and care of someone who has been arrested and or detained for reasons that the police deem reasonably sufficient for investigative purposes. Once a citizen is in protective police custody, it is expected that that police would take care of that person’s well being.  Recently, two Bahamian males have died while in police custody and this has sparked wide public outrage with some Bahamians not having a problem with it and many others calling for an end to alleged police brutality.

These matters have been rightfully referred to the head of the coroner’s court, magistrate Linda Virgill. She has initiated her investigations and once completed, same will be made public. The Attorney General’s office will be guarded by Virgill’s decision.

No one can say for sure at this time what happened to the deceased individuals, but the officers on duty are in the best position to offer factual critical evidence that will help establish the causes of death. But there is one thing for certain that black belt Bahamians do know; police brutality is alive and well in our country. In fact this is a subculture in the Bahamas that young men, most of whom have decided to engage in a life of crime have come to expect to endure once they are in police custody.

I myself have heard first hand of many alleged stories where police have used sub-humane and unlawful methods to try to get suspects to admit to crimes that the police felt that they committed. I have heard that the police use several methods to get the desired information out of suspects.

(1). They allegedly would handcuff the suspect’s hands at the back and then repeatedly put his face in the toilet boil for extended periods, leaving him gasping for air.

(2). They allegedly have a coffin that they would put suspects in. While armed with government issued rifles that have been cocked, the police would seemingly give suspects the choice of either confessing or being placed in a coffin where the suspect would think that death was imminent.

(3). They allegedly would just put an old fashioned cut hip on the suspects. I have heard stories where suspects were beaten in the face, suffered broken jaws, broken ribs and broken legs while in police custody.

I have also heard that the police now use more efficient methods to “deal” with suspects now because of the excessive amount of complaints now being sputtered out in the magistrate court. I heard that they have perfected the art of using pillows where they would beat suspects in the face and about the body without leaving any external marks or blemishes.

I have some understanding of street life in our country and I can tell you that the alleged police brutality is not garnering the results that police may desire. Criminals become more hardened. They say that some police are “lazy” in their investigations and would rather beat you up to get a confession as opposed to doing the hard meticulous work of actually finding evidence that the Attorney General’s office can use in a court of law.

There is no doubt in my mind that police brutality is entrenched in the Central Detective Unit (CDU) section of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). These officers are under a heavy load of stress every day and they have to deal directly with the new breed of criminals and the miscreants on our streets. They have to deal with criminals who are arrested today and then 48 hours later, these same thugs are back on the street, free to commit other crimes and terrorize our society. This has to be taking a significant toll on our officers, who are doing their endeavor best to protect and serve the Bahamas and who know firsthand that some criminals have made a resolve to commit crimes for as long as they live.

But in all of this, they have to remember that as police officers, they must uphold the laws of the country. They cannot cross the line of breaking the law while investigating crimes because they then become bad guys and the public’s trust in them would be diminished. Let me be the first to say that I have no problem with the police using deadly force when it is necessary. I know that police are already at a disadvantage because the criminals now are shooting first and the police are in a reactionary mode.

Criminals are now using assault rifles in the commission of their crimes against ordinary citizens and against the police. People who know about guns would tell you that assault rifles are intended for overkill. Our police officers face a daunting task in the apprehension of dangerous criminals and I think the public fully appreciates this fact. But when these suspects are in protective police custody, the law provides even these alleged scoundrels of the earth certain constitutional rights.

The country will await the findings of Coroner Virgill. I hope and pray that our dear police in this instance have not crossed the line.

Dehavilland Moss

Gambling referendum was botched

Gambling referendum was botched

One of the most astute members of parliament is undoubtedly Fred Mitchell. If you listen to a lot of his contributions in the house of assembly, you could many times follow his trend of thought and believe in what he says.

Mitchell’s contribution in the house of assembly on Wednesday, February 06, 2013 was however an all time low. I heard him say that he was pleased with the gambling referendum process and he basically gave the government a pat on the back for its handling of the referendum.

Mitchell is a Harvard graduate and as I said he is very astute. But why he would bring false commentary to the public is mind boggling. Mr. Mitchell, please contemplate the following facts.

(1). The referendum date was changed from December 3^rd to January 28^th, 2013 amid public pressure that the process was being rushed.

(2). The government promised a public education campaign that never materialized.

(3). The prime minister said that he had no horse in the race, but yet he told the public that if they voted no, social services would be stretched and he would have to seek to find jobs for persons left unemployed.

(4). The chairman of the gaming board said that the process was awkward and untidy.

(5). The chairman of the governing party told supporters at a meeting to vote yes and a few hours later he said that his party’s position was neutral.

(6). The referendum initially had one question and then a second question was added. Additionally, when the questions were made public, not enough time was given for public discourse.

(7). The electorate was sufficiently confused by question number one which sought to regulate web shop gambling as opposed to legalizing this industry. This is unheard of in any civilized society because you cannot regulate an industry that is illegal.

(8). The consultant report which the prime minister initially said was going to be released was never made public because he later said that no report was prepared.

If the government wants a pat on the back for all the confusion it caused, it certainly won’t come from me. The gambling referendum was a textbook case of what not to do in the future. I trust that the government would learn from its mistakes and not waste time talking fool in the honorable house of assembly.

Dehavilland Moss

Deceiving a nation and disregarding the rule of law

Deceiving a nation and disregarding the rule of law

I met the current commissioner of police about 14 or 15 years ago at police headquarters on East Street when I was a member of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF). I had received a directive from my commanding officer to seek information on a matter that could be beneficial to the force at that time.

I don’t remember the date or the exact year that I met Commissioner Greenslade but I can tell you that he is the most intelligent and most well spoken human being I have ever met.

I was basically speechless when we met and was unaware at the time that persons of this heightened intelligence worked in the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). Our commissioner of police is well read, respected and I believe appositely qualified to perform his task as the chief of police. But why he isn’t carrying out his mandate is another story. The gambling referendum is over and the people of the Bahamas voted a resounding no.

Why hasn’t Mr. Greenslade executed his duty to uphold the laws of the country, despite having a clear mandate? Didn’t he say he was tired of this gambling fiasco? I have read and listened to a number of sources as it relates to the injunction that was filed on behalf of several web shop owners and I’m convinced that the injunction does not give credence to the commission of an illegal act.

The court as I have read and understood cannot sanction an illegal act. The court cannot direct the commissioner of police to renege on his duty to enforce the laws of the country. That being said, I think it is safe to say that the commissioner of police has been derelict in his duties and could be seen to be complicit in allowing casino gambling to continue unabated in web shops.

It would also appear that the attorney general and the prime minister for whatever reason have not told the Bahamian people the absolute truth as it relates to this matter. The prime minister ordered web shop gaming closed and then shortly thereafter made mention that an injunction was filed in the courts, which implied that his hands were tied.

What most of the Bahamian populace does not realize is that the injunction is only allowing web shops to remain open to conduct their business as they have been duly licensed. And that is the offering of web café services. The injunction does not give web shop businesses the right to engage in online casino gambling or selling numbers.

The prime minister and the attorney general in my opinion have intentionally confused the electorate with respect to this matter. The prime minister said that the matter was before the courts and that he could not comment further. The Attorney General said that we will maintain the “status quo”.

What they really should have said was the plain truth. They deliberately did not explain this matter to the Bahamian people who were led to believe that the injunction gives web shops the right to carry on with their illegal business activities. The commissioner of police in all his brilliance and wisdom should be able to see through this ‘hole in the wall’ and uphold the laws of the Bahamas.

The Bahamian people voted a resounding No to the gambling referendum and the top three most important people in the country with regards to law enforcement appear to be playing “cat and mouse”.

Bahamians have sadly come to expect politicians to give them misinformation and half truths, but not the office of the commissioner of police. I beseech the commissioner, an astute and professional man to act above the fray and carry out the laws of the country. I entreat the commissioner, a devoted Christian to refrain from being a part of this dishonorable and despicable plot to deceive a nation and do his part in ensuring that the laws of our great country are carried out. Stand your ground sir.

Dehavilland Moss