Depressed Us in Uganda

We really, really want to post photos of giant matooke meals, funny stories about our foibles here, etc. But reality interferes. So instead of upbeat, we are depressed. The president here passed an anti-gay bill, as you know if you follow any local and international media. We knew it would happen, but it's depressing and wrong, and just creates a climate of hate no matter where you are.

Bill tries to make it better by telling me that in our own country the state of Arizona is trying to prevent gay people from being served, and that some huge percentage of people in the USA don't believe in dinosaurs. Okay, but still depressed.

Then today I read this statement by Desmond Tutu. I love what he says, and I'm going to print it out and hang it on our door here. Anyone who enters our little flat enters only if they agree with this humanitarian approach to the topic of love.

Read to whole thing because it's worth it. But here's what I plan to post as a one-woman-stand against a huge proportion of the world, apparently. Here is the Archibishop:

"The history of people is littered with attempts to legislate against love or marriage across class, caste and race. But there is no scientific basis or genetic rationale for love. There is only the grace of God."

"There is no scientific justification for prejudice and discrimination, ever. And nor is there any moral justification. Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, among others, attest to these facts."

"Human beings are very diverse. Some have dark brown skins while others are beige, olive or pink. Some have big noses, some are very tall, some are Christian, some speak Swahili, some are financially secure, some are lesbian, some have specially evolved to survive in cold climates. Yet we are members of one family, the human family, God's family. All of us, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist, African, Asian, European... all. An inter-connected global family in an increasingly inter-connected world."

"Our diversity requires of us to be tolerant and compassionate and respectful of each other."

So there, rest of world. Here at Salama Springs #21, we are one family, compassionate and respectful of each other.