The advocate poll.Q: Does the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , unable to establish law and order in Iraq, bear some responsibility for the executions of say Iraqis? * "If America, the 'model democracy,' openly demeans gays, why shouldn't emerging democracies follow suit?" * "Compared to other Middle Eastern countries, Saddam's Iraq was somewhat tolerant of homosexuality homosexuality, a term created by 19th cent. theorists to describe a sexual and emotional interest in members of one's own sex. Today a person is often said to have a homosexual or a heterosexual orientation, a description intended to defuse some of the long-standing . Now the U.S. is actively supporting a government that tolerates, and in some cases perpetrates, the torture torture, the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering in order to intimidate, coerce, obtain information or a confession, or punish. and murder of gays." * "Iraq was homophobic ho·mo·pho·bi·a n. 1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men. 2. Behavior based on such a feeling. [homo(sexual) + -phobia. long before the U.S. showed up." * "No. As a famous philosopher once said, 'Religion ... is the opiate opiate /opi·ate/ (o´pe-it) 1. any drug derived from opium. 2. hypnotic (2). o·pi·ate n. 1. of the people.' Religious reasons, ignorance, and the lack of individual thinking are to blame there." * "An Iraqi government was established by the Iraqi people. We are not responsible for its decisions and actions any more than we are responsible for the actions of the Philippines, Nicaragua, or any other place that was temporarily occupied." * "I don't believe the Administration truly understands Iraqi culture, and this has resulted in one bad misstep after another, resulting in the current state of chaos and bloodshed blood·shed n. The shedding of blood, especially the injury or killing of people. bloodshed Noun slaughter; killing Noun 1. . It should be no surprise that this has unleashed elements in Iraqi society who feel free to kill anyone they hate (gays, religious rivals, etc.)." yes 49% unsure 4% no 47% How readers responded to the poll question featured in the September 26 issue of The Advocate Note: Table made from pie chart. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion