Role of abstinence key in Africa plan
By John Donnelly
Globe Staff / December 12, 2007
WASHINGTON - The most important battle today in fighting the AIDS pandemic, health specialists told a Senate committee yesterday, was stopping the transmission of the HIV virus in the first place. But with hundreds of millions of dollars in prevention money at stake in Congress, the experts couldn't agree on just how to do that.
Congress is considering a $30 billion five-year extension of the Bush administration's global AIDS plan that would roughly double the funding from its first five years. While there is bipartisan support for a second five-year commitment, one provision has sparked fire.
Backed by powerful conservative Christians and several epidemiologists, the White House wants to set aside a percentage of the money for messages promoting abstinence and sexual fidelity. But a group of global health specialists convened by the Institute of Medicine reported earlier this year that the strategy unwisely eliminated countries' flexibility to choose how to spend the money.
The United Nations estimates that 33.2 million people globally are living with HIV and that 2.5 million became infected this year.
At a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee yesterday, several specialists testified that, unless the numbers of new infections drastically decrease, treatment programs will not keep pace.
In the first five years of the US program, Congress required that a third of total prevention budget be used to support abstinence; the requirement was later expanded to include initiatives promoting monogamy. A plan before the Senate, submitted by Richard G. Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, would allocate half of the prevention funds aimed at sexual transmission of the disease for abstinence and fidelity programs.
Dr. Mark R. Dybul, the US global AIDS coordinator, told the committee yesterday that he "strongly favored" Lugar's approach because evidence supports abstinence and monogamy as ways to prevent the spread of HIV. But he added that prevention strategy could change, saying "I'm not sure 50 percent [of the budget] will be needed in five years."
Other prevention strategies include trying to stop HIV transmission from mother to child at birth, promoting consistent use of condoms, and expanding programs for male circumcision, which studies have concluded is a highly effective means of reducing the risk of transmission.
Dr. Norman Hearst, a researcher at the University of California-San Francisco, told the panel that Uganda's reduction of HIV infections in the late 1980s and '90s can be attributed largely to a decrease in the number of adults having multiple sexual partners.
Hearst argued that Congress must set targets for abstinence and fidelity rates for African countries that receive US aid because plans to fight AIDS there were "put together by Western consultants" who often believe condoms should be the chief means of prevention. "A condom-first approach has never worked" in areas where sexual transmission drives the spread of the disease, he said.
But Dr. Helen L. Smits, the co-chair of the Institute of Medicine report on the US global AIDS program, said that Hearst's characterization of the plans was unfair. If there were no spending requirements, she said, countries could tailor programs to their needs. "If a country discovers it has a big program with needle-sharing [spreading HIV], they could devote all their money in one year to stamp it out," Smits said.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the committee, indicated he, too, favored a comprehensive approach that allowed nations some flexibility for spending the prevention money.
The complexities of building prevention programs, some specialists said, have become apparent in the emerging evidence that a large number of sexual partners in Africa do not have the same HIV status - one partner is HIV-positive while the other is not.
One survey estimated that 450,000 "discordant couples" in Kenya alone fit into this category.
"This is a major challenge that frankly we don't know how to deal with," Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, said after the hearing. "Condoms are critical for these couples. Marriage was not made for abstinence."
Prevention campaigns targeting these couples could include a mix of strategies, said specialists - including pledges to abstain, health counseling sessions, and consistent use of condoms.
Piot, who co-discovered the Ebola virus in 1975 in then-Zaire and who has worked on AIDS since the mid-1980s, said he still believes that fighting the virus depended on using several intervention strategies at once. "You need to combine interventions. I'm deeply suspicious of the search for a magic bullet," he said.
John Donnelly can be reached at donnelly@globe.com
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
“Is there one pre-ordained marriage partner for every one?”
I believe that there is one pre-ordained marriage partner for everyone. Given the perfect nature of God, the creator of all things, there is no doubt in my mind that he set apart for every one another that is perfect for them.
The Bible does not indicate that there is a specific spouse picked out for each person. However much God doesn’t openly promise to provide us with physical mates, there are related biblical promises from which we can take great comfort. God created families, loves families and patterned His entire plan for the salvation of mankind after the model of a growing family. Since Christ will return and marry the Church, He understands our longing for marriage.
I bet we all know that He knew us before we were even born and His word is full of promises of His perfect plan for us. This does not exclude marriage and all that is done before it actually becomes a reality. The Lord declares in His word, if I could site a few scriptural references below:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(Jeremiah 29:11)
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (Jeremiah 1:5).
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm139:16)
“…In all things…He works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purposes… (Romans 8:29-30).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Prov 3:5-6).
When God says he has plans to give us a hope and a future, I believe as a God of eternity he must already know everything in this future, and how can he know unless he already preordained it for every one of us?
As humans we often make choices that are against the will of God. Therefore if God had planned for us to be with one person only, and we miss the chance through disobedience or not seeking him about everything even marriage, then His life's plan for us would be ruined.
But the Bible says that even the most “foolish” plan of God's is far wiser than the wisest plan a human could devise (1 Corinthians 1:25), which means His plan cannot be put off track. When we decide to make the choice to trust God completely with everything, I believe He will put in our path the right people and the right situations that will make us meet. If we seek His direction He will lead us the way He wants us to go and bless our lives (Matt 6:33-34) I believe that those blessings mentioned here include our marriage partners, so along the way as we seek the Lord according to his will, he brings along the right people that will help us to perfectly accomplish his purposes.
If you truly believe this scripture:
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Take a moment here to think; surely if He appointed you as His spokesman then, in your mother’s womb, do you think he didn’t also think of who will stand with you as you accomplish this God ordained purpose?
I'm convinced that the reason people are so resistant (argumentative) to this idea is that they fail to recognize God’s sovereignty over EVERYTHING that happens in a way that's totally consistent with our making our own choices. When we read Isaiah 10 and compare it with Genesis 50:20 and Acts 2:23; 4:24-28. Does it say it something?
The only way I can relate the resistance to this is that people somehow think what's being said is that God picks someone special out for you but then has no interest in what you do to get to the point of finding such a person, which assumes God isn't ultimately sovereign over everything but has this obsession with this one thing about us, and we have to spend all our energy to figure out who that person is before we can live our life normally.
Some of us think God has a special obsession with picking out a mate for everyone but then not telling us, but I'm convinced that's what some people are denying when they say that God hasn't picked someone out ahead of time. If you keep in mind that God is sovereign over everything that happens in our lives, something that does not conflict with our responsibility to act, as scripture clearly shows, then you don't end up with such a one-sided view. God knows full well who every person on this earth will marry; if they indeed will marry (some are called to celibacy). But in some cases it will be because of a bad or even sinful choice that we end up with the people we eventually marry. However he's just as much behind the process of arriving at the point of meeting this person, developing a healthy or unhealthy friendship with the person, whatever steps are taken that lead to considering marriage.
God is not in the business of forcing people to do things. I'm talking about his sovereign care over all things and his love for those found in him who benefit from his working out of all things for their good. This involves steering us in certain directions, and it often involves our learning from our mistakes, not that he approves of those mistakes to begin with. But that's how God works in a fallen world out of perfect fellowship with him, and his sovereign plan can involve our mistakes, since he's always known what we would do and chooses to work through us “sinful people” anyway.
We all know that God cares about the very little things like what the sparrows are doing and has his sovereign hand on things as insignificant as what we eat, drink or what we wear (Matt 6:25- ) As we seek to glorify him and love him, why can't we look forward to all the wonderful things he's got in store for us without having to expect particular things we've got in mind? It's hard to anticipate blessings you don't know particulars about, but the promises God gives us are all very general, and we would do well to meditate on some of them and look up to him to make them come to pass. Is a marriage partner too much for Him??
Some people think that God picks out a John/Joan, but will not help you in finding them. So He is sovereign in terms of the pick, but not the help in finding that special someone. In addition, since we think He won’t help with the rest, it's up to us to do the hard work to find. That is why there is resistance. I think that the resistance might come for other reasons also.
(1) What if I don’t like John and John is the one God has chosen for me?
(2) Free will issues vs. God’s.
I believe that our desires will always be inline with what God predestined for us. Most often, if God has picked Joan, you will one day be singing, "Oh Joan, I love you! ...”
Putting psalm37:4 in mind:
"Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart"
Pray regularly for God to prepare you for your preordained mate. Never settle for second best. No one is perfect, but you deserve the best possible mate that God has for you. Some people accept a marriage proposal for the following reasons: they believe that no one else is going to ask them, because they are not beautiful enough and no one wants them,
“I’m no great catch, I can’t be choosy” or
“I don’t love them but this person is stable and can provide for me”.
None of these are the reason to say “I do”. Its then that someone should ask themselves:
“What is the Lord saying here, is he or she the one?”
It may seem that waiting for God to provide is just too risky. But, with time and a few missteps, we should realize that there is more to God's providing than this. Waiting for Him to provide doesn't mean merely praying and waiting. It includes taking active steps to prepare. Merely waiting often leads to wasted time and opportunities. During this time of waiting for God’s providence, we can and should be developing our talents. If we truly want God to provide, we need to look to Him and develop our relationship with Him. By doing so, we will be developing the traits that are most important in a God-based marriage. But, if we aren't careful, we can lose sight of of his perfect plan. If we are behaving or thinking in a way that separates us from God, then sadly, what we reap could indeed be only what we sow. So, let's look up the hills, where our help comes from.
Still asking, “Hey, when will God provide?” He will provide when we are ready and if it is best for us. Only after learning in a concrete way that God provides only for our good and on His terms. Of course, God will not ask a girl out for you, or tell that special girl that you would like to marry her (boldness and favor he will give, if you ask my brother!!), so there is plenty that remains in your hands. When you have the opportunity to do these things, make sure you are an honorable man who has been looking to and trusting in God to provide.
In conclusion, marriage, as God designed it, is to be a beautiful union of two people who are committed to Him, full of love that He gives us, a place to grow, an incubator for our children. The ultimate goal is for everyone to experience love here on earth and to finally have a family reunion in heaven. Ask for God’s guidance in bringing the mate for you into your life. Wait on the Lord, don’t settle for anything, because the Lord gives the VERY best (Psalms 27:13-14).
Thank you,
Agogong
The Bible does not indicate that there is a specific spouse picked out for each person. However much God doesn’t openly promise to provide us with physical mates, there are related biblical promises from which we can take great comfort. God created families, loves families and patterned His entire plan for the salvation of mankind after the model of a growing family. Since Christ will return and marry the Church, He understands our longing for marriage.
I bet we all know that He knew us before we were even born and His word is full of promises of His perfect plan for us. This does not exclude marriage and all that is done before it actually becomes a reality. The Lord declares in His word, if I could site a few scriptural references below:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(Jeremiah 29:11)
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (Jeremiah 1:5).
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm139:16)
“…In all things…He works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purposes… (Romans 8:29-30).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Prov 3:5-6).
When God says he has plans to give us a hope and a future, I believe as a God of eternity he must already know everything in this future, and how can he know unless he already preordained it for every one of us?
As humans we often make choices that are against the will of God. Therefore if God had planned for us to be with one person only, and we miss the chance through disobedience or not seeking him about everything even marriage, then His life's plan for us would be ruined.
But the Bible says that even the most “foolish” plan of God's is far wiser than the wisest plan a human could devise (1 Corinthians 1:25), which means His plan cannot be put off track. When we decide to make the choice to trust God completely with everything, I believe He will put in our path the right people and the right situations that will make us meet. If we seek His direction He will lead us the way He wants us to go and bless our lives (Matt 6:33-34) I believe that those blessings mentioned here include our marriage partners, so along the way as we seek the Lord according to his will, he brings along the right people that will help us to perfectly accomplish his purposes.
If you truly believe this scripture:
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Take a moment here to think; surely if He appointed you as His spokesman then, in your mother’s womb, do you think he didn’t also think of who will stand with you as you accomplish this God ordained purpose?
I'm convinced that the reason people are so resistant (argumentative) to this idea is that they fail to recognize God’s sovereignty over EVERYTHING that happens in a way that's totally consistent with our making our own choices. When we read Isaiah 10 and compare it with Genesis 50:20 and Acts 2:23; 4:24-28. Does it say it something?
The only way I can relate the resistance to this is that people somehow think what's being said is that God picks someone special out for you but then has no interest in what you do to get to the point of finding such a person, which assumes God isn't ultimately sovereign over everything but has this obsession with this one thing about us, and we have to spend all our energy to figure out who that person is before we can live our life normally.
Some of us think God has a special obsession with picking out a mate for everyone but then not telling us, but I'm convinced that's what some people are denying when they say that God hasn't picked someone out ahead of time. If you keep in mind that God is sovereign over everything that happens in our lives, something that does not conflict with our responsibility to act, as scripture clearly shows, then you don't end up with such a one-sided view. God knows full well who every person on this earth will marry; if they indeed will marry (some are called to celibacy). But in some cases it will be because of a bad or even sinful choice that we end up with the people we eventually marry. However he's just as much behind the process of arriving at the point of meeting this person, developing a healthy or unhealthy friendship with the person, whatever steps are taken that lead to considering marriage.
God is not in the business of forcing people to do things. I'm talking about his sovereign care over all things and his love for those found in him who benefit from his working out of all things for their good. This involves steering us in certain directions, and it often involves our learning from our mistakes, not that he approves of those mistakes to begin with. But that's how God works in a fallen world out of perfect fellowship with him, and his sovereign plan can involve our mistakes, since he's always known what we would do and chooses to work through us “sinful people” anyway.
We all know that God cares about the very little things like what the sparrows are doing and has his sovereign hand on things as insignificant as what we eat, drink or what we wear (Matt 6:25- ) As we seek to glorify him and love him, why can't we look forward to all the wonderful things he's got in store for us without having to expect particular things we've got in mind? It's hard to anticipate blessings you don't know particulars about, but the promises God gives us are all very general, and we would do well to meditate on some of them and look up to him to make them come to pass. Is a marriage partner too much for Him??
Some people think that God picks out a John/Joan, but will not help you in finding them. So He is sovereign in terms of the pick, but not the help in finding that special someone. In addition, since we think He won’t help with the rest, it's up to us to do the hard work to find. That is why there is resistance. I think that the resistance might come for other reasons also.
(1) What if I don’t like John and John is the one God has chosen for me?
(2) Free will issues vs. God’s.
I believe that our desires will always be inline with what God predestined for us. Most often, if God has picked Joan, you will one day be singing, "Oh Joan, I love you! ...”
Putting psalm37:4 in mind:
"Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart"
Pray regularly for God to prepare you for your preordained mate. Never settle for second best. No one is perfect, but you deserve the best possible mate that God has for you. Some people accept a marriage proposal for the following reasons: they believe that no one else is going to ask them, because they are not beautiful enough and no one wants them,
“I’m no great catch, I can’t be choosy” or
“I don’t love them but this person is stable and can provide for me”.
None of these are the reason to say “I do”. Its then that someone should ask themselves:
“What is the Lord saying here, is he or she the one?”
It may seem that waiting for God to provide is just too risky. But, with time and a few missteps, we should realize that there is more to God's providing than this. Waiting for Him to provide doesn't mean merely praying and waiting. It includes taking active steps to prepare. Merely waiting often leads to wasted time and opportunities. During this time of waiting for God’s providence, we can and should be developing our talents. If we truly want God to provide, we need to look to Him and develop our relationship with Him. By doing so, we will be developing the traits that are most important in a God-based marriage. But, if we aren't careful, we can lose sight of of his perfect plan. If we are behaving or thinking in a way that separates us from God, then sadly, what we reap could indeed be only what we sow. So, let's look up the hills, where our help comes from.
Still asking, “Hey, when will God provide?” He will provide when we are ready and if it is best for us. Only after learning in a concrete way that God provides only for our good and on His terms. Of course, God will not ask a girl out for you, or tell that special girl that you would like to marry her (boldness and favor he will give, if you ask my brother!!), so there is plenty that remains in your hands. When you have the opportunity to do these things, make sure you are an honorable man who has been looking to and trusting in God to provide.
In conclusion, marriage, as God designed it, is to be a beautiful union of two people who are committed to Him, full of love that He gives us, a place to grow, an incubator for our children. The ultimate goal is for everyone to experience love here on earth and to finally have a family reunion in heaven. Ask for God’s guidance in bringing the mate for you into your life. Wait on the Lord, don’t settle for anything, because the Lord gives the VERY best (Psalms 27:13-14).
Thank you,
Agogong
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Should the transgender be given rights to use opposite-sex public facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, etc
Dear Iryn,
Last week in our “Have We Gone Mad” segment, our Communications Director, Lynn Allred, featured a radical proposal by the Montgomery County Council in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. They were considering a “nondiscrimination” ordinance that would grant “transgender” individuals (people who dress as or identify as the opposite sex) the right to use opposite-sex public facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, showers, etc.
For example, a male who is confused about his sex or who decides to dress as a female, could enter any public women’s bathroom or locker room and use those facilities. Never mind if there are little girls or women dressing there that might object.
Sound crazy?
It certainly did to many Montgomery County residents. So much so that it generated massive opposition as emails, letters and phone calls that flooded the council. It even sparked radio commercials protesting the ordinance and drove outraged citizens to the next council meeting.
As a result of the outcry, when the council unanimously passed an amended ordinance that generally prohibits discrimination of individuals with gender identity disorder in housing, employment and public services, it did not specifically mention access to “public accommodations” such as bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, dressing rooms and so on.
This “compromise” is a partial victory, but still does not satisfy opponents who believe the general language could still be interpreted the same way as the original ordinance.
While it is tempting to write off Montgomery County’s actions as some weird aberration, that would be a mistake. I used to live there, and I know many good families that still live there. And that is exactly the problem. Good people are becoming confused on these issues, because we all want to be “tolerant” and “fair,” and no one wants to “discriminate.”
But if we tolerate everything then soon we stand for nothing, and chaos ensues.
Society currently discriminates against pedophiles, but there is a movement to change that too. Healthy societies do discriminate against behaviors that are harmful to others or that undermine the traditional family, which is the basic unit of society. If we don’t hold the line on these issues, history tells us we will be moving toward our downfall.
Be warned that what is happening in Montgomery County is increasingly happening all over the world. If we are going to stop it, we must understand the problem.
Let’s be clear, we are not advocating discrimination towards those afflicted with gender confusion. We are advocating getting them help, especially since gender identity disorder is recognized as a mental illness by mental health professionals. Even though it is extremely rare, affecting only a tiny fraction of one percent of the population in any country, this trend to establish new “rights” for these individuals at the expense of the majority who can be negatively affected by their behavior needs to be stopped.
Implementing transgender “nondiscrimination” policies is like cooking a frog in a pot. If a frog is tossed in to boiling water, it will jump out. But if the temperature is turned up very slowly, the frog will eventually boil to death, because he’ll be cooked before he knows what has happened!
So it is with society. Things which may seem small and relatively insignificant in and of themselves, such as passing a transgender discrimination ordinance, have a cumulative effect, just like adding a few more degrees of heat to the frog. Eventually, these actions radically change society.
There is also a very real human cost. If we continue to cater to the sexual proclivities and disorders of individuals by passing new laws and polices that protect, promote and even encourage this behavior, we will not be helping them. We will be doing them a disservice.
Rather, we should focus on getting them the help they really need.
Sincerely,
Sharon SlaterPresident
Iryn wrote: What a mockery, am so saddened by these transgender rights!!I receved this article from Family watch international, it was indeed shocking to know that these transgender fanatics have the guts of asking for such rights. How far are we going to compromise in order to let every one's rights be satisfied? I totally disagree with this move.
I cant imagine myself in a bathroom with a man who is pretending to be a woman, that is scary. I call it total confusion, and we can't let confused people (Transgender)to lead the way. Such people are going to defile, rape, and molest our children in the name of transgender rights.
I appeal to whichever government is considering legalising such matters, to look into them again. Think about the young generation and the situation we are putting them into, imagine if your girl-child walked into a toilet only to find a man using the same facility, how traumatising. Lets not put ourselves at RISK! Let's stop this madness when we still can!
Thank you.
Last week in our “Have We Gone Mad” segment, our Communications Director, Lynn Allred, featured a radical proposal by the Montgomery County Council in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. They were considering a “nondiscrimination” ordinance that would grant “transgender” individuals (people who dress as or identify as the opposite sex) the right to use opposite-sex public facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, showers, etc.
For example, a male who is confused about his sex or who decides to dress as a female, could enter any public women’s bathroom or locker room and use those facilities. Never mind if there are little girls or women dressing there that might object.
Sound crazy?
It certainly did to many Montgomery County residents. So much so that it generated massive opposition as emails, letters and phone calls that flooded the council. It even sparked radio commercials protesting the ordinance and drove outraged citizens to the next council meeting.
As a result of the outcry, when the council unanimously passed an amended ordinance that generally prohibits discrimination of individuals with gender identity disorder in housing, employment and public services, it did not specifically mention access to “public accommodations” such as bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, dressing rooms and so on.
This “compromise” is a partial victory, but still does not satisfy opponents who believe the general language could still be interpreted the same way as the original ordinance.
While it is tempting to write off Montgomery County’s actions as some weird aberration, that would be a mistake. I used to live there, and I know many good families that still live there. And that is exactly the problem. Good people are becoming confused on these issues, because we all want to be “tolerant” and “fair,” and no one wants to “discriminate.”
But if we tolerate everything then soon we stand for nothing, and chaos ensues.
Society currently discriminates against pedophiles, but there is a movement to change that too. Healthy societies do discriminate against behaviors that are harmful to others or that undermine the traditional family, which is the basic unit of society. If we don’t hold the line on these issues, history tells us we will be moving toward our downfall.
Be warned that what is happening in Montgomery County is increasingly happening all over the world. If we are going to stop it, we must understand the problem.
Let’s be clear, we are not advocating discrimination towards those afflicted with gender confusion. We are advocating getting them help, especially since gender identity disorder is recognized as a mental illness by mental health professionals. Even though it is extremely rare, affecting only a tiny fraction of one percent of the population in any country, this trend to establish new “rights” for these individuals at the expense of the majority who can be negatively affected by their behavior needs to be stopped.
Implementing transgender “nondiscrimination” policies is like cooking a frog in a pot. If a frog is tossed in to boiling water, it will jump out. But if the temperature is turned up very slowly, the frog will eventually boil to death, because he’ll be cooked before he knows what has happened!
So it is with society. Things which may seem small and relatively insignificant in and of themselves, such as passing a transgender discrimination ordinance, have a cumulative effect, just like adding a few more degrees of heat to the frog. Eventually, these actions radically change society.
There is also a very real human cost. If we continue to cater to the sexual proclivities and disorders of individuals by passing new laws and polices that protect, promote and even encourage this behavior, we will not be helping them. We will be doing them a disservice.
Rather, we should focus on getting them the help they really need.
Sincerely,
Sharon SlaterPresident
Iryn wrote: What a mockery, am so saddened by these transgender rights!!I receved this article from Family watch international, it was indeed shocking to know that these transgender fanatics have the guts of asking for such rights. How far are we going to compromise in order to let every one's rights be satisfied? I totally disagree with this move.
I cant imagine myself in a bathroom with a man who is pretending to be a woman, that is scary. I call it total confusion, and we can't let confused people (Transgender)to lead the way. Such people are going to defile, rape, and molest our children in the name of transgender rights.
I appeal to whichever government is considering legalising such matters, to look into them again. Think about the young generation and the situation we are putting them into, imagine if your girl-child walked into a toilet only to find a man using the same facility, how traumatising. Lets not put ourselves at RISK! Let's stop this madness when we still can!
Thank you.
FINALLY BIG BROTHER-AFRICA CURSE IS OVER!!
Big Brother Africa:My reflections!!!
Nov 15, '07 1:27 AMfor everyone
This morning in our daily newspaper I landed on an article by Mr. Ambrose Nuwagira, who expresses his disgust of Big Brother Africa II.
As a sensible Ugandan, I totally agree with him. Many of us were watching this so called Reality show, but if I may ask, now that its over can somebody tell me what they have learnt? If we critically analysed our minds, weren't we better off before the show came. I strongly believe that every one who was deligently watching BBA has morally degenerated.
Mr.Ambrose calls it a curse, i have to add that its a tragedy,a calamity, a disaster,a move of the devil to defile this generation. However many of us dont know our enemy, so we fall prey to his schemes.
I pray that after this, we all come to our senses as Africans, and embrace our moral values. For some of us who are not only African but also christian, let us repent for the sin in our land. We have defiled our children to the extent of watching "shower hour" with them. What a shame. As parents in this generation, let us realise that we have fallen, however the strong people are those that fall and get up, determined to remain standing. Am for the standing ones, where are YOU????
Thank God Big Brother Africa curse is over
Wednesday, 14th November, 2007
By Ambrose Nuwagira
THE game is gone, the talk is finished and the service will temporarily be unavailable. The service of entertainment supposedly from Big Brother Africa. Since it is gone, let us focus on its impact and the lessons learnt. What was it all about and what were the consequences of the show that drove the hearts of over 50 million people, young and old, from all over the continent? Nigel Nassar in his article “A wrap-up of Big Brother” in the New Vision of November 12, 2007 describes it as the “98 hectic days” whose aim was to reveal how people from different cultures and backgrounds can live together, in isolation, without privacy and the “smartest” of them all walks away with $100,000. One representative was taken from each of the 12 countries, Uganda inclusive, and the integrity and pride of the nation was defined by the character and the behaviour of one individual. Their successes become the pride of the nation while their flaws too are attributed to the population represented. In the house, ‘our’ representatives begin off the journey-all with distinctive profiles attached to them. As days go by, the temperatures go high; it suddenly becomes a survival for the fittest, manipulations and backbiting begins, only the strong must survive and that is when ‘our’ representatives begun a personal game, with an attitude of me, myself and I. Conflicts arise and profiles begin to change, vows have to be broken, commitments have to be forgotten and the picture of the people being represented gets blurred, all for $100,000 prize, or is it a bribe? As a result, drama starts to unfold; Tanzania’s Richard who entered the house proudly declaring that he was married, is just swept away by Angola’s Tatiana, putting aside his Canadian wife, Ricki, for the time being! Malawi’s Code cannot hold on to his commitment to his five month pregnant longtime girlfriend back at home, in the presence of ‘our’ own Maureen who too is in a relationship back home. The house suddenly becomes a free world. Back home, the show is selling like hot cakes. To some it is a reality show but elsewhere it is a family show where parents and their children gather to discuss about the events in the house and the revelation of shower hour keeps even the married up late, probably glued to the same TV screens as their children. This is the new society of big brotherhood! Figuratively, there is too much irony in Big Brother. Socially, big brother is not a brother because there is nothing real in the reality show. It is an institution which is draining society of morals. Imagine a man with his wife and children attentively watching shower hour! This is very unreal. What has this show portrayed? That life is all about manipulation, hypocrisy, and exploitation, whereby the most clinical in these will always win. This is a blatant lie. To the African child, the biggest question in the last 98 days has been what can an African do for $100,000? The answers were just manifesting on the TV screens; hatred, envy, greed and infidelity. There is absolutely nothing African about big brother. Big brother is a sign of moral degeneration, greed, and gluttony. Africans have a sense of decency, shame, honour, dignity and moral sensibility. These are two contrasting situations. Now that they have broken the codes of decency, have made adultery look attractive and, of recent, portrayed fidelity as insignificant, what will be the next item on stage in an era where HIV/AIDS rates are increasing and vices like homosexuality trying to hold ground? Big Brother Africa portrays high corporate social irresponsibility and has offered our society a disservice. The writer works with Campus Alliance to Wipeout Aids (CAWA)
Nov 15, '07 1:27 AMfor everyone
This morning in our daily newspaper I landed on an article by Mr. Ambrose Nuwagira, who expresses his disgust of Big Brother Africa II.
As a sensible Ugandan, I totally agree with him. Many of us were watching this so called Reality show, but if I may ask, now that its over can somebody tell me what they have learnt? If we critically analysed our minds, weren't we better off before the show came. I strongly believe that every one who was deligently watching BBA has morally degenerated.
Mr.Ambrose calls it a curse, i have to add that its a tragedy,a calamity, a disaster,a move of the devil to defile this generation. However many of us dont know our enemy, so we fall prey to his schemes.
I pray that after this, we all come to our senses as Africans, and embrace our moral values. For some of us who are not only African but also christian, let us repent for the sin in our land. We have defiled our children to the extent of watching "shower hour" with them. What a shame. As parents in this generation, let us realise that we have fallen, however the strong people are those that fall and get up, determined to remain standing. Am for the standing ones, where are YOU????
Thank God Big Brother Africa curse is over
Wednesday, 14th November, 2007
By Ambrose Nuwagira
THE game is gone, the talk is finished and the service will temporarily be unavailable. The service of entertainment supposedly from Big Brother Africa. Since it is gone, let us focus on its impact and the lessons learnt. What was it all about and what were the consequences of the show that drove the hearts of over 50 million people, young and old, from all over the continent? Nigel Nassar in his article “A wrap-up of Big Brother” in the New Vision of November 12, 2007 describes it as the “98 hectic days” whose aim was to reveal how people from different cultures and backgrounds can live together, in isolation, without privacy and the “smartest” of them all walks away with $100,000. One representative was taken from each of the 12 countries, Uganda inclusive, and the integrity and pride of the nation was defined by the character and the behaviour of one individual. Their successes become the pride of the nation while their flaws too are attributed to the population represented. In the house, ‘our’ representatives begin off the journey-all with distinctive profiles attached to them. As days go by, the temperatures go high; it suddenly becomes a survival for the fittest, manipulations and backbiting begins, only the strong must survive and that is when ‘our’ representatives begun a personal game, with an attitude of me, myself and I. Conflicts arise and profiles begin to change, vows have to be broken, commitments have to be forgotten and the picture of the people being represented gets blurred, all for $100,000 prize, or is it a bribe? As a result, drama starts to unfold; Tanzania’s Richard who entered the house proudly declaring that he was married, is just swept away by Angola’s Tatiana, putting aside his Canadian wife, Ricki, for the time being! Malawi’s Code cannot hold on to his commitment to his five month pregnant longtime girlfriend back at home, in the presence of ‘our’ own Maureen who too is in a relationship back home. The house suddenly becomes a free world. Back home, the show is selling like hot cakes. To some it is a reality show but elsewhere it is a family show where parents and their children gather to discuss about the events in the house and the revelation of shower hour keeps even the married up late, probably glued to the same TV screens as their children. This is the new society of big brotherhood! Figuratively, there is too much irony in Big Brother. Socially, big brother is not a brother because there is nothing real in the reality show. It is an institution which is draining society of morals. Imagine a man with his wife and children attentively watching shower hour! This is very unreal. What has this show portrayed? That life is all about manipulation, hypocrisy, and exploitation, whereby the most clinical in these will always win. This is a blatant lie. To the African child, the biggest question in the last 98 days has been what can an African do for $100,000? The answers were just manifesting on the TV screens; hatred, envy, greed and infidelity. There is absolutely nothing African about big brother. Big brother is a sign of moral degeneration, greed, and gluttony. Africans have a sense of decency, shame, honour, dignity and moral sensibility. These are two contrasting situations. Now that they have broken the codes of decency, have made adultery look attractive and, of recent, portrayed fidelity as insignificant, what will be the next item on stage in an era where HIV/AIDS rates are increasing and vices like homosexuality trying to hold ground? Big Brother Africa portrays high corporate social irresponsibility and has offered our society a disservice. The writer works with Campus Alliance to Wipeout Aids (CAWA)
Monday, December 3, 2007
Abstinence Pride
Sexual abstinence is a deliberate restraint from indulging a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities affrequently, the term refers to abstention from sexual intercourse until one is married and faithful to one partner.
Common reasons to deliberately abstain from the physical expression of sexual desire include biblical reasons, material reasons (to prevent undesired pregnancy) or STD transmission), psycho-sociological reasons, negative past experiences, or to conform to legal injunctions.
Why abstain?
God calls us to offer our bodies to Him as holy and pleasing sacrifices, for us to do that we have to be pure in all areas body, soul and spirit. Sexual abstinence till holy matrimony enables us to honour God in this matter!
Secondly if two people don't have sex, there is no possibility of a pregnancy unless we are going to have another Jesus born, which to me will never happen, it was accomplished 2007 years ago! With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary because the person is not having sex.
Abstinence is 100% effective in preventing STDS including AIDS. Although condoms can have relative rates of success if used "perfectly", they can fail occasionally. Practicing abstinence ensures that one will not get infected because there is no opportunity for the virus to be transmitted to them. Many of us know that,Some STDs spread through oral-genital sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (genital warts and herpes can be spread this way). So only avoiding all types of intimate genital contact can prevent STDs.
Owing to that, only complete and consistent abstinence can totally prevent pregnancy and protect against STDs. Because a person does not have any type of intimate sexual contact when he or she practices complete abstinence, there is no risk of passing on a sexually transmitted infection.Consistent abstinence means that someone practices abstinence all the time. Having sex even once means that the person risks getting an infection.
Well not having sex may seem easy because it's not doing anything. But peer and media pressure can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult.If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it too, just to be accepted. Don't let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that's not right for you. The truth is that most teens are not having sex. Question is are you one of them?
You dont have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. If you have fallen before, dont stay down, get up, stand and run with the rest of us in this race. I believe in new beginnings!! No one will make this decision for you, not your mom, dad, boy/girl friend, only you can!! This is arace for the courageous and principled men and women of this generation, let the cowards go with the crowd!
Otherwise abstinence does not mean hating or not relating to the opposite sex. A couple can still have a relationship(Courtship) without having sex. If you've made a decision not to have sex, it's an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that.Its common knowledge that "TRUE LOVE WAITS!!"
Common reasons to deliberately abstain from the physical expression of sexual desire include biblical reasons, material reasons (to prevent undesired pregnancy) or STD transmission), psycho-sociological reasons, negative past experiences, or to conform to legal injunctions.
Why abstain?
God calls us to offer our bodies to Him as holy and pleasing sacrifices, for us to do that we have to be pure in all areas body, soul and spirit. Sexual abstinence till holy matrimony enables us to honour God in this matter!
Secondly if two people don't have sex, there is no possibility of a pregnancy unless we are going to have another Jesus born, which to me will never happen, it was accomplished 2007 years ago! With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary because the person is not having sex.
Abstinence is 100% effective in preventing STDS including AIDS. Although condoms can have relative rates of success if used "perfectly", they can fail occasionally. Practicing abstinence ensures that one will not get infected because there is no opportunity for the virus to be transmitted to them. Many of us know that,Some STDs spread through oral-genital sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (genital warts and herpes can be spread this way). So only avoiding all types of intimate genital contact can prevent STDs.
Owing to that, only complete and consistent abstinence can totally prevent pregnancy and protect against STDs. Because a person does not have any type of intimate sexual contact when he or she practices complete abstinence, there is no risk of passing on a sexually transmitted infection.Consistent abstinence means that someone practices abstinence all the time. Having sex even once means that the person risks getting an infection.
Well not having sex may seem easy because it's not doing anything. But peer and media pressure can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult.If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it too, just to be accepted. Don't let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that's not right for you. The truth is that most teens are not having sex. Question is are you one of them?
You dont have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. If you have fallen before, dont stay down, get up, stand and run with the rest of us in this race. I believe in new beginnings!! No one will make this decision for you, not your mom, dad, boy/girl friend, only you can!! This is arace for the courageous and principled men and women of this generation, let the cowards go with the crowd!
Otherwise abstinence does not mean hating or not relating to the opposite sex. A couple can still have a relationship(Courtship) without having sex. If you've made a decision not to have sex, it's an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that.Its common knowledge that "TRUE LOVE WAITS!!"
My sole source of strength!!
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS My STRENGTH!!
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength...”
Nehemiah 8:10b
When my flesh rears its ugly head and the temptation to somehow or other put creation above the Creator leads me to feel weak, wondering how I can possibly muster up the strength to be a “good Christian,” what I need to remember is that strength doesn’t come from inside me, it comes from the joy I have in the Lord. How cool is that?
When I need strength, I can rely on the joy the Spirit produces in me. When my affections are all focused on God, temptation seems to lose its power.
When we fall in love, become infatuated or even excited about a new job, hobby or material blessing, our affections are naturally drawn to it.
With the Creator of the universe and the Savior of my soul I have more than happiness, excitement or even infatuation - I have joy. This joy gives me strength not by building up my temptation-resisting muscles, but by transferring my attention and affections to the One who loves me, the Lord...my sole source of strength!!
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength...”
Nehemiah 8:10b
When my flesh rears its ugly head and the temptation to somehow or other put creation above the Creator leads me to feel weak, wondering how I can possibly muster up the strength to be a “good Christian,” what I need to remember is that strength doesn’t come from inside me, it comes from the joy I have in the Lord. How cool is that?
When I need strength, I can rely on the joy the Spirit produces in me. When my affections are all focused on God, temptation seems to lose its power.
When we fall in love, become infatuated or even excited about a new job, hobby or material blessing, our affections are naturally drawn to it.
With the Creator of the universe and the Savior of my soul I have more than happiness, excitement or even infatuation - I have joy. This joy gives me strength not by building up my temptation-resisting muscles, but by transferring my attention and affections to the One who loves me, the Lord...my sole source of strength!!
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