Rainbow intolerance

ANONYMOUS WRITES:

Nelson Mandela (Madiba), the father of the Southern African liberation struggle, was a guest of honour at our 21 March 1990 Independence celebrations. He and Desmond Tutu, both Nobel Prize Peace winners, coined the concept of a “rainbow” nation – tolerance in diversity, with truth, reconciliation and forgiveness. These values are reflected in the progressive South African constitution.

What consenting adults do in privacy, behind closed doors, is their own business, as long as they don’t involve vulnerable, innocent children and abuse their trust. We are not a nation of peeping Toms, looking through the keyholes of bedrooms.

We have a constitution, which is secular. Everybody has the right/choice to follow their faith/religion/belief within the parameters of law and order. My right may not negatively affect my fellow citizen.

A stable marriage, between man and woman, has over the centuries been the cornerstone of a stable society. It is the biological, social ideal. However, there is LGBTQI rainbow diversity. We are all children of God, created in his image. God is Love. By the grace of God, the mercy of Jesus Christ and the blessing of the holy spirit, we must remain humble, grateful, kind, loving, forgiving, and tolerant.

A same sex relationship is not seen in the same context as marriage. It is a “union” by mutual consent and should enjoy legal protection of both partners, in that context.

Your sexual orientation, other than genetic is influenced by diverse factors. Pope Francis said, “who am I to judge?” We are all children of God. Your sexual orientation is a personal matter. Don’t provoke moral zealots with gay parades. Mind your own business, and hopefully they will mind theirs.

Sex is private, your vote is private and confidential, your bank pin number is yours.

With the best of intentions, more than a third of conventional marriages fail and end in divorce, some try again.

Heterosexualism is no guarantee to social harmony in Namibia. We have a fifty percent conundrum:

not formally bonded,

live in poverty – shacks

without water, light, toilets, etc.

unemployment and food insecurity

binge drinking at end of month, in cul de sac shebeens

children without role models and home security, ending up on the street, without education

Gender based violence

Unprotected sex leading to unplanned children and STDs

Gay “union” is not a priority “problem” issue in Namibia.

It is merely a diversion, from the real problems mentioned above. A child (my name is tomorrow) is a blessing linked to responsible duty and obligation to care, guide, love and nurture into maturity at 18 years, with the keys to life.

At the NTN, the Namibian nation symphony orchestra, held a massively successful cultural weekend, with Gazza (rhythm and creative energy) with audience participation and the housewives of Windhoek in their flashy outfits. This was the spirit of Ubuntu/Harambee. Freddy Mercury and Elton John would have enjoyed the show!

We don’t need a Spanish, witch-hunt, inquisition to impose intolerance. Live and let live.

Let there be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, not lead.

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