All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Judge Mental! : Judge Joanna Greenberg QC

No words to describe her villainy = A religious studies teacher who repeatedly had sex with a pupil and took her virginity on the floor of a school cupboard was spared jail today after a judge said he had been ‘groomed’ by his victim.

theneedleblog

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Congratulations go to Judge Joanna Greenberg QC who wins the ‘Judge Mental’ Award this time for her ‘blame the victim’ attitude to justice.

This resulted in Stuart Kerner a 44 year old RE (yes that is Religious Education) teacher who had sex with a 16 year old pupil on school premises to walk away from court with an 18 month suspended sentence.

OF course, blaming women for the lust of men has ancient religious roots that Stuart Kerner will be very well aware of but who’d have thought Judge Joanna Greenberg QC would have shared them ?

“She pursued you. Her friends said she was stalking you. She hung around where she would be near you. She had been obsessed with you for a long time.’There is no evidence you encouraged her in any way. There is no evidence you groomed her. If anything it was she who groomed you. You gave way to…

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Dangerous comments by pope on freedom of expression – Reporters Without Borders

Pointing to Alberto Gasparri, an aide who organizes his travel, the Pope said: “If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. It’s normal. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”

via Dangerous comments by pope on freedom of expression – Reporters Without Borders.

This does not put respect for religious beliefs above freedom of speech – Reporters without Borders reaching on being appalled. Violently insulting or making light of deeply held beliefs has never been fully protected speech.

Ideas for a Road Map for Truth and Justice in Sri Lanka | Groundviews

Importance of Truth-Telling

The search for the truth continues for many conflict-affected Sri Lankans, but present processes have failed to provide answers. This area urgently requires reform. The new Government should review the Commission of Inquiry Act to see whether amendments can ensure future COIs work independently and make their findings public. In terms of legislative reform, they should also revisit the possibility of enacting victim and witness protection legislation that provides for an effective protection mechanism.

via Ideas for a Road Map for Truth and Justice in Sri Lanka | Groundviews.

Muslims and Charlie Hebdo

Nervana

Charlie Hebdo

( Photo via Twitter)

A depiction of the Prophet Mohammed crying and holding a “Je suis Charlie” sign under the words, “Tout Est Pardonné” (“All is forgiven.”) on the new cover of the French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo is ironically, probably a correct reflection of the Prophet’s mindset, rather than the angry sensationalism expressed by many Muslims.

 Anyone that has studied the early history of Islam would learn how the Prophet initially struggled over many years to spread Islam in his native city of Mecca. He was even mocked and belittled by some of his own relatives. In the year 619, during his visit to Taif, a city 70 miles southeast of Mecca, he also failed to win over hearts and minds, and instead the residents of Taif pelted him with rocks. The Prophet’s response was not vengeance, but quiet prayers and humility, even later in life when…

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Much of your pain is self-chosen & Acılarınızın çoğu sizin tarafından seçilmiştir .. ~ Khalil Gibran

YA BAKİ ENTEL BAKİ

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Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,

And the cup he brings, though it burn…

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Lusting After Lisa’s Legs

Guys – listen up – long past time to grow up and treat women with respect – always!

Jamaica Woman Tongue

57223lisa_hannaI really don’t know what all the fuss was about. The minister of youth and culture goes to the beach to cool off after the reggae marathon. She’s wearing a very youthful bikini and a very cultural tee shirt. A perfect photo op for the Jamaica Tourist Board! The minister’s son captures the image and it ends up on the Internet. And, far and wide, both old and new media dissect the meaning of this act.

Even Germany’s highly regarded political magazine, Der Spiegel, carried the story. Spiegel means mirror and Lisa Hanna’s image was held up to public scrutiny: “Debatte in Jamaika: Wie sexy darf sich eine Ministerin zeigen?” (Debate in Jamaica: How sexy may a Minister present herself?). Thanks to my friend Ellen Koehlings, co-editor of Germany’s reggae/dancehall magazine, Riddim, for that translation.

I decided to keep out of the non-debate. Then, out of the blue, a conspiracy…

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