by Heather Hastie | Aug 21, 2017 | Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, USA
As I said in my post on Charlottesville, the destruction of a statue is one I don’t agree with. I think that has a lot to do with my education in history, and perhaps also a general dislike for that sort of action. I suspect everyone here would agree with me...
by Heather Hastie | Aug 4, 2017 | Human Rights, Religion
Over the last couple of weeks a series of articles has been appearing in the US media attacking biologist Jerry Coyne. They’re in response to a post on his own website, Why Evolution Is True (WEIT). On 13 July 2017 he wrote ‘Should one be allowed to...
by Heather Hastie | Jul 30, 2017 | Human Rights, Religion
The sad case of Charlie Gard, as so often in similar situations, brought out the worst in Christians. Here we have an example of what secularist and devout Roman Catholic Andrew Sullivan terms “Christianism”. (Christianism is analogous with Islamism. ) At...
by Heather Hastie | Jul 27, 2017 | Human Rights, US Politics
Ladies and gentlemen, we have yet another spurt of ignorance from the US Commander-in-Chief. And surprise, surprise, this far-reaching policy decision was brought to our attention via Twitter. Trump’s announcement today of a ban on transgender people serving in...
by Heather Hastie | Apr 20, 2017 | Human Rights, New Zealand, USA
In Arkansas there are currently eight men on death row. Their convictions were between 1990 and 2000, and they have therefore been there between 17 and 27 years each. The Arkansas authorities plan to execute two per day on four days before the end of April. Two got a...
by Heather Hastie | Jan 30, 2017 | Human Rights, US Politics
In short, it’s stupid because refugees are the safest of all immigrants to the country and it creates animosity where relationships most need development. Once again, Trump is building walls where he should be building bridges. Trump’s Executive Order...
