This ad was in Uganda’s Monitor on Sunday:
Note the ad in the red oval. When the link is clicked it goes to this ad:
Two homosexuals, Namutebi Ruth and Hilda are wanted by the police, anyone who sees them and has information leading to their arrest should report to the nearest police station for the safety of our country. A big reward waits.
Since this is a sponsored link, anyone could have placed that ad. There may be a Ruth and Hilda but whether they are gay or not is not the point. What seems clear is that someone, perhaps an enemy of Ruth and Hilda, wants to cause problems for these two people. If the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 passes, one may expect many more such ads. The bill has the following provision:
14. Failure to disclose the offense.
A person in authority, who being aware of the commission of any offence under this Act, omits to report the offense to the relevant authorities within twenty-four hours of having first had that knowledge, commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years.
Can you imagine the results of this requirement?
UPDATE: The page has now been altered and the want ad and poll are gone. Here is what it looked like prior to being removed.
Nigerian calls on Anglican Communion to oppose Ugandan “Kill Gays” bill
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/11/11/16553
the link contains an excerpt from a letter sent Canterbury by a Nigerian who has suffered under Akinola and is now in exile. This appeared in one of the London newspapers. Bishop Rowan no longer can claim ignorance of the horror about to take place in Uganda.
The horrifying “WANTED” ad is still there:
Next up? “Wanted” posters with pictures of suspected homosexuals — “Big Reward”?
Accept money ? In a poor country? Why would you?
Perhaps, but why would the paper accept this ad? Whether real or a fight-back tactic of gays seems beside the point. Why would the Sunday Monitor accept money for it and print it? What does this say about the attitude of the press in Uganda? Is it driving public opinion or reflecting it?
Why, do you suppose?
Bounty hunters. Ads in newspapers. Rewards. Blackmail. How much is a homosexual worth? What reward for turning one in? What ransom would have to be paid to those who would threaten to report you? For the greedy or hateful, could be good business.
I will join you in that prayer. We all need to be on our knees. We live in a sad and broken world.
Flood the paper with ads and no one will be able to follow up on or take anything seriously. It’s also called feeding the enemy misinformation. I think it’s a great idea.
Or maybe it’s a joke or a fight-back tactic of gays in Uganda (or elsewhere) to prove “it’s already happening.”
You know, I’ve gotta say, the world suddenly changed again for me after the Fort Hood attack and some other ponderings.
Had the wonderful privilege last night of being on hand to see Vernon Brewer, head of World Help (which has worked with lots of AIDS orphans in Africa, among other great projects), being handed a large check that represented a donation from Freedom Ministry, where I work weekly facilitating a group for SSA women. World Help has started CauseLife, a project that aims to drill 1,000 deep-bore wells (at a cost of $15,000 each) in villages in various countries where children (especially) are sick and dying because of dirty water. One of the women from my group will go with a World Help team to Guatemala in March, where our well will be dedicated. Really neat. That’s a tactile thing God is doing, and I got to be a little part of it.
Today is the Marine Corps birthday (we’re 234) and tomorrow is Veteran’s Day. My heart right now is heavy for the servicemen and women, some of whom had already laid their lives on the line in Iraq or Afghanistan, no doubt doing compassionate acts for children in both countries, who were brutally gunned down within the confines of an Army base on our own soil last week by one who was supposed to be their brother-in-arms.
In other words, there is much in this world that is wrong. Much suffering, must darkness, much political correctness and knee-jerk activism and too little real compassion and sacrifice. And, as one pundit said, suddenly we’re more concerned about jihadists than gays in our military.
I have great compassion for those who struggle with homosexuality because I’ve walked that road, too. It is my prayer that we could treat all people — gay, straight, of all racial backgrounds and philosophies — with dignity, no matter where they are. If any of those people rise up against us to do us harm, all bets are off, however.
Today, Uganda can fight its own battles. I’d rather be on my knees before God and take up arms (figuratively) at home.
Maybe we should. See if they will accept an ad offering a “big reward” for two heterosexuals — Rudy and Hilda.
Can I post an ad? Can anyone of us post and Ad? Should we try?
It is frightening and sad that the Sunday Monitor would accept such an ad — regardless of who may have placed it.
Unthinkable.