More feces
Yesterday, Gulf News published this article, about the laws controlling the things that can be said or done on the Internet in the UAE.
Point numbers 4 and 5 pose, for the lack of better vocabulary, a huge pain the ass for me by stating that:
And just what does 'transcending family values' mean? If I announce that I'm a gay teenager, am I transcending family values? Am I transcending family values if I beat/abuse/kill/imprison my cousin sister for having a boyfriend? Will forcing the hijab on my female relatives be labeled as 'promotion of family values'? Just a-wondering...
I know that I may probably never launch websites that breach 'public decency' [like it exists! *laughs head off*], at least not while I'm in this country.
With all due respect to the ruler of Dubai, I think that, by passing such backward laws, the UAE is taking a step towards becoming more fundementalisty and more Iran-like. And it's biting me that this is happening because I like Dubai.
cutedevil_ash tried to talk me into stop posting my political views and things about my sexuality openly on my journal. She's just worried that people from the government might find out and destruction of my life will ensue.
I can't do it. I can't.. heck, I won't hide like a rat. I won't bury my head in the sand like some scared ostrich. The Internet is the one place that I rant.. it's my temple of talkativeness. If I can't have freedom in real life, I must have freedom here.
These Islamist fundementalists, who I'm sure have a hand in penning this law, are just afraid that someone might read a different point of view. Tsk tsk.
In other news.. WTF?! So it's February 14th... big deal! People at school were all excited about giving gifts to their Valentines. Roses, chocolates, little red hearts on girls' shirts, couples walking hand-in-hand, teachers wearing red.. it was mesmerizing. Nobody gave much thought to it back when I was in Arab Unity School. But here at St. Mary's, it was like a day-long disease. And to top it off, no boys came up to me with any chocolates whatsoever. Though, I'd have happily settled for a framed picture of Brad Pitt making out with Ivri Lider.
Point numbers 4 and 5 pose, for the lack of better vocabulary, a huge pain the ass for me by stating that:
- Anyone convicted of abusing holy shrines or religious rituals or insulting them or inciting others to do so, shall be sentenced to five years in jail and be fined.
- Anyone convicted of opposing the Islamic religion will be jailed up to seven years. Anyone convicted of transcending family principles and values shall be jailed for one year and fined Dh50, 000. Anyone convicted of setting up a website for groups promoting programmes in breach of public decency and order shall be sentenced to five years in jail.
And just what does 'transcending family values' mean? If I announce that I'm a gay teenager, am I transcending family values? Am I transcending family values if I beat/abuse/kill/imprison my cousin sister for having a boyfriend? Will forcing the hijab on my female relatives be labeled as 'promotion of family values'? Just a-wondering...
I know that I may probably never launch websites that breach 'public decency' [like it exists! *laughs head off*], at least not while I'm in this country.
With all due respect to the ruler of Dubai, I think that, by passing such backward laws, the UAE is taking a step towards becoming more fundementalisty and more Iran-like. And it's biting me that this is happening because I like Dubai.
cutedevil_ash tried to talk me into stop posting my political views and things about my sexuality openly on my journal. She's just worried that people from the government might find out and destruction of my life will ensue.
I can't do it. I can't.. heck, I won't hide like a rat. I won't bury my head in the sand like some scared ostrich. The Internet is the one place that I rant.. it's my temple of talkativeness. If I can't have freedom in real life, I must have freedom here.
These Islamist fundementalists, who I'm sure have a hand in penning this law, are just afraid that someone might read a different point of view. Tsk tsk.
In other news.. WTF?! So it's February 14th... big deal! People at school were all excited about giving gifts to their Valentines. Roses, chocolates, little red hearts on girls' shirts, couples walking hand-in-hand, teachers wearing red.. it was mesmerizing. Nobody gave much thought to it back when I was in Arab Unity School. But here at St. Mary's, it was like a day-long disease. And to top it off, no boys came up to me with any chocolates whatsoever. Though, I'd have happily settled for a framed picture of Brad Pitt making out with Ivri Lider.