in Aprile 2011, the U.S. state department released a report on human rights in Zimbabwe. In the report U.S. government officials outline many abuses of power and savage acts perpetrated by the Zimbabwe government and their security forces. Specific cases include mass beating of high school and college students, torture of protesters, unlawful arrests, harassment, and even imprisonment of adolescent children. According to the U.S. Government, the problem is worsening in Zimbabwe and the corruption in their government continues to hide the abuses.

I don’t know if this next story really qualifies as abuse or an infringement on human rights by authorities, but it’s a different approach to a problem than we might take here in the United States.

A 17-year-old boy from Chiredzi, a small rural town in South Africa, has been arrested for a “criminal insult”. For an undisclosed reason, he snapped a picture of a local business women busy at work in her office, then posted the photograph on Facebook with a caption reading, “a typical Chiredzi prostitute”. He then called the women and informed her of his actions. The two were already friends on Facebook, so she noticed the posting immediately after the call. She then contacted local security agents.

The boy admitted to authorities that he had indeed taken the photo and posted the comments, but also explained that he was, “sorry” and didn’t know any better because he was new to online social networking. He begged the court for leniency stating that he was the only one working to support his family. The judge convicted him of “criminal insult” and he was sentenced to be beaten with a cane.

I’m curious to know what people think about this type of punishment. It doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything and I’m pretty sure he won’t be doing it again.

AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED?

(WMC-TV) – Tennessee state Rep. John DeBerry is under fire for supporting the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Now opponents of the bill are targeting him.

DeBerry is a lawmaker, a businessman and a minister. Redistricting expanded his Midtown Memphis constituency right into the heart of the gay and equal rights community.

Midtowner Jonathan Cole said the ground has shifted beneath DeBerry’s feet and he has a new constituency to answer to.

“As I look at the voting record of Rep. John DeBerry, it’s clear to me he does not represent the values, the progressive values, of his new, redrawn district,” he said.

So Cole is circulating a letter around Midtown.

“My letter is a call for support to try to find a candidate who can beat him in this next election in 2012,” Cole said.

The Republican-controlled legislature recently redistricted DeBerry. Now, the northern portion of his district fishtails farther into Midtown Memphis than it did previously.

“It is their right to find someone who they believe will follow whatever directions they give them, rather than working for the entire public good,” DeBerry said in response to the letter.

DeBerry said he’s had the same values for his entire 18 years in office.

Meanwhile, Cole said DeBerry’s vote on House Bill 229 first caught his eye.

“A bill that would take the power away from teachers to confront bullying in the classroom,” Cole said, describing the bill. “We call it the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.”

HB229 “prohibits the teaching of or furnishing of materials on human sexuality other than heterosexuality in public school grades K-8.”

DeBerry said everybody has a right to their personal lives, but there is a line.

“The issues come up here when we start talking about public places and impressionable children and others,” he said.

After looking at DeBerry’s position on HB229, Cole went back and inspected the legislator’s overall voting record.

“It’s not just being anti-gay. He has also voted against the interest of women’s reproductive health,” said Cole. “He sponsored legislation that would prevent gay couples from adopting in the State of Tennessee.”

“I give everybody the right that the Constitution gives them,” DeBerry said. “But that does not give them the right to change my opinion and that doesn’t give me the right to change theirs.”

And DeBerry said the backlash won’t change his vote.

“I haven’t changed those beliefs,” he said. “I haven’t changed those convictions and I’m not going to start right now.”

Cole said a list of potential candidates is emerging less than 24 hours after he sent out the letter, but he would not share any names.

The filing deadline for a Democrat to run is as early as April.

Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me.