Defamation of Space Monkeys

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948 by the UN General Assembly states:

Article 18.

* Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

A fairly straightforward declaration that any individual should be free to pursue his religion or system of beliefs. And by system of beliefs, I take that to mean anything from mystical teapots to atheism, whereas the 'faith' in that there is no God, has just as much right and freedom to be practiced as those faiths that that believe in Him.

So it is without much surprise for anyone who has seen any of the UN's most recent work (see Darfur, Rwanda, etc, etc...), that they have passed resolution "62/154. Combating defamation of religions"

Here's a little sampling of the document, just to give you an indication of the sheer plethora of religions that will be covered by this religious defamation declaration:

From the preamble:

"Alarmed at the serious instances of intolerance, discrimination and acts of violence based on religion or belief, intimidation and coercion motivated by extremism, religious or otherwise, occurring in many parts of the world, in addition to the negative projection of Islam in the media and the introduction and enforcement of laws that specifically discriminate against and target Muslims, particularly Muslim minorities following the events of 11 September 2001, and threatening the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,"

Because clearly, September 11 had nothing to do with Islam...I think it was all Dubya's fault or something.

5. Also expresses its deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism;

Wrongly. Oh so wrongly. (Warning, graphic images)

6. Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001;
...

8. Deplores the use of the print, audio-visual and electronic media, including the Internet, and any other means to incite acts of violence, xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination against Islam or any other religion, as well as targeting of religious symbols;

Oops	Ooops again	Oh shit, oops..again

9. Stresses the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions and incitement to religious hatred, against Islam and Muslims in particular;

"in particular" Well, quite frankly the media has not shown much respect for my pastafarian beliefs, so I don't know why the Muslims get particular attention..Oh yeah, that's right

And here's the real point of this document:

14. Underscores the need to combat defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local, national, regional and international levels through education and awareness-raising;

For 300 odd years, the West has borne the fruits of the Enlightenment to the rest of the world, the separation of Church and State being the inevitable outcome of promoting Reason above Faith, and now we have the "well-intentioned" yet utterly corrupt transnational organisation wanting to rewind the clocks.

A final word from one of my favourite atheists:

"the U.N. resolution seeks to extend the whole area of denial from its existing homeland in the Islamic world into the heartland of post-Enlightenment democracy where it is still individuals who have rights, not religions."