Posted on 07/04/2007 1:43:16 PM PDT by wagglebee
BRASILIA, July 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Brazilian university professor claimed that the practice of infanticide by indigenous tribes should be respected as a cultural practice, the Telegraph reports.
Dr. Erwin Frank, an anthropology professor at the Federal University of Roraima, Brazil, is quoted in the Telegraph as having defended the violent practice, saying, "This is their way of life and we should not judge them on the basis of our values. The difference between the cultures should be respected."
Certain tribes believe that some babies are "cursed" and therefore do not have souls. Such children include those with physical disabilities, females (or any children of an undesired gender), babies born to unwed mothers, twins or triplets. These "cursed" children are sometimes smothered by leaves, poisoned, buried alive by parents or simply left to die of exposure.
Dr. Marcos Pelegrinia, a doctor working in the Yanomami tribe district, stated that 98 children were killed by their mothers in 2004, the Telegraph reports.
The non-profit anti-infanticide campaign group Atini, also known as "Voice for Life", noted, however, that the exact number of annual infanticides cannot be pinpointed. Official agencies do not step in and stop the abuse for fear of meddling in local customs. As a result, the deaths of many babies are officially recorded as death by "malnutrition" or "undetermined causes."
The Brazilian couple that founded Atini, Marcia and Edson Suzuki, worked for over 20 years with the Suruwahara Indians in the Amazon Basin of Brazil. Mr. Suzuki described their mission, saying, "We are fighting against doctors and anthropologists who say we must not interfere with the culture of the people."
Referring to those who defend infanticide as part of a cultural tradition, Marcia Suzuki states on the Atini blog, "We respect the cultures and the differences, but above all we respect the human beings with no distinction."
At present, a new law that would abolish infanticide, called Muwaji's law, is being debated in the Brazilian Congress, states the Telegraph. The law is based upon the fundamental right to life that is sanctioned in both The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Brazilian Federal Consitution.
In an address to the President and Brazilian Congress this March, Mr. Henry Afonso defended the law, saying, "The practice of infanticide is not justified, however much anthropologists wish to defend tradition and cultural practices of certain peoples. The number of sacrificed children per year in this country is far from few; victims of a cultural practice that many times is more important than the most fundamental human instinct: Preserving life itself."
Read story by the Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06...
Read full address to the Brazilian Congress on Muwaji's law:
http://voiceforlife.blogspot.com/2007/05/muwaji-honoured-in-...
Voice for Life blog:
http://voiceforlifewhoweare.blogspot.com/
You are right, ‘religion of peace - huh! Ever notice that most of those who say Isham is a relgion of peace aren’t Islamic?
See post #27, as a percentage of the population 98 is enormous.
And why shouldn’t this practice also make one sick?????
As the mother of a female, disabled, twin, this makes me sick also.
Anyone that automatically thinks this is a terrible practice is either missing a brain or is a coward and lacking the courage to use it.
The appropriate response to this new age PC relativism, this global regression to the cultural death cult of multiculturalism, is clear from Mark Steyn:
“In a more culturally confident age, the British in India were faced with the practice of `suttee’ - the tradition of burning widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands. Gen. Sir Charles Napier was impeccably multicultural: `You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: When men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks, and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.’”
We tolerate the stoning of adulteresses (not adulterers) within the societies ruled by the “religion of peace”. It is reported that over 4,000 homosexuals have been executed in Iran, another product of the “religion of peace”. Two hundred and thirty one years ago today, our Founders signed the Declaration that prioritizes our God given rights. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” means that life is the paramount right which always trumps the “liberty” of anyone to take that life, and even more warped is abortion in the pursuit of happiness, yet we are closing in on 50 million aborted babies.
Oh, once there was a far more rational time when we understood God’s law and had the confidence in our faith and culture to build the gallows.
Or perhaps hasn't read Mein Kampf.
Great quote.
Some (many?) liberals say, with a straight face, that cultures can’t be superior to one another, or worse, some ludite cultures are superior to western or our culture.
Some (many?) liberals say, with a straight face, that cultures can’t be superior to one another, or worse, some ludite cultures are superior to western or our culture.
Some (many?) liberals say, with a straight face, that cultures can’t be superior to one another, or worse, some ludite cultures are superior to western or our culture.
“Some (many?) liberals say, with a straight face, that cultures can’t be superior to one another, or worse, some ludite cultures are superior to western or our culture.”
Of course they killed 98 babies and we killed millions over that period.
See post #27, there are less than 2000 members of this tribe in Brazil, and another 15000 or so in Venezuela.
Tribal tradition does not make their assessment true, nor right, in the eyes of their Creator God.
Just because it’s “tribal” doesn’t make it ok, “Professor”.
That is a brilliant point. Thanks for educating me.
And mohammed consumated a marriage with a nine year old girl. Since in islam mohammed’s actions are considered to be sanctioned by allah, I guess we shouldn’t “judge them on the basis of our values” either.
Anyone that automatically thinks this is a terrible practice is either missing a brain or is a coward and lacking the courage to use it.
44 posted on 07/04/2007 5:29:06 PM EDT by mc6809e
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