Final Straw: Time To Drop Out Of The U.N.
There have been so, so many straws, but reason's Tim Cavanaugh asked the right question -- why is being a member of the United Nations supposed to be the liberal position?

Tim Facebooked the link to a story by Sterling Wong at 365gay.com of how the U.N. gave in to pressure to drop language explicitly calling for protection for gays and lesbians in an anti-execution measure:

Every two years, the panel passes a resolution condemning extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions. In 2008, the resolution included a reference to killings due to sexual orientation. In fact, it has included such a reference for the past 10 years.

This year, however, Morocco and Mali introduced an amendment on behalf of Muslim and African countries which replaced the term "sexual orientation" with "discriminatory reasons on any basis." The resolution does specify that it condemns targeted attacks on racial, national, ethnic, religious, linguistic and other groups.

Many Western delegations, including the U.S., expressed their disappointment at the amendment and also voted against it. A British statement to the panel said: "The subject of this amendment - the need for prompt and thorough investigations of all killing, including those committed for ... sexual orientation - exists in this resolution simply because it is a continuing cause for concern."

...Countries which voted to remove sexual orientation from the condemnation resolution included Iran, Nigeria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq and Uganda, where homosexuality is criminalized and even a capital offense in some cases.

The resolution is now expected to be formally adopted in December.

After which Iran will probably celebrate its passage by hanging even more gay teenage boys.

Pat Condell on bedbugs (and worse) at the U.N.:

And here's a step in the right declaration -- the St. Petersburg Declaration from the Institution for the Secularization of Islamic Society (not likely to happen, but it is a lovely, human rights-flavored dream by a bunch of infidels marked for death as Islamic apostates). An excerpt:

We see no colonialism, racism, or so-called "Islamaphobia" in submitting Islamic practices to criticism or condemnation when they violate human reason or rights.

We call on the governments of the world to

•reject Sharia law, fatwa courts, clerical rule, and state-sanctioned religion in all their forms; oppose all penalties for blasphemy and apostasy, in accordance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights;

•eliminate practices, such as female circumcision, honor killing, forced veiling, and forced marriage, that further the oppression of women;

•protect sexual and gender minorities from persecution and violence;

•reform sectarian education that teaches intolerance and bigotry towards non-Muslims;

•and foster an open public sphere in which all matters may be discussed without coercion or intimidation.

Endorsed by:

Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Magdi Allam
Mithal Al-Alusi
Shaker Al-Nabulsi
Nonie Darwish
Afshin Ellian
Tawfik Hamid
Shahriar Kabir
Hasan Mahmud
Wafa Sultan
Amir Taheri
Ibn Warraq
Manda Zand Ervin
Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi

Quiz: Which of these endorsers are not in hiding, and living in fear for their lives for leaving and speaking out against Islam?