Abortion: what about Men's Rights?

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have give it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by the reason of life that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11).

Science has proved that the blood only begins to flow in an embryo by the 5th week.
So, if God says that life is in the blood and science has proven that the blood is present by the 5th week: should it be inferred that an embryo is only a living human after the mentioned week?
Now, around this time women seldom realize they are pregnant, so when an abortion is carried out after week 5…does this mean a living human is being severed?
Tough questions…

Some people say that an unborn creature is not a person yet. But isn’t it? If God says that life of the flesh (i.e. Soul) is in the blood, and science says what it says…it sounds like an unborn baby is very much a person.
Some other people say that one becomes a person at conception. But does it? If the soul comes at the same time the blood does, and science is clear about when the blood starts flowing…it seems like we are not a person before week 5 (since the soul is not there yet). However, I understand how comfortable it is to have such an opinion (bearing and wanting our own derivative must be the highest form of Love).

There is something interesting about those who claim to be pro-choice & pro-abortion (two different things): first, they suffer from the God Syndrome; second, when they speak of those who are pro-life they act and talk as if defending life was a bad thing, or an insult to women. Yes, I comprehend their cause (although I don’t swallow some of their arguments, such as “poor women should have options”…it sounds like they’re saying that abortion is one way to decrease the number of poor people on earth – they may not mean it that way, but that’s what it sounds like) however, I don’t hear these people explaining what an abortion does to women (psychologically speaking), and how many organs it damages inside…they make it seem so banal.

There is something perplexing about folks who claim to be pro-life: first, in reality many of them are pro-choice (for they choose when a woman may have an abortion – in case of danger to the mother; in case the baby has some sort of defect [it doesn’t specify what kind of defect – vanity may play a big role here], and in case of rape & incest [understandable yet spiritually debatable]); second, some of them are, in truth, against-life (for they murder doctors who perform abortion – it doesn’t make sense), hence proving that they too suffer from the God Syndrome (I create, I destroy).

Abortion has been viewed as a woman’s right (notwithstanding debatable).
Women undergo this type of procedure, many times without informing the father of the child (when possible).
Yes, men are known for that silly statement “I’ll pay for everything” (in the past, some women thought they were talking about paying for the kid’s education…poor souls); but not all men would say it, and not all men would want to see their kid taken away like that – who protects these men?

I have a friend whose girlfriend had an abortion and informed him after she had done it. They guy cried for days, for he wanted his kid, his own flesh and blood – his mother was distraught to see a grandchild disposed in such a manner – what laws protect men like my friend and their families?

Yes, women have their rights; but if we are to live in an equalitarian society, so should men.
A woman has the right to reject being a mother; but what right does she have to deny fatherhood to a man?


For further reading on this controversial issue, please refer to LS: Here

Positive Discrimination...

…What the bloody hell does this mean?

Last week, I heard some disturbing news: gypsy children are receiving their academic education in a container, separated from the other kids (who are being lectured in a recently refurbished school). This class is comprised of 6-16 years old children – all mixed together.

This is happening in the Boa Negra primary school, in Barcelos (North of Portugal).

The justification offered, by a governmental institution (that oversees educational matters), is that the school is executing a positive discrimination (plus, it is not a mere container, it is one with A/C: oh, that makes it all better, doesn’t it?).

Discrimination: “The practice of treating one person or group of people less fairly or less well than other people or groups”.

How can treating these gypsy kids less fairly even be considered positive?

The gypsy community is known for not allowing their female children to go to school – despite what the law says (and in some cases, they’d attend school but wouldn’t be allowed to go beyond the 4th grade). The Portuguese social assistance has been battling for years in order to make them understand that our law states that it is mandatory for any kid, within the Portuguese territory, to attend school at least until the 9th grade.

Now that this community finally accepted to send their female kids to school, the Portuguese government [instead of rejoicing over this immense breakthrough] disrespects the gypsies, simply because of their ethnicity.

Yes, it can be argued that it wasn’t the government, per se, that lacked the proper respect for these citizens; that it was the school and the institution that supervises primary schools, in the North; however when the government does not repudiate, in public, this sort of behaviour, then it becomes an accomplice.

The left wing of this country shouts, at the four corners of the world, how pro-social it is. But is it?

I see the lefties criticising the United States of America, I see them criticising Israel (yes, Minister Luís Amado; this one is for you); I see them selling out our country to a corrupt nation (Angola), but I don’t see them looking inside our own borders, criticising what is going on here and, most of all, being the defender of the weakest – yet, their vote later this year will be essential.

Today it is the gypsy community...tomorrow it will be some other fragile group.

Positive discrimination...the half-wit that came up with this expression, utterly ignores the definition of the two involved words; and if he/she was trying to create a paradox, of some sort; I must say that it was an extremely unfortunate one.

Shame on you, Portugal!

Image: St Michael vanquishing the Devil by Bonifacio Veronese

Progressive Kuduro: Buraka Som Sistema

Progressive Kuduro is a fusion of the Angolan Kuduro and the European urban music.

This genre was born in the outskirts of Lisbon (Amadora and Queluz - where the majority of the Angolan community lives), early in the 21st century.

This genre is becoming rather popular not only in Portugal, but across Europe.

The group, to which I will introduce you to, is the original designer of this musical genre; and it is called Buraka Som Sistema.

Buraka Som Sistema won a MTV Europe Music 2008 award, as The Best Portuguese Act. To read more about them, click here.

Now, enjoy Progressive Kuduro: this song is called "Kalemba: Wege Wege"!

Sacrilege: Bra Severance

Since when trashy became trendy?

I wonder where the concept of class went…

This past weekend I ventured myself on a tour around the TV world – I have never seen so many naked breasts in my life.

At first I thought it was a TV thing: movie stars, pop artists, models etc; however when I step into the streets, malls, clubs, bars…there they are: breasts, in all shapes and sizes, exposed as if waiting for someone to bid for them.

Leaving home is quite an adventure for those who advocate modesty, good taste, class and real fashion: one looks at the right – butt cracks being flashed; one looks at the left –braless chests nearly exhibiting its nipples.

Ladies and Gentlemen, good sense, sensibility and decorum have left the building.

Why on earth did women declare war on brassieres?

There is nothing sexier than beautiful lingerie. And with the variety of designs and colours there is today, women should feel encouraged to actually wear it. But no...they prefer to auction their mammary glands.

Mystery can be so enticing. Not knowing what is under a garment arouses the imagination, which will lead to hunt. After catching its prey the hunter will invest more time in exploring the game, rather than going straight to the spot in order to satiate its famine...

What is treasured under a piece of fabric can be better appreciated and savoured as patience is exercised (through the slowly removal of garments)...I digress...

Bras aren’t the enemy; au contraire, they are a woman’s ally (regardless the size of her cup) for they prevent the breast muscle from going precociously flaccid; they sustain the breasts up, they offer a voluptuous look (a la 18th century) and, when worn properly, they create a symbiosis with clothing.

Bras don’t hold a woman’s sexuality captive; by the contrary, they set her free because a good bra, that lifts her moral, increases her self-assurance, and when a woman feels secure about herself, she becomes sexier, and once she feels as such: sexual empowerment.

Yes, in Africa (in the bush) women don’t wear brassieres. In fact (and this is very interesting), if we’d show them a video displaying what women do, in the western world (ex: to wear a seamless shirt with no bra, or an open shirt showing the breasts) they’d find it a heresy: you either cover yourself up or take it all out – there is no room for fashion hypocrisy.

But we do not live in the African bush (and to tell you the truth, if I had to, I’d start a lingerie business there: no woman would ever have breasts to their navels ever again).

Our society has immersed itself in the sea of common vulgarity...and women (in all their wisdom) instead of bringing it back to surface; are busy being led by women-haters.

Image: Virgin Annunciate by Antonello da Messina

Musical Video: Kuduro

And from Semba we go to Kuduro...

This genre is rooted in semba, but it has evolved to be a fusion of Zouk, Soca and Ragga music genres.

There is also the Progressive Kuduro (the one produced in the outskirts of Lisbon, especially Amadora and Queluz - where the majority of the Angolan community lives), that I will introduce you to later on.

Kuduro means "hard butt" or "stiff bottom"; because when women dance kuduro they protrude their behind and swing it to the rythm of the hard-hitting beat. When men dance it they pop-lock and breakdance. The key to dance kuduro is to move sensually. 

For further information on Kuduro, please read here. 

This week's video displays one of the many ways of dancing kuduro, particularly outside Angola (as we go, I will share the original form of dancing Kuduro, i.e. the Angolan style), and the artist sharing his art with us is the dancer Tsunami (an Angolan artist living in France) and his crew who shake to the sound of a kuduro mix.

Have fun!

Discussion: Stem Cells

This article has been inspired by a conversation I had with Swubird.

Stem cells are cells that are found in most multi-cellular organisms; and have the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division (i.e. division of mother cell into daughter cells, genetically identical to each other and to their parents’ cell).

There are two types of mammalian stem cells: embryonic and adult.

This type of cells is already used in the treatment of leukaemia and some cases of anaemia, for example.
Furthermore, scientists predict that in the future stem cells research will lead to the treatment of cancer, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic later sclerosis, multiples sclerosis, muscle damage etc.

Now, there has been a lot of controversy around this subject, stemming from the techniques used in the generation and usage of stem cells: to start a stem cell line it is required the destruction of a human embryo and/or therapeutic cloning.
Therapeutic cloning sounds dangerous, even if performed for the right reasons.
Imagine a scientist in the climax of its fervour (which can often be confounded with lack of scrupulosity): he begins by cloning a cell for therapeutic reasons, but then diverts to something adventurous...to try being a creator of human life...

The use of human embryos does raise an important question: is life being murdered?
Some would argue that using prospective life to extend somebody else’s life is not to be viewed as murder, but it is to be regarded as preserving life – and doing so is conducting things in a proper fashion, i.e. being ethical.
Others would question how right it is to end a life in order to save another; and how ethical is it to “play” with embryos?
On the other hand, some would ask: what’s preferable; to throw away millions of existing donated embryos or use them for research that eventually will lead to treatments that will save lives?
Tough questions, no doubt.
I would like to add one point to this discussion: there is a purpose behind all things, and God does seem to inspire scientists. Given this line of thought, if a scientist (back in the 60’s, when it all began) was inspired by a Higher Force to begin this type of research, in order to save the Lord’s creation (in the future), is it correct to imply that God’s Will is unethical?

There is nothing like controversy and a good debate. From these was born a new finding: adult stem cell lines can be manipulated to generate embryonic-like stem cell lines, by using a single-cell biopsy that may allow the creation of stem cells without having to destroy embryos.
What does this mean? It means exactly what happened in Spain last summer: Claudia Castillo, a 30 years old woman suffered from Tuberculosis which ruined her trachea; then the stem cells from her bone marrow were removed and used to build a new windpipe; avoiding thus the intake of immunosuppressive agents that could cause hypertension, kidney failure and cancer (for more details, please read here).

This level of medical comfort pleases many. However legislation must be designed in order to protect the embryonic and adult stem cells from abuse by vain & reckless scientists.
It must be clear what is the real purpose of the manipulation of such cells; how the state intends to control its use; and what will be the punishment for scientific misconduct (scientists must know that if they divert from the real goal of using stem cells, they will be incarcerated with no parole: one can’t juggle with human life).

But what is your opinion on this subject: is it ethical or unethical?



Source of Image: www.dailyhealthtips.org.uk

Musical Video: "Canto meu Sonho" By Paulo Flores

As I have told you last week (Here), there are three main rythms in Angola: Semba, Kizomba and Kuduro.


But let's start by Semba.


Semba is a traditional sound, that is the predecessor of not only Kizomba, and Kuduro, but also of Samba (from Brazil).
Its theme is diversified: social activities, daily life, personal stories, tradition and politics.
This genre allows the artist to convey its emotions, and because of this peculiarity, Semba is always a must in every Angolan party.


In the video below you will listen to Paulo Flores, an Angolan artist, singing "Canta meu Sonho" (Sing my Dream).
Since the lyrics to this song were no where to be found, allow me to offer you a quick synopsis:


He is asking his granny to tell him the stories about the "mulatas" of Benguela (the mixed girls of Benguela), of the fishermen, of the tradition; he asks his granny to teach him the Kimbundu (a dialect). He also asks her to tell him about the women of Cabinda, of several places in Angola; of how she danced to the sound of Semba with her boyfriend; to tell him about witchcraft...all that contributed to the birth of the Semba.


But enough of conversation...let's listen to what Semba is all about.

The Lusosphere: Angola

Angola: a word that derives from the Bantu word N’gola.
Capital: Luanda.
Motto: Virtus Unitas Fortior (Unity is Strength).

Prolepsis....

15th Century – Diogo Cão arrives in Congo (1484), under the orders of His Royal Highness, King John II; and from this date onwards began the Portuguese conquest of this region, including Angola.

16th – 17th Centuries – The Portuguese settle in the coastal territories of the Angolan region (since penetrating its interior was very hard). Paulo Dias de Novais seeks to explore the region’s natural resources – especially slaves.
Luanda is founded. Angola becomes the main supplier of slaves for the sugar cane plantations in Brazil.
In the period of 1580-1640, during the Filipino occupation (by the Portuguese), the Dutch tried to steal this region by occupying the Angolan coast; however Luso-Brazilian troops expelled them; hence re-establishing the commercial ties between Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and Luanda.

18th Century – Angola is the reservoir of slaves for plantations and mines, in Brazil and in other colonies of the American continent.

19th Century – The interior of the region is finally colonised. End of the Slave trade. Angolan borders are defined.

1900-1960 – high economic development, as a result of the increase in the production of coffee, sugar cane, corn, sisal and etc (to export).
Oil begins to be explored in Cabinda. Iron is explored in the regions of Jamba, Cassinga and Txamutete.
Approximately 100,000 Portuguese emigrate to Angola.

11th of November of 1975 – Angola becomes an independent nation.
This date also marks the beginning of the first period of civil war that lasted until 31st of May 1991. The second period of civil war began in December of 1998 and finished in 2002, with the demise of Jonas Savimbi (the leader of the UNITA party).

Post Independence Period
Angola is the second largest oil producer and diamond exporter. Despite these facts its population lives in extreme poverty.
The Angolan society is very young and it is composed by different ethnicities:
Black people: Ovibundos (37%), Kibundos (25%), Bakongos (13%) and others.
White people: 2% (mainly Portuguese descendants).
Mulatto: 2%.
Others: 1%.

Language
The only official language is the Portuguese. However there are two most spoken dialects: the Umbundu and the Kimbundu.

Dance and Music
Dancing proved to be a crucial factor in integrating the people and in preserving their identity and sense of community.
There are several traditional rhythms, however the most known Angolan musical genres are: Semba, Kizomba and Kuduro (which will be covered throughout this month, on a weekly basis).

But to get this party started, allow me to share a dance that is quite famous in Portugal and in other former African colonies: the Kizomba.
The Kizomba has invaded the life of the Portuguese youth, showing how much the Angolan culture is influencing the Portuguese one.
Below are two introductory videos: the first displays the champions of the 1st International Kizomba Congress (Mafalda & Bruno); and the second displays the most common form of Kizomba (the basic one). Enjoy!

Next Stop: São Tomé and Príncipe