Muddling Toward Maturity Blog

SHOULD AMAZON TRIBES BE ALLOWED TO KILL THEIR OWN CHILDREN?

Short version -- Deadly Cultural Relativism: Leftists Oppose Laws Protecting Indigenous Children From Being Murdered

Full version below:

(Right:  photo of Marcia and Edson Suzuki with their adopted daughter Hakani.  See story below)

John Daniel Davidson writes in The Federalist: [my bolding]

A post at Get Religion caught my eye yesterday with the title, “Should Amazon tribes be allowed to kill their young? Foreign Policy editors aren’t sure.” It linked to a story in Foreign Policy magazine from April 9 about a handful of indigenous tribes in Brazil that engage in the ritual killing of infants and children—namely, those with a disability, twins, and the children of single mothers, all of whom are considered to be a bad omen—and the legal efforts underway to end the practice.

One would think that the answer to the question posed by the subtitle to the Foreign Policy article—“Should Brazil keep its Amazon tribes from taking the lives of their children?”—would be a resounding, “Yes.” Surely no one would argue these tribes have a right to kill unwanted children. Surely even the most committed multiculturalist would not condone such barbarity. Right?

But to assume that would be to underestimate the force of cultural relativism on the Left. If our friends on the Left encountered, in the present day and in real life, the ritual human sacrifices of the Aztecs or the fires of the Canaanite god Moloch, more than a few would insist that we not pass judgement on these indigenous cultural practices, and would probably denounce those who tried to do so as racists and imperialists.

BRAZIL'S BIRTH RATE DROPS FROM 6.3 TO 1.9

Chuck Colson writes on Brazil's dramatic cultural change since 1960:

Since 1960, the fertility rate for Brazilian women has dropped dramatically, from 6.3 births per women to 1.9 — which is below replacement level.

While China’s fertility has also fallen drastically, it’s due to the government’s coercive one-child policy. But in Brazil, author Cynthia Gorney notes, “where the Roman Catholic Church dominates, abortion is illegal (except in rare cases) and no official government policy has ever promoted birth control.” So, the birth dearth there must be driven by something else.

Like many Western countries, Brazil has seen a tectonic shift in culture since 1960. Radical individualism and secularism have led people to ignore the Church’s teachings about sex, contraception, and sterilization. Consumerism makes two or fewer children (who after all, are expensive to raise) more desirable.

NON-CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY IN LATIN AMERICA

Christianity Today magazine reports on non-Catholic Christianity in Latin America.  It looks a lot like theological anarchy, which is a little discouraging, to say the least.  The article offers differing interpretations.  I found it insightful and valuable.  

STATE-SPONSORED ANTI-SEMITISM IN CHAVEZ'S VENEZUELA

Scary things are happening in Venezuela.  Half of the Jewish population has already fled.  Gabe Ledeen titles her article, "Echoes of the '30s in Caracas."

The Jews of Venezuela are afraid, as well they should be. Walking their streets and visiting their homes and synagogues, I could feel the sense of foreboding that weighs heavier on them day by day. I could hear it in the urgency of their prayers during religious services, feel it in the embraces and handshakes I received when I introduced myself and my mission and see it in the eyes of the Hebraica high school students as I listened to their stories of frustrated youth. They are asking for our help, for our strength, and our voices. They cannot speak out; will we speak for them?       [more . . . ]

ERNESTO "CHE" GUEVARA - REVOLTIONARY HERO OR MASS KILLER?

For those who know little of the revolutionary Che Guevara, (his posters were found in Obama volunteer offices in Houston Texas), Humberto Fontova brings us up to speed.  Fontova is the author of Exposing the Real Che Guevara and the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him.   A definitive, moderate-length portrait of Che Guevara can be found at "Discover the Networks." From Fontova's article:

During recent interviews of Obama campaign workers on Houston's Fox TV station, the offices of two Texas Obama campaign volunteers (including a precinct captain and head of the "Houston Obama Leadership Team") were found prominently decorated with Che Guevara images, against the backdrop

"SCHOOL OF THE ASSASINS" - A FAIR ACCUSATION?

See Mark Tooley's analysis.