The African Atheist

Uhuru (Freedom)

drsatisfaction — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:29:32 -0400

My Moment of ‘Uhuru’ (Freedom)

Uhuru is a word that, in my first language of Swahili, means freedom; in this personal recollection, I will tell you how I searched for, and found my, Uhuru. I am writing this in real time.

My name is Joel Collins Sati. I was born on June 3, 1993 in Nairobi, Kenya; in a country where after your name and tribe are inquired of, a question about your religion almost always follows. Now one has to understand, Christianity is a huge part of the Kenyan fiber (the opening couplet of our national anthem is ‘O God of all Creation/ Please bless our land and nation’,) so as to not identify with Christianity would be seen as being unpatriotic, but I digress. From as early as I can remember, I was raised in a heavily fundamentalist household and church that characterized secularists, and especially Muslims, as infidels. This opinion was so widespread in our church that burning the Koran was an almost annual event, complete with feast. If one could ever conceive of the perfect young Christian boy, it was I: I was the most attentive student in Sunday school, I triumphed in the verse-reciting contests held in the church’s main campus, and I would throw temper tantrums every time I did not say grace before supper. That young religious zeal continued on in my public education. I would ace the Christian Religious Education Exams that were held every term, and I was top of my class nine terms running. I was easily slated for ten, but one thing came in the way; my move to the United States at the age of nine.

I’m sure as with all immigrant parents, my mother wanted me to succeed in this foreign land called America. But one thing she did not want me to do, under any circumstances, was assimilate; things would either be the exact same as back home in Kenya, or I was to go back to Kenya, and I didn’t want that. Church was to be every Sunday, English was to be at a minimum and straight A’s was to be standard operating procedure. But even under that sort of authoritarian rule, I couldn’t help but notice that my mother, or any other Kenyan parent for that matter, would not hit their child. Now that was surprising at the age of ten, noting that infamous proverb, trumpeted with metronomic frequency; “Spare the rod lest you spoil the child.” It did not take much research to figure out that corporal punishment was illegal in the States. And because of that bit of research, I feared the rod less and less; furthermore, I experienced the ability of knowledge and truth to set me free from the complacency of faith.

Although I can now say that moment was the catalyst, I still was a Christian well into my preteen and early teen years; and all that came with that was part of my persona. Again, I was an avid participant in church youth activities, attended bible camps, and was even part-time drummer at my church (even though it was a small church, being a drummer was a big deal.) There was a dark side to this as well. I was a young, homophobic bible-thumper living in the bible-belt state of Georgia who thought Darwin was a dumbass for even thinking that we had anything to do with apes; so much so had my biblical upbringing poisoned me. But I didn’t know how wrong I was, because the people I thought had my best interests told me it was right. Even scarier, in retrospect, was the fact that I could not question anything they said, because doing so was to question the will of god. “Having faith” was a euphemism for shutting up. Now my maternally-coerced Christianity (my father died when I was young) continued when my mother and I made the move to the more liberal state of Maryland at the age of fourteen. At this stage in life, I started to question a lot of things in my life, as most teens are wont to do. Coincidentally, I started to attend church with the adults, and I started to listen to what the pastor said and did—and it shocked me. To paraphrase Christopher Hitchens, all I saw the church as was that it was tantamount to a racket. The pastor would make claims of god calling him to be his servant on Earth, and promising HIM a private jet and a mega-church a lot bigger than the abandoned classroom he was renting in the heart of D.C. Now his aims were ludicrous, but at the time, not enough for me to seriously question my faith. Even still, people who worked doubles to make ends meet (including my mother) gave a good chunk of their paychecks in offerings, tithes, and love gifts. It wouldn’t be such a slap in the face if he wasn’t driving a fifty thousand dollar Lexus. He kept on doing sermons similar to this, so after a time, I would tune them out; until another sermon woke me up.

A week before I was about to leave to visit Georgia in the Summer of 2009, the pastor claimed to have a warning from god; that until ‘crimes’ such as homosexuality and abortion were to be eradicated, that god would unleash his wrath. In this slur-laced invective, he classified the LGBT community as sub-human, hell-bound people who were going to burn for their sin. All of a sudden, I had an epiphany; in the two years that I had lived in Maryland, I had gotten to know members of the LGBT community and what they are about, and I found that they are just like me; my hate for them was unfounded and stupid. Yet here I am in a church, with a pastor who doesn’t even regard my LGBT friends as people. I had had it. I thought I was raised in a religion that preached peace, love, and most of all acceptance; not this BS. From that point on, I took a break from religion, with no intention of looking back. But I wasn’t an Atheist just yet.

Saying that my mother was disappointed that I stopped going to church is an understatement. I was too old for corporal punishment, and the threat of deportation had long sailed on the boat that was meant for me, but that didn’t stop the constant guilt trips and the threats of god forsaking me. Right before I was to make the decision to become an Atheist, I went to the same church one last time, out of respect I guess. Unsurprisingly, the sermon never wavered in its invective rhetoric. Again, it was one of those “turn back to god” sermons; this time, he briefly railed on the “homosexual infestation” in this country, before leveling a prophecy straight out of left field. He said, with a stern voice, that he had again heard the voice of god. This time, god told him that unless the people repent, and the ministry is strengthened (with money,) that an attack will hit America in three weeks exactly. And I was flabbergasted; if this is how one is supposed to worship a god, I wanted no part of it. This time I was sure. Then and there, in late September 2010, I decided that I am an Atheist. But I hadn’t come out to anyone yet. Later that year, my school decided on a fall play, The Laramie project. It’s about the true story of a student, Matthew Shepard, a gay man killed in the city of Laramie, Wyoming because of his sexual orientation. Before the play’s opening night, we were threatened with protest from the Westboro Baptist Church, but they never appeared; the counter protest might have been too strong. During the intermissions, the cast, which I was a part of, shared stories about our encounters with homophobia in our time. I came clean about my homophobia, and realized that all hate is the same; it was no different from the hate exhibited in tribal and religious skirmishes in Kenya as a result of the controversy surrounding the 2007 elections. I saw that the fire of hate has the gasoline of religion; and I would do my part to extinguish it.

It took the rest of my senior year of high school and the summer thereafter, before I could even feel comfortable coming out with my Atheism to my sister and relatives. All of my family and all of my Kenyan friends were Christians. The Church was where I could socialize, and maintain my identity as a Kenyan, if not anything else. Coming out as an Atheist would not only mean the loss of many friends, but my excommunication on the grounds that I am a sellout to my country, my people, and what was supposed to be my religion. But I couldn’t let that hold me back; I’d rather live an honest life than lie to keep friends I only saw once a week, at most. Furthermore, what the bible stands for disgusts me, and any Christian, even my mother, could not change that. On Sunday, October 2^nd 2011, I came out as an Atheist to my friends and sister, to test what the overall feeling would be. The results were mixed; some friends were indifferent, and the number who supported my decision was higher than I had expected. Sadly, there were friends who swore off contact with me, and that made me feel sad—for them. It wouldn’t be until the thanksgiving holiday that I told my mother the truth. I love my mother. Ever since my father died, she has worked hard to be the best for my family. Even though my sister had grown and left, my mother was still an influence in her life. And through all that, religion has been by my mother’s side, and she swears by it, through thick and thin. We weren’t the most well off family, and that was exacerbated when she would give a large chunk of her paycheck to the church when, followed up by being served with eviction threats and a suit demanding rent. And she keeps on relying on her faith. There is a saying that states “the truth hurts, but it is the lies that kill;” I had to tell her. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t doing this purely out of spite, that this was a decision made with the help of research, observation, and pragmatic decision making. So on the afternoon of November 21^st 2011, I came out as an Atheist to my mother. Immediately I felt the weight of the world being lifted off my back. She was disappointed, not to the point of anger, but awfully close. It is said that once someone comes out, that it changes misconceptions that Theists have of Atheism; now I’m nowhere near there yet, in fact I just started, but I am confident that in time, she will accept me. If I had a chance to do it again, I would; because I’d rather be honest than live a lie. For lack of a better aphorism, the truth has set me free.

My biggest piece of motivation that I can give to an Atheist on the verge of coming out was, ironically enough, given to me by a pastor. He said “you have to stand for something; otherwise you’ll fall for anything.” As an Atheist, you have decided on standing on the side on the side of empiricism, of science, and of reason, instead of religion. Instead of having faith, you have decided to make informed decisions based on observing the real world. Most important, you can now value moral actions as moral in themselves, not because a book says so. I know there might be a lot to lose, but you will be lying to those you love keeping it in the shadows; who knows, the reactions might surprise you. Again, one has to stand for something; otherwise they’ll fall for anything. And in standing for reason, one will find his or her own “Uhuru.”

-Joel Sati
From: Umoja, Nairobi, Kenya
Resides in: Silver Spring, MD
Twitter: @JoelCSati Facebook: /Joel Sati

Email: joelcollinssati@gmail.com

"Freedom is the distance between Church and State"

drsatisfaction — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:09:32 -0400

“Freedom is the distance between Church and State”

- Anonymous

African Directory.

drsatisfaction — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:23:30 -0400

In the coming weeks I hope to accrue a directory of various Atheist/Humanist/Freethinker organizations that are based in Africa. If you have any entries that ought to be included in this directory, message me.

Follow me on twitter @JoelCSati

TAA: I'm back...and it's still awkward.

drsatisfaction — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:18:49 -0400

I would like to take this time and apologize for the long hiatus I have taken (I had to concentrate on school, which paid off—All A’s!)

Let me start off by saying that being an atheist is the best decision I have made in my life. It has allowed me to value my relationships even more and to devote my Sundays to community work (because helping hands are better than conjoined hands.) Most importantly, it has allowed me to take responsibility for my own actions and appreciate the intrinsic value of everything i do.

The reason this post is titled as such is that living in a religious family is becoming awkward; that in itself is generating an unnatural and unwanted stress. I still get the Sunday guilt trip from Mum, the condescending prayers, and those awkward subtweets which ensue when I make an antireligious tweet. But this ‘awkwardness’ came at a head when I ran into my former pastor, who said he will pray for me, to which I replied “won’t work.”

There have been some great parts to this Atheist experience so far. I have come across a few KENYAN freethinker sites (I will post links later.) I have also found that a longtime friend has also rejected religion. These are encouraging developments, and I am happy that I am living in these times. An intellectual revolution is needed in the continent where humanity finds her roots.

-Joel C. Sati

"The election of the Muslim Brotherhood has ensured that Egypt’s first democratic election will..."

drsatisfaction — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:03:57 -0500

“The election of the Muslim Brotherhood has ensured that Egypt’s first democratic election will be its last.”

- Unknown

"To paraphrase Nietzsche, it only takes a walk through the insane asylum to figure out that god has a..."

drsatisfaction — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:37:26 -0500

“To paraphrase Nietzsche, it only takes a walk through the insane asylum to figure out that god has a problem dialing wrong numbers.”

- TAA

Sorry for the long hiatus

drsatisfaction — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:25:48 -0500

-In between laptops and wi-fi connections.

"I loathe the rampant homophobia in the African-American community. Somehow these people don’t..."

drsatisfaction — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:16:26 -0500

““I loathe the rampant homophobia in the African-American community. Somehow these people don’t understand that they are being bigoted and prejudiced. We use the same book to tell gays they are not OK that says slavery is just fine. Frankly, the hypocrisy is thick!””

- AJ Johnson

Black Atheism

drsatisfaction — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:04:03 -0500

Black Atheism:

A.J. Johnson on Black Atheism

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as..."

drsatisfaction — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:13:22 -0500

“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”

- Seneca the Younger

Name Change

drsatisfaction — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:16:52 -0500

Changed the blog’s name for a rather cool reason. The acronym for The African Atheist is TAA, which, incidentally, is the Swahili word for lamp. I thought for people to find reason, they might need a lamp, and I can only hope that in due time, I can fill that niche.

I will be creating a separate twitter page/email address for this blog.

Much love,

Joel C.S.

Follow The African Aheist @TheAfroAtheist on Twitter and on my personal feed @JoelCSati, but I prefer the former as that will have my latest posts.

Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill

drsatisfaction — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:38:16 -0500

Words cannot describe the travesty, so much so that I won’t even try. Here is the bill, in its entirety.

1.1. The principle
The object of this Bill is to establish a comprehensive consolidated legislation to protect the traditional family by prohibiting (i) any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; and (ii) the promotion or recognition of such sexual relations in public institutions and other places through or with the support of any Government entity in Uganda or any non governmental organization inside or outside the country.

This Bill aims at strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family.

This legislation further recognizes the fact that same sell attraction is not an innate and immutable characteristic.

The Bill further aims at providing a comprehensive and enhanced legislation to protect the cherished culture of the people of Uganda. legal, religious, and traditional family values of the people of Uganda against the attempts of sexual rights activists seeking to impose their values of sexual promiscuity on the people of Uganda.

There is also need to protect the children and youths of Uganda who are made vulnerable to sexual abuse and deviation as a result of cultural changes, uncensored information technologies, parentless child developmental settings and increasing attempts by homosexuals to raise children in homosexual relationships through adoption, foster care, or otherwise.

2.1. Defects In existing law.
This proposed legislation is designed to fill the gaps in the provisions of other laws in Uganda e.g. the Penal Code Act Cap. 120.

The Penal Code Act (CapI20) has no comprehensive provision catering for anti homosexuality. It focuses on unnatural offences under section 145 and lacks provisions for penalizing the procurement, promoting, disseminating literature and other pornographic materials concerning the offences of homosexuality hence the need for legislation to provide for charging, investigating, prosecuting, convicting and sentencing of offenders.

This legislation comes to complement and supplement the provisions of the Constitution of Uganda and the Penal Code Act Cap 120 by not only criminalizing same sex marriages but also same-sex sexual acts and other related acts.

3.0. The objectives of the Bill
The objectives of the Bill are to:

(a) provide for marriage in Uganda as that contracted only between a man and a woman;

(b) prohibit and penalize homosexual behavior and related practices in Uganda as they constitute a threat to the traditional family;

(e) prohibit ratification of any international treaties, conventions, protocols, agreements and declarations which are contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act;

(d) prohibit the licensing of organizations which promote homosexuality.

3.1. Part I of the Bill incorporating clause 1 provides for preliminary mailers relating to interpretation of the words and phrases used in the Bill.

3.2. Part II of the Bill incorporating clause 2 to 6 prohibits homosexuality and related practices by introducing the offences of engaging In homosexuality, and the penalties of imprisonment upon conviction. This pan also provides for protection, assistance and support for victims of homosexuality.

3.3. Part III of the Bill incorporating clause 7 to clause 14 creates offences and penalties for acts that promote homosexuality, failure to report the offence and impose a duty on the community to report suspected cases of homosexuality.

3.4. Part IV of the Bill incorporating clause 15 to clause 17 provides for the jurisdiction of Uganda Courts in case of Homosexuality, including extra territorial jurisdiction.

3.5. Part V of the Bill incorporating clauses 18 and 19 provides for miscellaneous provisions on International Treaties, Protocols. Declarations and conventions and the Minister to make regulations to give effect to the Act.

Schedule of the Bill gives the value of the currency point.

HON DAVID BAHATI,
Member of Parliament, Ndorwa County West Kabale.

THE ANTI HOMOSEXUALITY BILL, 2009.
ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES.
PART I — PRELIMINARY

Clause
I. Interpretation.

PART ll-PROHIBITION OF HOMOSEXUALITY.

2. The offence of homosexuality
3. Aggravated homosexuality.
4. Attempt to commit homosexuality.
5. Protection, assistance and payment of compensation to victims of homoseuxality
6. Confidentiality.

PART Ill — RELATED OFFENCES AND PENALTIES.

7. Aiding and abating homosexuality.
8. Conspiracy to engage in homosexuality.
9. Procuring homosexuality. by threats, etc.
10. Detention with intent to commit homosexuality.
11. Brothels.
12. Same sex marriage.
13. Promotion of homosexuality.
14. Failure to disclose the offence.

PART IV — JURISDICTION.

15. Jurisdiction.
16. Extra-territorial Jurisdiction.
17. Extradition.

PART V — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

18. International treaties.
19. Regulations.

Schedule

Currency point.

—

A BILL FOR AN ACT
ENTITLED
THE ANTI HOMOSEXUALITY ACT, 2009.

An Act to prohibit any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; prohibit the promotion or recognition of such relations and to provide for other related matters.

BE IT ENACTED by Parliament as follows:

PART I — PRELIMINARY.

I. Interpretation.

In this Act. unless the context otherwise requires –

“authority” means having power and control over other people because of your knowledge and official position; and shall include a person who exercises religious. political, economic or social authority;

“bisexual” means a person who is sexually attracted to both males and females;

“child” means a person below the age of 18 years:

“currency point” has the value assigned to it in the Schedule to this Act;

“disability” means a substantial limitation of daily life activities caused by physical. mental or sensory impairment and environment barriers resulting in limited participation;

“felony” means an offence which is declared by law to be a felony or if not declared to be a misdemeanor is punishable without proof of previous conviction, with death or with imprisonment for 3 years or more.;

“gay”” means a male person who engages in sexual intimacy with another person of the same sex;

“‘gender”” means male or female;

“HIV” means the Human Immunodeficiency Virus;

“homosexual”‘ means a person who engages or attempts to engage in same gender sexual activity;

“homosexuality”’ means same gender or same sex sexual acts;

“lesbian” means a female who engages in sexual intimacy with another female;

“Minister’” means the Minister responsible for ethics and integrity;

“misdemeanor” means an offence which is not a felony;

“serial offender” means a person who has previous convictions of the offence of homosexuality or related offences;

“sexual act” includes –

(a) physical sexual activity that docs not necessarily culminate in intercourse and may include the touching of another’s breast, vagina, penis or anus:

(b) stimulation or penetration of a vagina or mouth or anus or any part of the body of any person, however slight by a sexual organ;

“sexual organ” means a vagina, penis or any artificial sexual contraption;

“touching” includes touching—

(a) with any part of the body;

(b) with anything else;

and in particular includes touching amounting to penetration of any sexual organ. anus or mouth.

“victim” includes a person who is involved in homosexual activities against his or her will.

PART II — HOMOSEXUALITY AND RELATED PRACTICES.

2. The offence of homosexuality.
(1) A person commits the offence of homosexuality if-

(a) he penetrates the anus or mouth of another person of the same sex with his penis or any other sexual contraption;

(b) he or she uses any object or sexual contraption to penetrate or stimulate sexual organ of a person of the same sex;

(e) he or she touches another person with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.

(2) A person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

3. Aggravated homosexuality.
(1) A person commits the offense of aggravated homosexuality where the

(a) person against whom the offence is committed is below the age of 18 years;

(b) offender is a person living with HIV;

(d) offender is a person in authority over the person against whom the offence is committed;

(e) victim of the offence is a person with disability;

(f) offender is a serial offender, or

(g) offender applies, administers or causes to be used by any man or woman any drug, matter or thing with intent to stupefy overpower him or her so as to there by enable any person to have unlawful carnal connection with any person of the same sex,

(2) A person who commits the offence of aggravated homosexuality shall be liable on conviction to suffer death.

(3) Where a person is charged with the offence under this section, that person shall undergo a medical examination to ascertain his or her HIV status.

4, Attempt to commit homosexuality.
(1) A person who attempts to commit the offence of homosexuality commits a felony and is liable on conviction to imprisonment seven years.

(2) A person who attempts to commit the offence of aggravated homosexuality commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

5. Protection, assistance and payment of compensation to victims of homosexuality.
(1 ) A victim of homosexuality shall not be penalized for any crime commuted as a direct result of his or her involvement in homosexuality.

(2) A victim of homosexuality shall be assisted to enable his or her views and concerns to be presented and considered at the appropriate stages of the criminal proceedings.

(3) Where a person is convicted of homosexuality or aggravated homosexuality under sections 2 and 3 of this Act, the court may, in addition to any sentence imposed on the offender, order that the victim of the offence be paid compensation by the offender for any physical, sexual or psychological harm caused to the victim by the offence.

(4) The amount of compensation shall be determined by the court and the court shall take into account the extent of harm suffered by the victim of the offence. the degree of force used by the offender and medical and other expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the offence.

6. Confidentiality.
(1) At any stage of the Investigation or trial of an offence under this Act, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judicial officers and medical practitioners, as well as parties to the case, shall recognize the right to privacy of the victim.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (I), in cases involving children and other cases where the court considers it appropriate. proceedings of the court shall be conducted in camera, outside the presence of the media.

(3) Any editor or publisher, reporter or columnist in case of printed materials. announcer or producer in case of television and radio, producer or director of a film to case of the movie industry. or any person utilizing trimedia facilities or information technology who publishes or causes the publicity of the names and personal circumstances or any other information tending to establish the victim’s identity without authority of court commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty currency points.

7. Aiding and abating homosexuality
A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage in acts of homosexuality commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.

8. Conspiracy to engage in homosexuality.
A person who conspires with another to induce another person of the same sex by any means of false pretence or other fraudulent means to permit any person of the same sex to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.

9. Procuring homosexuality by threats, etc.
(1) A person who–

(a) by threats or intimidation procures or attempts to procure any woman or man to have any unlawful carnal knowledge with any person of the same sex, either in Uganda or elsewhere;

(b) by false pretences or false representations procures any woman or man to have any unlawful carnal connection with any person of the same sex, either in Uganda or elsewhere; or

(2) A person shall not be convicted of an offence under this section upon the evidence of one witness only, unless that witness is corroborated in some material particular by evidence implicating the accused.

10. Detention with intent to commit homosexuality.
A person who detains another person with the intention to commit acts of homosexuality with him or herself or with any other person commits an offence and is liable on conviction for seven years.

11. Brothels.
(1) A person who keeps a house, room,set of rooms or place of any kind for the purposes of homosexuality commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.

2) A person being the owner or occupier of premises or having or acting or assisting in the management or control of the premises, induces or knowingly suffers any man or woman to resort to or be upon such premises for the purpose of being unlawfully and carnally known by any man or woman of the same sex whether such carnal knowledge is intended to be with any particular man or woman generally, commits a felony and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for five years.

12. Same sex marriage.
A person who purports to contract a marriage with another person of the same sex commits the offence of homosexuality and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

13. Promotion of homosexuality.
(1) A person who –

(a) participates in production. procuring, marketing, broadcasting, disseminating, publishing pornographic materials for purposes of promoting homosexuality;

(b) funds or sponsors homosexuality or other related activities;

(d) uses electronic devices which include internet, films, mobile phones for purposes of homosexuality or promoting homosexuality and;

(e) who acts as an accomplice or attempts to promote or in any way abets homosexuality and related practices;

commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a line of live thousand currency points or imprisonment of a minimum of five years and a maximum of seven years or both fine and imprisonment.

(2) Where the offender is a corporate body or a business or an association or a non-governmental organization, on conviction its certificate of registration shall be cancelled and the director or proprietor or promoter shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.

14. Failure to disclose the offence.
A person in authority, who being aware of the commission of any offence under this Act, omits to report the offence to the relevant authorities within twenty-four hours of having first had that knowledge, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years.

PART IV — JURISDICTION

15. Jurisdiction.
Save for aggravated homosexuality that shall be tried by the High Court, the magistrates court shall have jurisdiction to try the other offences under this Act.

16. Extra- Territorial Jurisdiction.
This Act shall apply to offenses committed outside Uganda where –

(a) a person who, while being a citizen of or permanently residing in Uganda, commits an act outside Uganda, which act would constitute an offence under this Act had it been committed in Uganda; or

(b) the offence was committed partly outside and or partly in Uganda.

17. Extradition.
A person charged with an offence under this Act shall be liable to extradition under the existing extradition laws.

PART V — MISCELLANEOUS.

18. Nullification of inconsistent international treaties, protocols, declarations and conventions.(1) Any International legal instrument whose provisions are contradictory to the spirit and provisions enshrined in this Act, are null and void to the extent of their inconsistency.

(2) Definitions of “sexual orientation”, “sexual rights”, “sexual minorities”, “gender identity” shall not be used in anyway to legitimize homosexuality, gender identity disorders and related practices in Uganda.

19. Regulations.
The Minister may, by statutory instrument. make regulations generally for better carrying out the provisions of this Act.

Two months.

drsatisfaction — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:32:58 -0500

On October 2, 2011, I came out as an Atheist. I knew it was going to be difficult, and I thought that my religious family was going to be vocal about it to the point of excommunication, but they haven’t been—yet the reaction is not any less painful. I’ve been met with the same “good for you, now keep it to yourself” reaction; any deviation from that would manifest itself in a manner akin to “it’s just a phase, you’ll come back.” Their reactions reek of condescension and shame; and although I expected it, it still hurts.

That being put aside, it is still the best decision I have made in my life so far to come out Atheist. I still find it weird that all the Atheists I know are white and had the luxury of not being inculcated as I was (I still am embarrassed by that.) Every day, I wonder if I am the only African Atheist I will ever know. That might be a defeatist stance, but based on personal experience, I would find it surprising that someone with a similar upbringing to mine would be able to escape religious inculcation.

Again, I would like to be able to connect with other Atheists from the motherland (and Atheists in general,) and be able to spark a “mini-enlightenment” of sorts. By sharing our experiences and utilizing our intellect, we can and will help each other and those important to us. I believe that for Africa to move forward, we need to shed the shackles of religion and promote science, skepticism, and reason. It is the best gift humanity can give back to the continent in which it finds its roots.

Much Love,
Joel C. Sati

Follow me @JoelCSati on Twitter

True for me, and could be for you, if you try it.

drsatisfaction — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:18:26 -0500

True for me, and could be for you, if you try it.

My first Thanksgiving (As an Atheist)

drsatisfaction — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:35:10 -0500

This thanksgiving, it is going to be awkward. My super-religious mother is arriving today, my religiously sympathetic sister and her family is going to be here; I’m the only Atheist in this whole Thanksgiving setup. Even though it’s set up to be an awkward encounter, chances are it’s going to be the most fun I’ll have this holiday season with my family (I think I’ve been screwed out of Xmas presents because I don’t believe in a Xian holiday which had pagan roots,) but I digress. Did I forget to say this is going to be SO awkward? Here’s why.

For starters, my mother is going to be picked up by one of her many pastor friends. Once she arrives, I’m pretty sure that is going to be one of the first topics of conversation, forget what I have been doing over the past five months! I feel very uncomfortable debating family about religion without giving the due disrespect their religion deserves, yet my family does not. I have a feeling that this is going to come up; can’t say that I know how to go about it. I’m pretty sure that some sort of religious exorcism is going to take place; hopefully not Emily Rose shit, but I’m dealing with fundamentalists here. Anything can happen. Or maybe I’m just paranoid.

And what am I gonna do during that part of Thanksgiving where we actually give thanks? I’m pretty sure everyone is gonna thank god in various ways, except me; that awkward moment when you’re so thankful but you don’t have a supernatural sky daddy to thank. I know, that is gonna suck. But I’m just gonna have to thank the people in my life, who have helped me to become who I am: as a person, a brother, a son, and a friend.

I might be rambling on and on here, but for the most part, I am disappointed in my family’s reaction to my Atheism. It seems as if my family is ashamed of me; to bring up earlier posts, religion and my Kenyan heritage are closely tied, so to shed the former, you diminish the latter. But I know I have to be realistic; I came out just two days ago, and I can’t expect them to accept my decision, let alone like it. But I have got to take it one day at a time; and for that, I am thankful.

Reason’s Greetings
Joel C. Sati
Find me on Twitter @JoelCSati

My goal in life.

drsatisfaction — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:15:21 -0500

Goals. Everybody has them, soccer players score them. As for me, I’m working towards something that may seem far off, but I know it can be done. Within the next ten years, I want to start an organization, which is unnamed as of right now. But it isn’t the name that matters—it is the aim. In short, my aim is to promote math, science, and reason across Africa. I have experienced firsthand the practices of religious inculcation and its hindering of the arts and sciences.

I want to build schools, open to anyone, furnished with tools that will allow them to learn about their environment and how to get the best out it. My hope is that, in time, these children can use their talents to help their people, not pray for them. I want to be part of a generation who will catalyze an era of science, change, and reason to the motherland. I hope you join me.

Pursue Excellence,
Joel C. Sati

TKA: An Introduction

drsatisfaction — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:33:30 -0500

Hello,

My name is Joel Collins Sati. I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya in a fundamentalist Christian family. At the age of nine, I moved to the United States, retaining my religion even long after the move. By the age of fourteen, I started to listen to the sermons, and all that was coming out were messages of fear and hate, directed especially to those unlike the people in the congregation. A far cry from a religion of peace, love, and acceptance of your fellow man. After years of research and good old introspection, I made the decision in September 2010 to become an Atheist.

Coming out was a tough process. After a year of keeping to myself, I started the process of coming out last month, to my sister, brother in law, and other relatives and friends. The results were mixed. Some were happy and lauded my bravery; some, like my sister and relatives downplayed it, as if they were ashamed of me (and they just might be.) Sadly, there are the few who swore off contact and said that I’d be in hell come judgement day (remember, god is love.) Just yesterday, I came out to my mother, and her reaction was cryptic at best; she told me that I’m gonna have to go this alone, which I have no problem with. Anyway, there’s a reason why I want to help portray Atheism from an African perspective.

To say that Africa is steeped in religion in an understatement in and of itself. If it is not the three Abrahamic religions one worships, chances are it is going to be an animistic substitute. Furthermore, religion is steeped in the histories of most, if not all, African countries; to be non-religious could be seen as synonymous with being unpatriotic. With this blog, I want to be able to network with other Atheists from the motherland and around the world; not only to help each other, but to help our respective homelands.

Much Love
Joel C. Sati

Find me on Twitter @JoelCSati

"Imagine all the people, living for today."

drsatisfaction — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:06:00 -0500

““Imagine all the people, living for today.””

- John Lennon