Clinton urges Russia over rights

[Divine Discontent]

Source: BBC



US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Russia to respect human rights and the democratic process, as she ends her European tour.

She told Moscow students of her "great concern" at attacks on human rights defenders, saying people should be safe to challenge abuses of authority.

---
Prior to the round-table discussion with students, Ms Clinton attended the unveiling of a statue of US poet Walt Whitman on the university's campus.

Whitman is often labelled the father of free verse, as well as being a prominent figure adopted by the gay pride movement.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8306294.stm

---

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/13/hillary-clinton-to-honour-gay-poet-walt-whitman-in-moscow/#
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will inaugurate a monument to gay poet Walt Whitman in Moscow tomorrow.

According to GayRussia.ru, she will be joined by Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who has banned gay Pride marches and called homosexuality "satanic".

Whitman, who was born in Lancashire and died in 1892, is often labelled as gay or bisexual by biographers, although it is not clear if he ever had a relationship with a man. However, he is often linked with gay culture.

The monument is to be unveiled in the gardens of the Moscow State University, where around 30 activists, including Peter Tatchell, were arrested by police in May for attempting to stage a gay Pride march.

[Divine Discontent]

1. in related Russian breaking news

Murder hunt launched after homophobic attack victim dies
October 14, 2009 - 9:55

A man who was kicked and beaten by three youths in Trafalgar Square, London, last month has died in hospital.

Ian Baynham, 62, suffered fatal head injuries after being attacked on Duncannon Street on September 25th. His life support machine was turned off last night.

Police are searching for two blonde women and a dark-skinned man who were shown on CCTV in the area at around 11pm, the time the attack took place. All were aged between 16 and 20.

Baynham and and another man were walking through the area when they were verbally abused by one woman who shouted homophobic taunts. Following the argument, the woman and two friends – a man and another woman – kicked him to the ground.


http://www.facebook.com/profile/pic.php?uid=AAAAAQAQSGgNBpIbEOidBn7y1DicFwAAAApsX0J9sBF0Vl-Ok7gI4eSl

[frog92969]

2. She does realize...

that whenever we preach to others about human rights
it instantly turns into a comedy routine, right?

[Romulox]

3. So...is it only CHINA for whom human rights are "off the table"?

"But our pressing on those (human right's issues in China) issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/21/clinton.china.asia/index.html

[peacetalksforall]

4. I hate the preaching by her or anyone when we are torturing humans in prisons all over

the world and a few traitors are blindly allowed to run our money and many lives into the ground by gaining control of the entire money machine of this country and keeping their rotten business a secret from our representatives.

Why Why Why do we continue to preach to other countries before we do something about our selves?

What hypocrites we are.

[ro1942]

5. U.S. exceptionalism again, unbelievable

[robcon]

6. The U.S. IS an exceptional country.

I love the U.S. - it's not always right, but it certainly is one of the freest, best countries on earth.

[Vidar]

7. Perestroika had a chance 'till American MBAs joined forces with the Russian Mafia.