School for Virgin Girls Only...

They obviously do not have a lot to do in Jambi.

Jambi is a province in Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra. It now has a new claim to fame in Bambang Bayu Suseno. Suseno is a legislator in the local parliament up there in Jambi. He has decided in his infinite wisdom that all young girls intending to enroll in a state school must first undergo a virginity test.

Yes, punters, a virginity test. It seems that in Jambi only virgin girls have a right to get an education. I am guessing that Suseno must be thinking that a girl who is no-longer a virgin probably has nothing else left to learn so why waste time getting an education in school?

Suseno seems to think that this is a way of protecting the girls and maintaining their dignity. Protecting them from what? And, maintaining what dignity? Since when has it been a good idea to base access to education on your virginity status? Perhaps we could tie young Suseno to a stake and set him on fire. If he lives he is not fit to be a legislator, and if he dies he is...oops!

Which gives rise to my next point. Are these virginity tests infallible? Is there a right to appeal? Who makes this life-altering judgment? I wonder what "age" are we living in now? Are there any exceptions where a non-virgin might be granted a reprieve to enter a state school although she is no longer "pure"? I only ask because I am wondering how constitutional it is to exclude students based on their virginity status from state schools. I am also wondering whether it is right to exclude a victim of rape from gaining an education?

But why test for just virginity? And, why just the girls? Why not test all girls and all boys to determine whether they are virgins? While we are testing them, why not check out their IQs and exclude anyone below 99 as being a little too slow for state school and anyone over 101 as being too demanding, and therefore too difficult to accommodate in a state school. From there we should also start testing for medical conditions. So, anyone wearing glasses are excluded from state schools. Let's face it, there would need to be too may resources devoted to providing the necessary facilities for sight-challenged students. The list can go on and on and on and on.

The whole idea that you would want to test for virginity as a pre-requisite for entry into state schools is absurd.

Not to be deterred though, Suseno is focused on his plan of drafting a regional law that mandates entry to state schools in Jambi be based on the successful completion of a virginity test. Successful here being you test positive for virginity.

I am still shaking my head as I think about how silly this is. Maybe it is just a publicity stunt? Then again, they test for virginity in Africa, and give the girls a certificate if they pass the test (make the grade so to speak).

Bali Bombers Appeal Rejected -- Part Deux

Thanks for the picture in this post go to Rima.

You can read her post that included this picture here.

I never expected that the 72 virgins awaiting Muslim Martyrs were going to look like this. This might be what awaits the terrorists who believe they are martyrs. I suspect that there might be a little bit of surprise for Amrozi, Samudra, and Mukhlas when they come face-to-face with what really awaits them!

Bali Bombers Appeal Rejected

The latest appeal for the Bali Bombers; Amrozi, Imam Samudra, and Mukhlas, have been rejected. This means that these three gentlemen are one step closer to meeting their maker and finding out whether there really is 72 virgins waiting for them and handsome little waiters to serve all their needs.

The only recourse left now is to seek clemency from the President. It would seem unlikely that the President would entertain such an idea. Yet, then again who knows for sure.

The shenanigans that have gone on here delaying these executions is an embarrassment. The Poso Three whose alleged crimes were committed around the same time as the bombings in Bali have already been executed for killing fewer people and in spite of "evidence" being put forward at the last minute which was claimed to show that they were not the masterminds as alleged. This evidence was summarily dismissed and the three were executed.

It is sad that the Bali Bombers are being afforded opportunities that were not made available to others. It begs the question, are they being treated differently because the law allows them to be or are they being treated differently for some other reason such as they are Muslims in a predominantly Muslim country?

I am anti-death penalty and feel these three terrorists should not be given what they claim to want, martyrdom. On the contrary, they should be afforded the opportunity to rot in prison. From a purely legal standpoint with respect to enforcement of the law. It is time that these men were executed to ensure that the standard remains the same for all.

Judgment Day is edging ever-closer!