UN: United against Homosexuals?

The United Nations has historically stood up for human rights and the protection of human life. But recently, it came into question whether the lives of gay people are worth protecting. Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, the majority of nations who voted...voted NO, gays shouldn't be protected.

This controversy surrounds an amendment proposed by the small country of Benin to remove sexual orientation from the UN provisions for the protection of human life. The final tally:

79 votes in favor

70 votes against

17 abstentations

26 absent

Let's break it down:

Major votes in favor of removing sexual orientation: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Egypt, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, and Vietnam

Major votes against removing sexual orientation: every European nation present, India, Korea, most of Latin America, all of North America, and Israel.

Excuse me for being a bit ethnocentric, but those "in favor" countries are RIDICULOUS. The United States is normally portrayed as a bully who pushes its will upon the rest of the world. And in some regards, it is. But this is an area where the world should get pushed a little bit. This is beyond a cultural issue, it's an issue of human life. Some may say it's not our duty to step in and meddle with the affairs of others. And I agree that stepping in might not be the best term for it. But as human beings, we should advocate for all human life, especially those that are being unjustly extinguished. By being apathetic to the death of innocents overseas, we express our silent approval, which is why abstaining is just as bad as voting in favor. If choose not to act, where are effectively disrespecting human life altogether.

Now I may get some hate mail for this next part, but I wonder what the difference is between the nations for and against. Many of the nations in favor of the oppressive amendment have communist governments and histories of discrimination (such as Apartheid). There is also heavy support from undevelopped and developping countries. On the other hand, those against are mainly Westernized or influenced by Western culture. Perhaps the strength of the education system plays a role in how countries voted. Now I don't want to say the countries wanting this amendment are uneducated, but I gotta admit it seems like a pretty uneducated decision.