Facebook Censors Call For Gender Equality In Religion

Lest we forget that being female is a horrible genetic disorder that should be shunned and condemned by God and God's representatives on earth – mighty, mighty men – Facebook has decided to remind us.

One year ago, former US President Jimmy Carter penned an excellent, thought-provoking opinion piece for Australian newspaper The Age. Titled Losing my religion for equality, Carter stated the logical argument that religion has been used as a means to oppress, rape, mutilate and torture women for centuries. All religions are guilty of this. Carter recognized that this backwards thinking and oppression is contrary to the teachings of Christ and that the cherry-picking of scripture to support oppression was indeed anti-Christian. He called for change.

STFU, Conservatives linked to it today. I read it, wept at the content, and linked to it on my Facebook wall.

Facebook flagged it as abusive content and would not allow those seeing it on my wall to follow the link. A pop-up read: "The link you are trying to visit has been reported as abusive by Facebook users."

Here's what Facebook and certain Facebook users deem abusive content:

This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries.

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

Since learning it was blocked, I was able to post this as my status update, allowing my friends to still find the article:

"Natalie LAST NAME Facebook objects the notion women are people and blocks this link. Add www.theage.com before the following to read a really excellent opinion piece by former US President Jimmy Carter. .au//opinion/losing-my-religion-for-equality-20090714-dk0v.html?page=-1"

I have also been searching Facebook's Help and Abuse FAQ to contact those in charge and perhaps remove the block. Since it has already been reported, I am not holding onto hope that it will be changed.

But I can encourage what few readers I have to not allow Facebook censorship to hinder the promotion of an intelligent and thoughtful read. Read it. Pass it on. Keep fighting.

Here is the link:
http://www.theage.com.au//opinion/losing-my-religion-for-equality-20090714-dk0v.html?page=-1