Dominican Duds

The Dominican Republic keeps making headlines...bad ones, that is. As if the deportation of Dominicans of Haitian ancestry and Haitians in general wasn't enough of a black eye, the homophobic reaction to the U.S. Ambassador's arrival with his spouse is another example of bad press. Casting its intolerance as "cultural differences" and denouncing Obama's decision as an affront to the country, the DR is showing a very ugly face of holier-than-thou religious fanaticism and Dark-Ages mentality. Calling for demonstrations and the wearing of black ribbons on cars is, frankly, exaggerated and childish, as a means to protest against the Ambassador and the country he represents. Just as ludicrous is accusing the Obama administration of trying to "impose" gay marriage and adoption on the DR by this appointment.

There's definitely something very disturbing going on in a country whose tourist marketing slogan is "The Dominican Republic has it all."

Yeah, including a lot of intolerance, discrimination and prejudice.

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