Posts tagged New Zealand

A homeschooled, New Zealand-based teen offered up a bizarre anti-gay rant in a local newspaper, claiming that "ducks could take over the world" if same-sex marriage is approved.  In a letter to the editor of New Zealand’s Northern Outlook, the 14-year-old writes:

"If homosexuality spreads, it can cause human evolution to come to a standstill. It could threaten the human position on the evolutionary ladder, and say, ducks, could take over the world. Ducks always nest in pairs and we if allow same-sex marriage, then the ducks will have evolved further than we have. We will be in danger of all being equal, with ducks more equal than us."

Noting that children shouldn’t "have to compete with ducks," the kid adds: "If you believe in evolution, you can’t be in favor of homosexuality, or the ducks will get you in the end."  Needless to say, the creative, if unintentionally hilarious, letter has prompted some fiery responses. Wrote PZ Myers of Science blogs: "Because you think ducks are all heterosexual, and your children will all be heterosexual (brace yourself, you might get a few surprises in 10 or 20 years there), and a policy of tolerance will turn every other human being homosexual, you’re afraid your kids will be competing for mates with ducks?"

Same-sex marriage has been a hot topic in New Zealand as of late. In August, local politicians overwhelmingly cast a first vote in favour of a marriage equality bill.

Personally I’m not convinced that this isn’t some creative trolling. Especially considering how the author of the letter felt the need to add the information about being homeschooled. Homeschooling is outlawed in quite a few countries to help kids dodge religious and all kind of other crazy brainwashing, but ducks? That just seems a bit over the top.

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