Uruguay News

About two weeks ago I saw a story that really made me proud to be a human being, while at the same time making me feel ashamed at being an American. The story surrounds some legal developments in the small country of Uruguay. For those not familiar with the country, heres the wiki: Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country located in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to 3.46 million people, of whom 1.7 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area. An estimated 88-94% of the population are of mostly European and/or mixed descent. Uruguays only land border is with Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to the north. To the west lies the Uruguay River, to the southwest lies the estuary of Río de la Plata, with Argentina only a short commute across the banks of either of these bodies of water, while to the southeast lies the South Atlantic Ocean. Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America, larger only than Suriname. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguays oldest European settlement, was founded by the Portuguese in 1680. Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in the early 18th century as a military stronghold. Uruguay won its independence in 1825-1828 following a three-way struggle between Spain, Argentina and Brazil. It is a constitutional democracy, where the president fulfills the roles of both head of state and head of government. The economy is largely based on agriculture (making up 10% of GDP and the most substantial export) and the state sector. According to Transparency International, Uruguay is the least corrupt country in Latin America (along with Chile), with its political and labor conditions being among the freest on the continent. Uruguay is one of the most economically developed countries in Latin America, with a high GDP per capita and the 47th highest quality of life in the world. It was the first Latin American country to legalize same and different sex civil unions at a national level in the year 2007.

The story surrounds an important development in rights of homosexuals around the world: setting into law the fact that same-sex couples can (and are protected by law) adopt children.

Uruguay, like the United States, is a secular country with a firm division between the church and state. As many in the US attempt to tear down that division and impose their own superior morals on others, its very refreshing to see a country with similar ideas making a public declaration about what is a family unit and that same-sex couples have the same parenting rights as hetero couples.

The United States needs to wake up and join the rest of the world in the twenty-first century. The antiquated Puritan values that many hold has done nothing but stifle the development of its population and created a lazy nation. If the United States is to return to its place as the Greatest Nation on Earth, it needs to pick itself up by the bootstraps and make the hard changes that will allow itself to do so.

These include: * A declaration of Gay Rights. * Universal Healthcare for all. * An end to government bail-out programs. * Higher standards of education. * A flat tax across the board. * An end to lobbying.

If these things can happen then America will be great.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• commentary
• analysis
• homosexuality
• gay
• babies
• news
• adoption
• qiranger

[Gimmeabreakman]

Hmmm... one of the only countries in Latin America that I have not been. Good for them.

[qiranger]

I really need to hit South America one of these days.

[StephStance]

something seXy about a bald man with purple skin....

I need a shower now

[qiranger]

;-)

[tiago2998lam]

Bueno que paso con Uruguay ee? Uruguay manda XD

[pifitate]

The transcendental is that they love themselves, love is what matters, there too much hatred in this world to insult facts in no way affect the other people smile, please!. Are parallel lives.

Live and let live;)

Happy 2010

[pifitate]

I am proud that a foreigner talk so well about my country. If there are few here, whom they revile customs alien to them (foreign), I must clarify that here people are happy.

And if two people decide to join swear allegiance to each other for life, beyond that in their home in their beds do something that not everyone agrees ................... ...

[fabifly]

My father is from Uruguay. I totally agree with this video!

Uruguay also gave up slavery before America did, so to me, it's no surprise that America is behind on something like this too. America is really not the big equal rights nation it claims to be. We do need to progress forward.

Unfortunately people have a very bad view of homosexuals, especially men. It has been statistically proven that lesbians last together longer in relationships than gay men. Hence, people see gays as unstable.

[wawazup]

also i wanted to say that im 20, and im from argentina. today we almost carry out the first same s.ex marriage in latin america, but something happened in the way and now its up to the supreme court to decide wheather the law is approved or not.

-crossed fingers ;)

ps: cool video!

[wawazup]

yeah, ive heard that as wel and it made me feel so happy! im glad, it means society is advancing and i know same sex marriage will come, just like the feminine vote did and just like we put an end to the racial segregation. i know people like us will have the right to get marry and the prejudice will slowly fade just like the dinosaur that still defend it

[yourugua2008]

Juasss... you also have a bad memory! I feel sorry for yourself! Have a nice day!

[DeadpoolofSpill]

What did I say about gays that would show I hate them?

[yourugua2008]

Your comments towards gays and towards us, Uruguayan, for approving the law!

[DeadpoolofSpill]

Unfortunately, no.

And what makes you think I hate gays?