Late last month, this woman in her 60's............a grandmother who with quiet strength continued to maintain an underground school for girls in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule............was assasinated. Safia Ama Jan was gunned down by the Taliban, on her way to work. She was the Provincial Director for the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Kandahar.
Her loss needs to be recognized beyond the borders of her own country.
Right after the invasion of Afghanistan took place, the news indicated that women were no longer imprisoned in their own homes. Girls were able to once again attend school without fear of punishment. Job opportunities opened up......veils were being lifted.
Her loss needs to be recognized beyond the borders of her own country.
Right after the invasion of Afghanistan took place, the news indicated that women were no longer imprisoned in their own homes. Girls were able to once again attend school without fear of punishment. Job opportunities opened up......veils were being lifted.
That was then. This is now: “The situation of women remains dramatic and severe violence against them all-pervasive,’’ Yakin Erturk, the United Nations special envoy for violence against women, reported in February. “Reports of kidnappings and rape of women by militia and warlords continue to be widespread to the present day, including cases of executions by local councils. Thus, the rule of power rather than the rule of law continues to be the norm in Afghanistan.’’
Our role in fighting the Taliban, in freeing the women and girls in Afghanistan must continue. We owe that to Safia Ama Jan. We owe it to the others who must live in fear behind their burkas that our troops remain where they are.
Burkas are not bulletproof. Behind every burka clad woman in Afghanistan is a female who lives in fear. Behind every burka is a smile waiting to be seen. As far as I'm concerned the burka only represents imprisoned moving targets.
3 comments:
Someday a male pervert will be caught in the ladies' locker room at the gym, thinking it's a perfect disguise.
Of course, being stupid, he didn't think about the very thing that'd give him away... pitching a tent from under the burqha...
Of course, Bill Clinton isn't known for being smart... just uncontrollably naughty!
Heh...
Sentinel........it's a good thing you weren't nominated for bloggy comments as well! You crack me up. :o)
We do live in a sad world when women cannot be seen as the heros they are in their own countries. I hope to see a day when these type of atrocities are frowned upon by their fellow countrymen, and people with principle stand tall to denounce senseless killings. For the men running these countries, it's sad they don't see that they need the force of their women to make their country strong. I'm positive there is a special place in hell for them.
As always, hail to you in pointing out a missing link in their chain of command.
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