Outside of school, I enjoy traveling, writing, scrapbooking and spending time with my friends and boyfriend. I am extremely close with my family and I feel that nothing should be more valued than the relationship with your family.
On that note, I am enjoying The Bookseller of Kabul thus far. I like the rawness and real-life issues that have been addressed.
The reality of such a harsh world for women has shocked me. I cannot believe that women are treated as inferior; are allowed little to no education and forced to marry young and have no choice in choosing their husband or wife, and are forced to have an arranged marriage. I cannot imagine being forced in to a life that was not a choice of my own. Women are treated as objects and their only worth is being able to bear a son. Love is something to me that is a valued, a sacred bond between two people and should never be forced. After reading this, I realize how much I truly value the freedom of being able to love freely and choose the life I want for myself.
On an even more serious note, I found an article on Google News that shocked me. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/03/obama-administration-struggles-afghan-law-legalize-rape/). The Afghanistan President is going to sign a law saying that Shiite men will have the right to rape their wives. He only recanted this decision and is now taking it into consideration after pressure from the U.S. Hilary Clinton could be considered a feminist and has been speaking about positive rights for women around the world, including Afghanistan for quite some time. I think that Afghanistan needs to realize the difference between sustaining traditional law and blatant, intolerable acts of sexism. I understand that Afghanistan does not want to be westernized and I believe they should always keep their traditional laws, but also should recognize that women deserve to be treated equally to men. I find myself in the dilemma of drawing the line between wanting the U.S. to help make these changes happen and imposing my own personal beliefs. I hope that Obama will bring positive change and assist in making other countries more peaceful and women from other countries can get a taste of independence and freedom of choice.
Hey Marika! That article about the Afghani law allowing Shitte men to rape their wives is really interesting. I'm glad the U.S., especially Hilary Clinton, is intervening. I think she is a positive leader and a voice for women in countries who have none.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of the law that confuses me however, is why it only applies to Shiites and not Sunnis. In Bookseller, the author describes the only difference between Shiites and Sunnis is their belief in the hierarchical position of Ali. I can hardly understand what that would have to do with permitting men to rape their wives. However, I don't think I will ever be able to truly understand Islam. Probably because I am too "Western."
Really interesting blog Marika. I was so appalled by that article, despite my awareness of how badly women are treated I never saw it going that far. I completely agree that there is a way to preserve your cultural heritage and practice your religion without having women being treated as slaves to their husbands and to their pre-determined lives in general.
ReplyDeleteIt is a really difficult situation to react to, one must somehow find a balance between stopping such horrific acts and imposing values on this country and others like it. However with this recent issue of legalizing rape I feel very strongly opposed to and I am for the intervention by Obama and his administration.
I was accidentally signed on to my boyfriend's google account! That last comment by Steve is actually me Lindsay, Sorry!
ReplyDeleteInteresting piece.
ReplyDeleteI saw this story running on CNN every twenty minutes last week and the public outcry was just as large as you would expect it to be. I think it's telling that such shock value can be derived in our country by a government bill in Afghanistan. This disparity is a clear indication of just how separate our cultures are.
The decision we have to make is when the differences come to a point of outlandish and unforgivable disrespect of what most people have deemed basic human rights.
As far as Hilary goes, I don't think any qualifiers are necessary for calling her a feminist. Hilary's position puts her in a prime spot to be one of the most recognized spokes people for women's rights in our country and towards anyone we do business with.