The Taliban has made good on its horrific promise to cut off the fingers of people with the tell-tale dye stains on their fingers after voting in the national elections. This does not surprise me about these extremists who believe any atrocity in the name of Allah is permitted. What astonishes me is that the Afghan government continues to use the dye technique when it allows for such retaliation.
The two women referenced in these reports showed extraordinary courage. They not only defied the Taliban to participate in democracy but they did so in in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar province. They showed greater courage than the cowards who commit this crime. It is of course no accident that these extremists selected two women as part of their treatment of females as virtual chattel under their perverted notion of a pure Islamic society.
Next time you are not sure of voting in one of our national elections due to the inconvenience, it may be a story to keep in mind.
For the full story, click here.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp
For those who haven’t and would like to read Washington’s Farewell Address.
Not for nothing, but did any one ever read Washington’s Farewell Address??
At least they don’t have to deal with the pain of hanging or dimpled chads!
Buddha,
As GWLSM explained there is no hard and fast answer to this question. Without a doubt Judaism is the most sexually liberated if you’re choosing between it and Christianity/Islam. Within marriage sex is seen as a Mitzvah (blessing) and an obligation on both parties. With the ultra-orthodox though there are problems that as GWLSM alluded to approach some of those of Islam and Christianity. My thinking, without much proof, is that since in all Fundamentalist beliefs the men are in essence kept separate from normative growth relationships with women, some men just don’t have the knack to treat a women decently. Also too one tends to treat ones spouse the way one watched their parents interract.
There is also in all forms of Judaism a greater likelihood of matriarchal dominance, than you would see in other faiths. The Jewish woman can be a very powerful figure. In general though, I would think that in observant homes the relationships are well defined, with each sex having their own ambit. As GWLSM mentioned, the “peculiar” Jewish Law of the man satisfying the woman first can make for happy sexual relationships.
From my own youth I can remember Passover Seders at my Maternal Grandmother’s Orthodox house. My father had eight siblings so you could imagine the crowd. What usually occurred was my Father led the Seder, which he was very good and dramatic at, but most of the women would be in my grandma’s kitchen preparing things, with the door closed. While we “Davened” prayed a relatively long service, the sounds from the kitchen filled with women and my girl cousins was constant laughter and fun. At eight I developed this theory from that that the whole religion was really run by women, who made the men do the heavy prayer work to keep them out of trouble, while they go gossip and enjoy themselves. As the years have gone by I revised my theory somewhat, but there is a kernel of truth in it.
Maybe we shouldn’t be worrying about the busisness community which forces us to “compromise” with these merciless religious zealots and do what’s right for a change. We invaded this country to find Osama and didn’t do it and stayed for oil. If we can’t bring real democracy to this country we shoould take oour DOLLARS and go home with a promise that if they EVER allow these people to take over again they will be nothing more than a PARKING LOT in the middle of the mountains. God know we pay enough in taxes for that!!!
Big Fella,
I agree that the people there must rise up just as people did in this country against the British. Even then, we still had a bloody Civil War that “produced about 1,030,000 casualties (3% of the population), including about 620,000 soldier deaths—two-thirds by disease. The war accounted for roughly as many American deaths as all American deaths in other U.S. wars combined.” The civilian casualties were undetermined.
Moreover, we still do not have our own country “right” after 200 years of strife and struggle. Yet we squander young lives and our Treasury on unwinnable “wars” and conflicts overseas that could last much more than 200 years.
Even after countless centuries, the wars will remain unresolved because decisions and actions are based on the myriads of illogical religious beliefs of Islam, Christianity et al. instead of cold, hard logic and critical, analytical reasoning.
This topic really pushes some of my buttons and I have been blogging about it for the past few years, one example here: http://thebfdblog.com/2007/06/07/the-veil-of-islam/ .
Reading stories about mutilation, stoning or locking schoobl girls in burning buildings (because they cannot be allowed in public without veils) is nothing but barbarism from the Stone Age. I don’t think there is anything any of us can do (forcibly) to change this institutionalized behavior in Afghanistan, other than to totally remove ourselves from Afghanistan, do everything we can to isolate the government in Afghanistan that tolerates and seems subordinate to ignorant fundamentalist religious fanatics.
The women and men who are subjugated by this feudal system are going to need to rise up and reject the status quo, and it will be costly to them, but it can only be changed by the self determination of human beings who have decided that “enough, is enough”.
Buddha writes: I ask this because with all the experience that I have with Jews are of the more moderate/progressive variety of practitioner. How are women treated by the ultra-orthodox Jewish sects? We hear plenty in the news about the Christian and Muslim sides of the issue fanaticism and their effects on women, but I do not think I’ve ever heard an account from the Jewish perspective.
this requires a lengthy response… MIke may beat me to it… I have a thing later this afternoon and have to get to the fish mongers
but I will tell you this. Parts of the observant jewish world are matriarchal, parts are patriarchal. there are plenty of laws, 613, that govern the behavior of both genders. some are kind to women, the way I see it, most are not.
for example. if the marriage isn’t working from her point of view, she has to petition to obtain a “get” or rabbinic divorce. if a man wants one, it is granted at once. there is considerable spousal abuse in ultra orthodox households. men often visit strip clubs and interact with prostitutes. their wives are “unclean” about half the month during and following their menstrual cycle. during this time she may not touch her husband or directly hand him food. she sleeps separately. on the other hand it is the obligation of a husband to see that his wife is sexually satisfied before he is and e is supposed to do whatever brings her pleasure.
Mike (and GWLSMom by logical extension),
I ask this because with all the experience that I have with Jews are of the more moderate/progressive variety of practitioner. How are women treated by the ultra-orthodox Jewish sects? We hear plenty in the news about the Christian and Muslim sides of the issue fanaticism and their effects on women, but I do not think I’ve ever heard an account from the Jewish perspective.
Jill writes: I was thinking the same thing. We are a complacent society with far more resources of resistance. Why are we so passive in the face of so many wrongs?
because its the easy way. haves will always want to keep what they have and have-nots always defend their practices because they hope to be haves someday. Your idealism, and my idealism are offended by this to the point that the voices of the current insanity make us nuts.
we are complacent of so many things that are much closer to home than afghan women getting fingers cut off. we accept poverty, hunger, criminals running our gov’t. we accept people carrying assault rifles to political gatherings. we defend the rights of hate mongers. we have allowed the emergence of a private army to do what it will without accountability or oversight.
and this is just the list that is added to the climate of hate toward women we already see, the indifference to children, the erosion of public education.
this is the easy way Jill.
and it stinks.
rafflaw writes: I agree with Professor Turley that the Afghan puppet government needs to smarten up and stop using the dye system. These women are true heroes.
of course. just put targets on their backs. the only reason to allow these women to live at all is so that can make more male babies.
At some point, I have no idea when, there must be a time of accounting when this misogynistic religious fanaticism, of all faiths must be confronted and the oppression of women ended. The most sadly ironic fact to this all is that equality between the sexes would make things better for men as well as women.
Sounds like Archie Phar the Duke of Duval County has moved. Oops wrong election that was LBJ.
Sorry.
FFLEO,
I was thinking the same thing. We are a complacent society with far more resources of resistance. Why are we so passive in the face of so many wrongs?
Why are intelligent U.S. citizens sacrificing their children’s lives and draining our treasury to mire our finite futures in the fatal quicksand muck that is the Middle/Near East and Islam…
(notwithstanding the oil reserves)
The link above is to a comment from Ouisa D Davis, Attorney at law, El Paso Times.
This is an atrocity against Human Rights! Search them out and remove them all from society. Not one is to be trusted, as they are total fanatics! Down with the Talban! Up with Women’s Rights – Fight for HUMAN RIGHTS! People – do not become complacent – remain ever vigilant against atrocities such as this!
We are responsible for our attitudes, our society and the reflection we project to the world.
All people have common DNA; we all have red blood flowing through our veins. We are human beings from different cultures, with different skin tones. We celebrate God with varied faces and who speaks to us through the voices of our experiences, families and traditions.
Tied together by our commonality as citizens of the United States, we must stand together — regardless of our ancestry — for the common good.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_13171159)
My question is simply this: how long until the women of that part of the world put an end to Sharia induced fanaticism? And I ask that not because they should have to bear that burden, but because I wonder how much repression any group can take before snapping.
The US is making the position of the Taliban stronger, not weaker. As we further plunge this country into chaos by bombing civilians with drones, having contractors such as Blackwater move in, killing anyone they like, not training and equipping our regular army to do any worthwhile work, we are disentegrating this society. The taliban fills the void created by chaos. “Strongmen”, ie, powermad, gangsters flourish in a chaotic envirnoment and they are not subtle about making clear what they will do, should anyone dissent.
These women showed incredible courage. If we want to promote peace and stop bringing chaos into Afghan civil society, chaos which allows the talithugs to prosper, then we should remove our military and put every dime we have into rebuilding civilian society. Should we do this we can help the Afghans regain their own nation and end the deaths of our own and the Afghani people in the profit making venture we proclaim “the just war”. If these women will take on the brutal killers in their country we ought to take on the killing-industrial complex of our own nation on their behalf.
The Taliban are truly nuts. When you read anything that discusses their tactics and rules of governance, it makes you cringe. From public stonings to this latest atrocity. I agree with Professor Turley that the Afghan puppet government needs to smarten up and stop using the dye system. These women are true heroes.