Lifting the Veil of Silence

I'm angry and afraid !!!

I recently read, A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was the novel following, The Kite Runner, by the same author. This book focused on the lives of a few Afghan women. The names have been fictionalized, but the stories are real, with cruel and inhumane treatment as a daily routine.

This is done by those who are meant to love and care for them or in the name of God - or Islamic Law. Young girls sold into marriages (slavery) at a young age and often violently abused by their families, husbands, or governments. These women live this way believing that it is the only option. This is what they must do to survive. The novel mirrors reality in Afghanistan, where living is dangerous today. The story tells us about life that is further strained and battered by the years of war and religious conflict that has embroiled the region for decades (make that centuries).

CNN aired a special this weekend, "Lifting the Veil". It was meant to be a followup to a broadcast done a few years ago. Our military entered into Afghanistan to free the people of their oppressive regime and give women freedom, that was our stated mission. It is clear that not much has changed in the country or in the lives of the Afghan people. Most strikingly, NOT for women. Their lives are very restricted and they have no rights, no dignity, no education. An example of this might be -health care for a woman. It is deplorable mostly nonexistent. Since women can not be treated at the same hospitals as men, they must go to clinics that are below substandard (is that possible??). Male physicians can not look at a female patient, female patients can not show their bodies and must be covered by the burka, how can you have surgery?? or a simple exam?? Females can not be educated or employed ... as nurses or doctors or lab technicians or teachers.. no education under strict Conservative Islamic Law. If they were educated before the Islamic Laws were strictly enforced, they can no longer WORK.. It is a laughable circuitous horror. The religious laws keep them at a level of importance, far below the farm animals -who are most prized. The suicide and murder rates for women and young girls are staggering. Where is the outrage??? Ahh... there is none. These women have no money or power or OIL for the world to bother interfering on their behalf. Who are our world leaders that allow this?

It happens around the globe, the inhumanity we inflict upon our fellow man, Africa, India, the Middle East, in far away countries and it happens right here.

We can read daily accounts about brutal attacks, home invasions, child abductions, the random and unexplained horrors of the Nightly News.

Will it ever stop?

We are so blessed to be American women. We have an obligation to women here and around the world to speak up. So Vote!

VOTING that is our power!!!