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From:  "Jennifer" <jennibri@i...>
Date:  Sun Apr 16, 2000  4:46 am
Subject:  RE: [vocalist-temporary] WAAAAAY OFF: Re: Afganistan


> I think humanitarian causes should be allowed to be addressed here, given
> their being more important than singing itself. Regardless of that, I keep
> thinking: what do women in Afganistan think of it? As absurd as
> it may sound
> to westerners, they MAY ( pls, don't distort what I'm saying )
> not even care
> much about that. One world, ( too? ) many cultures.


I wasn't going to respond to this thread, because I don't think this is
really the forum for it, but I couldn't let this pass without saying
something. I have a Canadian friend who recently returned from working for a
couple of years in Saudi Arabia, where women aren't allowed to drive, wear a
long black covering (can't remember the name) when they're in public, and
have a number of restrictions on their freedom that people raised in other
parts of the world (such as myself) would find hard to tolerate. But because
this is what they're used to, most of the women in Saudi (according to my
friend) don't seem to mind. However, the situation in Afghanistan is
different. The women there HAD western style freedoms until about four years
ago when they were suddenly taken away. It is not part of their recent
culture - at least not until it was violently forced on them.

I know you weren't trying to be offensive, but if we were talking about an
ethnic or religious group that was suddenly being forced into these
conditions, nobody would even think of saying they didn't mind because it
was part of their culture. On the contrary, the UN or NATO would be going in
forceably like they did in Kosovo, or imposing sanctions like they did to
help end apartheid in South Africa, to try to help. It's appalling to me
that our governments have stood by and let this happen, all because it's
*women* who are being hurt. They have now imposed sanctions, but it's not
because of the situation of the women, it's because the Taliban was
harbouring a terrorist suspected of bombing US embassies.

I was going to say that I'm glad I live in a country where I don't have to
worry about this happening, but several years ago the Afghani women might
have said the same thing...

That's my rant for the day.

Jennifer


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