Friday, June 27, 2008

This post from Marko has bothered me since 9:30 this morning. I keep going back and looking at that photo...a woman, a human being, reduced to nothing. She stands behind her husband like a shadow - shapeless, colorless, nameless, and faceless.

I don't know if it's culture or religion, but it is abhorrent. Perverse. Evil.

And where are the feminists? Where are the protests? Where is the UN's Division for the Advancement of Women? Where are the shouts of outrage from the universal sisterhood, demanding choice and freedom? It was making me heartsick.

And then this afternoon, thanks to Michelle Malkin, I realized that hope will soon come for these women. Women who for so long have lived like someone else's property and walked through life in a shroud, will get a glimpse at freedom. They will know the full, pure, beauty of it...


...and they will spread the word.

20 comments:

JD said...

guess that is one reason they don't like us over there. . . . Hate to have us upset their little world.

Great to see one of our guys helping to make things better instead of the BS on the news every day.

"He's just this guy, you know?" said...

Yes, they will. It's a matter of time, and the sooner the better.

On the other hand, I sure hope that soldier got that lady to move her thumb, or she is gonna have unfond memories of the event.

Mike W. said...

Give those women a taste of freedom and empowerment and they can eventually change the misogynist culture in their country.

This underscores my basic issue with religion. Immoral men use it as a means of control to further their own self interests. They treat these women worse than dogs.

Remember though that the majority who follow Islam do not share this twisted view of their religion.

Anonymous said...

Men from misogynist cultures say that Americans "give women too much freedom" because we're "afraid of them."

Hardly.

I'd say the ones who keep them in purdah and make them wear bags over their heads are afraid of the women.

We're PROUD of our women. But they don't get that.

M

Anonymous said...

"This underscores my basic issue with religion. Immoral men use it as a means of control to further their own self interests. They treat these women worse than dogs.

Remember though that the majority who follow Islam do not share this twisted view of their religion."

Mike W:

That is a commonly held misconception in the West. I used to hold this belief until I studied Islam's holy books to further my knowledge. What I found horrified me. According to Islam's "holy" books, the terrorists are, in fact, the ones following their religion to the letter. It is the large number of moderate Muslims, who, while largely supporting the goals of the terrorists, are twisting the teachings of the prophet. The written record is clear: if the prophet were alive today, the civilized world would consider him a war criminal and child molester.

The idea that Islam is somehow on a par with or at all comparable to Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or any other currently widely practiced religion is, while attractive, simply false. The best way to think about Islam, in Western terms, is as a cult used by one man to control an army of heathen warriors. Unfortunately for us, the cult survived the death of its founder (although the infighting between his henchmen caused it to fracture) and went on to threaten Euorpe before being beaten back, temporarily.

Glenn B said...

I have to agree that if that thumb was not moved, then she was aching.

phlegmfatale said...

maybe a whisper campaign is the best means of conveyance of a point, after all. It will get around.

rremington said...

As always Breda, a brilliant and thoughtful post.

Anonymous said...

Breda,

Please consider the power of photography, one moved you to see the evil in a religon and another reminded you of hope, correct?

Then imagine how a woman on the other side of the world might feel in finding your website and seeing your pictures. Pictures not posed to make a global statement, pictures not staged to make a political statement. Simply a woman exercising a right many might not have realized they possessed. God bless you for providing an example to the world in an eloquent manner.

I've shown your site to my wife and daughter; they responded as I had hoped- with eagerness and confidence that they could learn to shoot also.

I know I"m not saying this well, but by your presence, words and pictures; you make a positive impact in the world. Thanks for your part in spreading the word.

Anonymous said...

That's one sexy nose she's got there.

breda said...

Bob S - sometimes when I'm sitting in my pj's in front of the computer, trying to think of something to write about, I often wonder: "why do I write this blog, what's the point, what am I doing, should I quit, who cares?", etc. Then someone like you will come along and remind me.

Your comment brought me to tears - I am so grateful to have the chance to make a difference, in any small way. Thank you.

Please keep me updated on your wife and daughter's progress.

Anonymous said...

What's neat is that the soldier is a woman.

Tam said...

OMG, don't even get me started...

My whole blog is Crimethink in a large swath of the world.

Have you read Infidel? It will make your blood boil.

Mike Gallo said...

My favorite treatise on Islam is "The Sword of the Prophet," by Serge Trifkovic. It aligns the development of Mohhamed's teachings as he moved through different stages of financial, political, and military power.

Interestingly enough, those are the types of power Jesus turned away from when tempted by Satan in the Christian Scriptures.

I have also often said that empowering the women subjugated under Islam will eventually be its ruination; when young Muslim men are more worried about impressing women wearing tiny little skirts and halter tops, where is anyone going to find a suicide bomber?

Anonymous said...

Breda,
You make more of a difference than you might think. People read this blog, get ideas, pass them on...You ladies that are gunbloggers are liberals worst nightmares...intelligent, educated (formally or not), submissive to no one, and armed. I think you also are wonderful examples for younger women.

I think the woman being taught to shoot is Iraqi security or police, since it appears that she is shooting a Glock.

B Smith said...

Thanks, Buck
I didn't realize that the soldier is this photo was a woman (I can't seem to get it to enlarge much on my comp), and I wondered about how, strict as the laws there are about such things, people would react to a man having his hand on her back that way. Of COURSE it's a woman, shame on me.
Anyway, I've taught a couple women to shoot, and a few guys, too. Most of them expressed, in some form, the sentiment "damn, this is really FUN,I've been missing out" That always makes me happy, like I really accomplished something worthwhile that day. But even if you don't physically take someone to the range (and if you haven't then YOU may be the one missing out), I'd say just getting someone to THINK about it in a positive light for a change falls squarely into the 'Something Worthwhile' column. In that capacity, I think you're doing a stellar job, Breda...kepp it up !!
As I like to say, the more (real) shooters there are in the world, the happier I'll be.

Christopher Boondoc said...

l was really glad to find your blog. Great posting and links. I think the photo of mahmoud just reinforces everything I have always thought about this character. Good links! Hey, check out my blog when you get a chance:
http://mdoncall.blogspot.com

Less said...

Totally off the topic here, but...

"Why do I write this blog, what's the point, what am I doing, should I quit, who cares?"

I'm having withdrawl symptoms - a bit. I was going to send a picture of boxing on the big screen and my 40 oz beer to my blog, but then I remembered... Oh well.

Ok, I never considered a statement/situation like what Bob described until now. The problem was that I was always angrier after blogging.

Anyway, Bob is right! That's why I cherish most ot he women blogger blogs so much...

Anyway, I'm going to get drunk now - David Diaz just lost and I'm at a sports bar...

Anonymous said...

"And where are the feminists?"

They are shapeless, colorless, nameless and faceless.

Anonymous said...

See, my theory is that if a culture is going to treat women as property, at least make it interesting, like the Ferengi.

(Kidding!)