Women in Afghanistan

From what I have been hearing about Afghanistan women are still being treated like dirt even though President Bush proclaimed his outrage over the Taliban's oppression of women.  First lady Barbra Bush claimed "Because of our recent military gains in much of Afghanistan," she said, "women are no longer imprisoned in their homes."

But yet it still happens behind closed doors.  Women are arrested for talking to strange men,.  Sometimes women are arrested while talking to a male relative, for riding in a taxi with a male driver, or even saying hello on the streets.

I for one am glad to be an American "Land of the Free.  I would not want it any other way.

A long way, baby?

Back in the 1970\'s there was a cigarette commercial that claimed: "You\'ve come a long way, baby!". But, how far have we really come from those days 30 years ago?

The Equal Rights Amendment never passed, due to right-wing propaganda, mostly spewed by Ronald and Nancy Reagan. In the Southeastern US, especially the rural areas, it is almost like time has stood still, with outmoded attitudes towards women prevailing.

I don't think we have come a long way. Not with some religious groups, both Judeo-Christian and Pagan emphasizing the embracing of traditional gender roles.