Guest guest Report post Posted November 5, 2001 A Man's Country? > > -- By Ellen Goodman > > BOSTON Globe -- There's a photograph of Afghan leaders gathered at a Pakistan border town to plan for a post-Taliban government. > The picture shows a diverse group of elders in their robes. What's wrong with this picture? > > You see, these leaders who assembled didn't include a single woman. Those who were deciding decided there would be no women at the table. > > Looking at this portrait, the Taliban has succeeded in erasing memory -- and especially the history of Afghan women. > Afghanistan wasn't a showplace of feminism but it was by no means the > same country that placed women under house arrest and forced families > into exile simply to educate their daughters. > In fact, Afghan women, who are now 54 percent of the population, gained > rights slowly during the 20th century. In 1964 they helped write their > country's first constitution. Even before the Soviet takeover, women > served in parliament, went to universities, became doctors and teachers. > > As Jamila, from the Afghan Women's Network told a session of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday: "I often hear that peace and security is > man's work. I am here to challenge that illusion." > > America has shared that illusion . Indeed, one official told the New York Times, "We have to be careful not to look like we are imposing our values on them." > > I understand that caution and double standard . In the late 19th > century, Lord Cromer famously blasted Egyptians for degrading women > while back home in Britain he helped found the Men's League for Opposing > Women's Suffrage. > > On the other hand, we had no such fear of "imposing our values" on the > Japanese when equal rights for women were written into their postwar > constitution. Even Gen. Douglas MacArthur, no liberated male, became > convinced that if the world wanted to end fascism, if we wanted freedom, > we needed to ensure rights to women. > > That's where we are today. The international community has begun to > acknowledge that women's rights are universal. On Oct. 31, the United Nations celebrated a groundbreaking Security > Council resolution that committed governments around the world should involve women in negotiations. > We learn from history that peace, security and freedom are "cultural values" that we should not be afraid to impose. > > © 2001, the Boston Globe Newspaper Co. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
