Where are the American Women?
In Iraq, as in all modern wars, the largest casualty groups are the women and children. Politics, rationales, strategies and tactics aside, where is the expression of American women's concern for the Iraqi women and children? Some official international groups and watchdog agencies are trying to investigate and speak out about what is happening to women and children in Iraq, and some reporters, women in particular, occasionally show interest, but where are the women of America in this time of great concern for Iraqi women - mothers, daughters, wives and sisters?
Some American women are in military uniform, more so than ever in our history. Three in particular come to mind, one inspiring and two disgusting. The disgusting two were involved in the Iraq prison abuse scandal - the nut in the sexual humiliation pictures giving the thumbs up and the nut who was supposed to be in charge of the prison. The inspiring one deserves a couple paragraphs of her own.
I love you Jessica Lynch. You are so truly American. Small town girl trying to do the right thing, get some experience, earn some money, help your country, make friends with everyone, follow orders, try to act brave even if you are really scared. But above all else, value your integrity and humanity. A wrong turn, guns that would not work, hug the floor, crash, injury - then a hospital peopled by the supposed bogeymen you were told about, but also by a nurse who sang to you as if you were her own child - and made you feel as if you were. Then your dynamic rescue, staged, documented and hyped - the small town girl from rural America, guns blazing in defiance, finally succumbing to injuries and being captured, abused and tortured before finally being heroically rescued by her band of brothers.
Your first interview, Jessica, is America at her best. Cute, sweet and innocent, you set the record straight by telling your true story, so naively and simply that the Pentagon could not figure out how to spin it against you. Your expression of dismay that your superiors kept telling heroic lies about your story, even after they knew the stories were untrue, confirmed that you are an American hero of a type which is unfortunately quite unique.
But what of American women not in uniform? There are many women involved in support of our troops, openly praying, invariably in Christian context, for their safe return. But are they also praying for the safety of Iraqi women and children? If so, I haven’t heard of it. And what about Muslim women in America? Are they praying for the safety of Iraqi women and children? Probably not in public-out of concern for their own safety here in America.
What about an ecumenical women’s prayer service for the troops and for Iraqi women and children? Where are the American women?
Some American women are in military uniform, more so than ever in our history. Three in particular come to mind, one inspiring and two disgusting. The disgusting two were involved in the Iraq prison abuse scandal - the nut in the sexual humiliation pictures giving the thumbs up and the nut who was supposed to be in charge of the prison. The inspiring one deserves a couple paragraphs of her own.
I love you Jessica Lynch. You are so truly American. Small town girl trying to do the right thing, get some experience, earn some money, help your country, make friends with everyone, follow orders, try to act brave even if you are really scared. But above all else, value your integrity and humanity. A wrong turn, guns that would not work, hug the floor, crash, injury - then a hospital peopled by the supposed bogeymen you were told about, but also by a nurse who sang to you as if you were her own child - and made you feel as if you were. Then your dynamic rescue, staged, documented and hyped - the small town girl from rural America, guns blazing in defiance, finally succumbing to injuries and being captured, abused and tortured before finally being heroically rescued by her band of brothers.
Your first interview, Jessica, is America at her best. Cute, sweet and innocent, you set the record straight by telling your true story, so naively and simply that the Pentagon could not figure out how to spin it against you. Your expression of dismay that your superiors kept telling heroic lies about your story, even after they knew the stories were untrue, confirmed that you are an American hero of a type which is unfortunately quite unique.
But what of American women not in uniform? There are many women involved in support of our troops, openly praying, invariably in Christian context, for their safe return. But are they also praying for the safety of Iraqi women and children? If so, I haven’t heard of it. And what about Muslim women in America? Are they praying for the safety of Iraqi women and children? Probably not in public-out of concern for their own safety here in America.
What about an ecumenical women’s prayer service for the troops and for Iraqi women and children? Where are the American women?
posted by Tom Blake | 10:02 AM
1 Comments:
Your post suggests lots of topics for further discussion, Teresa.
The web site you pointed us to about women in parliaments is very revealing. First, it shows the USA ranks 63rd in percentage of women in the lower house of the national Legislature (US House of Representatives). Women did not have the right to even vote for the first 130 years or more of our country.
The Parliament web site, on its regional page, shows that the arab states are the lowest of all regions as to number of women in the Parliament. Women are just not given any semblance of equal standing in that part of the world.
More liberal countries have more women legislators. Is that because that political philosophy is more inclusive of women, or because women are more drawn to that philosophy? I think it is both.
Tom
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