GO WOMEN! (Sunday was Women's Day)

Well, Sunday was an odd way to celebrate! I've been in a small room at the computer with a bunch of military guys hard at work. Oddly enough, it is women's issues that first had me interested in Afghanistan. I remember during the 90s reading about the Taliban moving quickly across territory as they fought the Northern Alliance. Back then, the US didn't seem to care much about democracy or women's issues, or rural development here (if interested, an entertaining approach to telling this story is Charlie Wilson's War). Once September 11th happened, that all changed. The ungoverned spaces came back to haunt us, just as they had in Somalia.

Driving down the street from the airport to the Embassy, I still was troubled by the few women I saw allowed in public who had donned burkhas. For whatever reason, it just doesn't sit well with me. I know that some of them choose to do so, but I also know that more than a decade went by when if they didn't, they were whipped...

So, all you Western women...be grateful for the rights and freedoms you have, and find ways that you can help address some of the pressing women's issues around the world: health care (in the US or abroad), education, representation in government, etc.

Thank you for all you do ladies. I can think of one mother and sister in particular who are pretty great! I hope all of you had a wonderful day.

Peace...