Posted on 10/26/2003 9:09:04 PM PST by Stultis
"Naked" Miss Afghanistan slammed "We condemn Vida Samadzai, she is not representing Afghanistan's women, and this is not women's freedom." Surabi said according to Afghan culture women should not demonstrate their worth using their "beauty or bodies" but by their skills and knowledge. "In the name of women's freedom, what this Afghan girl has done is not freedom but is lascivious," the minister said. The 25-year-old Afghan contestant, who lives in the United States, is the first Afghan woman in 30 years to participate in the Miss World international beauty contest being held in the Philippines capital this week. The dark-haired, black-eyed Samadzai, apparently from a Pashtun tribe, was born and raised in Afghanistan but left for the United States in 1996 to escape the extremist Taliban regime which forced women to cover themselves from head to toe. Under the harsh regime women were not allowed to work outside their homes or go out without a close relative beside them. After the fall of the militia in 2001, an increasing number of women left the burqa, or veil, at home and some took jobs. The only other Miss Afghanistan was Zohra Daoud, who joined the Miss Universe contest in 1972.
AFP
27oct03
PRESIDENT Hamid Karzai's minister for women's affairs yesterday condemned Miss Afghanistan, as Vida Samadzai became the country's first woman in the post-Taliban era to appear in a bikini during a beauty contest in Manila.
"Appearing naked before a camera or television is not women's freedom but in my opinion is to entertain men," Minister Habiba Surabi said.
Given what I've seen of the Islamic culture, the world would be better off if it was entirely eliminated. If the best way to eliminate it is to show the young Islamic men that Islam stands in the way of their enjoying a good time with hot women, then cool
I have no problems with Muslims. Many of them are probably fine people. They'd be even better once they're no longer practicing that insane death cult called Islam. Convert them to Rastafarianism, mellow them out a bit, and they'll be fine.
Islam is incompatible with humanity
A big thank you for being the first to respond to my challenge -- usually offered to those expressing the opinion that America is going to hell in a handbasket.
Do you really think women's descent from that pedestal is a bad thing? Do you think they have fewer advantages today than in the 50's, say? Much smaller participation rates (as compared to men)in higher education or sports. Should we go back a time when women felt the need to dress as men, or adopt male pseudonyms?
My own thought is that occupying a pedestal must be one of the most confining positions available.
Actually I do. In earlier years women were treated as something special. They were cherished and treasured. Now they are just a quick roll in the hay. After all they can take care of themselves so why bother providing for them.
Do you think they have fewer advantages today than in the 50's, say? Much smaller participation rates (as compared to men)in higher education or sports.
I live in a small rural community. I know about an equal number of stay at home moms and working women. By far the stay at home moms are happier, healthier and have better children. Most are thoroughly fulfilled through either their role as homemaker or through volunteer or educational activities that are open to them ONLY because they don't have to work.
While they may have a lower rate of participation in organized sports I've found that most adults have a lower participation once they finish school. Those who want to stay active, stay active.
Should we go back a time when women felt the need to dress as men, or adopt male pseudonyms?
We are already at that point. Look at the culture today. There are more manly women than at any time in our history. Rather than being fulfilled women, women have become unfulfilled men. They slave away at jobs they hate, practice promiscuous sex and still end up alone, put off having a family until it's too late and they can't. They've traded in their feminine dress and demeaner for business suits and cut-throat competition
The women of today were sold a bill of goods saying that what they really needed was a career and their own 'identity' (whatever that is). What they got instead is trapped in the rat race, no time for themselves, no children, in some cases no husband. They sacrificed everything that is natural to them and got nothing in return. Sure they have careers but when you come home at night to an empty house, and find that your biological clock has run down, and no one is interested in spending their life with you, then you have nothing.
My own thought is that occupying a pedestal must be one of the most confining positions available.
Or one of the most liberating. As an example lets use my wife. She is a stay at home mom. (mostly due to choice but partly due to medical circumstances which end in 3 months). She has all day to spend with her child, she has the freedom to go and do almost whatever she wants to do. She can do things with the little one by herself or get together with her mom, sister and any number of women from church or the neighborhood and do whatever. My wife has been on more 'field trip' type activities in the last year than I've been on in my life. She get's to see all the interesting things. I expect it will only get better for her when she can drive again.
Now in three months (when she can drive again) the little one will start pre-school two days a week. My wife wants to get a part time job for those two days for more adult interaction and a little more pocket money. She gets to live a 'teenage' type life (all opportunitys and little responsibility).
What's not to like?
Now on the other hand, a friend of ours is a working woman. She puts in her 8-9 hours on the job 5 days a week and still has to take care of her home (and child, she couldn't wait for a husband any longer). She has no time for herself, greatly decreased chances of marriage (who wants an old woman with a kid?) and not much hope for a happy 'golden years' type retirement. She has no options because her responsibilities chain her to her job. I'd say this was greatly confining.
While I'm in full blown rant mode. Let me say that honorable men also lost big during the sexual revolution. It used to be that woman was a civilizing influence on man. The deal was, if you want to get laid you will be a good husband and a good father. You will act responsibly. In return you will have a happy life and I will treat you like a king. (See Leave it to beaver reruns or any of the old shows from the 50's). Men were forced to grow up and we were happier and healthier for it. Our home was our castle and our wife (the queen) treated us like a king.
Now although we can get laid at will we are never really forced to grow up. If we do get married we can have everything ripped from us without notice. We lose our wife, children and home at the whim of what has become a sexual predator just because she wants 'something else' (whatever that may be). So most men never grow up, never have families, practice rampant promiscuity or sexual perversion. We come home to empty houses and empty futures and have almost no way to fix it. If it wasn't for desperate older women we'd spend our last years totally alone. Our homes are no longer our castles, they are our cells.
Everyone lost in the sexual revolution. It destroyed the basic contract between men and women. and it destroyed honorable men and women in the process.
Outside of rural/religious circles probably very few. The dumbing down process is almost complete
After they've purged the lunatic killers from their ranks, I'll start to give a rat's ass about what offends them. Not before.
That is precisely why we should avoid even the appearance of kow-towing to their medievalism. Bring on the bikinis!
That's one way to look at it. Do you suppose the court of George III thought of the American rebels the same way?
Apples and oranges. Women in the 50s had all the same rights that women today have. They just exercised those rights more to their own advantage.
Perhaps not as much as you might think. My question was in reference to change, and how those on one side of the issue view those on the other.
Women in the 50s had all the same rights that women today have.
Not a particularly accurate statement. Women were not permitted to attend the Military, Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine Academies. They could not participate in the marathon at the Olympics (not strictly a "right"). The right to an abortion had not yet been recognized by the Supreme Court.
I'll grant you the acadamies (although I'd rather have them out of there anyway). I do not recognize the ability to murder your unborn child as a right even if the supremes say it is. It is in direct violation of the foundational rights of this country, Life, Liberty and pursuit of happiness.
L this is a good discussion but I'm afraid we've drifted far off topic. Until next time.
If this is how you characterize those who disagree with you, don't be surprised that you don't have many allies.
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