Olympics: Did anyone else see this?

[Virgo10]

I think it was yesterday that they showed a piece about the two women who are competing for Afghanistan. They showed a film clip where a reporter was talking to some Afghan men. One said, if she were my sister, I'd kill her. I am assuming it was because she was not covered from head to toe. She was a runner and wore pants during her competition. That wasn't enough for the men in the interview though.

What on earth can you do about people like that? Gotta do a time check. Yup, it really is 2004.

Roberta

 

[Margie J]

Yes I did see that segment. It was very interesting that even now, in 2004, there are Nations that don't support female athletes (such as Saudi Arabia and Qutar) or discourage them in personal ways (dress as an example). I actually cried while watching that segment. For, it's not just athletics in which women are barred but often education, work and more.

For these Nations their religion plays a big part in the dress code. Women are to be covered or modest, especially in public. It is immoral for them to appear in tiny shorts and bra tops like the rest of the female runners. It is sad that running in long pants and a t-shirt still isn't good enough for some men though.

 

[Kitty 34]

No, I didn't see that but Roberta you should read Inside the Kingdom by Carmen Bin Laden. Talk about places being wa-a-a-y out of the times!!!!

 

[Kallison]

Wow how scary for those two athletes when they get back home.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

If they're smart, they won't go back home. They should use this as an opportunity to seek asylum in another country.

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by Virgo10
I think it was yesterday that they showed a piece about the two women who are competing for Afghanistan. They showed a film clip where a reporter was talking to some Afghan men. One said, if she were my sister, I'd kill her. I am assuming it was because she was not covered from head to toe. She was a runner and wore pants during her competition. That wasn't enough for the men in the interview though.

What on earth can you do about people like that? Gotta do a time check. Yup, it really is 2004.

Roberta

Ain't it funny?: That's exactly the same what we Europeans think about the American attitude towards i.e. topless sunbathing at a public beach

 

[Mermaid02]

The difference Viking is if I were to go topless on a public beach, I might be arrested.....BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO KILL ME! I'd pay a $20 bail and a fine....

 

[MomofKatie]

The saddest thing about that origional post is that that man probably COULD kill that woman, or any woman, and get away with it. A man can be cleared for killing a woman he is related to if the woman is percieved to be less than totally modest or somehow allowing herself to be disgraced in some way... including getting raped. Yes, if an Afghan woman gets raped, her family members have the right to kill her to remove the "stain" of disgrace in the family. If a non-family member kills a woman, he only has to have another man vouch for him that he was acting in the best interest of the woman's family.

And don't kid yourselves- just because the Taliban is out of power, this still goes on routinely. If you are a woman and living in Afghanistan, you are treated worse than a dog in the street.

Makes me grateful to live where I do- it's like Oprah says- if you are a woman born in the United States, you are very fortunate.

 

[snoopy]

I saw that clip. Its sad to think women are so oppressed over there.

 

[Serena]

It's amazing how little value a woman has in certain cultures.