[thechat] A balance of opinion. - Iran

Tara Cleveland tara at taracleveland.com
Wed Mar 26 08:08:26 CST 2003


Hugh Blair wrote:
> <<<< TILT >>>>
> 
> Iran reality lesson #1:
> Democracy has never been served to the Iranian people, neither
> by the Shah's regime nor by the present government.
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/iran/
<snipped the rest of them>

It's very true that women in Iran are not considered equal. They are very
much oppressed. But large parts of the world treats women similarly - if not
in law then in custom.

Does this mean that countries that don't treat women equally should all be
invaded? Is that what you're saying - that Iran should be invaded - largely
because of the plight of women in that country? Or is it because they aren't
democratic enough? I'm not sure what the rationale is (really).

I think you may find that many women in those countries would say "No
Thanks". War is generally a terrible time for women, the instability after a
war is a terrible time, women suffer during war in ways that men can hardly
imagine.
http://www.unifem.undp.org/resources/assessment/

Considering that improvements on equality and human rights are happening for
women in most places (albeit at a snails pace), does it make sense to:
go to war, have women suffer again through war, force an ideology on to
these countries, an ideology that they may resent and rebel against in 20
years time, throwing everyone back to the stone age? Why not let it happen
naturally? If you actually change the opinion and outlook of the majority of
the people, rather than forcing change on them, it's more likely to last and
to affect real change.

After all things weren't much different in North America at the turn of the
20th century than they are in Iran now. In fact, women in Iran have the vote
- unlike (almost all) North American women at that time. Would it have
helped women's lib if some "advanced" external society had come and bombed
the US until they gave women suffrage? I doubt it.

I'm not saying do nothing - I'm saying don't invade - don't destroy - don't
force. Use persuasion, incentives, funding and education to help Iranian
women's fight for equality. And don't forget to fight for equality

Just my 2 cents,
Tara



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