Dog Pile: Women’s Equality Day

So August 26 was Women's Equality Day, something I did not know. Which is odd, because as you might have figured out, I’m a woman. You would think there would have been a memo or something.

But fear not! Afghanistan got the news! They celebrated Women’s Equality day by:

· Having US soldiers throw them a party!

· Having western media recognize a woman-run business based in Kandahar.

· Reminding them that they have political equality under Afghanistan’s new constitution.

· Yay, an art show! In India.

· And reading the wonderfully upbeat proclamation from Bush–oh wait, that was 4 years ago. But still, spot on mate!

· And what about when the pentagon reminded Afghanistan that sending our service women over there “demonstrates our nation's belief that women should be considered equal citizens in all societies” and then they set up voter registration … shit, that was back in 2004 too.

Damn, it’s like our government has just given up. I don’t really have to tell you that all this is bullshit, do I? I mean, no one seriously believes that the US has done any good in that country, right? Please tell me that my own citizens aren’t that stupid.

The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror - and America is honored to be their friend. George W. Bush

Afghanistan, we don’t read about anymore, because it’s succeeded. –John McCain on Charlie Rose 10-31-2005

I would take issue with the characterization that there’s anything desperate about the situation in Afghanistan, anything urgent or precarious about the situation in Afghanistan. – Pentagon
spokesperson Geoff Morrell Aug 5, 2008

Riiiiight. Okay, that’s about what I expected. Hey, does anyone else want to know what happened on Women's Equality Day in Afghanistan?

· Afghan President Karzai pardoned men convicted of bayonet gang rape of a woman searching for her kidnapped her son

· Rawa reported that violence against women has increased 40% since 2007

· 100 women set fire to themselves in a six-month period in western Afghanistan.

· Weddings! Of old men to children. And then “wedding night” injuries that land these little girls in the hospital. (don’t like this whole child bride shit? Too bad, because it makes up 57% of all marriages in Afghanistan)

· Nice, roomy schools opened – with no furniture, teachers or female students.

· Afghan President Karzai’s wife is a gynecologist who can’t open her practice anywhere in the country

· Because of the impending famine, families who make $120 a year will now be able to spend $35 of that … on a bag of flour

· Women are free to wear the empowering and totally not oppressive burqas.

· Yeah, and there’s still a buttload of landmines littering the workplace

I guess I’m not the only one who missed Women’s Equality Day. Looks like the entire nation of Afghanistan missed it too. Except for those photo ops.