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THE WEEK OF JULY 1, 2004
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The Fourth of July (aka Independence Day) is truly the most sacred of all American holidays.
This date marks the country’s defiant act of severance from England in 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Ever since that day, the U.S. has fought long and hard to protect the democracy it cherishes.
The world has certainly changed since the 18th century, but America still maintains a high level of liberty and justice for all its citizens. This is the legacy the Founding Fathers left us and it has made this country the freest and most prosperous country in history.
Ever since World War II, the U.S. has tried to export its form of democracy to other countries. This has worked in some places and failed in others. However, America must be doing something right, otherwise why would millions of people risk their lives to immigrate here? Nobody sees a flow of natives leaving these shores, no matter how much they gripe about perceived injustices.
Right now, this country is in the throes of democracy-building in Afghanistan. An all-male registration team has been somewhat effective in rounding up men in the rural villages and preparing them for the democratic elections which are to be held in September.
But it’s a completely different story for women in this Muslim-dominant country. Many are still hiding behind burkas that cover them from head to toe, and the strict rules of tribal culture have hindered attempts to register these ladies or even explain what voting means.
The tradition of secluding women from life is still enforced in too many places, and husbands won’t let their wives and daughters leave the home—much less vote.
There is also an all-female team that is trying to register Afghan women to vote. These workers have to hide their skin with the all-covering burkas and must receive approval from the men of the villages before they can even set foot inside a home. And even if women are registered, their ability to vote will ultimately depend on whether men let them out of the home on election day. The idea of photo identification for women was quickly dropped as too revolutionary at this juncture.
Women’s primary function in Afghanistan—and for that matter many other countries in the developing world—revolves around having babies and catering to men.
The leaders of the U.S. are quick to penalize countries that trample human rights, but getting Afghan women the right to vote might be a long, difficult task.
American women in 2004 enjoy the greatest freedom ever known on this planet, and on this Independence Day they should keep in mind that, luckily, a woman’s place is in the House—and the Senate. And one day it will be in the White House, too.