I read this comment some weeks ago. It sticks in my mind – comes back to the surface often:
“Women are the greatest untapped, unused human resource in the world today.” Think about it – the intelligence, the abilities, the strength, the drive of half the human race, squandered, rejected, misused, as it has been for millennia. And although these circumstances are gradually changing in some parts of the world, we still see so many countries where women continue to be discriminated against and overpowered by male aggression and fear.
What are so many men so afraid of? We are their mothers, their sisters, their wives, their daughters – we nurture them, care for them from before birth – without us, most of them would struggle to survive because so many men still don’t spend the time or effort they should caring for young children – even boys! So why the fear? The lack of self-confidence?
Let me explore two current situations that are pertinent to my concern.
First – the news from Afghanistan. Over the last 20 years, we have watched women, young and old – gain in education, encouragement, confidence and skills. They flock in to schools taking advantage of every opportunity to develop themselves, to serve their families, their communities, their country and the world. They are studying to be technicians, medical personnel, business owners. They are teaching children and adults in many fields and have become politically active – learning about the needs of their communities and their country, and eager to make their contributions not only to Afghanistan, but to the world. The new so-called leaders of Afghanistan – representatives of the Taliban – have begun putting these capable, ambitious women “back in their place”. After announcing that they would allow women freedom – according to their religious tenants – they have proceeded to make it clear that they will use the cover of religion to keep women under their feet as second-class citizens in perpetuity.
The second situation is taking place right here in our “modern” “enlightened” democracy. Women have made a great deal of progress – and so have wise, intelligent men. However, the current battle in Texas and across the country – take note of the Supreme Court’s recent nod to “Christian” so-called “right to life” extremists – to prevent women from controlling their own bodies and destiny – is all a part of the same abuse of women’s rights. Notice – that again, this attack on women’s rights is couched in the disguise of religious tenants – the “word of God”.
(And, by the way, these “Christian” pretenders often care little to do what is needed for children living/dying in poverty once they are born – apparently, they are only so terribly important before they are born. Furthermore, please remember the “Divine Right of Kings” that once explained why a few physically aggressive and brutal men ruled the lives of millions and millions of other men and women, who didn’t have any right to govern themselves because supposedly “God” had given all the power to the few so they could rule the many as they wished.)
I am a spiritual person – I revere my Creator and Its Creation. I absolutely do not believe that God, regardless of what our Creator is called, loves or blesses anyone who oppresses and devalues another Being It has created. We are all God’s manifestations – we are here to express our gifts and talents fully, and to help make the world a better place with those talents. We are to make our own best decisions about our bodies and our destinies. Women’s personal decisions are to be respected equally.
Fearful men – and the women who support them – need to suck up their fear, get off their thrones, pull together with wise women to save the Earth and secure the future of this infinitesimally tiny group of Humans in the Universe.
That is what a Beneficent Creator would expect of us.