Thursday, October 27, 2005
North Country
I just got back from seeing the movie North Country. An excellent film, it is a must see for everyone, but especially for those young women who think sexism is dead in America (like many teenagers I talk to these days.) It is raw, emotional, gritty, and has some very disturbing scenes, but hell, life is disturbing.
I am so impressed by the women whose lives this movie was based. Just as I am so impressed by women such as Mukhtar Mai, who is challenging tribal "justice" that sentences women to be raped for the alleged crimes of their brothers or fathers. I am so impressed by women such as Shirin Ibadi in Iran and Asma Jehangir in Pakistan, Amina Wadud here in the US, who are working for women's rights in those countries. These women face real dangers to their lives, to their livelihoods, and still they stand up for what is right.
I have had opportunities to stand up for women's rights -- this summer I was honored to be given the opportunity to be the first women in some 1400 years to deliver a sermon and lead the Friday prayers for a mixed-gender congregation in a mosque, I've been blessed to be co-chair of the Progressive Muslim Union which is advocates for women's rights (among other things) -- but what little I have done pales in comparison to what these women do and live every day. My hat (scarf!) is off to them. ¶ 3:35 PM
I am so impressed by the women whose lives this movie was based. Just as I am so impressed by women such as Mukhtar Mai, who is challenging tribal "justice" that sentences women to be raped for the alleged crimes of their brothers or fathers. I am so impressed by women such as Shirin Ibadi in Iran and Asma Jehangir in Pakistan, Amina Wadud here in the US, who are working for women's rights in those countries. These women face real dangers to their lives, to their livelihoods, and still they stand up for what is right.
I have had opportunities to stand up for women's rights -- this summer I was honored to be given the opportunity to be the first women in some 1400 years to deliver a sermon and lead the Friday prayers for a mixed-gender congregation in a mosque, I've been blessed to be co-chair of the Progressive Muslim Union which is advocates for women's rights (among other things) -- but what little I have done pales in comparison to what these women do and live every day. My hat (scarf!) is off to them. ¶ 3:35 PM
