A few years ago, (before the US went in to Afghanistan), I recieved a petition outlining the deplorable plight of the women of that desperate country under the fanatical rule of the Taliban, asking the reader to join the growing outcry of protest against these atrocities and their instigators. Up until that point, I had little knowledge of what was going on over there, but this petition became the "eye opener" for me as to some of the atrocities committed against women not only in Afghanistan, but the world over, and my name became part of that list and was passed on.

A few months later, while trolling the net, I came across a video, taken no doubt at great personal risk by the photographer, that burned into my memory permanently, and to this day, disturbs me so deeply, I find myself reluctant to even mention it here, but mention it I must, because that video became the foundation of which I stand on today, with regards to my beliefs on the plight of women the world over.

The video showed a woman wearing her mandatory burka, covering her from head to toe, kneeling on the grass in what appeared to be a sports stadium somewhere in Afghanistan, crying and shaking uncontrollably, while a Taliban executioner walked up behind her with what appeared to be an AK47 assault rifle, aimed down at her, and shot her in the back of the head!!

The woman's crime was nothing more than an infraction of the exact laws of the Curan, which was shocking enough of itself, but obviously this form of so called "punishment" simply CANNOT GO UNCHALLENGED ever again by the civilzed world !!

Somehow, this became a turning point for my thoughts about the plight of women all over the world, and if I could do so, I'd like to say to this unfortunate soul, that HER DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN, because it changed not only me forever, but probably thousands of others who saw this video as well. I'd say the same to the women who died at the hands of another crazed zealot in Montreal - YOU DID NOT DIE IN VAIN !!

We must all pull together to stop the violence against all women, both mentally and physically, until we can walk the earth together as equals in our own right, and within our own limits.

palomino

Thank you for the reminder Palomino. I remember being at work on December 6, 1989, hearing the news over the radio about the shootings at Polytech and having to go into the bathroom because I thought I was going to be sick. I thought to myself at the time...these tragedies only happen in the US...
In addition to the heart wrenching costs to families and communities affected by violence against women, the costs to the tax payers of B.C. each year is staggering.
I attended a presentation on Friday at CNC addressing December 6th National Day of Rememberance. We were told that violence against women costs our province 36 million dollars a year - for RCMP, medical, prison, counselling, treatment, women's shelter and other victim service related expenses. What's wrong with this picture? Surely going into the year 2010 that we as a society haven't been enlightened enough to implement some effective prevention strategies?!

Tomorrow is Pearl Harbour Day.

Today is Pearl Harbour day. See ya next year.