Ahmadinejad needs a lesson from Aretha Franklin
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- Category: Farshad Farzad
- Published on Monday, 20 September 2010 22:12
- Written by Farshad Farzad
Webster's dictionary defines respect as the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.
"Iranians, because of our Islamic culture and our Iranian culture, have a very special respect for women," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said. "We just dignify women, so the system decided that [Sarah Shroud] should be released."
Does he actually believe half the s**t that comes out of his mouth? Maybe Iranian citizens respect women, but no way in hell would I, or should anyone ever believe that the Iranian government actually respects women.
This is the same country that stones women who are alleged to have had an adulteress affair. If you want a Hollywood style fictional truth about ho
w Iran respects their women, pick up a copy of the Stoning of Soraya M."
Women in Iran do not have the same rights as men. Although Iran is more progressive than most Middle Eastern or West Asian countries, women are still second-class citizens. Women cannot ascend to the Presidency that Mr. Ahmadinejad currently holds, they cannot dress however they want, and most importantly they cannot be as independent as American women.
In my family, the women tend to be the backbone of all families; they are the ones who hold the burden of the family. They are the affectionate ones, the ones that shape their kids. We grow up to respect our parents, but respect our mothers a little more because of all their sacrifices for the family.
When Mr. Ahamdinejad says he respects women, it puts a bad taste in my mouth. If you respect women, then bring universal suffrage to your country. Allow for women to dress however they would like to express themselves.
A couple of years ago, my grandmother was in Iran. She went down to the bazaar to buy some things that she needed. She was walking towards a storefront when a woman approached her and asked her if she had any pride in herself. Apparently my grandmother had a little bit of her highlighted hair showing under her headscarf. My grandmother apologized to the lady (not that I feel she had to) and proceeded to fix her hair with her fingernails. Not remembering that her nails were painted, the lady exclaimed, "Lady you should be embarrassed of yourself, not only did you show your hair but you also colored your nails like a tramp!"
The lady went into her burqa and pulled out a cell phone, proceeding to call the decency police. Here is my 75-year-old grandmother scared to death, running away and hiding because she wanted to look like a "Western" woman.
This is the country that Ahmadinejad claims respects women? What a joke! I am glad the majority of my family has left Iran. How can someone live under these circumstances?
I believe Mr. Ahmadinejad needs to go back to Websters and review the definition of respect.
