1 OT, but the Christian Peacemaker team, without Mr. Fox, of course, has been freed by military action. Thank God!

2 That question keeps coming up and has yet to be answered. Just why do western feminists ignore it? Why is Hollywood silent about affronts to freedom of expression such as their colleague Theo van Gogh was laid victim to? Why do journalists admonish the publication of the Muhammed cartoons, but gleefully publish that which offends a multitude of others? Why?

3 You know why Oyster; liberals are as much enemies of civilization as are muslims, and seek to undermine it from within while the muslims attack from without. Both groups are comprised of dangerous morons who envision some sort of twisted dystopian future, albeit different futures, and both understand that the barrier that must be surmounted is Western Civilization, and so both groups seek to destroy it at all costs. The day will come soon when they openly join ranks in their war against all that is decent and good, and whitebread college kids will be planting bombs in Starbucks, and muslims will be burning down neighborhoods, all while government spokesweasels call for calm and wring their hands, and we will be abandoned to fight for our own survival.

4 Just how effective "women's rights advocates" would be in affecting change in Syria or Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan is open to question/ However I believe our elected government would have a much better chance in demanding meaningful change. The National Organization of Women just doesn't have the came clout overseas as does the US federal government. With a clear RepublicaN magority in both houses of congress AND the presidency we should be able to have influence overseas.

5 Actually, IM, I see it more as leftists who are the danger. We've discussed this before. Classic liberalism is much different. I myself subscribe to some liberal philosophy and some conservative philosophy, but none of my beliefs are rooted in leftist philosophy. However, many who call themselves liberals are really leftists. They don't know the difference. Yes, many liberals are silent as well. They have cast their lot with the leftists out of ignorance and their silence, or fence-sitting, is a problem.

6 Muslims, especially if they are devout believers, often are racist, sexist, child-abusing, violent, intolerant monsters. And those that aren't could easily be coerced to become so. It's like a gang thing...get it?

7 John Ryan: The rhetoric coming out of Afghanistan over Abdul Rahman's arrest has sure changed. To what do we credit that? I'd say it was the world-wide response from individual people and groups.

8 Of course it is easier to have an impact on the situation of one individual (christian) man.It might also be because of what our President Bush has said publicly. I haven't seen too much written that would indicate to me that the circumstances for the typical woman in Afghanistan has changed from when I lived there in 1976-7. Even under the new government the typical female is really not much different than chattel. A gross change in culture is not easily obtained.

9 Oyster, you have made a valid point. And the question should be to these women's groups and their allies; why haven't you pointed out the discrimination inherant in Sharia Law? And don't say that this doesn't apply in the West as adherants of Sharia are seeking to have it implemented in Canada, Britain, France and other nations in the West. The silence of these leftists is deafening. Now where's that big mouth background noise? I'm sure he or John Ryan will give me the NYT's spin on this subject. And now that I think about it, I should be thankful to John Ryan and Mr. noise for saving me subscription money on the NYT, as either of both are likely to be vomiting out whatever they read in the Times. Thanks, guys!

10 I don't think there is much of a true women's movement still around in the USA and Europe. Remnants of the movement march under its banner for various causes but I really don't think it exists as before. Alot has changed since women first burned their bras in the street, and what remains of the movement now seems to be aligned to the anti-American left. Dr. Wafta Sultan was on Israeli National Radio speaking about the future of the Islamic Middle East and she spoke of the necessity of the region's women to speak out and to provide new direction for their people. She feels these women of the Middle East are the hope and the key for making the long overdue changes in the mentality. I think this is why the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Iranian mullahs subjugated women to what was basically house arrest when they came to power. They feel their power to exercise violent and authoritarian control is threatened by women.

11 I see no evidence explaining why it's easier to have an impact on the life of one over many. The fact still remains that feminists and leftists are largely silent. Hollywood elites and journalists are expending huge amounts of energy to vilify the Bush Administration, and conservatives while ignoring colleagues who are being silenced and intimidated and threatened with their lives for speaking their own minds. Free speech and expression is their mantra, yet when others are silenced for it, they clam up. They should be very vocal when this happens. The power of many voices is never to be underestimated.

12 I'm with Oyster. The fact that we hear absolutely nothing from the feminists is telling.

13 I am somewhat surprised that so many of the commentors are bothering to keep track of what the leftists and feminists are saying about the plight of women in muslim countries. So the point is "they" are not doing enough. "We" are doing everything possible to help the plight of the muslim women, but "they" are doing nothing. If anyone would like I will be happy to google any leftist organization to see what they have to say about the plight of women overseas especially muslims. Which particular group do we think should be doing more ?

14 Joe I do subscribe to the NYT, but also to the Wall Street Journal. Today in the WSJ in the first section (news) there was not one mention of Iraq. I also read the Fox News on line. Probably the World Net Daily and the Weekly Standard I find the least accurate. I generally also use the Drudge report, I like their listing of so many different news sources. It means that I do not have to bookmark them. I also use google a lot. This is how I locate discrepancies in stories like the one yesterday about the second attack on a paramilitary police station. The one that had the insurgents caught in a crossfire and a 2 hour gun battle where no one was killed. I do not trust ANY one source for news. Which news sources do you find the most accurate Joe ?

15 Joe and on NPR my favorite show is "Car Talk" but I seldom catch it anymore.

16 Ah, therein lies the problem Oyster; defining exactly who is the enemy, and by what criteria we may identify them. I consider myself to be liberal in the classic sense, but have nothing whatsoever in common with anyone who simply is a liberal.

17 John, no one's "keeping track" of what feminist groups are speaking out about the plight of the Muslim woman. Can't keep track of what's either not there or to little to even register. Some things are just more conspicuous in their absense. The Feminist Majority Foundation, which is a world wide organization, is about the only one who truly address these issues witout focusing on only one group of women or one issue. Other than that, the only groups really doing work for Muslim women are groups formed by other Muslim women.

18 It appears most burkas come in black. I have seen a few women in the news wearing light blue burkas, but they were getting beat by a skinny man with a beard. Perhaps, there is a large market for burkas, with more than one color as a option. Islam is growing here inside the U.S. If I get a early start, I could be the owner of burka stores throughout the lower 48 states. I could even go so far as to have slogans printed on the back of burkas. For example, I wear nothing under my burka, or this burka sets me free. Things like that.

19 Glad you asked, John. I like the Dallas Morning News for a newspaper, although I've been reading the Arkansas Democrat Gazette while I've been working over here in Arkansas. I occasionally listen to Fox News, CNN, and whatever news is on the radio when I am going from one location to another. I also like the Weekly Standard, The Southern Partisan, and US News and World Report. I read Powerline and Michelle Malkin on a daily basis, and occasionally Tim Blair's blog and Protein Wisdom. That is about all I have time for, as I have to work more often than I want to these days. Something about a boom in the oil and gas business, but it will pass sooner or later, and I will have more time. But for now, it's drill...drill...drill. And lease...lease...lease. Back to the subject at hand, if you notice my post, John, I tagged the fems for their lack of action on the adherants of Sharia here in the West, and said nothing about what was going on in Muslim countries like Syria. That would be better left to the State...Depart...ment... I can't stop laughing. What a joke the State Department is! Hope those poor women under Sharia do not have to wait on the State Department to do anything. That'll be the day, pilgrim!

20 PPPPPPiiiGGGGG SSSSOOOOOOIIIIIEEEE! Go Hogs!

21 Leatherneck, are you a Razorback? From Fayetteville?

22 My Grandparents live in Springdale, just next door when i was very young. My father went to School there. Football games were great to listen to. All the fans would yell pig sooiiee loud, and all at once. J.J. someone used my code name on a post about a child molester. At the very bottom of this web site. It read kill his family too, and I do not write like that. What should I do?

23 Oh, well, I wouldn't worry about it, leatherneck. We get posers here all the time, and people get to know you and they know when someone is posing as you. Just deny it and go on, or e-mail Rusty and he will take care of it.

24 Thanks J.J. It looked like you guys got some rain up there today. Does this web site have a membership? Like a gym? Over.

25 Nope, you can come and go as you please.

26 My fellow Americans, I appreciate the sincere interest in womens rights that some have shown, and would like to say that I, too, and as a Muslim myself, have rallied the cause of human rights in Muslim countries -- particularly with regard to religious freedoms -- by being heavily involved with letter writing campaigns and contacting foreign ministries and as well as my local congressman regularly for the past 10 years. Neverthess, I find it both nauseating and embarrassing (as an American) that some such uneducated, conceited and condescending remarks about Muslims are being made casually here on this forum. Have we forgotten our own tragic predicament? 40% of inner city African American homes are run by single mothers in this country. Over 40 million of our children have been aborted. 50% of our families are torn from divorce. Homicide and suicide are leading killers in the teen-age group. Statutory rape, sexually transmitted diseases, child pornography are rampant. Meanwhile our soldiers have raped dozens of women in iraq, killed thousands of their babies, and call them 'casualties', and have left that country destroyed, hungry and destined for civil war which may take decades to stabilize. And at a time of invasion and war, you make such insensitive statements such as Muslims are "mosters" and mocking their culture, and their practice of wearing burka (which is, in fact, reminiscient of early christian traditions kept alive by catholic nuns, and captured in depictions of Mother Mary). Please. Lets worry about our own failing social and family dynamic. What did our mother tell us not to do with stones if we live in a glass houses? A society that is more advanced technologically, and stronger economically does not make it morally superior. Shame on you. - Bilal Rana (a Texan Muslim)

27 Uh, Bilal, in case you hadn't noticed, my criticism was directed at feminist groups here in the US who have not spoken up about certain Muslims here in the US and other parts of the West that want to establish Sharia law. My point was that these groups have no credibility when they attack Christians particularly, and others who they deem worthy to disagree with. Being from Texas myself, I feel no shame in opposing any religion which seeks to circumvent the Constitution of the United States, including but not limited to Islam. And frankly, if I was a Muslim, I would be the one ashamed to show my face in public. And a religion stuck in the Dark Ages can hardly be in a position to criticize anything.

28 Bilal, I can make fun of anything. It is called freedom of speech. You may not understand it, but it goes as follows: Bilal get that burka back on, and back into the house. Make sure that house is clean, or you will get a good beating. Don't make me honor kill you for not wearing a burka. If you do not like freedom of speech Bilal, perhaps you should move to a country that is ran by Islam. Thank you, and have a great American day.

29 Bilal A. Rana - you don't solve the problem by showing others their own problems. Why are you here if it is so bad? I am still waiting for mohamidans to to start speaking out against terrorist. I guess things were so much better under Saddam Hussain right? a regular paradise on earth