To Anonymous

Submitted by JustMe (United States), Feb 27, 2006 at 14:44

You really sound heartless. Your little "sniff, sniff" remark really shows that. I will cry for whomever I want to. I actually wasn't crying, but after someone posted what's going on in the countries that you've suggested we model, I was shocked. If you feel that what's going on in those countries to those women and children is fine, that's just heartless. Are you a Muslim man, because you're really sounding like one that probably enjoys all your freedoms. Your hostility toward the GREAT AMERICAN WOMEN is pretty obvious. I guess that would make sense. What more would intimidate a male who believes females and children are just sexual objects to be sold and traded as commerce than a strong American female with an opinion of her own and intelligence and the ability to dress herself without her husband beating her. **Dima, you know I'm not referring to you. = )

Bangladesh has quite a history. Your calling it 35 years old is a bit disingenuous. "About 1200 A.D., Muslim invaders under Sufi influence, supplanted Hindu and Buddhist dynasties, and converted most of the population of the eastern areas of Bengal to Islam. Since then, Islam has played a crucial role in the region's history and politics. In the 16th century, Bengal was absorbed into the Mughul Empire."

It took them until the 1970s before there was an election. The two female Prime Ministers don't seem to be very popular. The first, Begum Khaleda Zia, seemed to inherit her position after her husband was assassinated. (a practice which seems to be part of their political system since it happens so frequently). The second, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, has struggled to fight the anti-democratic forces in Bangladesh. She's been persecuted, lived in exile and suffered the murders of several of her family members. The history I read was pretty violent, full of assassinations and coups. The government imposed martial law between 1958 and 1962 and 1969 and 1972. Political stability doesn't seem to exist in Bangladesh.

As for why we haven't elected a female president, we haven't had one run in any of the two main political parties, Democrat or Republican. I think there have been a few that tried, but only in an obscure political party that would never get enough votes no matter what their gender. There may be one running in 2008, but if it's Hillary Clinton, I doubt she'll win because too many people, men and women alike, really can't stand her. I think Condoleeza Rice would actually win if she ran, but it doesn't look like she will run.

More women vote in this country than men according to the 2004 U.S. Census Bureau. In 2004, 56.3% of men vote, while 60.1% of women. So I guess we can't blame male domination for not having a female president either. So in answer to your last question of "is it that our people just aren't ready to vote for a woman," I would say we're ready to vote in the most qualified person for the job-- not to just vote a woman in to prove a point or for appearances. We will vote for who we feel will do the best job for our country at the time.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".