I have received 2 emails from a relative that I really want to dispute but I dont know where to find reputable sources. Can you help? The emails in question follow (in Italicized text)
2) Women's Rights issue - what resource(s) can I cite to counter/dispute this?
Subject: War for women's rights
I watched the Olympics on Saturday night. At the one hour and thirty minute mark they did an editorial. It pointed out some very interesting facts about the Olympics and women¹s rights.
In 1896 there were no women athletes in any delegation from any country. In 1900 there were 15 women athletes (1.5%) the competed in Tennis and Golf. In 1996 there were 29 Nations that had no women athletes.
In 2004 there are only five nations that had no women athletes, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab and Muslim nations. In 2004 an Afghan woman carried the national flag of Afghanistan in the opening ceremony. In 2004 a Pakistani woman swam in competition at the Athens Olympics.
In 2004 an Iraqi woman ran in the early heats of the 100 meters. She was three seconds behind the field. Where she placed was not important. Where any of these Arab women placed was not important. What was important is that their countries allowed these women to participate on the world stage for the first time in History.
If the Taliban were still in power in Afghanistan, would this Afghan woman been allowed to carry the flag of her nation?
If Pakistan had not aided the United States would the Pakistani woman have competed in the Athens games? If Sadam was still in power in Iraq would the Iraqi woman sprinter been allowed to compete? Would she have dared compete and not place with Sadam¹s son running the Iraqi Olympic team?
I think not. The observation and question I would have to ask is, ³had the United States under the leadership of President Bush not decided to answer the world wide threat in what is called the war on terror, would these changes have happened on their own?² I think not.
To support the War on Terror is to support the War for Women¹s Rights worldwide. Just think about that. There are still nations and relig ions in the world that need to recognize the rights of women.
