brief feminist rant

hey hey, returning to comment briefly on more, yes, CNN that I've seen. It was a report on the current status of Afghani women, you know, the ones we've "saved" already. The part that struck me most wasn't the child brides, the soccer stadium assassinations, or even the ubiquitous burka shots -- it was when the reporter came across a few "liberal" male teachers and asked them about general social roles. "I wouldn't let my friends see my wife. I just bring a picture," one said. "She's under lock, key, and password," he joked. Another: "If most women dressed like you " (she had a veil and loose clothing on , no burka), "men couldn't handle themselves." It just goes to show us that all -- men and women --need to be vigilant. Most women including myself expect some level of protectiveness and solicitousness from their menfolk, as a sign of their caring, which men are only too happy to provide. The interview showed how complex cultural codes can be, how they can start from the most well-meaning, even universal, intentions.