> As-Salaam-U-ALAIKUM ALL

> (Richelle I wanted to send it to all, but thought U should peruse first, and > make sure that I make sense,then please 4ward to all, thanks;)

>

> This is in response to Sister Richelle Fulk's mail...

>

There is no evidence of these atrocities in Afghanistan. I've heard a lot about the way the women are treated in Afghanistan, yet to date haven't seen any evidence. Afghanistan is under great scrutiny by the rest of the world ever since the formation of Taleban, for there are fears that Afghanistan is involved in or propagates terrorism and is protecting Bin Laden.

>

Hardly anything happens in Afghanistan without the media trying get in on the action. Take a look at the media coverage of Afghans’ assassination of Idols and statues. The whole world is up in arms because Taleban is mercilessly “butchering” the idols, but nobody really give a damn about racial prejudice and oppression meted out against the Palestinians, Bosnians, Chechnyans, etc, etc…. Reporters have risked their lives to capture war stories and some have successfully interviewed Osama Bin Laden in his hidden camp. If the Media and FBI etc. could uncover and capture secret operations in Afghanistan and around the world on camera, then how is it that they couldn't capture any of the many public floggings, stonings to death and depressed women in hospitals? Since a news coverage network would benefit greatly by reporting such news to the masses, I'd imagine that the various news-networks would be competing, one against the other, to get such a great story.

>

"Human Rights" is EVERYONEs' responsibility, but we shouldn't follow rumours. Let's concentrate on just 2 of the many social evils that are tangible:

1. Alchohol and Human Rights:

Take a look at the stats on alchohol-related deaths, crimes, and the social degradation(wife-bashing, rapes, divorces, etc.) it causes, yet this evil is propagated and greatly encouraged. This is a killer that needs eradicating and can easily be eradicated. Governments claim that they enjoy great revenue from taxes imposed on these intoxicants. In other words, they are putting a price to Human-life and the quality thereof. On the flip-side, it costs the government billions of rands each year on alchohol-related accidents, deaths, etc. This is a typical example of "dangling carrots" in front of the donkey in order to make it grind the corn. What are human right's groups doing about this "killer"?

>

2. Gambling and Human-Rights(no time to discuss at length)

Gambling... most people lose, very few win. Losers end up depressed, some even kill themselves. Divorces, gamblers can't meet payments so some women are prostituted by their husbands or themselves to recover losses. Crime: others have to steal to recover losses or pay gambling debts... The list is endless...

>

3. Prostitution and Pornography (Degrading women permanently)... even the politicians/priests, etc. are great patrons...

Millions blindly support a leader like Bill Clinton, for example. He speaks about issues like respecting family values, whilst in the same breath, he violates his very own family’s values. It is blatant that he doesn’t love or respect his family for he has not protected them from his shameful deeds. If he doesn’t care about his own immediate family, then whose family is he going to care about? Look at the support he enjoys although it is blatant that he cannot even manage a trivial extra marital affair. By the support he enjoys, one can say that his degrading lifestyle of disrespect is accepted and supported by many. 

The Bottom line is that there is nothing being done about these everyday, part-of-life "Anti-Humanitarian" events…