Reason Writers Around Town: Cathy Young on Obama's Missed Chance to Defend Women's Rights

June 10, 2009

At Forbes, Contributing Editor Cathy Young writes that President Barack Obama's comments on women's rights  and Islam last week in Cairo were much too weak, too riddled with platitudes, and marred by a misguided attempt at even-handedness.

Read all about it here. 

Comments

Obama so smooth|6.10.09 @ 5:04PM|#

'Michelle, get in that garden and pick me some arugula! I want a salad tonight, and it better be waiting for me!'

Alan Vanneman|6.10.09 @ 5:16PM|#

Cathy Young comes out against even-handedness! OK, that's a first.

|6.10.09 @ 5:21PM|#

Last October, a 13-year-old in Somalia was stoned to death by Islamic militants in a stadium packed with spectators; she had been convicted of adultery after reporting a rape.

Holy fucking shit. I remember hearing about the conviction, and some back and forth before the sentence was carried out. But I don't remember hearing that the execution was carried out as a spectator sport. WTFF? Was everyone else aware of this, or should it have gotten more coverage?

alan |6.10.09 @ 5:27PM|#

'Freedom to wear the hajib'

You know you are in for an extra special journey on the short bus when you have a president who can say something like that.

alan|6.10.09 @ 5:31PM|#

The Four, no, now Five Freedoms:

1. Freedom of speech and expression
2. Freedom of religion
3. Freedom from want
4. Freedom from fear
5. Freedom to wear the hajib*

Only applies to women. Men caught wearing the hajib will be stoned to death. So will the women who are caught without wearing the hajib be stoned to death. Enjoy your freedoms!

Mad Max|6.10.09 @ 5:45PM|#

'Forced marriages of underage girls are common'

And in the U.S., forced *killings* of underage girls are common. Like, *way* underage.

And organizations funded by Americans' tax money promote policies abroad which facilitate such killing.

lukas|6.10.09 @ 6:00PM|#

The "Freedom to wear hijab" is a shot at France, where hijab is banned in public schools as a form of religious expression.

Robert|6.10.09 @ 7:22PM|#

More coverage? The stadium was full!

alan|6.10.09 @ 7:25PM|#

lukas | June 10, 2009, 6:00pm | #
The "Freedom to wear hijab" is a shot at France, where hijab is banned in public schools as a form of religious expression.

Of course it is, lukas. That is part and partial to the put upon, grievance charade Obama genuflects to the masses of Islam.* He is aware the French will tolerate his dissent, but the Saudis will not. The same when he acknowledges German war crimes but has back tracked on the matter of Armenian genocide. The Germans will tolerate his criticism but the Turks will not. He wants the credit for brave words but none of the shit storm that saying the truth will get you in this world.

alan|6.10.09 @ 7:30PM|#

That is part and partial to the put upon, grievance charade Obama genuflects to the masses of Islam.*

I was going to tag on a comment about the fawning deference he showed to Rick Warren when Warren crossed the line and asked him about his relationship with JC, but realized it stretched my point too thinly, so I left it off, but forgot to take out the '*'.

|6.10.09 @ 8:39PM|#

I think Obama would do better to focus on the freedom of american women to keep the entirety of their shrinking paychecks.

Michael Ejercito|6.10.09 @ 9:25PM|#

What reproductive rights exist in Islamic countries?

|6.11.09 @ 12:14AM|#

"...much too weak, too riddled with platitudes and marred by a misguided attempt at even-handedness."

So Cathy Young reviews her own columns, now?

|6.11.09 @ 12:26AM|#

What reproductive rights exist in Islamic countries?

Iran has some abortion rights for fetal deformities (or mother's health):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4436445.stm

Saudi Arabia, physical or mental health, or save life of mother (but requires male sign-off):

http://books.google.com/books?id=3iNmQIP7S2AC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=abortion+saudi+arabia&source=bl&ots=H-dDM2z9_P&sig=RMOKZi6UxtJdzHcJa2Be0SNdbs0&hl=en&ei=AIUwSo7_Md2ptgfDqrTQBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10

In Arab Muslim countries, abortion varies from only protection of mother's life to full elective to five months, plus various requiremens of doctors or male relatives.

http://www.ippfawr.org/en/What-we-do/Abortion.htm


In Iran condoms and female contraceptives have been generally available in government stores ("no questions asked"):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1949068.stm

Or was that question just an ignorant attempt at a rhetorical jibe at Muslim countries?