American Taliban

Afghanistan’s Taliban substitutes theology and religious rite for government. They hide their women behind head-to-toe clothing, face coverings and enforce such modesty with death by stoning, beating, raping and beheading. This is their way of respecting women, by diminishing them or killing them.

Religion is everything in Afghanistan. It also belongs only to males. I do not know how such ownership differentiates among adult males and minor males. I am not sure such differentiation makes much difference given the extreme ends visited upon females. Their point is full subjugation of women. All in the name of religion.

Or at least they want others to believe this.

America has a similar divide. We don’t speak of it much, but it is there. Men preach religion of all sorts and wonder why so many shed beliefs and become atheists, non-church goers and hostile controllers over others. The GOP is like that. 

Whether Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist or any of several other evangelical sects, church teachings often remove power from women. Abortion rights and pro-life strictures hint at what lies ahead. Did Jesus ever teach that women were lesser than men? Did Jesus ever utter any word against sexual orientation? Did he ever persecute others because they were different from him? Or you?

No. Christianity in its bones is about love and acceptance of others. And love that drives service to others. That is the opposite of the Taliban and its teachings.

It is opposite of what the American Taliban/republican party teaches as well. To them women must be controlled so their bodies are not mismanaged. Who says they know what that is? Why are women allowed to think for themselves and produce children when it is supportable and healthy to do so? Why must the birth be protected against all the odds of child abuse and upbringing that leads to crime, violence and death? Why are public services not provided effectively to the well-being of children’s lives after they are born? Why do we support the bureaucracies of Children and Family Services departments in every state but grossly underfund them so their wards lead mostly terrible lives? Why don’t we intercede before all that happens?

I think the mother knows better than anyone whether the fetus should be brought to term. I think doctors know whether the fetus and mother are headed toward healthy lives, not death. No judge knows this. No legislator knows this. Especially, no legislative body that is mainly comprised by males knows any of this.

Yes, America has its own Taliban. It is conservative Christian ideologues who preach power and control over others. Period. No theology. No value structure. Just control. Power. Money.

We gave a trillion dollars for corporations. We gave away a trillion dollars to the rich. Yet we burden youth with student debt, child sexual abuse, and criminal foster care conditions. We batter women with ignorance and a shortage of aid and assistance when they need it most to protect themselves and their kids.

When did America become so insensitive to 50% of its population? Where did American come up with this belief system that allows such tragedy and injustice to continue?

And now the male dominated, right wing Supreme Court is about to level another blow against the rights of women? Again?

Wow! And people think their vote doesn’t matter. Maybe they are right; after all, the Taliban is alive and apparently well right here in the US of A.

May 16, 2022

 

 

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