Today Is International Women's Day

International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.



Suffragettes campaigned in the U.S. for women's right to vote. The word Suffragette is derived from the word "suffrage" which means the right to vote. International Women's Day honors the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of the many inequities still to be redressed. The very first International Women's Day event was run in 1911. 2011 was the Global Centenary Year.


Read more . . .

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I found a word that I was
unsure of. I looked it up.

suffrage

(noun)
1.
the right to vote, especially in a political election.
2.
a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.
3.
a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.

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SHAIMA JASTAINA, WOMEN'S RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER: Saudi Arabia is the only country where women are not allowed to drive. Campaigners have been protesting against the ban for years -- in the early 1990s, 50 women lost their jobs for flouting the rules that force women to rely on male relatives, taxis or drivers -- but this year the focus was on one woman. In July Jastaina took to the road in Jeddah, later telling her old lecturer from the US, Nivien Saleh: 'I want to be able to drive ... and I want other women to be able to do the same. It's a basic human right.' Instead she became the first woman to be tried and sentenced for the 'crime'. Her punishment, which caused global uproar, was 10 lashes of the whip. Although it was reported the ruling was overturned by the late King Abdullah, Saleh said last week that Jastaina is still facing the punishment.

I read the above paragraph HERE as part of my research on the topic of women's rights.

The one sentence I question is, "It's a basic human right." Actually it's not. Not in the United States, anyway. I was taught many years ago that driving a motor vehicle is a privilege not a right.

There seems to be some controversial discussions lately about what constitutes a basic human right.

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Persian Letters is a blog that offers a window into Iranian politics and society. Written primarily by Golnaz Esfandiari, Persian Letters brings you under-reported stories, insight and analysis, as well as guest Iranian bloggers.

Topless Iranian Women Say No To Political Islam appeared in Persian Letters blog. I'm not sure how this short article supports International Women's Day.

But who am I to reason why?

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Look back, to slavery, to suffrage, to integration and one thing is clear. Fashions in bigotry come and go. The right thing lasts.
--Anna Quindlen