Comments on: Worst Countries: One of these Things Is Not Like the Other http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/ Conservative group weblog that publishes daily commentary on political events and topics affecting Canada, the United States and the world. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:24:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Bo http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179870 Bo Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:16:32 +0000 http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179870 It's true the majority are Muslim countries - the question is whether that statistical correlation implies that religion is the reason. You could also break these down in other ways: most of the countries are deserts with shortage of water and as a result have serious rural poverty and social unrest; most of them have poor literacy... but again, none of those things would prove the desired point, so they're not mentioned. It's very true that Muslim countries, on average, are difficult places to be women. The question is whether the religion is the reason - and whether it's important WHICH religion it is. Women's rights in the West have improved a lot in the past couple of hundred years, which coincides with the shrinking of Christianity as a guiding institution of political life. Maybe the problem is not (Muslim) but (Religious)... It’s true the majority are Muslim countries - the question is whether that statistical correlation implies that religion is the reason. You could also break these down in other ways: most of the countries are deserts with shortage of water and as a result have serious rural poverty and social unrest; most of them have poor literacy… but again, none of those things would prove the desired point, so they’re not mentioned.

It’s very true that Muslim countries, on average, are difficult places to be women. The question is whether the religion is the reason - and whether it’s important WHICH religion it is. Women’s rights in the West have improved a lot in the past couple of hundred years, which coincides with the shrinking of Christianity as a guiding institution of political life. Maybe the problem is not (Muslim) but (Religious)…

]]> By: Dmorris http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179865 Dmorris Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:29:14 +0000 http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179865 I'm truly shocked the USA isn't on that list! I’m truly shocked the USA isn’t on that list!

]]> By: Enkidu http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179863 Enkidu Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:56:38 +0000 http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179863 It wouldn't change the (im)balance of the list is the least to shift Congo from Socialist to Catholic. 7 of the 10 worst countries in which to be a woman would still be Mohammedan. It wouldn’t change the (im)balance of the list is the least to shift Congo from Socialist to Catholic. 7 of the 10 worst countries in which to be a woman would still be Mohammedan.

]]> By: Bo http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179855 Bo Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:24:57 +0000 http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179855 If we're listing countries by religion, Congo should read (Catholic) not (Socialist) - that's the system of government. But that wouldn't help prove the point, would it? The other question is: what correlates more strongly with poor conditions for women - religion, or economic underdevelopment/inequality? If we’re listing countries by religion, Congo should read (Catholic) not (Socialist) - that’s the system of government. But that wouldn’t help prove the point, would it?

The other question is: what correlates more strongly with poor conditions for women - religion, or economic underdevelopment/inequality?

]]> By: Mé http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179805 Mé Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:14:31 +0000 http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179805 What? No comments about Guat-islam-a? What? No comments about Guat-islam-a?

]]> By: Stan http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179797 Stan Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:58:44 +0000 http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/03/08/worst-countries-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other/#comment-179797 Check out bride kidnapping in Central Asia. Shouldn't the feminists be marching about that? BBC and PBS did a whitewash documentary on it, in one scene they asked a woman who had been kidnapped and forced into marriage how she liked it. Her husband was standing beside her when she answered. What did they think she was going to say? Wife beating is socially acceptable there. Did the think she would dare critisize it or express unhappiness? Check out bride kidnapping in Central Asia. Shouldn’t the feminists be marching about that?
BBC and PBS did a whitewash documentary on it, in one scene they asked a woman who had been kidnapped and forced into marriage how she liked it. Her husband was standing beside her when she answered.
What did they think she was going to say?
Wife beating is socially acceptable there.
Did the think she would dare critisize it or express unhappiness?

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