General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Most Important Defense Of Women’s Rights You Will Read Today
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/04/02/the-most-important-defense-of-womens-rights-you-will-read-today/The Most Important Defense Of Womens Rights You Will Read Today
2013/04/02
By Stephen D. Foster Jr.
Former President Jimmy Carter, 2013; photo by Chris Stanford @TheGuardian/TheObserver
The Republican Party has waged a vicious war against women for many years now, and it hasnt slowed one bit. Controlled by their Christian Right puppet masters, GOP lawmakers across the country have introduced bill after bill in an effort to end a womans right to choose. 2013 has been yet another year in which women have lost rights because Christian fundamentalist men are using their own interpretation of the Bible to excuse their sexism.
This was the exact situation that compelled former President Jimmy Carter to write an editorial in 2009 announcing his departure from the Southern Baptist Convention, a religious group his family had belonged to for generations. In his op-ed, Carter staunchly defended equal rights for women and criticized the SBC for wrongly interpreting the Bible in an effort to subjugate women.
At a time when womens rights are being attacked more than ever before, this four-year old editorial is important. Its a damning indictment of fundamentalist Christians and their sexist views, and a strong defense of equality for women. Carter argues that there is no religious justification for being cruel to women and stands up for the right of women to get an education, receive equal pay, to have the same jobs as men, and to make their own reproductive choices. As women fight harder than ever against those who want to strip them of their rights and dignity, this writing by Jimmy Carter is more important today than it was four years ago. So without further adieu, here is the entirety of Jimmy Carters editorial via the Carter Center.
I have been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when th e conventions leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be subservient to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief confirmed in the holy scriptures that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. It is widespread. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths.
Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of womens equal rights across the world for centuries. The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.
At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.
In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.
The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in Britain and the United States. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for everyone in society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.
It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and out-dated attitudes and practices as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.
I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive area to challenge.
But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.
The Elders have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights. We have recently published a statement that declares: The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.
We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the worlds major faiths share.
Although not having training in religion or theology, I understand that the carefully selected verses found in the holy scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence than eternal truths. Similar Biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.
At the same time, I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasnt until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted holy scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.
I know, too, that Billy Graham, one of the most widely respected and revered Christians during my lifetime, did not understand why women were prevented from being priests and preachers. He said: Women preach all over the world. It doesnt bother me from my study of the scriptures.
The truth is that male religious leaders have had and still have an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.
Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
Jimmy Carter
Arkansas Granny
(31,545 posts)Isoldeblue
(1,135 posts)when I read his fantastic article before.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2592157
Carter sets the example for ALL men (and many women) to follow, in their attitudes towards women.
What a fantastic husband he must be.... he could teach mine a few lessons about the value of women, who still has a hard time leaving the old school he was brought up in
Squinch
(51,096 posts)CrispyQ
(36,582 posts)k&r
babylonsister
(171,113 posts)sheshe2
(84,102 posts)for a Repost of President Jimmy Carter's editorial!
No better time at all, that was simply amazing.
Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
It is time, past time that we all, not just women, stand up to challenge this. It is about, women sure, however, it is about all of us too. Each and everyone of us has at least one woman in their life that is important to them. Their mother, daughter, aunt or wife.
Thank you to President Carter for standing up for what is right.
Excellent, babylonsister. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this OP!
sheshe
steve2470
(37,457 posts)protect our future
(1,156 posts)MadrasT
(7,237 posts)I am deeply moved
And thank you President Carter
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I have always liked Jimmy Carter. I think he is genuinely a good person.
babylonsister
(171,113 posts)I don't remember reading a word of this, and I was in tune to politics, or so I thought. Hmmmm.
ismnotwasm
(42,030 posts)A fine, fine human being
Think about how much good religious people could do if they followed his example?
littlemissmartypants
(22,885 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,089 posts)joanbarnes
(1,724 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Hekate
(91,056 posts)It is to the Southern Baptist Convention's everlasting shame that they did not listen to him.
curlyred
(1,879 posts)Also a Georgia native. LOVE this man.
Kurovski
(34,655 posts)It's really very remarkable.
--and from that last drop in the rain barrel, the flood begins.
Blue Owl
(50,605 posts)n/t
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Jimmy Carter is a superb human being, maybe that why righties hate him so much.