Ayesha Is Only One Of Many
Posted by Michelle Moquin on October 13th, 2010
Good morning!
I wrote about Ayesha (Aisha) about a month ago when her mutilated face graced the cover of Time Magazine. Now one month later Ayesha is on her way to recovery, at least physically.
‘Bibi’ Ayesha, Mutilated Afghan Woman, Receives ‘Enduring Heart Award’
After having her nose and ears cut off by her husband as a punishment handed down by Taliban elders, “Bibi” Ayesha was left for dead. The courageous young woman found her way to an American military hospital where she was treated for her wounds.
In August, Ayesha traveled to California to begin an intensive eight-month facial reconstruction.
This week, ABC News reports she was honored by the Grossman Burn Foundation with an “Enduring Heart Award.” California first lady Maria Shriver spoke at the award ceremony.
The Grossman Burn Foundation is the organization providing Ayesha’s reconstructive surgeries.
Ayesha attended the event wearing the prosthetic nose that has been made for her by California doctors.
Readers: This is definitely heading toward a happy ending, or should I say beginning (?) for Ayesha, and I am so happy for her. How could you not be? – her story was devastating. And as I’ve said before, devastating doesn’t even come close to describing this atrocity. Devastation to women happens daily; I’ve written about them here, and readers from all over the world have chimed in with their personal stories. Ayesha is only one of many.
So yes, Ayesha was a lucky one, if you can call having your ears and nose chopped off by your Husband and in-laws, and left for dead, lucky. I still can’t help but think of the many other women who suffer daily from abuse, mutilation, and slavery, not just in Afghanistan, but in Iran, Sudan, Congo, India…What about them?
What I would like to come out of this horrific story is more than just a nose job and an “Enduring Heart Award”. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the California doctor who is graciously providing Ayesha’s reconstructive surgeries. And no doubt Ayesha deserves a reward for “enduring” such an experience, not to mention “enduring” the life she lead, before her husband pulled out a knife, first slicing off her ears, then her nose.
I don’t mean to keep driving the mutilation point home, but something has to happen to prevent this from ever happening again. As the article in my past blog write stated: This didn’t happen 10 years ago, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. It happened last year.
Last year. Are things getting worse for women or are we just able to access the atrocities easier because of the internet?
I try to remain HOPEful that things are getting better for women. But then I look at the huge numbers of girls who have contacted me wanting to be a girlz. It seems many are saying “Get me the fuck off of this planet. Anything is better than the life I have now. I am willing to risk dying in space for a cause, than dying at the hands of evil men.”
Do you blame them?
Comments? Thoughts? Blog this BABE. Speaking of girls…
Chin: You should be back? How about telling my readers what it was like for you out there?
Oh…and on a totally different subject….Hooray for the miners in Chile who are finally out and on their way home to their families!
Zen Lill: I don’t buy the alien bit. Aliens are such a small part of my blog. Unless one reads every day, you could miss them even being here. Wish they had a bigger presence here like they use to. Of course many peeps do read every day, but my blog is so much more than a hangout for the aliens. (Nothing against my friends the TAO – they know how I feel about them.:) Although I shouldn’t say my friends “never” talk about my blog…I do have conversations, but it is mostly me who broaches the subject. It is what it is, and I accept it. (most of the time) :P
On another note…what is going on in the zen life of Zen Lill? The universe is speaking that’s for sure. Now you just need to figure out what she’s saying. Sounds like you are in your own little random world looking for order. Good luck! Such a bummer. I HOPE Your wallet is returned. The postal person will deliver it if the person who found it drops your wallet into a mailbox. Of course then you have to HOPE that the postal person is a decent person and delivers it to you.
Larry: That would be a kind person, and an easy thing to do, but there are many people who aren’t kind. And with identity theft raging, a wallet falling into the hands of the wrong person, would be seen as a gift from the Gods.
When I was living in LA, I mistakenly left my wallet on the hood of my car and drove away. It went flying into the street. I noticed it, so I pulled over. So did someone else. They pulled their car over at the same time as I did. I thought, “How nice; they’re going to rescue my wallet from the middle of the road and give it back to me.” Nope. They got out of their car as I was stepping out of mine, ran over to my wallet, and ran back to their car and drove away! I was shocked.
H: Cute. :)
Anon: My pleasure. Well…give it up – what did you say to your wife in response?
Hi Helena: How are you? I just wanted to point out that you have been a loyal reader for a pretty long time now – how long has it been? I just wanted to say thanks.
And I liked the article you posted. Good observation about white women but I would like to think (and HOPE) it is changing. We are no longer in an era where women are predominantly stay-at-home housewives and mothers. And it seems that more and more younger women are either getting married later or opting out of marriage altogether.
Emily: Cute :) Nice to see you here again.
Peace out…
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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October 13th, 2010 at 8:17 am
How (Not) to Wreck Your Life
Joy Browne, PhD
Not a day goes by when Dr. Joy Browne, noted psychologist, author and host of a nationally syndicated talk show, doesn’t hear about the terrible things that happen in people’s lives — and after all these years, she has noticed that all too commonly, they have their own selves to blame.
Here is her analysis of the seven most common self-sabotaging behaviors that lead people to wreck their own lives.
Blaming someone for a problem keeps you stuck in the past and weakens your power over the situation. Accepting responsibility allows you to figure out what happened — and how not to have it happen again.
Turning challenges into obstacles. Living through a job loss or family crisis is no picnic — but pessimistic thinking deters positive action. A “woe is me” attitude is a variation on this trap.
Not listening to others can wreck relationships and lock you into an unhelpful perspective.
Some people are so defensive or egotistical that they reject any input — even when it concerns such important issues as keeping a job or finding a new one.
Better: Genuinely listen to what other people have to say, and then take the time to think about it. If the shoe fits, wear it. Otherwise, throw it away.
Using absolutes, such as “never” and “always.” They lock in your thinking and don’t endear you to other people by completely stifling open, honest communication.
Not communicating needs and feelings. Dr. Joy doesn’t believe in what she calls the Soul-Mate School of Life. (“If you really loved me, you would know what I want.”) Speak up!
Going for the jugular. Winning isn’t everything, especially over the long term. Kindness and generosity make for truly fulfilling lives.
Trying to be in control of all situations at all times. No one can do everything… and “everything” can’t be your top priority.
Personal interviewed Joy Browne, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City.
Her internationally syndicated call-in radio show, The Dr. Joy Browne Show, is the longest-running of its kind (www.drjoy.com). She is the author of many books, including Getting Unstuck: 8 Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem (Hay House).
October 13th, 2010 at 8:26 am
The Right is trying the scare tactic again. this time with taxes.
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Dear Patriot,
Our opponent thinks his campaign is Saturday Night Live.
Last Thursday, he brought former SNL writer Al Franken, aka Senator Stuart Smalley, to Delaware so they could hit the campaign trail together. It looks as if they wrote some jokes together because in his new TV ad, our opponent says that he will bring “new responsible leadership to Washington.” Even fellow NBC employees Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann are in on the joke, they love our opponent.
We don’t know if you’ve seen Saturday Night Live lately but since they poke fun at Christine, turnabout is fair play. Now it is our turn to fight back. The momentum is in our favor and our opponent knows it. Will you help us keep this great momentum going by giving your most generous contribution of $100, $75, $60, or $35 today?
As heard on Rush Limbaugh, we’ve introduced our own show called The TaxMan. You can view the debut episode at http://www.CoonstheTaxMan.com. Unfortunately, it’s a drama for businesses and working families across Delaware.
You should see all the things that our opponent has taxed while he’s been a politician. He loves taxing so much that he petitioned the State Legislature of Delaware to give him more taxing authority.
No, that’s not a joke. He actually went to Dover and asked legislators for more permission to levy taxes and fees. Our opponent likes to tax so much, some have even called him the TaxMan.
That’s why we’ve come out with a new website called http://www.CoonstheTaxMan.com. And make no mistake, he will vote for the $1 Trillion tax increase that the Democrats in the Senate are so desperate to pass.
When elected, Christine will be immediately seated in the U.S. Senate. Christine will be the only newly elected Republican that can stop the Democrats $1 Trillion tax increase.
$1 Million is the number that we need to win this election. That’s the reason we’ve started a campaign called $1 Million to Save a $1 Trillion.
That is all we need to defeat the TaxMan and his $1 Trillion tax increase. Will you donate to stop this despicable tax increase by giving $100, $75, $50 or even $35 today?
Check out the website and video at http://www.CoonstheTaxMan.com for all the things that our opponent has tried to tax. It’s no laughing matter.
Victory is Near,
TEAM CHRISTINE
P.S. Go to http://www.CoonstheTaxMan.com to see what our opponent will do if he gets to the U.S. Senate. Donate $100, $75, $60 or $35 today to stop his taxing ways once and for all.
Paid for by Friends of Christine O’Donnell
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Since the bought and paid for KARTS on the Supreme Court have given the right to hide their names, we will never know WHO is supporting Christine O’Donnell.
Talk about legislating from the bench. This crooked bunch rewrote the law to suit their buyers.
Mike
October 13th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Thanks Michelle.
An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting in mischief, finally asked him, “How do you expect to get into Heaven?”
The boy thought it over and said, “Well, I’ll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, “For Heaven’s sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!”
October 13th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Wow, hard to believe a human would do that to another human. Brutal.
Mischa, I can’t believe someone did that with your wallet, I would’ve been stunned also. I have no idea what happened with mine, it’s left me straight-faced bc I just want my stuff back. I’m hoping for a minor miracle now still, bc once I left my calendar book with a few hundred and my ID at a phone booth and realized it a few miles away, as I thought of it a man called me and said he had it, I drove back, took the book, offered him money, he refused and smiled and I grabbed his face and planted one on him, he looked shocked, : ) now that was a kind person.
Larry, sounds like you would be one also, thanks for the words…
Caio, Luv, Zen Lill
October 13th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
The cruelty by man to woman nows no bounds. They will extract from women whatever she will allow and demand the rest in the name of one god or another.
It would seem that only Madaline has the solution
Debra
October 14th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Hafa adai
It seems that the mainland is content to use Guam for its purposes but to abandon Guam to fend for itself.
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The release quotes Cruz as saying: “I am compelled to remind you that previous generations on Guam suffered immensely as a result of the United States’ lack of commitment to fortify the island prior to WWII. The Japanese invasion could have been thwarted and untold suffering averted had the federal government developed their defensive capabilities beforehand. As a result of this poor planning, the U.S. was forced to abandon the island and her people for almost four years. I dread that a similar situation could transpire at a future date.”
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Why am I not surprised?
Peter
October 14th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Hafa adai
It seems that the mainland is content to use Guam for its purposes but to abandon Guam to fend for itself.
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The release quotes Cruz as saying: “I am compelled to remind you that previous generations on Guam suffered immensely as a result of the United States’ lack of commitment to fortify the island prior to WWII. The Japanese invasion could have been thwarted and untold suffering averted had the federal government developed their defensive capabilities beforehand. As a result of this poor planning, the U.S. was forced to abandon the island and her people for almost four years. I dread that a similar situation could transpire at a future date.”
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Why am I not surprised?
Peter
October 14th, 2010 at 1:11 am
This puts to lie the old canard, “If you are constantly being mistreated, you’re cooperating with the treatment.”
It could be that you are a woman or OTW and you cannot escape the reach of your tormentor.
Evelyn
October 14th, 2010 at 1:57 am
I like this one.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt
October 14th, 2010 at 6:43 am
Hafa adai
There will soon be several arrests made of members of the Guam Fire Department.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Talk about blatant rasism. This article by Ann Coulter stops just short of that.
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October 13, 2010
THERE’S A REASON THEY CALL HIM ‘DICK’
by Ann Coulter
If the Bush administration ever treated terrorism suspects the way Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal treats law-abiding citizens and small businesses, even conservatives would have blanched.
This activist, interventionist Democrat — like his identical, slightly less oily twin, Eliot Spitzer — decided at age 5 he was going to be a U.S. senator and then the first Jewish president. And he doesn’t care how many lives he has to destroy to get there.
Sponsored Content
Currently, Blumenthal is running for the U.S. Senate against Linda McMahon in Connecticut. He must be stopped.
Even his ideological ally, The New York Times, thinks he must be stopped. That paper ran a front-page expose on Blumenthal’s lies about having served in Vietnam, violating a century-old Times tradition of never printing information unflattering to a Democrat.
Blumenthal apologized for lying about being in Vietnam, saying, “I take full responsibility.” Who else was he considering blaming…
Click here to continue reading Ann Coulter’s column
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I suppose the racists and bigots of my race want to take no chances that another OTW will ever get into the White House. So they are about identifying the possibles and cutting them down immediately.
Mike