Strong emotions

I watched a foreign movie yesterday entitled "Osama". Nope - not about Bin Laden. Although it was set in Afghanistan and was about his buddies, The Taliban. It was about a woman trying to feed her mother, her daughter, and herself in a world where women aren't allowed to work or speak to anyone outside their families or go out without a male companion. She has her daughter dress like a boy so she can work. The daughter (who is called Osama as a boy) gets dragged off to the boys school and is forced to "learn" how to bathe her male genitals (hidden behind a piece of fabric). Later she gets stuck in a tree after the boys tease her because they believe she's a girl. The teacher hangs her inside a well from the back of her tunic. When they bring her up, they see that she's started her cycle and discover that she's a girl. She's thrown in prison with all the other "bad" women. In the end the headmaster of the school pleads for her life (yes, they would have killed her) and as a reward, the judge gives her to the headmaster as a wife. The movie ends after he comes home, has her pick out her own lock (the women are locked in their rooms each night and in the house all day), and then forces the wedding night on her.

My heart was broken because I knew how real this was. I've become more and more aware of the pain that women in this world suffer at the hands of ignorant men; men who have been taught by tradition and/or religion that women are not their equals. I feel so impotent to make a difference but I feel I must try. I don't know how yet but I know I must do something. Since I began my study of photography, I've known that I wanted to use it to bring light to those who are suffering. My concentration at first was in Africa. I want to go to the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, etc. so that I can show the world what is happening. Now I see that it's everywhere. Will photography be enough? I don't know. I will be meditating on this so I can find the answer for my soul. Women who are oppressed need to understand that others care and are willing to help.

Weekends

Zach's coming home for the weekend. We've had overnight visits for a few weeks now. They are going ok. It's been hard on Nicole though. She's used to the quiet that we've had for the past 8 months and now a noisy 13 yr. old is in her space again. It's going to be an adjustment for her. She and I spend a lot more time together while he's home. I think she uses my room as a refuge from the noise and mess. We all start family therapy next week so I'm hoping we can begin to find ways of peacefully coexisting in our home. I know we all need to compromise in order to make this work. And I so want it to work. I miss my boy.