Albertine and I tend to get to know our couples pretty well, since putting together wedding invitations can take many months to plan and complete. (not always! hah) Then we get lifer couples who come back to us for baby announcements or birthday parties...woah I'm getting off topic here...so Jude and Marika (married in 2005) keep in touch here and there and this week Jude invited one of us to attend the West Coast LEAF equality breakfast. Since Teenie wasn't available because of other plans, it was an easy decision.
I read up a bit about Shirin Ebadi, the main speaker, before this morning and was pretty excited to hear someone speak about her views on equality of women and religious freedom in Iran. She's a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and activist in Iran. She is also the 1st Iranian woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (2003). Her story is amazing and almost brought me to tears during the introduction and for her walk up to the stage. We think North America has a long way to go in regarding women as equal to men (and in some ways this is true) but Iran is a completely different story. She stands strong for all women and children. She believes in the power of both men and women and understands that the patriarchal government in place now is missing out on 1/2 of the countries full potential (taken from her words). I'm pretty sure Dr Ebadi is under immense pressure to be quiet about her views of Islam although she clearly says it's not Islam that's the problem, it's having an Islamic government that is the problem...and even further, it's Islamic governments with oppressing interpretations of the Quran. Interesting!
Albertine and I are blessed to be able to be who we are and who we want to be. We have the freedom to go to work for ourselves, make choices and voice our opinions. We are blessed but today is another day to make a difference! I fully believe in our potential to change the world and make it a place of tolerance, understanding and love. Why not?! What else is there?
What a fabulous morning!! Thanks Jude and Marika!
Want to learn more?
Autobiography of Shirin Ebadi
West Coast LEAF
Iran targeting women activists - BBC article Thursday February 28th, 2008
February 29, 2008
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