Shahla Atta

Two women are running for President of Afghanistan: Shahla Atta, a 42 year old Kabul lawmaker and Frozan Fana, a 40 year old orthopedic surgeon who has never held political office. I am moved by the bravery and passion of these two young women. They are literally risking their lives to have the chance to help people and bring about change. The Associated Press article states:

[their campaigns are] an uphill and even dangerous undertaking. Neither has much chance of unseating President Hamid Karzai in the Aug. 20 vote. But just the fact that they are running open campaigns, plastering photos of their uncovered faces around Kabul, is an accomplishment in itself.

Many Afghans, especially in rural areas, believe that a woman should not show her face to non-family members.

“It is difficult for a woman even to invite some people over for tea and tell them about her ideas,” said Shinkai Kharokhel, a female lawmaker in Kabul.

Then there is the Taliban, the extremist movement that banned girls from schools and ordered women to stay home and tend to their families during its harsh rule from 1996 to 2001. Taliban militants have targeted female politicians, and have claimed responsibility for the killings of policewomen and officials with the women’s affairs ministry in recent years.

I also couldn’t help but notice the issues each candidate wishes to address:

Atta, a Kabul lawmaker, says women can help reform a political system dominated by male cronyism and corruption.

Frozan Fana

“The people of Afghanistan are sick of this. Billions of dollars have been wasted,” she said in an interview at her campaign headquarters. “My grandchildren will get old before Karzai changes this, so the women should bring change.”Fana is more soft-spoken and quick to defer to male deputies on policy. Dressed in conservative black robes and a matching headscarf, she said she was eager to run because her medical work has shown her how much Afghans are hurting. She says she wants to help people who can’t pay for care.

Sound familiar?  Caring for the disadvantaged, fighting corruption in government.  It seems female politicians around the world bring the pluses of “feminine traits” to the table when they run for office.

Honesty, concern for others. Sounds good to me!

Let Shahla and Frozan be an inspiration to all women politicians here in the US.

Go ahead and run. Spread your message.

We’ve got your back!

2010 here we come!