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Thursday, May 10, 2007
Hot Links: "360" stories on CNN.com

The following stories were reported and written for tonight's program. Two of them are based on reporting done during Anderson's recent trip to Afghanistan, which was cut short by the Virginia Tech shooting. The other one is an enterprise story by Producer Jim Spellman and Correspondent Andrea Koppel.

Posted By CNN: 5:59 PM ET
  10 Comments
CNN Blog Dude: Thanks for posting these! After reading the last post's comments, I thought I was on the wrong blog.

Although I'm not surprised by how the women are treated in Afghanistan, it is encouraging to see that they are being supported more these days. The mental and physical anguish they have endured by the men in their lives is alarming. It is really sad to see them cover their beautiful faces!
Posted By Jolene, St. Joseph, MI : 7:29 PM ET
"Many women are still made to feel as second-class citizens". Are you kidding me?? Some are not even regarded as human beings. This is sick and it really gets to me.
I often wonder when did women become so threatening to men that they had to put us down. I am one of the lucky ones because women before me have stood up to fight for their rights to be acknowledge.
I am able to speak my mind because I was taught that I have as much value as a human being as a man does.And with that voice,it is my responsibility to speak up.
What some women are put through is abominable. And it is not happening only in Afghanistan sadly.
I have a book titled " Mukhtar Mai,dishonored,judged and comdamned to be raped". It is a true story and she wrote it. It was so hard to read. What she went through just boggles the mind. It happened in Pakistan.But she spoke up,she talked until the media,the politicians and the NGO finally listened. With their help,she built a school.Mukhtar Mai means(big sister respected) is now a national & int'l symbol of the battle against violence done to women.In 2004,she received a price from the INT'L Comittee of human rights and was named Woman of the year in 2004 in the U.S.
See,there can be hope.But for that to happen, we have to help them . I'm not talking about feminism here.But just basic human dignity. Women in Afghanistan,Congo,Darfur,Pakistan and many more countries are suffering and we can't allow it to continue. If you go online,there are many wonderful organizations helping women free themselves and teaching them to have a better life and more importantly,that THEY DESERVE IT AND THEY ARE WORTH IT.
I know my post is very long so it might not get posted but I am very passionnate about this issue.

Joanne R.
Laval Quebec
Posted By Joanne R.Laval Quebec : 8:18 PM ET
I felt really sorry when Anderson's trip to Afghanistan was cut short due to that incident. I'm so glad that your program keeps on informing us of what is happening in Afghanistan.
Posted By Mio, Oita, Japan : 9:52 PM ET
regarding the segment on the catholic church and politicians( actually airing now), i find it absolutly infuriating that the catholic church is concerning itself on the "moral" stance of certain politicians, when their own leaders are morally corrupt. I think the Pope needs to work on healing his church before he starts condeming the politicians that are trying to preserve the rights of citizens. Just another reason I've decided to look for God outside the stainglass strutures of perversion and hypocracy...on another note, thank you for continuing to cover what's going on in Afghanistan, there are so many forgotten soldiers over there, and it saddens me that their work is being over looked, Everyone is crying for troop withdrawl from Iraq, but no one has mentioned Afghanistan, I can't imagin that's good for troop morale.
Posted By Naomi Mac Millan, Island Park, NY : 11:05 PM ET
regarding the segment on the catholic church and politicians( actually airing now), i find it absolutly infuriating that the catholic church is concerning itself on the "moral" stance of certain politicians, when their own leaders are morally corrupt. I think the Pope needs to work on healing his church before he starts condeming the politicians that are trying to preserve the rights of citizens. Just another reason I've decided to look for God outside the stainglass strutures of perversion and hypocracy...on another note, thank you for continuing to cover what's going on in Afghanistan, there are so many forgotten soldiers over there, and it saddens me that their work is being over looked, Everyone is crying for troop withdrawl from Iraq, but no one has mentioned Afghanistan, I can't imagin that's good for troop morale.
Posted By Naomi Mac Millan, Island Park, NY : 11:05 PM ET
It is such a shame that the people of Afghanistan can't have a 21st century, peaceful country. It seems to me that the entire world community needs to step up to the front of the line and commit to giving this country a fighting chance. Whatever happened to the Northern Alliance? Why can't the Afghans show the Taliban the door and then lock them out for good. I guess I just can't understand the reasons for any of it. Take Care
Posted By Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif. : 11:16 PM ET
Anderson, Nic and Peter,

Thank you for tonight's features on Afghanistan. It is a forgotten war; but what I appreciated most was your focus on the people of Afghanistan, by giving us a glimpse of the hardships they continue to endure.

I also enjoyed your story on the attempts to restore the Taliban-destroyed Buddha's. I am a Muslim, and I cried when I learned that the Taliban had destroyed the historic Buddha's. It seems like an impossible task, but it's wonderful to know that archaeologists in Bamiyan are making the effort, one piece at a time.

Thank you for the informative reports.
Posted By Ruba - Denver, CO : 1:11 AM ET
AC360:
In response to the "Afghan women's lives on the line in struggle for equality..."

Imagine, I am considered "less than" because I carry the XX chromosomes. Because my father gave me an X instead of a Y, I am considered to be a second-class citizen, can be abused without accountability, can be raped without justification, and have no voice to say "I am worthy" to be seen as a human being.

Suppression comes in all forms, but the most "mind boggling" is the conception that women are substandard because of being born with different body parts than men.

Justifying the abuse of women and the absence of human rights based on religion and culture is not what God had in mind. It is clear and simple. It is slavery. It is the slavery of the mind, body and spirit.

I also believe many women, for example in Afghanistan, face the socialization of subservience, shame and obedience as part of life. For those who commit suicide, I wonder if they recognize the cruelty of their lives and cannot see a way out. This doesn't justify suicide, but the punishment of living in the body of a woman may be too much for a human to endure in a lifetime.
Posted By Sharon D., Indianapolis, IN : 10:20 AM ET
Anderson,
VERY GOOD and somber special last night about Afghanistan. How wonderful to let our soldiers know that they are not forgotten. They are NOT! I hold thoughts of them daily and I pray they return safely to their home and loved ones soon.
It is so sad that the Taliban has destroyed great artifacts. War is crazy, mad and evil.
The thing that hit me the hardest was the way the women are treated. You can judge a society by how they treat their_____? Children, elderly, women, animals. Having survived an abusive relationship myself, my heart goes out to these women. The difference is, I got myself out. These women in Afghanistan feel trapped. God help them. I hope they can utilize their rights and get some relief. Every human deserves humane treatment.

"Men, their rights and nothing more. Women, their rights and nothing less."
Susan B. Anthony~ my hero
Posted By Betty Ann, Nacogdoches,TX : 10:29 AM ET
Hi Anderson,
I believe this was the second time that you and your crew tromped halfway around the world to find the big news story was right in your backyard. The previous event being the Amish school shootings. Life, and news, are what happens while your busy making other plans. Having read your book, I'm guessing that covering the Virgina Tech story was a bit haunting and emotionally difficult, although you'd never know from your professional demeanor just watching you on the show that week. I'm glad you were able to use some of the work from Afganistan and hope you will return to follow up on these stories.

At the same time, I would also like to see you follow up on the many mental health issues that the Virgina Tech story raised. For years our family has been dealing with an adult cousin who refuses to see a doctor. She is slowly, but progressively, getting worse. Sadly, we have actually wrestled with the idea of setting her up for an arrest. She is not, and hopefully will not become, violent, but until then our hands are tied. None of the guests on your show seemed to have an answer other than changing the law, which apparently is a controversial issue in some circles. I don't think we can wait that long.

Thanks to you and 360 crew and staff for some great reporting.
EIC
Posted By Elaine, Ambler, PA : 10:56 AM ET
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