Dear Readers,
As many of you are aware, President Hamid Karzai just signed a new Afghan law that appears to legalize the rape of a wife by her husband. This is an interesting law because it does not apply to Sunnis, only to Shiites. The Shiite lawmaker who drafted the law, Sayed Hossain Alemi Balkhi, defended the legislation by saying that the law his been misunderstood, that it actually gives “more rights to women than even Britain or the United States does. ” In a nutshell, the law says that a “woman is bound to preen for her husband as and when he desires…and bound to give a positive response to the sexual desires of her husband,” unless she is ill.
What do you think about this? Every culture around the world has a different definition of what constitutes “rape.” Is it all right for one culture to define it differently than another? Where’s the line when it comes to civil rights? Is it related to harm? Should we as Americans, or anyone for that matter, have the right to tell other cultures how they should or should not define culturally sensitive terms like “rape?” Why? What does or does not give us the right?
Thanks for thinking about this.
Mike and Kathy
5 thoughts on “Is it all right for different cultures to have different definitions of “rape?””
April 9, 2009 at 4:50 am
Unfortunately, what we see as civil rights it is cultural too. The right road , let alone the high road is not the same path for all people. I do not judge but some things should just be innately wrong or right – but they are not. And our collective soul dies a little… I happened upon your site because i just read The Betrayal. It has become my favorite book. Honestly, my favorite book ever (Bible not included :) I haven’t written an author since I was 9 years old so this mean a lot to me :) I have ordered 5 other books listed in your bibliography to continue the journey towards Truth. My Agnostic husband is even reading your book and we have had wonderful discussions because of it. I am so thankful for your work – maybe you could continue in that vein/ era? please – maybe? ;) many blessing upon you both and you marriage and your work and joys. Thank you again… Jenn
April 21, 2009 at 1:07 am
hey guys
i naturally as most women brought up in a western culture was shocked by this, but have given it some thought and while i disagree with their law etc i still don’t think it’s our place to dictate what we think they should or should not allow in another country even if we are strongly opposed, unless we are called upon for our opinion or help i belive it is up to the citizens of that country to make a stand as i have to say i wouldn’t want someone placing their views and values on me or my country even if they felt they were right so even though i personally don’t agree with this law and were it to be implemented here would certainly be against it i don’t think it’s our place to make that descion for someone else. maree
April 29, 2009 at 10:21 am
I am an Americam man married to a Saudi woman, so I deal with stuff like this all of the time. Whilst we might not like it, we cannot impose our view on others without legitimizing those who would seek to impose their views on us.
Either it is alright to impose one’s views on others, or it isnt. If we say that it is, then we must expect others will try to do the same thing on us.
BTW, I have loved your books for years!
March 8, 2012 at 9:35 am
You ask: ” Should we as Americans, or anyone for that matter, have the right to tell other cultures how they should or should not define culturally sensitive terms like “rape?” Why? What does or does not give us the right?”
If we believe (as I hope most Americans do) that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are truly “inalienable rights” then we surely have the “right” to speak out in defense of these rights on behalf of women — and men — everywhere. Can we change anything in places where it is part of the culture to abuse so many of their citizens in so many ways? I don’t know. But vocalizing our opposition to abuse of anyone, even though culturally sanctioned, is surely our right — even an obligation of conscience.
March 12, 2012 at 10:55 am
We’re with you!