On the one hand I fault the Taliban & other worldwide followers of Mohammed for their devaluing of women. But at least they have a clear foundation for their misguided sex discrimination: Mohammed & his Quran allow a man to have up to four wives – & he violated his own rule by having eleven, including a child bride (thus, statutory rape). Islamic discrimination against women is reprehensible, but at least I see where the source is.

On the other hand, in Western Europe & the United States, which allegedly have a culture based on Christianity & the teachings of the Nazarene, we exploit women in manners equally reprehensible! With no foundational excuse! Jesus lifted women from the doormat where Jewish men had dumped them (based on a literal and even skewed interpretation of the Torah) and gave them their God-created equality. True, the Lord didn’t select a woman to be one of the Twelve, but who got the honor of being the very FIRST witnesses of His Resurrection? Who were COMMISSIONED (by the angel or by the risen Savior Himself) to go preach the Good News (Gospel) to all, on that Resurrection Sunday? Women!

And so. . . the exploitation of women in rap “music”, on television, in the movies, etc. continues a long history of denial by Western civilization of its true spiritual roots in the teachings & example of the Christ. Indeed, a long history of opposition (deliberate or unintended) to what the Lord intends for His human creatures, male AND female!

It’s high time to stop exploitation & discrimination against women. And let’s begin at home, here in these United States!