The
Musings 17
Monday,
January 28
Read:
John 4, 20
These days every organization,
political party or other institutions are bent on promoting safety for woman, to
communicate to everyone the steps that they are taking for protecting the
rights and dignity of woman. Thus you have number of news items coming up in
the newspaper where you find news item of people from holding candle light
vigil, to street play, flash dance so as to bring the message of highlighting
the rights and also the plight of the woman today. But it was two news
incidents about woman empowerment, incidents that happened thousands of miles
apart that caught my attention. Last Thursday, the US military leaders formally
lifted ban on woman serving in combat positions. This meant that from now
onwards woman who serves US military would be allowed to be part of the front
line military roles like engaging in combat war. This was announced by the
Defence Secretary Leon Panetta who stated that woman have become and integral
part of military and they have always demonstrated their willingness to fight
war and that their contributions to the military's mission of defending the
nation has been unprecedented. The change in the military rule will open up
thousands of front line postings and also elite commando jobs to woman. The
White House has also endorsed this decision but there is mixed reaction from
the people with regards to this decision taken by the military. Incidentally
the second incident that caught my attention and was also beamed on all news
channel, and this also happened last week but thousands of miles apart in the
city of Mumbai. It was all about a scheme by a political party
to empower woman in the light of the gruesome assault of para medical student
in Delhi, which ultimately led to her death. The conception of the political
party Shiv Sena, of empowering woman was by distributing small three inch
knives and chilly powder to woman. The party sources claimed that they had
distributed almost 21,000 knives to woman in Mumbai and surrounding areas.
According to the party spokesperson, the distribution of knives and chilly
powder was a symbolic gesture that woman will not longer be silent sufferers
not they are not going to be mute witnesses when crime is committed against
them, and that they are going to protect and take care of themselves as when a
need arises. The party leaders have exhorted the woman to be brave and not to
shun from using knife if somebody attacks them and the party has also assured
the women that if in the aftermath of self protection, if they are likely to
encounter any legal issues, a team of advocates will be there to help them. Though
the woman in Mumbai are much more empowered while compared to women from other
cities in India, they also face abuse
from all forms in bus, trains and other public places and hence I think this
move can be considered as very bold. This is an an action consciously taken so
as to communicate that woman are not going to be passive any more and if need
arises even take rightful law and privileges in their hand. But I think along
with this so called self defense tactics it is important for the woman also to
find a new understanding of their identity, an identity that can help them to
break the so called barriers imposed by culture, religion or other institution
where discriminatory laws are formulated
and perpetuated by a patriarchal hierarchy. It is this quest to re discover
their identify which will help both men and woman to be co workers and building
of a society that replicates the image of God's kingdom where both men and
woman are equal in the sight of God in term of gender, the roles that they play
in the different institutions that they are placed.
When we study the word
of God, especially when we carefully examine the ministry of Jesus Christ we
will always find that He consciously empowered woman by helping in their search
for a new identity, that helped them to redefine their life. There are two
notable examples in the gospels, where women after encountering Jesus, are
thrilled at the new identity that the Lord gave to them. The first incident is
mentioned in John 4 while the next incident that is similar to John 4 is
mentioned in John 20. In the first incident in John 4, a Samaritan woman
encounters woman. Through the encounter, her life is changed and she has a new
understanding of worship, a new understanding of who the messiah is. In John 4
39-42, we find the Samaritan woman going to her village and telling them about
the new found discovery not only in terms of the message but also in terms of
the person. She communicates the message of the gospel to the village and soon
many Samaritans believed in Jesus Christ and request Jesus Christ to stay with
them. A woman who casually came to fetch water goes back to village not with
pot of water, but with a new found identity of who she is and also a new found
purpose through the joy of knowing the Lord. In the same way in John 20, we
find Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus Christ soon after his resurrection. Because of her commitment and love for the
Lord, she is the first one to come to the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid
and she is in for a surprise. She has the privilege of being the first person
to witnesses the risen Christ. Amazed and dumbstruck she cant believe her eyes
and that is when Jesus gives her a mission. She is commanded by the Lord to go
and communicate to the other disciples that Jesus Christ is risen. Mary is so
enthusiastic and she runs to the disciples to tell them about the good news but
the disciples did not believe Mary [ Luke 24: 10]. Here is Mary with a newfound
identity and purpose in life. A life that was in tatters due to consequences of
sin, is redeemed by Jesus Christ. This redeemed life now has a new found
identity in Jesus Christ and new purpose of being messengers of gospel. I think
what is needed in all of us, especially the women so as to help each of them
find an identity that totally liberates them from the confines and discriminatory
rules or cultural barriers of a patriarchal society. This will help them to
rediscover the freedom and right to live
in ways and manner that are responsible and whereby they are able to contribute
creatively without any discrimination or abuse to the well being of every
individual, family, other institutions that they are involved in. This will not
only help in the process of strengthening
the social fabric but strengthen the social structure, whereby every
individual whether man or woman is respected and their individual and corporate
rights affirmed and upheld.
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