In the Land of Invisible Women

In this article, i was shocked by the way women are treated in Yemen. It is difficult for me to understand that particular culture because it is so different than mine. The fact that Alisha's parents waited a month after her first period to wed her makes me realize how young she must have been. Having to be submissive to a man more than twice her age must be scary everyday. I can only imagine. Especially having a mother go through the same thing as you and making you do it as well because they fear they will get in trouble, is a lot of pressure. What is even more pressure is having to stay with your husband despite your unhappiness because the marriage was a good arrangement for your family. In the US we may choose our own husbands and many many marriages end in divorce. The story of Wahaba was just wow. She was abused by her husband every night and then when he abused their children, she fought back. Unfortunately he died over the course of the night and she was convicted of murder. She has had no voice during her hearings and she has left her poor three children without parents. the fact that women who are prostitutes are arrested and not the men who use them as prostitution is the same for both the US and Yemen. Nonetheless, women in Yemen have a much more difficult life in Yemen than those women living in the US. We need to do something more to help them. 

Can forgiveness play a role in criminal justice?

This article really pulled at my heart strings. I felt so terrible for the two families as something unspeakable changed their lives forever. had there not been a gun in that house, Ann Grosemire would still be alive. It was such a freak of the moment incident that would end one life and change many lives.  I think forgiveness needs to become a more frequent occurrence in our time. I know from the past month I have noticed how stubborn and unforgiving many of my friends and family are and it is not healthy for them. they hold onto anger and stress over a situation instead of letting it go and moving past it. I dont think restorative justice should be taken lightly but i remember reading Conor McBride's comment how at the meeting with Ann's parents, it was more difficult then anything a judge could say. I believe people make mistakes but i do not think an eye for an eye is relevant here. Restorative justice allows people to forgive and move past the tragedy.