I can't reply to everyone on this thread, but certain comments have provoked feelings in me that I have to express. Liam, I can't agree with your 'free speech' attitude, if free speech means allowing bigots and racists to produce and disseminate hate literature, falsehoods and lies to those who haven't had the opportunity to engage in intelligent, reasoned discussions such as are taking place here. Sorry, but I won't put up with it when I'm around.... KatL, I can sense your outrage and frustration at the patriarchy prevalent throughout the world today, and I'm also appalled at the extent. The situation of women in Afghanistan is one of the more extreme examples in our time, and the fact that the rest of the world sits by and does nothing is a further crime. Joe, while I can agree that much has been done and accomplished during the past two or three hundred years, it's not enough, and much of the advances that have been made is now in the process of being rolled back.. We are losing ground to the almighty quest for profit. We have to remember that virtually all governments around the world are run by MEN, virtually all religions are run by MEN, and under either of those institutions little is being done to address the problems women face daily. Wife abuse is common, and the number of women killed annually by their mates, in the US and Canada, is on the increase. The authorities treat it as 'domestic violence' and penalties are small and of no deterrence. Women continue to earn 70% of what men earn for the same work or work of equal value. This is going to look like one big paragraph, can someone tell me how to put in line breaks (sigh...)... I'd like to add one positive note to this posting, there is a group in Toronto called Metro Men Against Violence, who are actively working to educate boys and men about the effects of the violence neing done to women. There are similar groups in other cities across Canada and the US, working for similar ends. With few resources and scant access to mainstream media, however, it's almost like trying to stop an oncoming steamroller by throwing a pebble at it. 'Nuff ranting, I'm getting too worked up.....