Women's Day reminder

It's a happy International Women's Day (IWD) for safe and free American women. But for other women across the world, it's another day chronicling abuse, oppression and pain.

IWD inspires women to "achieve their full potential" and "celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future." Yes, IWD has socialist roots, and CNS News quotes Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly condemning it:

The radical feminists know that they can't complain about American women because we are the most fortunate class of people who ever lived, so they search the globe for oppression in other countries using taxpayer dollars.

At least they're searching, and they don't have to look long.

In Afghanistan, women set themselves on fire to escape forced or abusive marriages. Up to 80 percent of women face forced marriages and two-thirds marry before the age of 16. There are no laws against domestic violence. Rape victims are punished instead of defended.

In Saudi Arabia, women are life-long dependents and may not vote, drive a car or travel by themselves. The virtue police jail women for sitting with men, and they may soon execute a woman accused of witchcraft.

In Sudan, women fear abduction, rape, police beatings and sexual slavery. Unless unmarried pregnant women can prove rape, they face execution for adultery. Some women marry rapists to avoid the social stigma.

In Basra, Iraq, fundamentalists beat, torture, maim, strangle, and behead women who violate Islamic law.

In Iran last IWD, police attacked and beat IWD participants. Buses and public spaces are gender-segregated. In court, one man's testimony equals that of two women.

In Israel, honor killings are becoming more prevalent. Male relatives kill women for offenses like talking on a cell phone or laughing with a man.

In Congo, gang rape is a weapon of war.

Across the world (yes, in North America, too), 3 million girls are at risk for female genital mutilation each year.

International Women's Day is a reminder that Christians have a responsibility to defend all life, including the lives of maimed and wounded women worldwide.