To be offended... or respectful of religious beliefs?

 

Last week's picture of World Leaders marching in France,
with female world leaders "edited out" of the picture at "The Announcer" newspaper in the Middle East, has invoked a lot of negative reaction around the globe.

This is one of those touchy topics,
because its difficult to determine the most politically correct way to react to something like this... 

... Should we conclude that by Women World leaders being removed from the picture,
the newspaper has lost its credibility on providing accurate information?
... Or, should we be understanding of the paper for "editing" the picture, so that it can appeal
to their target demographic of the ultra-conservative religious?
... Should we stand up for Women World leaders, and say that the newspaper is wrong,
because these women are legitimately in powerful positions that influence society,
and that should be acknowledged?
... Or, should we respect the newspaper's relgious beliefs that placing women in
the media forefront is an immodest act?

In my opinion, it entirely depends where you are coming from, and who's reading the paper.

Because you and I live in North America, most of us are naturally offended.
And we believe that the newspaper should not have done that.
We believe that women are capable of so much more than cooking-cleaning-raising children at home,
and can enter politics and the media, and can have careers, can build their lives,
and can be treated equally as men.

However... if we were part of the religious group that read that particular newpaper,
perhaps we would think differently... because maybe our ultra-conservative
religious beliefs would lead us to believe that women have no place in society.
And if I were a woman in that religion, perhaps I would even agree that the newspaper was right
in "photoshopping" the women out... Sad, but true.

I think how we react is entirely determined by what country/group/religion we are a part of.

I guess the moral of the story here is... "to seek to understand before being understood".
(taken from the book: 7 Habits of Highy Effective People)
But because I am Canadian woman, my personal opinion is that... I am saddened that any publication
would not recognize the efforts that these women-in-politics made to be a part of the
Paris rally for peace...... then again, if I grew up in a different country or religion, perhaps
my opinions would be different.


Picture Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2908579/Orthodox-Israeli-newspaper-airbrushes-female-world-leaders-JeSuisCharlie-march-photographs.html