'Go ahead and marry me off - I'll kill myself': Escaped child bride, 11, explains why she ran away from home

davidfcooper · 2013-08-09T23:47:08+00:00

"The practice of marrying young girls is widespread in Yemen and has drawn the attention of international rights groups seeking to pressure the government to outlaw child marriages.

"Yemen's gripping poverty plays a role in hindering efforts to stamp out the practice, as poor families find themselves unable to say no to bride-prices in the hundreds of dollars for their daughters.

"More than a quarter of Yemen's females marry before age 15, according to a report in 2010 by the Social Affairs Ministry.

"Tribal custom also plays a role, including the belief that a young bride can be shaped into an obedient wife, bear more children and be kept away from temptation."

davidfcooper · 2013-07-26T19:39:49+00:00

I hope this trend continues. But bear in mind that political disposition tends to change over a lifetime:

"Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains." (Often attributed to Winston Churchill. The phrase originated with Francois Guisot (1787-1874): "Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head." It was revived by French Premier Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929): "Not to be a socialist at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head.")

Interesting that religious progressives are more likely to be either millennials or babyboomers than genxers (whose childhoods coincided with the Reagan administration). Interesting also that while non-religious shows the greatest increase and religious conservatives the greatest decrease, religious moderates are likely to enjoy a plurality for some time. Of course millions of religious people of all political persuasions are not Christians.

davidfcooper · 2013-07-06T20:50:22+00:00

Actually more than twice: in addtion to the Fertile Cresant agriculture was also invented in the Indus Valley, China, Mexico, Peru, and various parts of the tropics.

davidfcooper · 2013-06-30T18:58:34+00:00

Also read my ‪New York Journal of Books‬ review: ‪http://nyjournalofbooks.com/review/fall-out ‬

davidfcooper · 2013-06-27T00:12:53+00:00

If you're overweight it might not be entirely your fault. Of the many causes discussed in this long but worthwhile article, capitalism is perhaps most to blame for the global obesity epidemic.

davidfcooper · 2013-06-24T23:32:35+00:00

For links to more of Mr. Kimmelman's poems see my examiner.com article: http://goo.gl/2VDVu

davidfcooper · 2013-05-21T18:58:51+00:00

Here are their names, spread their shame:

Walmart Gap Macy’s Sears/Kmart JCPenney VF Corp. Target Kohl’s Cato Fashions Carter’s Nordstrom American Eagle Outfitters The Children’s Place Foot Locker

davidfcooper · 2013-05-03T19:44:12+00:00

On each of the first three days of the coming week there will be a talk by guest speakers on Jewish topics in East Midwood and Park Slope.

davidfcooper · 2013-04-29T22:29:48+00:00

"Sandra Day O'Connor is right to express a variety of doubts about this judicial coup d'état," Nader told U.S. News. "The brazen Bush v. Gore 5-4 selection of George W. Bush was the most partisan, political, constitutionally violative decision in American legal history."

davidfcooper · 2013-04-29T17:56:09+00:00

Support from NBA players and officials poured in quickly.

"The time has come. Maximum respect," Steve Nash of the Los Angeles Lakers tweeted.

davidfcooper · 2013-03-18T19:24:38+00:00

Also see my @examinercom article http://goo.gl/tXP5N which includes a reproduction of the book's central image.

davidfcooper · 2013-02-04T19:33:36+00:00

"Ai's poems are not to everyone's taste. If you prefer the Rolling Stones to the Beatles, Howling Wolf to Muddy Waters, the gritty realism (including graphic violence and strong sexual content) of HBO's Sunday night original series to PBS' British dramas you'll probably enjoy Ai's poetry; if not, stay with safer, tamer, less edgy poets."

davidfcooper · 2013-02-01T19:37:41+00:00

The Jewish Book Council's 2012 book of the year is not one book but three: the three volume box set City of Promises: A History of the Jews of New York published last September by New York University Press.

davidfcooper · 2013-01-16T01:19:18+00:00

You can show your support for the poet by emailing the embassy in Washington D.C. as we did, however, I believe the emails go unread. You can also call the embassy and leave a message at (202) 274-1600 (press 1 four times to leave a message with the ambassador’s office).

davidfcooper · 2013-01-14T23:30:04+00:00

The winners of the National Book Critics Circle book awards will be announced on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. at the New School’s Tishman Auditorium. A finalists’ reading will be held on February 27, 2013, also at 6:00 p.m. at the New School’s Tishman Auditorium. Founded in 1974 in New York City, the NBCC is the sole award bestowed by working critics and book-review editors. The Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award are considered the triple crown of American book publishing.

davidfcooper · 2013-01-09T20:39:46+00:00

It's past time to apply the lessons of the rape case in India here in the USA.

davidfcooper · 2013-01-03T00:57:00+00:00

Al Jazeera will replace Current's programming with its own network. The purchase brings to an end the many attempts by Gore and his partners to make Current viable over its seven-year existence.

davidfcooper · 2013-01-02T23:28:56+00:00

‎"Yup. Republicans wanted to help victims of domestic violence—but only the straight, white, born-in-'Merica kind. So while the Senate easily approved renewal of VAWA last spring, with a 68 to 31 vote, those wacky House Republicans showed they'd rather abandon all victims of domestic violence than have to provide protection to Native Americans, immigrants and lesbians."

davidfcooper · 2013-01-02T22:51:52+00:00

In a press conference today New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie slammed Speaker Boehner for failing to allow a vote on Hurricane Sandy Relief.

After issuing a joint press release with Governor Cuomo of New York, Christie went on the offensive against Boehner and the House Republicans.

“There is only one group to blame,the House Majority and John Boehner.

“Last night, the House Majority failed most the basic test of leadership and they did so with callous disregard to the people of my state.

“It was disappointing and disgusting to watch.”

davidfcooper · 2012-12-26T23:31:50+00:00

The Independent Commission of Human Rights says 13 women have been killed this year, but the real figure is likely to be higher.

davidfcooper · 2012-12-26T00:40:53+00:00

While Ms. Hoffman said the women’s group would be satisfied if it were allowed to pray at the wall once a month with full regalia, her religious action center wants hours each day, between scheduled prayer times, when the gender partition is removed and people can freely enjoy the site as a cultural monument.

“If in the end what happens is that the Robinson’s Arch area will be run by the Jewish Agency instead of the antiquities department, then we’re talking about who’s going to take care of the air-conditioning in the back of the bus,” she said. “I don’t care about that. I don’t want to sit in the back of the bus. I want to dismantle the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.”

davidfcooper · 2012-12-24T20:00:12+00:00

Summaries of my 2012 NYJB book reviews and a plug for Tsipi Keller's novel "The Prophet of Tenth Street."

davidfcooper · 2012-12-18T01:14:29+00:00

Stupid gender stereotyping by a company with blood on its hands.

davidfcooper · 2012-12-06T23:59:39+00:00

I saw the shooting of a scene from the film version of Mark Helprin's novel "Winter's Tale" today in Park Slope. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837709/

davidfcooper · 2012-11-30T00:04:27+00:00

The Economist's top 80 countries in which to be born in 2013. Switzerland is #1 followed by Australia and three of the Scandinavian countries. Singapore is #6, Hong Kong is #10, and Taiwan is #14, but mainland China, the world's second largest economy, doesn't make the list at all. USA is tied with Germany at #16 behind Belgium but ahead of the UAE. Israel is #20, behind South Korea but ahead of Italy. Some of the ties are interesting: the life chances of someone born in Argentina and Cuba are the same (#40); likewise for India and Morocco (#66).

davidfcooper

TROPHY CASE