Remember that Afghanistan wasn't always so restrictive against women's rights. They were not the most liberal of countries, but women had rights, could go to college, and were not restricted as they are now. Afghanistan's religious extremists, the Taliban rose on a wave of religious rule.

Don't take freedom and progress for granted. Freedom and rights must be fought for. Extremists of all types are looking to disenfranchise others and for many of them, women are an easy target. Participating in politics, public rights advocacy, and your religious institutions makes the target much harder.

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

-Charlie Chaplin

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/it_didnt_always_suck_to_be_a_woman_in_afghanistan

http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/articles/29-The-Final-Speech-from-The-Great-Dictator-