vanessa53194-blog

[vanessa53194-blog]

When you start to know someone, all their physical characteristics start to disappear. You begin to dwell in their energy, recognize the scent of their skin. You see only the essence of the person, not the shell. That’s why you can’t fall in love with beauty. You can lust after it, be infatuated by it, want to own it. You can love it with your eyes and your body but not your heart. And that’s why, when you really connect with a person’s inner self, any physical imperfections disappear, become irrelevant.

Lisa Unger (via anothersliceofcheesecake)

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Insirational Quote on @weheartit.com - http://whrt.it/14rPS3Q

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Helped my dad make dinner #26acts #hidogooder

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Put this on a random car. Just wanted to brighten their day. #hidogooder #26acts

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I found this cat scared outside a house and took it inside to find the owner. It was such a small kitty and I was really worried about it so I wanted to make sure it was gong to be okay. #26acts #hidogooder

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This is my friend Samantha who is a senior at my old high school. She has applied to many colleges and is considering Saint Mary's as one of her top choices so I invited her to come stay for a weekend with me to experience it to better educate her decision. She had a really great time and it was a very fun weekend. #26acts #hidogooder

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Left chocolates outside my door for anyone having a hard night or who just needed to fulfill their sweet tooth.  #hidogooder #26acts

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Women are Equal

Did you know that according to the Iranian constitution women only hold half the value in society that men do? That if a woman is raped it’s her fault? That women are banned from 77 college majors? 

After watching “This is Not a Film” directed by Jafar Panahi at the New Parkway Theater – a documentary about a famous Iranian filmmaker being banned from anything connecting to cinema – I was inspired to research more about Iran’s ludicrous laws. Of all the subjects in their laws, what struck me as the most sickening were their laws against women.

Instead of moving away from the male dominant society like western countries have done, Iran has taken the opposite route. The government has decided to ban women from 77 college majors, causing a major decrease in the acceptance of women in colleges.

But college isn’t the only thing being taken away from women.

The government is now considering taking away women’s rights to travel. Although they need their husband’s permission to travel, as well as to leave the house at all, there is talk of a complete ban. Family Courts don’t provide protection to women in abusive marriages because of the belief that the man is head of the family. The government’s emphasis on a male dominant society is getting out of hand. The story below highlights this in a large way:

"I was married at the age of 12, and I had my first child when I was 13. My husband was unemployed and we fought all the time. We never applied for a divorce because I was afraid of losing my child… one night, he poured a bucket of acid over my body and I was completely burned… I rushed to the sink to flush my face and body… [but] I realized he had shut off the water. I was taken to the hospital. My operation was held up pending advance money for the surgery, and permission from my husband to operate on my face. My mother sold all of her valuables and provided the money [but] my husband said he would only permit my operation if I consented to not seeing my children for the rest of my life. Finally, with hospital's pressure on the family court they allowed me to receive the operation on my face and body. "

Article 209 of Iran’s Constitution states that woman's life is valued only half as much as a man's life and Article 105 of the Civil Code "In the relationship between a man and a woman, the man is responsible as head of the family." The Council of Guardians, has decreed, "A woman cannot leave her home without her husband's permission, even to attend her father's funeral".

The extent to which the women must fight for their rights is a serious problem. Women protest but only are arrested or punished for it.Although people are aware laws in Iran and many other countries close by demoralize and limit women's rights, I don’t believe people understand the extent of it. While I did this research I was disgusted, upset, mad and sad. Some of the stories I read brought tears to my eyes and some of the photos I saw made me sick to my stomach. So find out more, get educated, see what you can do to help. One person can change many lives. There are many different organizations advocating for women's rights, if you would like to help or find out more check out this list of women's rights organizations.

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Wrote a note for the waitress because the restaurant was busy and she seemed stressed out. I just wanted her night to improve :) #hidogooder #26acts

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Left this quarter on a seat at a restaurant for a little surprise to maybe make someone smile. #hidogooder #26acts

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Put this on somebody's car in walnut creek. I just was hoping it would make them smile. #hidogooder #26acts

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"You're amazing" put this on a random car in walnut creek. Just wanted to make someone smile. #hidogooder #26acts

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"Life is full of memories. Go make some" random act of kindness 5. Put this on a car. #hidogooder #26acts