New York Times Blog: November 8, 2010

Reading the cover story title "For Afghan Wives, a Desperate, Fiery Way out" by Alissa Rubin, I was not nearly prepared for what I was about to learn. This article gave insight to the seemingly unheard of suicides by way of immolation among mistreated Afghan women. The story follows a few women, some who had failed suicide attempts at the young ages of 15 and another woman who died of sepsis. I found it unbelievable that the treatment of women in arranged marriages by not only their husbands but all of their in-laws it so violent. "There is little chance for education, little choice about whom a woman marries, no choice at all about her role in her own house. Her primary job is to serve her husband's family. Outside that world, she is an outcast." The sad reality of these Afghan women is devastating, I really think things need to change, I'm not sure how but they're not working the way their going now. Just in early October 75 women were sent to Afghanistan's burn specializing hospital with attempted suicide or in some cases attempted homicide covered up with suicide.This awful reality is not getting any better, the article stated that the current percentage is up 30 percent from last year. The reason why women chose this form of suicide is for one they have easy access to it, even the poorest families have matches and cooking fuel. Another reason is because they think it'll work better than other ways, they think it is more final.
Another article in today's Times "High in the Rockies, Marijuana's a Point of Pride" by Kirk Johnson. I chose this article because after the last one, I couldn't take another sad or depressing story. This article focused in on Nederland, Colorado. Nederland takes the saying "Rocky Mountain High" to a whole new level. Nederland is said to have 1 in 20 people out of their 1,400 population in need of medical marijuana. Residents like Hal Mobley, 56, commented, "Marijuana is part of the life here, no more available, no less, and no different in its uses," he said, "it's for pain?"