Thoughts originating in bahrain – en route to Jordan – on Afghanistan.

The Middle East is a modern sandstorm.  From the sweeping expanse of desert speckled with architecturally challenging superstructures – - glass, glass, glass and more glass scallop the edge of the reclaimed sea, to the daunting mountain impregnated landscape between the mythical Babylon and the crumbled warzones.  The sky is hugged thickly by dust clouds, parting briefly to expose the skin-searing sun and the sultry secrets of Islam… Surrounded by this exotic world hidden behind the dark drapes of abaya, I peer out from my uncovered eyes and wonder…

Who are we Westerners to determine the appropriateness of Islamic law?

In Arabic, the word “hijab” means a curtain or cover, which originates from a word meaning “to cover, veil or shelter.”  In the Koran, Islam’s holy book, women are asked to draw their clothes around them… so that no harm will come to them.  But when will women’s rights be protected and not covered by the misinterpretations of the Koran?  Specifically in the Koran, it is written: "…say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, sons and uncles…”In a massive blow to global women’s rights, Afghan President Hamid Karzai pushed through a law which essentially legalizes marital rape.  But the international community, including the United Nations, NATO and several Western nations have expressed their ‘concern.’ Hireheels agrees with President Obama…”ABHORRENT!”

Whether we like to admit it, The U.S. Constitution is America’s holy book, interpreted and revered by The People.  In order to form a more perfect Union, we have set rules to ensure the freedom of expression… even prayer, the right to vote and, of course, the right to bear arms. We respect that other nations follow different codes and not all global citizens are considered to exist on the same level.  However, when Karzai said that Western concerns about the new law are "inappropriate" and may have been based on "misinterpretations…" Point Taken.

My only question to President Karzai:  How can the legalization of marital rape be misinterpreted?

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This week was yet another in the race to lower the ethics bar of American Society. The sheer hypocrisy on display by America’s political, entertaintment and sports “ICONS” is now a weekly event. I don’t use the word ‘event’ lightly as it of great value to cable and media outlets. And with advertising budgets in the tank, desperate times call for even dirtier measures.

Hireheelers know politics is dirty business and that President Obama owes a whole lotta peeps in need of a good salt scrub (may i recommend the Caudalie Spa in the Bordeaux region). Mr. Daschle, who makes Joe the Plumber look like the Pope, is just one crony in a long line of Election 2008 creditors awaiting payment. I remain ever curious to see how dynamic duo from Hyde Park gets paid (can’t wait for that story to ‘ayer’). All this while our gal Hillary lugs around her six million dollar debt in her Birkan bag. Indeed, the more I hear about the personal lives of our American Poli-Idols who are expected to lead by example, the more I am reminded of the John Edwards endorsement last spring and what it shouldn’t have meant.

But I digress. I know it’s not productive to rehash old news. Who out there isn’t sick of being called a whiny white woman? But if we were to shut down HireHeels, I would doubtless end up in therapy, and that’s a costlier proposition than ranting in my zanotti stilettos. So you’re stuck with us for a little bit, while we retool the site to create more value for you!

If it doesn’t work out, we will enter the dirt collection business. We’ve got some stored in our closet on one certain political news analyst. We’ll throw it out there one day, when the time is right and watch it bubble up and ‘reGurgitate’ in the 24/7 news cycle.

Enough said.

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“And whom should Persuasion summon;
Here, to soothe the sting of your passion this time?

Give me All I long for, [THE NOMINATION]
In all my battles, Fight as my comrade” (1)

Sappho, an ancient Greek poet from sometime between 630 BC and 612 BC, possessed a unique freedom to express her thoughts and cares and live as she wanted to. It’s only in the last hundred or so years that women of Western cultures could ‘boast’ that kind of freedom.

In a masculine world in which females are generally presented as suffering and often guilty victims of tragedy and emotion, it is refreshing (and empowering!) to have Hillary Clinton standing for us now.

Strong women are the definition of humanity – - they have SENSE and sensuality. Yes, I may be a bitch and a tease, but as Sheryl Crow once professed, a goddess on my knees.

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It isn’t very often that I’m willing to admit to being American. As a confirmed jet-setter, living a gypsy-chic lifestyle along the coasts and cities of Europe, I play chameleon between ethnicities. It’s very disheartening to be trapped in a taxi with an anti-American-ranting driver, or on a tour bus with the guests and guide rallying against the stars & stripes… or criticized by customs because of my navy blue passport. But it’s excruciatingly painful to be brought home to “meet the folks” and begged not to let on my nationality. Thank god I speak 5 languages…

Yesterday was the first time I risked unveiling myself. Before I left my apartment in the morning, I pinned a bright blue HILLARY button onto the side of my purse, a black epi Louis Vuitton. For a dreary March day in Paris, the colorful button was a welcomed twist – - and the burst of energy much needed… I kept staring at the button while walking down the sidewalk, ordering my café au lait, sitting on the Métro… Would I receive any negative feedback? I was worried.

Upon checkout at the supermarket, the man ringing up my bill was staring. I looked at him quizzically, and he smiled REALLY BIG. Having lived in New York for too many years, I returned a very skeptical expression – why was he being pleasant and friendly?! He pointed at the HILLARY button, gave me two thumbs up and said (in French), “Good luck, she’s great!”

I exchanged an equally big smile, patted the button and responded, “Thank you, WE need her!” Not only had I received very unusually good-hearted support from a working-class stranger in Europe – I was proud as a peacock, at that moment, to be an American in Paris.

Hillary, the WORLD needs you.

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