Guest Post: Melanie Bowen

Today, I’m pleased to publish a short piece written by Melanie Bowen.  Melanie is a part-time contributor on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog and has dedicated her time to provide encouragement for those on the path to healing.  

Inspiration Accomplishment: Writing thoughts and desires

There are many people that find personal enjoyment in creating a list of events, places, things they want to accomplish in life. Creating such a list actually makes a lot of sense because it often helps people to push forward, especially in times when they may be feeling down in the dumps and need that extra push to keep moving forward. This can also be helpful for those who are recently struggling from a life threatening illness such as mesothelioma.

Creating a list of things to do is almost like setting up specific goals for one’s self because they will ultimately be working to complete each of these tasks throughout their lifetime. When an individual completes each task and is able to scratch one thing off of their list, they will gain a sense of accomplishment to make them feel like they can achieve much more. Creating a list can even help a person get through a grim prognosis; it can help an individual get past daily adversities they may emotionally, mentally or physically face when fighting an illness.

How to Create a List of Things to Do

Writing down ideas to complete within a lifetime is actually quite simple. First, the person who is making the list will need to decide how they want to document their hopes and dreams. Of course, a piece of paper and a pen can easily do the trick for creating a list of aspirations. However, for more motivation, one may want to begin blogging about certain things they want to achieve throughout their lifetime. A blog is not only a way for an individual to keep track of the things they want to do; however, it is a way for them to share their thoughts and ideas with other people who can help to keep them inspired. A blog with a list of things to do in life can also encourage other people to make a list as well so that they can make their life more meaningful too.

Getting Ideas of Things to Do

One problem many people face is that they find they have a hard time figuring out what it is that they actually want to accomplish. However, it is important for an individual to brainstorm and think of what exciting and different things they would like to do to improve their life and make it even more meaningful than it already is. It is important for an individual to think of how adventurous they truly want to be when making their list. There are lots of fun, exciting, and thrilling ideas that can be added to a list of things to do throughout life. Such things including riding on the back of an elephant, skydiving, learn an entirely different language, travel to different areas with just a backpack, go surfing, learn a new dance, study abroad or even learning to play a new instrument.

No matter what it is you chose to do within your lifetime, you are in the driver’s seat to finding personal success. Sit down and truly think about what will make life more meaningful for you and what it is you wish to become, experience and see throughout the world. Start with short terms goals and then begin to think about long-term dreams and aspirations. You may find that by simply blogging, journaling and creating a list of goals will improve the quality of your life and bring you more happiness than you ever thought imaginable.

Guest Post: Reflections On Study Abroad In Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

Today, I am proud to publish a reflection piece that a friend of mine, Tracy, wrote after a 6 week study abroad trip to the country of Peru.  Her travels included visits to Cusco, Awana Kancha, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, and Lima.  Although pursuing education and cultural enrichment in a foreign country can be intimidating and expensive, I’d imagine the experience is one that will remain indelibly in your memory forever.  Here’s an opportunity to learn from a student who has been through the study abroad experience and lived to write about it.         

At Kansas State University during the fall and spring semesters, there are Study Abroad fairs that take place to promote different study abroad companies; along with the wide variety of opportunities a student can take part in through K-State Study Abroad Office.  That is where I decided on what type of trip I’d like to go on.  I already knew that I wanted to travel to a Spanish speaking country, plus I knew my time frame included the months during June to July 2011.

Each college has a study abroad office, and before I went on my trip, I also attended special meetings about how to prepare myself, health precautions, and scholarship opportunities.  Something that is very important to go to is your college’s hospital or one in your hometown to check with what shots and/or types of pills you need to help keep you healthy while abroad.  For example, I was told to take typhoid medication before my trip, along with having medication to try and prevent motion sickness, traveler’s diarrhea, and altitude sickness.

Over 80% of Peru’s population is Catholic, and during my time in Lima, I was able to attend Catholic masses in Spanish.  The first mass I attended, it was eye opening to see that here in Peru, the organization of the mass was different than in a Catholic church in Kansas.  The Catholic Peruvians prayed at a different time, and to receive communion, there aren’t any ushers.  Peruvians lined up when they like to, unlike in the United States where it is much more in an orderly fashion. 

Peruvians speak very fast to one another, and for us Americans, it was nice when our host families attempted to speak a little slower so we could understand.  

Do I believe that my 6 weeks of studying abroad in Peru has changed my life? Yes, I do.  I am more knowledgeable about the Inca and Quechua culture that have shaped the country of Peru.  I have become able to understand Spanish better, along with my confidence when speaking Spanish has also increased. 

Since I started learning Spanish in middle school, I have loved learning about Hispanic cultures.  I am white/Caucasian with no ounce of Hispanic blood in me, but after studying Spanish for so long, and living in a Spanish speaking country for six weeks, I consider myself as part Hispanic. 

I am obtaining a minor in Spanish, and after the Fall 2011 semester, my Spanish classes will be finished for minor, yet I will keep trying to learn something new every day about the Spanish language and culture because I enjoy it.  My dream is to be able to use Spanish in my future career with a business that has relations abroad in countries like Peru.  

I’ve made great friendships during my study abroad trip, and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with all of my friends and family here in the United States, along with prospective students who might be planning on studying abroad.  After going on this study abroad trip to Peru, my passion has grown immensely about showing others how being bilingual, and learning a second language such as Spanish can change your life, like it has mine.

Guest Post: Don't Take Away Someone Else's Rights!

Today's post was written by Patrick Komlofske. Pat is proud to be a devout Catholic, and the most selfless person I know. He is forever giving his time and knowledge to put a smile on other's faces.  You can learn about his recording business, JMJ Communications, here.

Earlier this week I read a Facebook post stating the following:

Don't like gay marriages?  Don't get one..

Don't like cigarettes ?  Don't smoke them..

Don't like abortions?  Don't get one..

Don't like sex?  Don't have it..

Don't like drugs?  Don't do them..

Don't like porn?  Don't watch it..

Don't like alcohol?  Don't drink it..

Don't like guns?  Don't buy one..

Don't…like your rights taken away??? Don't take away someone else's.

{re-post if you agree}

I've held back a reply because I wanted to think about it.  At first, I wanted to comment: Don't like your parents?  Don't listen to them..  Don't like authority?  Don't respect it.  I thought that I might forget about it, but for several days I kept thinking about how disturbing some of this is.  Then I thought,  "Why am I so closed minded?"

I am an individual that truly loves our Lord.  As the southern bible belt would say; "I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior".  For the last 20 years I have gained much education from studying beliefs of other denominations and that of my own Roman Catholic faith.  Since 1995, I have owned a recording business where I go to conferences, record their talks, then mass produce them on the spot for others to share.  While I am more informed than many, I am still no expert.  Each event I learn some very profound lessons, and meet many other people who love the Lord as much as I do.  So from that point of view, I thought the words above are words slamming the same morals that most religions try to instill in others.

After some prayer about this, and some objective thought, I am more at ease about it.  I don't see it as a slam on religion because the Church does not write laws, nor does it enforce them.  Every denomination simply educates people on what is right and wrong.  Yes, some ministers will become vigilantes, and try to take the law into his own hands, but that is the exception and not the norm.  It's our political lawmakers who write laws, and who have a means of enforcing the rights we all have.  Thus, the objective side of me says; So since I am not politically correct, and have a more open mind....  Maybe we should change some of our laws.

Don't like drugs and alcohol...  Why not.  People strung out on drugs and too much alcohol have a change in behavior.  They do stupid stuff, and sometimes it adds great humor to our day.  The good part when they are too strung out they don't remember anything.  Don't like them in your face?  Beat the crap out of them..  (we got rights too).  Sure they get behind the wheel of a car, and bad things happen.  That's why I have insurance.  I am ready for a newer car anyway.

Don't like Sex and Porn...  It's only the churches that say don't do it.  Maybe they grab their reasoning from flim-flam, certainly whatever credible basis they use has no reasoning.  It's kind of weird that most denominations (Christian and non Christian) find this to lead to trouble.  What's funny is society wants to smack the Church for all it does.  But again, the Church only informs what is right and wrong.  It does not set or enforce law.  So what's the harm with it, it hurts no one, correct?  Maybe all the people (married and unmarried) with hurt feelings when their partner interacts with another need to learn to chill out and quit being so closed minded.

Don't like abortions?...  People want to be able to choose for themselves.  Perhaps rights should be extended for parents to have this choice for one additional trimester - the fourth trimester.  Maybe after the blob of tissue has come from the womb that people should be able to choose to keep it.  Perhaps it has Downs Syndrome or some other (birth) defect.  Maybe the fetus was black and both husband and wife were white (daddy just found out that mama likes the mail man too, but that's ok, no one should take that right away from her), and they just don't want to keep the child.  They should be able to perform the procedure on that blob of tissue.  Yea, I know some would see it different, but I see it this way.  You take a woman in labor.  Do a sonogram on her, snap some pictures of the tissue.  Then hours later, take that same tissue, wrap it up in a towel, put in a backpack for a few minutes, take another sonogram of the backpack, shoot the same series of pictures, then compare them.  The only difference will be the umbilical cord will be shorter, the rest of the tissue will look the same.  So if someone wants the choice to terminate a pregnancy so be it, if at a later time the only thing that changed in the delivery is time, then it should be their right to a forth trimester to try it out.  What can it hurt?

Don't like gay marriages?  What a quandary of mixed emotions.  This is a "sexual behavior".  Why in the world do our law makers want to rule on what people do in the bedroom.  You hear the church say "hate the sin, not the sinner".  The issue of same sex attraction is not necessary the sin, but what they do with this behavior that becomes sin.  But, people say we need to separate the church and state.  The same goes with separating sex from state.  Don't discriminate someone because of their orientation.  However, do gays need special rights and their own "hate-crime" laws?  As long as my rights and privileges are not taken away because of someone else's sex behavior.  If I get denied from a job offer because I don't fill their quota of x then my choices are not being met.  If people can tease or educate me because I am a Christian White Heterosexual Male, then I have the right to tease or educate non Christians, non whites, women, or non-Heterosexual people.

The list can go on and on.  Our country is full of people who want to make choices, and when they don't get their way, we claim their rights are taken away.  Teenagers are in a difficult time of their life.  Their minds are becoming brighter every day, and they long to becoming adults so they can make their own choices.  They rebel at the idea of adults, especially parents, making decisions for them.  It's like we shoot them down at every opportunity, yet we correct and guide them because we have learned the hard way, and want them to avoid the same mistakes we made.  But, parents need to rule and guide even if they come across as being not too bright.  I got to agree that some laws are just stupid.  In Kansas, you are obligated to wear a seat belt in a vehicle with 4 steel walls around you, but you are not required to wear a helmet if your riding a motorcycle.  The Church does a good job on getting proper morals out, and many people advocate to our law makers that they write laws to enforce these morals.  I guess we need to step back and be more objective about both sides of an issue.  Ask ourselves, who do people feel it should be right to remove restrictions to drug and alcohol use?  They have a good point of view if we would just consider it.  Then to, why do the law makers take these rights away - maybe their point of view has some merit.  Where do churches get the audacity to preach what they preach?  Could they have any credibility?  Could all their studies and research of the early church fathers mean anything at all? 

The above posting is a good philosophical debate students go round and round with in philosophy classes.  Unfortunately, the ones who get persecuted are the churches.  It's not just atheist against Christian.  It's not just Jew against Catholic, it goes from denomination to denomination, from agnostics to doctors of the faith.  God has given all of us a brilliant mind, and a freedom of will.  We all have good intentions.  Maybe we should just say rather than me being "Roman" Catholic, I should just say that I am "Patrick" Catholic, because my theology is comprised of phrases of "I think we should....", or "In MY opinion they should...", or "It is MY choice that government has to...".  King Henry did not like his bishop telling him he can't have multiple wives so he started his own religion.  Today there are more than 14,000 different protestant religions because all are in disagreement with their choices. In my own denomination, I for one, differentiate between "Roman" Catholic's and "American" Catholics.

For all the law makers and everyone reading this; I will close with an invitation to dig a little deeper on your beliefs.  Your opinion is good, but if it is only based on emotions, then dig a little deeper.  I know I don't have a strong foothold on faith and reason so I have to turn to someone with philosophers who have dedicated their life to study of this.  I know I don't understand the bible as it was written so I turn to a church who have experts in theology, who go back to the original languages of the text, and the tradition of the times.  People who studied all the early writings and traditions of the early church.  I surrender to the believe in the Catholic Church.  I am "Roman" Catholic because I yield and try to follow the teachings of the Holy Father on Faith and Morals, and stand with the authority of the bishops.  I feel they have exhausted studying the same principles I am looking for, so why try to reinvent the wheel?

Father Marc Tilia

This is guest post written by my dad.

It was an overcast, humid Monday afternoon and I was driving south on a major avenue in Overland Park, Kansas.  I noticed an older white haired man dressed in black walking on the sidewalk going in my same direction.  As I was passing him, I noticed that it was Father Marc Tilia, a visiting missionary priest who for 41 years would come to our parish at Holy Cross to spend a week or two sharing his work and asking for our prayers and financial help.  As I passed him, I asked myself, “Why was he still here and why is he walking in this extreme heat 25 blocks from our church where he was staying?”  At the first opportunity, I turned around, pulled up beside him, and asked if he needed a ride.  He enthusiastically replied, “Yes.  I do.”

Father Marc was born in Iowa, was ordained a priest after studying in a seminary in Ava, Missouri, and through a series of unusual events was assigned to the archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.  He never served in this area, but instead, gave his life and devotion to the poorest of the poor in a small village in Brazil.  The town was founded in 1730 and never had a priest residing in it.  He said his first mass, in English, to a congregation of six people.  Gradually, he learned the Portuguese language and became loved as a family member.  Today, hundreds of the faithful attend mass regularly and this village now has a church and a school.  This humble, soft spoken man has truly lived the gospel and has introduced Christ to the multitudes.

After getting in my car, I asked Father Marc why he was walking down the busy road in the brutal heat 25 blocks from the Holy Cross rectory.  He said he was dropped off at a rental car establishment and his plan was to rent an automobile for two days so he could buy a couple of small items and drive around one last time in the United States.  Father Marc has decided to spend his last years in Brazil and never return to this country.  One of the actions he took was to cancel his seldom used credit card.  Unbeknownst to him, when he arrived at the rental car building, he was informed that he needed a credit card to rent a vehicle.  Not having one, he walked out, got turned around, and walked several blocks in the wrong direction before he realized he was getting farther away from the rectory.  It is when he turned around and headed back that I discovered him.  I took him to Holy Cross and asked when he would be leaving us.  He said the day after tomorrow, but he would say mass the next day at our church.  I promised him, and myself, that I would attend the Eucharist celebrated by this Godly priest.  

The next morning my mother in law and I attended this mass.  What an honor and a privilege it was to participate in a mass celebrated by this holy man.  In his homily, Father Marc concluded by saying, “Until we meet again.”  I knew what he meant.

After mass, my mother in law alertly asked Father Marc if he still needed a car for a day.  He joyfully said, “Yes. I do.”  So we drove him back to our home and gave him the keys to one of our cars.  I told him I would pick the car up later that evening.  Instead, around 4 in the afternoon, he arrived at our door and said he had finished running his errands.  For one last time, I visited with him as I drove him back to the rectory.  He left a beautiful cardand note to us with a picture of him praying the rosary.  As I was pulling away, he turned back toward me and waved his hands above his head and gave me a final blessing.  That scene will be forever etched in my memory.  I will see you in heaven, Father Marc!

Guest Post: An Airport Encounter by Archbishop Dolan

Today's post was written by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.  Timothy Michael Dolan was named Archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI on February 23, 2009.  Previously, he had served as the Archbishop of Milwaukee.  He has been a priest for 35 happy years.


This post is always timely given the ongoing child abuse accusations leveled against Catholic priests.  Sadly, the view of the Catholic Church has become jaded in the eyes of many Americans due to the isolated instances of child abuse and pedophilia.  

An Airport Encounter

It was only the third time it had happened to me in my nearly thirty-five happy years as a priest, all three times over the last nine-and-a-half years.

Other priests tell me it has happened to them a lot more.

Three is enough.  Each time has left me so shaken I was near nausea.

It happened last Friday . . .

I had just arrived at the Denver Airport, there to speak at their popular annual “Living Our Catholic Faith” conference.

As I was waiting with the others for the electronic train to take me to the terminal, a man, maybe in his mid-forties, waiting as well, came closer to me.

“Are you a Catholic priest?” he kindly asked.

“Sure am.  Nice to meet you,” says I, as I offered my hand.

He ignored it.  “I was raised a Catholic,” he replied, almost always a hint of a cut to come, but I was not prepared for the razor sharpness of the stiletto, as he went on, “and now, as a father of two boys, I can’t look at you or any other priest without thinking of a sexual abuser.”

What to respond?  Yell at him?  Cuss him out?  Apologize?  Deck him?  Express understanding?  I must admit all such reactions came to mind as I staggered with shame and anger from the damage of the wound he had inflicted with those stinging words.

“Well,” I recovered enough to remark, “I’m sure sorry you feel that way.  But, let me ask you, do you automatically presume a sexual abuser when you see a Rabbi or Protestant minister?”

“Not at all,” he came back through gritted teeth as we both boarded the train.

“How about when you see a coach, or a boy scout leader, or a foster parent, or a counsellor, or physician?”  I continued.

“Of course not!” he came back.  “What’s all that got to do with it?”

“A lot,” I stayed with him, “because each of those professions have as high a percentage of sexual abuse, if not even higher, than that of priests.”

“Well, that may be,” he retorted.  “But the Church is the only group that knew it was going on, did nothing about it, and kept transferring the perverts around.”

“You obviously never heard the stats on public school teachers,” I observed.  “In my home town of New York City alone, experts say the rate of sexual abuse among public school teachers is ten times higher than that of priests, and these abusers just get transferred around.”  (Had I known at that time the news in in last Sunday’s New York Times about the high rate of abuse of the most helpless in state supervised homes, with reported abusers simply transferred to another home, I would have mentioned that, too.)

To that he said nothing, so I went in for a further charge.

“Pardon me for being so blunt, but you sure were with me, so, let me ask:  when you look at yourself in a mirror, do you see a sex abuser?”

Now he was as taken aback as I had been two-minutes before.  “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Sadly,” I answered, “studies tell us that most children sexually abused are victims of their own fathers or other family members.”

Enough of the debate, I concluded, as I saw him dazed.  So I tried to calm it down.

“So, I tell you what:  when I look at you, I won’t see a sex abuser, and I would appreciate the same consideration from you.”

The train had arrived at baggage claim, and we both exited together.

“Well then, why do we only hear this garbage about you priests,” he inquired, as he got a bit more pensive.

“We priests wonder the same thing.  I’ve got a few reasons if you’re interested.”

He nodded his head as we slowly walked to the carousel.

“For one,” I continued, “we priests deserve the more intense scrutiny, because people trust us more as we dare claim to represent God, so, when on of us do it – even if only a tiny minority of us ever have — it is more disgusting.”

“Two, I’m afraid there are many out there who have no love for the Church, and are itching to ruin us.  This is the issue they love to endlessly scourge us with.”

“And, three, I hate to say it,” as I wrapped it up, “there’s a lot of money to be made in suing the Catholic Church, while it’s hardly worth suing any of the other groups I mentioned before.”

We both by then had our luggage, and headed for the door.  He then put his hand out, the hand he had not extended five minutes earlier when I had put mine out to him.  We shook.

“Thanks.  Glad I met you.”

He halted a minute.  “You know, I think of the great priests I knew when I was a kid.  And now, because I work in IT at Regis University, I know some devoted Jesuits.  Shouldn’t judge all you guys because of the horrible sins of a few.”

“Thanks!,” I smiled.

I guess things were patched-up, because, as he walked away, he added, “At least I owe you a joke:  What happens when you can’t pay your exorcist?”

“Got me,” I answered.

“You get ‘re-possessed’!”

We both laughed and separated.

Notwithstanding the happy ending, I was still trembling . . . and almost felt like I needed an exorcism to expel my shattered soul, as I had to confront again the horror this whole mess has been to victims and their families, our Catholic people like the man I had just met . . . and to us priests.

Comparison of Gender Equalities in Turkey and Norway

By Katherine Viviano


[Editors Note: Today, I'm pleased to feature a research paper written by my sister, Katherine, on Joe's Musings.  Katherine is a freshman in high school and she involved in numerous activities in her community and school.  Right now, she plans to pursue a career either in musical theatre or law.  This paper was written as a part of a research project and is reprinted with her permission. - Joe]    

Comparison of Gender Equalities in Turkey and Norway

Gender inequality is a major issue in the world today.  One of the biggest problems we are facing is the equality level shown in the roles of men and women.  In this research paper, I am going to compare the equality between men and women seen in the country of Norway to the harsh inequality between genders apparent in the country of Turkey.  Not only are these countries in completely different parts of the world, but their values and outlook on equality are also on different ends of the spectrum, as reflected in their standards.  When exploring opportunities available to men and women, gender inequality is blatant in Turkey, where women's economic participation is slowly shrinking, yet it is almost non-existent in the country of Norway, where gender mainstreaming and gender specific actions are in full effect.

Based on the Global Gender Gap Report, coming in a close second behind Iceland is the country of Norway.  (238)  Norway was one of the first countries in the world to enforce a Gender Equality Ombud, which is an “independent agency with the task of promoting equality and combating discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability and age.”  Norwegian women are looked upon as male's equal, not as the inferior gender.  For example, according to the Global Gender Gap Report, in the year 2010, the men in the workforce received an estimated amount of  $40,000, while women received the exact same $40,000. (239)  Nevertheless, Norway certainly maintains a fair and just atmosphere for people of all different ages, races, and sexes to live in.  

Differing from Norway, Turkey treats men and women quite differently.  According to the Global Gender Gap Report, Turkey is ranked 126 out of 134 countries.  (297)  Half of all women are victims of crime, and more than half have extremely low literacy rates due to the lack of education available to them.  Clearly, Turkey isn't nearly as efficient as Norway when providing a gender equal country for their people.  They have rapidly regressed in their ranking as the years have passed.  For example, the Global Gender Gap Report stated that in 2010, the estimated earned income of an average male was $20,441.00, while that of the average female was only $5,352.00.  (297)  In addition, the lack of access to good education for women is significantly decreasing the average female literacy rates.

Norway is taking steps forward to achieve the number one spot and receive the title as the worlds most gender equal country.  One specific area in which they are seeking improvement is the paternity leave for men.  It is quite impressive that they have this practice in the first place, but it is even more impressive that they are working to further expand this law.  It was first introduced in 1993 and within only two years of this law being in effect, the percentage of new fathers who used the paternity leave to it's full advantage was increased from 45 to 70.  This made it apparent that most Norwegian males will indeed take extended time off, with pay, to take care of their new children and wives.  

On the other hand, Turkey is a very conservative country.  With more than half of the population being Muslim, the people of Turkey are primitive in their apparel, actions, and customs.  One of their customs is the vulgar “honor killing.”  Don't let this title be deceiving, because there is nothing honorable about this custom.  Honor killings are, by definition, “An ancient tradition still observed; a male member of the family kills a female relative for tarnishing the family image.”  The prime Ministry's Human Rights Directorate reported that the number of Honor killings occurring in Turkey escalated to a whopping 220 back in 2007.  Imagine living in an environment where women are beaten for acts like staring out the window, greeting male friends on the street, or speaking to long to shopkeepers.   Even worse, daughters of Turkish men are sometimes strangled for being a victim of rape.  These are just a few instances of the terrible abuse and disrespect for women in Turkey.  When something this serious is happening in a country, it should strike a red flag to the government officials immediately.  Unfortunately, all the government officials are men, which means that they all have the same theories regarding the treatment of women.

The practices of the citizens in these these countries are at extreme opposites, which is why they are ranked at opposite ends of the Global Gender Gap Report.  The industrialized country of Norway is accepting and fair towards both men and women in their communities.  This is shown through their high percentage of women in the workforce, along with the high level of parliament seats occupied by Norwegian women.  In Turkey, on the other hand, there are low literacy rates among women.  Essentially, if you have a child, you simply don't work in the country of Turkey.  In addition, women have very few rights.  They are controlled by the Turkish men and limited in their lifestyle because of the social norms and what the men enforce as rules for their wives.

In summary, Norway has demonstrated an environment where men and women operate on par with each other in work and home life.  They each enjoy a high standard of living and being treated with respect in the community.  When looking at pay, rights, and benefits, men and women in Norway are equal.  Alternatively, in the country of Turkey, women continue to be subservient to men.  Their rights are not considered, as they are viewed often times as the property of men.  There is a double standard where men are free in all actions while women are condemned and sometimes even killed when they stray from what is considered the norm.  Women are not offered opportunities to gain education nor meaningful employment.  Norway and Turkey are indeed on opposite ends of the equality spectrum when it comes to women's rights and gender equality.

External Links

1. Gender in Norway- Information and Resources on Gender Equality and Gender Research in Norway

2. The Female Factor- A NY Times article that discusses a Norwegian law that requires 40% of all company board members to be women.