As the presidential election nears and the Sept. 11, 2001 commission hearings press on, the country continues to question and evaluate our nation’s actions. This constant reviewing helps form, improve and protect our freedoms.

Regardless of Americans’ political beliefs, republicans, democrats, liberals and others will agree our personal freedoms should be protected. Whomever a leading politician, their actions would and should be analyzed and questioned – this is what helps prevent injustices and creates advances, questioning and reviewing of how society can improve.

It is always easier in the wake of the aftermath of any event to say what could have been done instead, but if we responded quickly and as efficiently as possible; all that is left is to learn from it and work from here.

A popular subject of current inquiry among Americans is the directed action of our nation’s leader. Many criticize and question the relationship between action taken against Saddam Hussein while the search for Bin Laden continues, failing to make the connection or visualization of the bigger picture: preventing terrorism from taking over or growing.

It is important for our country to help in any way possible to prevent terrorism, dictatorship and unfair treatment of women.

The oppression of women still present today is not often acknowledged and in fact, sometimes overlooked.

While channel surfing this past weekend, I stopped at a program about bride kidnapping in central Asia. It shocked me that in this day and age such human infringement could exist. Bride kidnapping is perceived as an authentic tradition by those who practice it. Women are kidnapped with or without their family’s knowledge, taken to the prospecting groom’s home where his relatives work to make her wear the martial scarves on her head and stay to become his wife. It is said that the woman has the right to leave, but there are cases that the pressured female has been obligated by custom to follow through or even worse, a body has shown up in neighboring towns from the place of abduction. What is even more shocking is that the country’s growing economical problems have made this offense the least of their problems and, therefore, are not working in any way to resolve the occurrences.

Though the comparison is no where near as severe, oppressious views do exist here.

Looking back just to spring break, one of my male friends made a remark in a bookstore that made me feel like part of a 1950s sitcom. While searching for a particular computer science book for what had seemed like eternity, the search concluded without a purchase after he made the realization of the authors gender.

“Forget it, it’s written by a chic. What could a woman know about computer science?” he said.

I must admit that until recently, I too was guilty of misinterpreting the definition of a feminist and quick to write off the concept.

But now I see girl power means more than the deemed interpretation by the Spice Girls and feminism is not the “bra-burning hair-growing male-hating” interpretation the ignorant may perceive it as. Feminism is simply supporting equal rights and treatment of women.

I also realize our actions in Iraq to fight terrorism will transform the treatment of women there and assimilate their rights with our rights here.

It may be surprising but many women still face unfair treatment across the world. Women in Central Asia are currently fearing for their freedom hiding from bride kidnapping and even young Americans still hold on to oppressive beliefs.

Women’s History and Awareness Month and educating ourselves further may seem minute, but is still necessary.

So this month, in addition to striving to take an active part in becoming educated about the potential leaders of your country, work to learn what they are fighting to prevent and protect, and be thankful for your freedoms and those that serve to protect it.