Honor killings

I was fascinated yesterday by the debate in the lower house of the Dutch Parliament between the Justice Minister Donner and parlementarians Hirsi Ali, Azough and Albayrak. The subject of the debate was eerwraak which literally translates to honor revenge, but what we now - for lack of a better word I feel - call honor killings. I like to think I know a thing or two about multi-cultural issues. Until yesterday honor killings were not on my radar. They are now. The United Nations estimates that five thousand women are victims of honor killings worldwide annually. If the names of the parlementarians don't sound very Dutch to you, you are correct. Ms Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia, Ms Azough in Moracco and Ms Albayrak in Turkey. All three are in their thirties. They were in fine style yesterday representing their constituencies in front of an almost empty Lower House. I wish the women of Iraq could have watched these ladies to see how a democracy can work. They wanted Justice Donner to immediately act on the fact that one hundred Dutch women are living in safe houses for fear they will be victims of honor killings. They were unyielding in their request to the point of putting forward motions of no confidence in Minister Donner. As the media later reported these ladies raised a lot of dust. As governments tighten their surveillance and laws to combat terrorism, these ladies don't want the past and future victims of honor killings to be forgotten. I wish them well.

Restaurant review



Karen Bunkowski's Cornfield Cafe, six miles north of 56572, is the best roadside cafe in America. Food quality, portions, choice, price, service, all are as they should be. The air is smokeless. The $6.95 taco salad is one of their best sellers. The pies are all made on site and are to die for. Fresh strawberry and lemon meringue are the favorites. The only complaints I have are that the cafe is not here in town, that it gets too busy in the summertime and that Karen should consider switching to Douwe Egbert coffee, not that her coffee is bad. Still worth the drive from either coast, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Tell them 56572 sent you.