It has been good to see how America for the first time came close to electing a woman for the presidential candidacy. I have been inspired, stimulated and impressed by Hillary Clintons hard fought campaign, in a mans dominated world. I am however sorry to see that she only came close. As Jim Wallis points out on his blog, the woman who were at the core of her campaign are left with some hard pills to swallow.

“Many of them feel she was treated badly by the press, with many instances of overtly sexist attitudes and commentaries that would never have been directed at another male candidate. I, for one, think they are right — there were many media comments about Senator Clinton that were sexist and that would never have been used against a man. Indeed, there are often regular comments in the media about women that would simply not be acceptable if similar things were said about men or even ethnic minorities. As a culture, sexist assumptions, attitudes, and language are still far too acceptable to us.”

There is no doubt that Clintons campaign has been important for woman in America, but woman all over the world will once again be inspired to fight against men in all spheres of power. This is not because its bad with men in power, but because there is a need for woman there as well.

Wallis points out that this is the case no matter what political stance one holds.

It has been a sad start to 2008 for Muslim women all over the world. The brutal death of Benazir Bhutto certainly is a setback for women in this region.

During the election campaigns the Bhutto government voiced its concern for women’s social and health issues, including the issue of discrimination against women. Bhutto announced plans to establish women’s police stations, courts, and women’s development banks. Despite these plans, Bhutto did not propose any legislation to improve welfare services for women while in office. But despite this she served as an example and a icon for millions of women and men everywhere in this region.

I hope and pray that more women like her will rise and give women equal rights,safety,justice and education as men.

I hope we will see strong leadership also in the western part of the world. And I hope to see many strong and powerful women step into positions of influence.

I hope Hillary Clinton will answer that wish. It doesn’t look that way in the polls. Sadly the christian man dominated right in America will do everything it can to hinder a women from being president. I don’ t wan

t to compare it entirely with the way female politicians are treated in Pakistan but there are similarities.

I believe woman rights and womans position also in the muslim world will be affected in a positive way if United States of America does elect there first woman president. And so will all the women of the world.

“She may not see eye to eye with Evangelicals on abortion and gay rights, but she will make the case (like many Democrats do) that biblical values run deeper to include poverty, the environment, the war in Iraq, stopping the genocide in Darfur, etc.”

- more evidence for the broadening evangelical agenda from the congressional correspondent for Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network, David Brody, in positive comments about Hillary Clinton. (Source: CBN )