via Seattle Post-Intelligencer...

A little-noticed aspect of this past weekend's elections in Afghanistan was the high rate of voter turnout among women. It was a heroic effort deserving of international acclaim.

But given the dangers involved for Afghans in general and women in particular, their unprecedented turnout rate was nothing short of spectacular. When compared with our own somewhat dilatory use of the hard-won right to vote, turnout by Afghan women should serve as an international hallmark and inspiration.

Considerable road-blocks persist in women's access to true involvement in the government, society, or the fate of their own lives, but these conditions make this female voter turn-out that much more admirable.