The Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afganistan,Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, from our perspective is in the stone age on so many levels. It amazes me how most think that if we just throw money at them their way of living and views of the world will change. But they fail to see that they are wrong. It isn’t about money. Right now these nations are fighting an ancient version of the battle of the sexes. It is the women where the true change will come from. More and more I am seeing the women and girls of this part of the world stand up and use their voices. They are fighting back. Whether it is a women sayinging no to her husband even with the knowledge she may be beaten, or the young girl who is shot just because she wants to go to school, and the young lady murdered in cold blood in the street for voicing her opinion in a political protest. It is an evolution of a way of being. Their voices matter and these courageous human beings are waking up to this basic fact. Once we all realize that we need to support this avenue and protect them while this evolution, the ‘fairer’ sex will become the real strength in the region. It may take years, decades even, BUT it will happen. Hopefully in my lifetime.