Daughter's Daaj

Rebellion is part of human nature and has been constant throughout history.  Ancient history allowed for emperors to be overthrown, new rules and governments to be established.  Remember Julius Caesar?  There were also the American Revolution, French Revolution, American Civil War, India's and Pakistan's Independence from The British Raj, both World Wars, the Vietnam War, and now the War Against "Terrorism."  These are only a few wars that have established their own brand and poke at the memories of most historians and civilians.

So much blood has been shed in order to bring about "change."  "Change" was the slogan of Obama's presidential campaign.  Adam and Eve, according to the Judaic religions, rebelled against God's command and instigated "change" for all the human races to come.  It makes one wonder if change is really possible.  Is change different from rebellion or is rebellion a part of change or vice-versa?  

India has been trying to bring about change in its dowry, or daaj, system and cultural belief of women being the inferior gender.  With articles and news stories just recently emerging in the Western World, it doesn't mean that this is a new effort.  This struggle for change has been part of my childhood, my parents' childhood, even my grandparents' childhood.  Five hundred years ago, this change was preached for by the Sikh Gurus.  I'm sure there were others who rebelled for female equality even before those five hundred years, I'm positive of it in fact.

The question is why this change--along with many other cultural conflicts throughout the world--is taking so long to make an impact.  New brides continue to be burned in their husband's homes for dowry.  Parents continue to kill their newly born or unborn daughters while awaiting the birth of a son.  Will we require another gory war in order to bring about this change as well?  It's frustrating if nothing else.