Today is International Women's Day, a special day that celebrates the achievements and sacrifices of women. The theme for 2007's day is ""Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls", according to the UN's IWD website: (http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2007/). At the risk of taking sides here, that subject is so important that they should have made 2007 the Year of Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls.
Originally the day had distinct political undertones. It was said to commemorate the women who died in a tragic clothing factory in 1911, as well as marking the anniversary of several critical political protests by women. These days, however, the polemical has been replaced by the celebratory and the day has become a chance to recognize the contributions that women make to our societies.
Interestingly enough, International Women's Day is a state holiday in a number of countries, primarily those with former (or current) Communist governments. The list includes Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, China, and Vietnam, amongst others. Interestingly enough, there are no "western democracies", Latin American, Middle Eastern, or African nations that have made the day a state holiday, but it probably doesn't mean anything.
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