It’s “old news” by now, but I’ve been taking some time mulling this over; for some reason when I read this the first man that came to my mind was Bill Clinton: FOXNEWS: Saudi Marriage ‘Expert’ Advises Men in ‘Right Way’ to Beat Their Wives: Friday, November 02, 2007. Move over, Dr. Phil, there’s a new relationship expert in town. He’s Saudi author and cleric, “Dr.” Muhammad Al-‘Arifi, who in a remarkable segment broadcast on Saudi and Kuwaiti television in September, counseled young Muslim men on how to treat their wives. “Admonish them – once, twice, three times, four times, ten times,” he advised. “If this doesn’t help, refuse to share their beds.” And if that doesn’t work? “Beat them,” one of his three young advisees responded. “That’s right,” Al-‘Arifi said…

Since many of you have already read the article or seen segments of it on TV you know Al-‘Arifi went on at some length to explain how he interpreted men beating their wives in a “humane” manner, for example not damaging the face of a woman, and a husband “should not beat her like he would beat an animal or a child—slapping them right and left.” The sigh of relief on the part of many millions of women upon hearing that caveat to wife-beating can well be imagined; but children and animals would probably be somewhat offended if they understood their “proper place” in this exposition of Muslim theology.

Bar talk (not to be confused with the Hungarian composer) often takes the course of men\women are no damned good. One man I overheard waxing lyrical on this theme about women, especially concerning sex, exclaimed “If it weren’t for that there’d be a bounty on ‘em!” In the case of Ms. Clinton it is difficult to imagine getting past the sneer, smirk, and cackle, but then Bill is well known for exercising other “options” in lieu of beating his wife, perhaps because she is reputed to have a pretty good arm and aim with ashtrays.

But there is nothing funny about men beating women no matter what religious or other spin is attempted to make it acceptable in any culture. And when it comes to children despite Muslim theology or any other excuses hitting people is wrong, and children are people too! And those who care about animals aren’t going to accept these should be slapped around either.

The theology for male dominance that too often degenerates into men beating women goes back to the story of The Fall in Genesis. Whatever occasioned Eve being more susceptible than Adam to the cunning of the Serpent in the Garden, the curse of the gods came down primarily on her because of this perceived weakness in Eve; as the New Testament has it she was deceived but Adam was not. His fault according to the Bible was in listening to his wife. Ah, hah! And my oh my; how often that has been the lame excuse given by men throughout history, just as Adam “took it like a man” and blamed both God and Eve for his own failure.

Granted I take a theological view of our world and the universe because I think this offers the most satisfactory explanation for many things otherwise inexplicable. And while often giving myself over to philosophical speculation, this generally leads into theology. It is difficult at times to tell where the two disciplines overlap and intertwine since both are so closely related, and both assume there are powers beyond human understanding. While teaching psychology in college I would tell students that philosophy asks the questions psychology attempts to answer; but psychology cannot penetrate the veil theology enters, even given much of theology favors male dominance. But then the King of Disciplines, Philosophy, ever as much as Theology, remains primarily a “men’s club.”

Whatever anyone’s beliefs, there is no denying the world scene is not very reassuring, and it is understandable some of us view world conditions in a Biblically apocalyptic way. For my part, there has always been an eerie comparison with Babylon of Revelation to America; and I have written in the past America reminds me further of a house of cards ready to collapse because of our leaders selling out and betraying our nation to such a vast extent I can’t imagine anyone setting things right.

It is within this context of such thoroughgoing greed and corruption on the part of America’s leadership many of us understand the dangers threatening our nation. Given the gravity of so many crises threatening, I find it doubtful a woman can be elected president despite the wishful “familiarity syndrome” and wishing for the “good old days” favoring the Clintons.

As unfair as it is to women, when dangers of the magnitude America is now facing threaten to overwhelm I believe it will be a man of perceived strength, even ruthlessness Americans will end up voting for. And, of course, should any nuclear event occur in the meantime, all the odds go to such a “strong man.” And be he of God or Satan, the only thing Americans will care about is having a man in the White House they believe will do what it takes to save America. One thing is certain; no Muslim nation will take a woman president seriously, but rather will consider her an insult that should submit to men and be “properly beaten.”