Amidst much hue and cry that more women are needed on the political field, recent events are giving a huge blow to this official outcry.

Whilst to some, having more women is a delightful prospest to the eyes; to others it is founded on loftier ideals. Like proportionate representation, whatever they understand by this rather controversial demand. Many believe women have some innate characteristics like sensitivity, and compassion and that this somehow means she is gifted in understanding human pleas. Maybe many still have a nostalgia for the likes of Mother Theresa or the iconic Princess of Wales. To others, it is because man, as the stronger sex, has belied whatever ideologies politics used to be associated with. It is, therefore woman who has to save us from a kind of moral depravity.

What is woman doing these days as a responsible entity for her to be reverenced? Especially the so-called emancipated one who knows what is going on around the world and how to stand on her feet and be respected. I am afraid she is a very silent spectator who barely can make her voice heard, though she can be seen in a fantasy world all toned-up and air-brushed.

One cannot but remain rather perplexed as to how come if those brainless beauties could come up with the 'Beauty for a cause' to save one Nigerian lady from being stoned to death; where are those who have ideals. Women keen on politics and being heard, need to go back to Margaret Thatcher's words about Eva Perron in case they have forgotten them.

The Middle East crisis should not be a total waste of human life, simply because those who give life, are only preoccupied with polarising the conflict. Or else, feared being labelled as 'pro' this or that or 'ist' this or 'ist' that. If women are claiming she can better politics, then surely, she should not be only imitating the opposite sex in futile debates about who is right and who is wrong. She has wasted enough time asking for equality and she is still more of a pin-up than a respected human being. How about women being cherished for other things than her looks?

Maybe this silence is due to ignorance. Then again, at an age where information can be accessed at a mere click, nobody worth his salt, needs to find excuses for being deaf and silent to human miseries.

Is it not time for woman to put an end to the male's claim that 'a woman's power lies between her legs? ?We definitely are in need of some serious change of heart before we dare contemplating to change regime as some fools are proclaiming.

Swaleha KASSIM