Checkmate: A Real Champion Of Women (And Her Name Isn’t Hillary-I-Take-Money-From-Women-Hating-Regimes Clinton)
[guest post by Dana]
I sure hope the Hillary Clinton supporters voting with their uteruses take note of Nazi Paikidze. She exemplifies a woman actually willing to stand up against real – not imagined or perceived – oppression of women, no matter the cost. Sadly, as you and I know, that self-proclaimed champion of women running for president really only stands up before the oppressors of women and children when it’s time to leave and collect a Big Fat Check to deposit into her private slush fund.
Last week it was reported that any women participating in the esteemed World Chess Championships next year, unbelievably being held in Iran, would be required to wear the hijab in deference to the suffocating and discriminatory Iranian religious laws. If participants fail to comply, they will be arrested – or worse. The pushback against the obvious religious and sexual discrimination was immediate:
Grandmasters lined up to say they would boycott the 64-player knock-out and accused the game’s scandal-hit governing body Fide of failing to stand up for women’s rights.
Unfortunately, not everyone is making a stand against the ruling because tolerance:
Fide’s Commission for Women’s Chess, meanwhile, called on participants to respect “cultural differences” and accept the regulations.
And other officials reiterated the need for players to be tolerant of Iran’s non-Western views.
In response to the outrageous demand on players, world champion Nazi Paikidze also brought up the obvious: WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS CONTEST IN A COUNTRY THAT HATES WOMEN??!!!
“It is absolutely unacceptable to host one of the most important women’s tournaments in a venue where, to this day, women are forced to cover up with a hijab.
“I understand and respect cultural differences. But, failing to comply can lead to imprisonment and women’s rights are being severely restricted in general.
“It does not feel safe for women from around the world to play here.” Paikidze added: “I am honoured and proud to have qualified to represent the United States in the Women’s World Championship. But, if the situation remains unchanged, I will most certainly not participate in this event.”
And Paikidze is holding fast to her promise to boycott the event. In an interview with My Stealthy Freedom, a group working to fight against the forced wearing of the hijab and about which I have written, she made the following statements:
‘When I learned about the situation in Iran, that to this day, women are forced to wear hijab, I was heartbroken. I think most people don’t realize how severely restricted women’s rights are in Iran in general.
Some consider a hijab part of culture. But, I know that a lot of Iranian women are bravely protesting this forced law daily and risking a lot by doing so. That’s why I will NOT wear a hijab and support women’s oppression.
Even if it means missing one of the most important competitions of my career. I found My Stealthy Freedom Campaign by doing a lot of research online. Since I was faced with this issue directly I wanted to learn more.
I want to thank you for what you are doing and what you have already done for women’s rights. It is inspiring and brave work. I am hoping that by speaking up, I will inspire others to do the same. The more people standing together, the better chance we have for equality.'”
When she received criticism for her comments, she added this:
“This is a post for those who don’t understand why I am boycotting FIDE’s decision.
I think it’s unacceptable to host a WOMEN’S World Championship in a place where women do not have basic fundamental rights and are treated as second-class citizens.
For those saying that I don’t know anything about Iran: I have received the most support and gratitude from the people of Iran, who are facing this situation every day.”
I found Nazi Paikidze’s stance admirable, especially in the face of blowback from the group’s officials, as well as losing out on an opportunity to further her standing in the world of competitive chess. Unfortunately, Susan Polgar, who apparently is both the chair of FIDE’s women’s committee as well as resident scold, did not find Paikidze’s public stand admirable, and for it, has taken her to task.
I also found it admirable that a woman most people (outside the world of chess) wouldn’t know from Eve, would be so compelled to stand by her convictions, even knowing what it would cost her professionally. Which made me think, gosh, if only we had a woman running for president with the same level of conviction and commitment to helping the oppressed. You know, some sort of champion of women and children... But unfortunately, as my post from yesterday, and Patterico’s post from this morning remind us, we don’t have that kind of woman running for the presidency. Instead we have a devious and calculating woman who is more than willing to attack and destroy women who have been victimized by a powerful and predatory male, as well as engage with oppressive regimes that imprison and kill women, if she can personally benefit from their deep pockets.
Perhaps no other country offers a better test case than Saudi Arabia, a regime that openly denies women so many rights and yet appears to be chummy with both Clinton and her foundation. Asked last week specifically about Saudi Arabia’s donations to the Clinton Foundation, the former secretary of state, fresh off a speech about women’s rights at the United Nations and the release of a 50-page report on the status of women and girls in the world, responded, “There can’t be any mistake about my passion concerning women’s rights here at home and around the world. So I think that people who want to support the foundation know full well what it is we stand for and what we’re working on.”
–Dana
I’m seeing a theme here with the latest posts…
Dana (995455) — 10/3/2016 @ 6:32 pmThere’s one way to stop this horrible illary woman from becoming President.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 10/3/2016 @ 6:43 pmPerhaps no other country offers a better test case than Saudi Arabia, a regime that openly denies women so many rights and yet appears to be chummy with both Clinton and her foundation.
Your move, Maudie.
“Your game is off.” – Mr. Spock [Leonard Nimoy] ‘Star Trek,’ NBC TV, 1966-69
DCSCA (797bc0) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:08 pmNerds are easy to bully. Except this lady, apparently. She probably had to learn how to defend herself with that name — kind of like “A Boy Named Sue”.
TIL, Fide is part of the IOC, and chess players have to abide by Olympics drug rules. No testosterone boosters, no amphetamines. Snicker.
nk (dbc370) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:09 pmyou should know not to read a transliteration this way,
Paikidze currently is a full-time chess professional. She is married to American engineer Greg Barnes and resides in the Las Vegas, Nevada area. Her first name, Nazí, is a Georgian name and is not uncommon there. It is pronounced, she explains, “nah-ZEE”. It means “delicate” or “tender”. She was named after her grandmother. She studied at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which has a chess program that has won a record number of times both the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship and the President’s Cup. She joined the UMBC team in the fall of 2012.[17][18][19]
narciso (d1f714) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:17 pmCompletely OT but couldn’t resist
Kishnevi (c62fd3) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:21 pmhttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/30/denzel-washington-takes-plea-deal-in-strangling-aretha-franklin.html
Whether it’s the Daily Stormer and the alt-white being the first to report thoroughly on the rapefugee epidemic, the frogs bliztkrieging liberals into apoplexy, or the Georgians being stand up aesthetes, Nazis have really been contributing strongly to human development this year.
Dystopia Max (76803a) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:22 pmGood for her.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:31 pmI wonder how in the world did Iran get to host this?
Maybe it was another secret side deal with the nuclear negotiations…
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:32 pmYes, yes, and Johnny Carson could have said his mother did not know how to spell Sioux. 😉
nk (dbc370) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:32 pmwell he’s a clue, he makes blatter seem like a boy scout, the president of fide,
On November 25, 2015, the United States Department of the Treasury named him a Specially Designated National “for materially assisting and acting for or on behalf of the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria, Adib Mayaleh, and Batoul Rida.”[4] Due to these sanctions, on December 6, 2015, Ilyumzhinov withdrew from any legal, financial and business operations of FIDE until such time as he is removed from the list.[5]
narciso (d1f714) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:36 pmJohnny Cash.
nk (dbc370) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:46 pmMD,
According the FIDE website, Iran was “awarded” the tournament.
Some commenters wonder if bribery was involved. After all, Iran recently received a plane load of money from us.
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/9838-general-assembly-2016-decisions.html
Dana (995455) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:46 pmRussia and Iran are tight. Always have been.
Unlike alt.ernst-rohm-bund-for-free-vaseline. I wonder if Jared Kushner is already making a list of them to round up in the event Trump wins.
nk (dbc370) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:51 pmthe president from the tiny kalmyk statelet is quite a character,
narciso (d1f714) — 10/3/2016 @ 7:53 pmConsidering that a number of chess grandmasters are Jewish (and Happy New Year), I’d suggest that there are women who have multiple reasons not to go to Iran.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 10/3/2016 @ 9:38 pmBet you that they could hold an alternative tournament in, say, New York or London, for more money, and break free of the FIDE parasites.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 10/3/2016 @ 9:40 pmthat’s so far beyond pathetic i don’t even know the word
happyfeet (28a91b) — 10/4/2016 @ 2:32 amIf only….we had an FBI director, a Chief Justice of the SOC, and many others in HIGH PROFILE positions who would take a principled stance. But alas, they are COWARDS. It takes a female, that no one knows, to take a principled stance and great cost to herself. she is not wealthy. she is not famous. She has courage and I admire her greatly.
SD Harms (c7dded) — 10/4/2016 @ 3:40 amAwesome post, and it’s shameful that the Trump Defense Force is quick to hijack it.
As an Iranian myself, I admire everyone who calls laws forcing hijab wearing oppression. That’s what it is, plain and simple. It is not respecting cultural differences to bend your knee to oppression. If someone wants to wear a hijab, fine. If someone wants to force all women to be inferior in all ways, and covered up, that person gets no respect from me.
Dustin (ba94b2) — 10/4/2016 @ 6:16 amwhere did the “Trump Defense Force” do any hijackings on this post
i scrolled up and up looking, then i scrolled all the way back down here
i see nothing of these hijackings
happyfeet (28a91b) — 10/4/2016 @ 6:22 amoh hi happyfeet. This is me taking you seriously
Dustin (ba94b2) — 10/4/2016 @ 7:02 amSince this controversy indirectly condemns our Great Leader’s engagement with Mullahland, I wonder if the usual suspects will be as quick to shout “Mansplaining!” when Obama’s apologists accuse the female grandmasters of overreacting.
M. Scott Eiland (046eb0) — 10/4/2016 @ 7:44 amhi
happyfeet (28a91b) — 10/4/2016 @ 7:49 amWait, isn’t the wearing of the hijab that nasty old “cultural appropriation” the Left is so opposed to? And why are we having a women’s chess event anyway? Aren’t women just as good as men in every conceivable way? Where’s the protests over that?
Jerryskids (3308c1) — 10/4/2016 @ 9:12 amConsidering that a mobile phone can now beat any grandmaster, male or female, I think that “men’s chess tournaments” and “women’s chess tournaments” is the least of this “Olympic sport’s” problems. 😉
nk (dbc370) — 10/4/2016 @ 9:30 amhappyfeet, check post #2, 6:43 pm. There’s the attempted hijacking.
gwjd (032bef) — 10/4/2016 @ 5:13 pm