I thought Change meant we weren't going to try to make everyone else like us anymore.

Afghans Throw Stones at Women Protesting Rape in Marriage Law
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,515980,00.html
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The law, passed last month, says a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse — a clause that critics say legalizes marital rape. It also regulates when and for what reasons a wife may leave her home alone.
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The government of President Hamid Karzai has said the Shiite family law is being reviewed by the Justice Department and will not be implemented in its current form. Governments and rights groups around the world have condemned the legislation, and President Barack Obama has labeled it "abhorrent."

Seems the Afghans have some major legal matters to contend with. Can you imagine the legislative process, debate and vote that was needed to create and then pass this law? This matter actually took up their legislative time. These people are serious.

Now the dilemma for Karzai is whether to keep the law, rescind the law; or amend the law. Why 4 days and not 2? Etc...

1) In the context of foreign relations, negotiations, etc., for anyone who still suggests that these societies (at least the law's proponents) are no different from other "Western" societies, here is yet another example of how wrong that thought is. As of 2009, we are not even in the same century with these folks.

2) Having said that, I thought it was the goal of the Dems with BO to stop butting our U.S. nose into everyone else's business, or trying to convert everyone to capitalism - which is why, it is believed, so many hate the U.S. We're on a mission of live and let live now. So WHY do we allow ourselves to criticize Afghans over this law? (President Barack Obama has labeled it "abhorrent.") A law that they were able to pass through their own legislative process. One could very well argue, as many of the Afghans do, that these are strictly internal Afghan national affairs that are not the business of any other country.
Indeed. What's wrong with that argument?
Seems that an appropriate Changed U.S. response today should be either to say nothing, or to support the Afghan government, but not criticize the internal laws they pass. Hmm?
But if we criticize, have our criteria for what to criticize changed? How far are we willing to take our position? Will it have any teeth? Would the international response or perception of the U.S. improve now? If so, why? And if we do no more than criticize, how will that be perceived? How is our present behavior different from the past?