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money unfairly helping certain parties, vote-buying, media bias, and improper campaigning in mosques and at polling stations. In the end, voters tended to cast ballots for more familiar political parties rather than the newly established ones. Al Nahda, an Islamist party, garnered about 40 percent of the vote, many more than its nearest rivals. It was able to leverage its extensive grassroots network that had long been in place. The National Constituent Assembly’s first job is to write a new constitution and then begin governing the country. Citizens have high expectations and are becoming impatient with what they see as the slow pace of reform. The youth who played a significant role in the Jasmine Revolution already feel left behind. The average Tunisian is more focused on issues such as the struggling economy, jobs, security, and corruption rather than the Constitution. However, the Constitution will determine important issues about Tunisia’s future, including the type of political system (a parliamentary or presidential system) and the relationship between religion and the state. Many are concerned about women’s rights.
Tunisian women enjoy greater rights than elsewhere in the region, although their status lags behind that of women worldwide. They have gained many of their rights through presidential initiatives. For example, in 1956, President Habib Bourguiba drafted the Code of Personal Status, which redefined the relationships between men and women in the family, by providing women greater rights in the realms of marriage, divorce, and child custody; it abolished polygamy. Because Tunisia’s presidents emphasized education, over 94 percent of Tunisian girls aged 15 to 24 are literate. While the political parties have pledged to keep the current laws that respect women’s rights in place, not all are convinced that will be the case. Now the real work begins. Tunisians face tremendous opportunities and challenges as they work to make the ideals of the Jasmine Revolution a reality. Katie Zoglin is a lawyer from Mountain View. She recently traveled to Tunisia to serve as an international election observer with the Carter Center. She has overseen democracy promotion and rule of law projects in the Middle East and North Africa. The views expressed in this piece are her own.
16th Annual Holiday Memorial Service and Tree of Life Thursday, December 1, 2011 7:00 p.m.
Is there someone you miss this year; someone you wish to be remembered during the holidays? Please return the form at the bottom of this ad to us and we’ll put an ornament with their name on it on our Tree of Life as a tribute to the memories that you cherish. You may mail or FAX the form to us. Then, please join us for the Holiday Service. We look forward to seeing you on December 1 at 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served after the Memorial Service. All are invited...bring your friends and neighbors. This year, we are asking you to please bring a new, unwrapped toy with you to the service. It need not be extravagant, just something to put some joy into a child’s heart at Christmas. These toys will be shared with the children at local charitable agencies.You do not need to resubmit names of persons you submitted in previous years. Clip and Mail Form to: The Cusimano Family Colonial Mortuary 96 El Camino Real West Mountain View, CA 94040 or FAX to: (650) 968-9426
Held at The Santa Clara Convention Center Hours: Fri & Sat 10-7 pm and Sun 10-3 pm
November 18-20, 2011
FREE Kids Treasure Hunt Sat 11-2pm
OVER 500 OF THE NATIONS TOP DEALERS IN COINS, STAMPS, PAPER MONEY, POSTCARDS,JEWELRY, EXONUMIA, MEDALS, TOKENS, CASINO CHIPS, GOLD NUGGETS, BULLION, COIN & STAMP SUPPLIES, collectibles & more. $6 Admission For all 3 Days For More Info Call (805)962-9939 or Visit us on the Web at www.SantaClaraExpo.com
$2 Off general Admission w/ this Ad
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
NAME: ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: NAME(S) OF PERSON(S) TO BE REMEMBERED:
I Will ___ Will Not ___be attending the Holiday Memorial Service Number attending: ___
ARE YOU A VICTIM?
Call Project Sentinel, a non-profit agency (888) F-A-I-R-H-O-U-s-i-n-g (888) 324-7468
The Cusimano Family Colonial Mortuary 96 W. El Camino Real Mountain View, CA 94040 (650) 968-4453 “Independent, serving families with Dignity and Respect Since 1957”
• MATTHEW CUSIMANO
SHERRI CUSIMANO
FD 1041 www.cusimanocolonial.com NOVEMBER 18, 2011 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■
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