A Step Towards Full Participation

In the last few days, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state, took office, and the people of Chile elected their first female president--Michelle Bachelet , bringing to mind the following awe-inspiring words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá:

So it will come to pass that when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics, war will cease; for woman will be the obstacle and hindrance to it. This is true and without doubt.

Certainly we remain at a distance from the full and equal particpation of women in world affairs that, as described by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, will result in the cessation of warfare. However these are unprecedented developments whose spiritual implications are worth a great deal of reflection.