In the Time of Butterflies

Boston Herald

Minerva, Maria Theresa and Patria. Forty-one years ago today, three Mirabel sisters were murdered by the Dominican Republic strongman, Gen. Rafael Trujillo. These young moms were "freedom fighters" when that term actually meant fighting for freedom. They were known as Las Mariposas, or The Butterflies.

In helping to build an underground resistance movement, they gave powerful meaning to another term much later in vogue - ``working moms.'' The Mirabel sisters were beaten to death by thugs on the payroll of a dictator whose military medals were exceeded in size only by his cowardice. Trujillo feared Las Mariposas, and for very good reason. He was dead six months after disposing of them, assassinated by a growing, U.S.-funded opposition.

Twenty years ago today a prominent group of Latin American women declared Nov. 25 the International Day Against Violence Against Women in honor of the Mirabels. Who says that butterflies are free? The events of Sept. 11 have made this Thanksgiving just past all the more sobering. It is a time of reflection on American values, and just how we give voice to them throughout the world.

History will ultimately determine, for example, whether bombing Afghanistan actually achieves anything of value. However, history repeatedly demonstrates the extraordinary achievement of leaders like the Mirabel sisters who fight oppression in the name of a better world. Aung San Suu Kyi is another such overachiever. ``The Lady,'' as she is called by her supporters, leads a political movement that in 1990 won Burma's first free election in more than 30 years. To this day, however, the ruling junta refuses to recognize the now-rotting fruits of Burmese democracy.

Like so many before them, including Trujillo, the Burmese junta actually believes it is bigger than the people it purports to represent. Well, nobody has had a more sizeable presence in Burma in recent years than the diminutive Aung San Suu Kyi. Like the Mirabels before her, Suu Kyi stands for ideals that are universally more powerful than all the bombs in all the world's arsenals. Truth, justice and liberty remain terrifying concepts to dictators. Ironically, Suu Kyi is still alive today because the Burmese thugs learned well the lessons of Trujillo - the only thing more powerful than a passionate, brilliant and beautiful woman resistance leader is a martyred one.

Closer to the front lines of America's ``war on terrorism'' is Iran. As with the Dominican Republic, Burma and other ``sooner or later'' democracies, Iran is moving slowly toward a more just and humane tomorrow. The streets that once echoed with familiar strains of ``Death to America'' remain filled with young voices. However, the oratory these days is not always political or religious. It's been about soccer lately. That's right, soccer. A recent photo in the Financial Times said it all. A young boy was pictured waving his nation's flag with patriotic resolve as his mother drove their car. They were celebrating Iran's victory over the United Arab Emirates in a World Cup qualifier. News reports poured out of Tehran of young people engaged in activities forbidden by the ruling mullahs, such as dancing, holding hands and kissing. The news of such momentary liberation was forever captured in the modest, uncertain smile of an Iranian soccer mom.

America is awash in a junk-media culture that is often criticized for ignoring international news. To be fair, however, Iran's soccer moment was widely reported. Burma's trials also have been well chronicled in our media. There's a compelling 1995 movie on the subject, ``Beyond Rangoon.'' Even Showtime has been airing an original movie on the Mirabel sisters based on the Julia Alvarez book, ``In the Time of Butterflies.''

In these days when we are told that shopping is a patriotic duty, why not head to the local mall and find these stories for yourself. They're readily available in magazines, books and movies about real heroes like the Mirabel sisters, Aung San Suu Kyi and maybe even a new generation of Iranian soccer moms. It's also there in the stories of the women of Northern Ireland, who have resisted a profoundly stupid conflict, as well the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan that seeks to earn for women minimal status as human beings. It's hard to imagine more patriotic purchases on a day when we honor such brave women.