And yet I did not mention, nor was I thinking about Handmaid's Tale or Margaret Atwood. I haven't even seen it beyond the first half of the first season. I'm roughly aware of it because it's part of public discourse.

I was actually referring to ststements and policies being talked about Republican leaders, Fundamentalist Christian pastors sermons and social media, Christian Nationalist shock jock blatherings, Incels diateibes on the internet, things the former president and some supreme court judges have said and done, Republican and conservative talking heads, etc.

Apparently you need a reminder that the women of Afghanistan have not always been in the condition they find themselves in now. That was brought about by religious zealots seizing power the same way our religious nutters are trying to do here.

You may find that comparison disrespectful. I think it would be more disrespectful, seeing the pain and horror they are enduring,knowing what that looks like, and then the same to come to pass here when there are open and loud calls for it all from people in positions of authority, community leaders, and Influencers —people other people listen to—with increasing fervor.