Perspective on Afghanistan

From: Dew 
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 3:37 AM 
Subject: Perspective on Afghanistan

I send this as a bit of information I feel many are unaware of. Also because some terrible things have happened to people in this small town that were fortunate to leave Afghanistan years ago and are being threatened today, they operate my favorite grocery store down the road and some "American" is terrorizing their lives. Read if you will, a friend sent it to me today.

In the wake of Tuesday’s events, I’ve heard a lot of individuals speak angrily of bombing Afghanistan into oblivion. I’m afraid that most Americans aren’t aware of the Taliban pseudo-government in Afghanistan or its stranglehold on its citizens – which is understandable, considering most Americans don’t find goings on in Afghanistan to be integral to their daily lives. Perhaps some of you received the repeatedly forwarded e-mail in the last three years asking people to sign a petition to encourage the American government to oust the Taliban from power (I take this opportunity to also encourage you to notice the ineffectiveness of e-mail petitions). The e-mail described the plight of women, in particular, in Afghanistan who are now prohibited from driving, working or having an inch of their flesh exposed. Relief workers describe women who are starving, overcome by depression, committing suicide in droves, or being stoned to death for transgressions. I’m not aware of the specific sources of the descriptions, but they are nonetheless riveting. I received my first copy of the e-mail in 1998, which goes to show that vivid illustrations of the Taliban’s effect upon Afghanistan have been available for some time.

Sometime this summer by a fluke, I started frequenting the website of techno-pop musician, Moby. I’m somewhat indifferent to his music, but I’ve been impressed by the individual. He writes daily diary entries, that I read regularly. He lives in Manhattan, and September 11th was his birthday. He awoke to the sound of the first tower being hit, witnessed the tragedy unfold firsthand, and now knows people who are missing. In spite of the personal nature of the attack, he is currently struggling to demonstrate control and balance and disseminate information that will engender empathy rather than blind rage (though, as even admirable humans do, he did pay homage to the inevitable grief stage of anger). I believe that a good dose of empathy for the citizens of Afghanistan could do us all some good, and so I’m forwarding this letter that Moby posted in his diary. Do with it what you will.

With love, and striving for well-directed compassion,

September 14, 2001 – New York City