August 15/ Iraq and Afghanistan

This last week I finished the book, A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS. Serendipitly, I cleaned my storage closet that day, and came across this update on a National Geographic 1985 photo and article. The girl on the left was photographed in a refugee camp in Pakistan. “ Her eyes are sea green. They are haunted and haunting, and in them you can read the tragedy of a land drained by war”.

I had saved the second article as it told who the girl was, and what had happened to her. Her picture had haunted me for years. Steve McCurry, the photographer, finally found someone who had been in her refugee camp as a child. What had happened to her? She had returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Seventeen years later she walked six hours to meet Steve McCurry, the photographer. By this time she was married and had three children. The original photo spoke a million words to me.

Splendid Suns is a very moving book. What the Afghanis have gone through is unbelievable. It was similar to the fighting in Germany in WWII and then going on for decades. The Afghani women were treated as scum. This is why I was so moved when the Afghani girl carried her country’s flag in the last Olympics.

I am an American who wants to win the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just this week reports are actually coming in the press that Americans are improving the situation. The surge is working. One liberal German newspaper, very much against the war, has reported that the surge is working. And they added, “Only Americans could have done it.“ The Los Angeles Times has an article today. The Washington Post has reported that at ground level people are starting to understand the Americans want freedom for them. While there is marginal change at the top of the Iraq government in Baghdad ,people at the ground level are pleased with what is happening and are working to stabilize the country. Tribes are starting to help the coalition forces and are turning against Al Queda to volunteer with the police and the American forces. I believe every one, everywhere will love freedom if they learn how it works. Ramadi schools are beginning to open. Children are again playing on the streets. Toddlers walk up to the troops and beg for soccer balls.

Comments

[expat princess]

Great post, Mom! I was thinking just this morning about how in 100 years my house will be considered "old" China. Which led me to think about how much the lives of women have changed in 100 years and also about the accoutrements of oppression such as bound feet and their slippers. I hope the burkha (sp?) will be something people collect only for cultural value, just like the slippers. Cannot currently post on my blog at the moment. Stay tuned.

[MCS]

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS is an excellent read. It will remind you of how lucky we are to be women in America, and break your heart for those women around the world who do not share our liberties.