The other evening I listened to the news about widespread electoral fraud in Afghanistan and muttered aloud my disgust that we are spending billions of dollars and the even more valuable lives of our soldiers in a country that can't seem to get close to democracy despite our efforts for support.
Since then we have heard that there will be another opportunity for the Afghan people to choose its leaders. And then there are photos like the one above which give me "cause for pause." This is a picture of teachers in training. As you can well see, the trainees are all women and they will be teaching girls as well as boys when they are done. The conditions for their education are hardly ideal, and this in a country where females have been treated like chattel, threatened and even killed for not knowing their place.
For all my misgivings about the Canadian presence in Afghanistan I keep drifting back to an underlying sense that God's intention for our world is that men and women be treated equally, and that all people deserve the opportunity to choose those who will govern them. If the Taliban return to power, those possibilites for equality and democracy will disappear, all in the name of a judgemental, exclusive Allah. I have no doubt that millions of Afghans worship their Creator and want freedom. While war is ultimately not the answer, there is a glimmer of hope because of the presence of other nations.
Anyone else struggle with this?
3 comments:
I do struggle with this frustration around many issues. When the road to a solution seems obvious,although not easy, whether it be around peace within countries or making peace with our environment or oodles of other issues, it is hard to remain optimistic when for reasons of power, complacency, comfort, entitlement etc etc others choose the status quo seemingly negating any positive steps we are making.
Can't seem to give up on our ideals though...can't stop caring.
We are so fortunate to live here - we take things like voting and freedom of speech for granted.
Afghanistan is a very difficult situation. With millions in Pakistan being supportive of the Taliban, and having such a porous border, when the NATO troops eventually leave, the Taliban need only return to Afghanistan. And by then, they will have a well-trained army and police force that was created by the NATO troops and police forces around the world.
Definitely no easy answers. I just don't think this war will accomplish what we would all like to see in Afghanistan. At least not in the long run.
Also well said!
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