We read about death, hear people speak about death, we conjure feelings about death through movies, plays and funerals but last night, I saw a man facing death and none of my previous experiences prepared me for this. He wasn't a man that I knew, or had ever even met in person yet this man's lifeless body represented every Soldier, Marine, Airman, and Sailor from across over 42 nations who have died while supporting a cause bigger than themselves here in Afghanistan. He died away from all of his family, away from his best buddies, away from his mother country. One life more has transcended from this world of the living, this world checkered with violence, domination, ignorance, intolerance, and injustice. And when he is laid to rest, what does this mean to you, me and the rest of the world? Does his death improve the conditions in Afghanistan? Does his death urge more International soldiers to fight against the enemies of Afghanistan?
As I sit here and ponder the value of this soldiers life compared to the Afghans that we are here to protect, thoughts of sadness and hopelessness fill my mind. We are all human beings, all worthy of dignity, respect and the right to live a peaceful life...as the death tally continues to grow on all sides, Taliban, Afghan forces, International forces, Pakistan forces, insurgents, criminals and innocent civilians, when will it all come to an end?
As I'm typing this, my colleague here at the Afghan Government Media and Information Center just informed me that suicide bombers are here in Kabul again...this time a the National bank down the street, at the President's Palace and near the Ministry of Finance and Justice. A year ago when I first arrived here in Kabul, there was a similar attack in Feb 09 on the Ministry of Finance and Justice and I felt a warm streak of panic but now, I hear the gun fire in the distance and walk back in to the office to continue my work. Now, we have heard that several attacks are occurring in diff places in Kabul. We want to leave GMIC now but the roads are blocked off. I just heard another explosion and our building shook from the blast. Why, oh why, do they want to harm and kill innocent people here? This experience is one of many I have lived through since Jan 2009 here in Kabul and now, as I prepare to leave in a few weeks, what is the future for my colleagues? They have lived through this since the first day of their lives and many of them say to me, "Staci, this is what must happen for us to see progress," and, "Senseless killing by Pakistanis and ignorant Afghans will continue until we wipe them all out."
The people fighting against the Afghan Government, against the Intl. military and civilians working here, often see all of us as the enemy as we see them. Their point of view is to "wipe us out" as well. Until we work harder to prevent human misery rather than avenge it (Mrs. Roosevelt) and until we put our own prejudices and judgments aside, the death tally will continue to rise, on all sides...there has to be a profound reason that so many people have taken up arms against the Afghan government and their international partners. Let's listen closely to why the fighter's hate us, why they want us to leave, why they are against the Afghan Government, why they believe Internationals are bringing demise to the Afghan culture, the Pashtun culture, the Muslim culture, the Islamic religion. We need to step up and have a peaceful dialogue with these opposition factions and find out what they want Afghanistan to be to include the rights of the people, the level of outside influence to their culture/religion, the level of international support, and what PEACE means to them.
The enemies fighting against the Afghan Government and their International partners often conduct their attacks, whether suicide vehicle, suicide bomber, hidden bombs under the ground, indirect fire in an attempt to make a statement to the world that they want International forces to leave Afghanistan (some don't even consider this area as Afghanistan) and they want us to stop negatively influencing their culture with the extremely unmoral behaviors of America and other developed countries. Should we blame them? America is partly to blame for sure as are other countries but a bigger proponent is the MEDIA. TBContinued...
