Imagine if seemingly overnight everything you've worked for your entire life is gone. All of the hours spent studying for that degree. All of the hard work to land a well paying job. All of the sacrifices and hours spent away from family for a dream. A dream of instilling change. A dream of doing more. A dream of leaving behind a legacy. A dream of empowering women. A dream of seeing and becoming a woman in the workplace. A dream of equality. Unfortunately, these dreams have been abolished for women in Afghanistan who now face a grim reality.
I've become enthralled with what is currently happening in Afghanistan. I can't seem to grasp that this is really happening. That Afghan women are being told to stay home. They are being forced into submission. They are being stripped of basic human rights. Their rights, body and dreams are bing violated. Is this really happening today? In the year 2021?
These women in Afghanistan who have spent a lifetime being oppressed were once given the freedom of choice. The choice of what to do. The choice of who to marry. The choice of where to go. The choice of education. The choice of work. The choice of a career. Many women seized this opportunity. They defied social norms and became doctors, politicians, lawyers and teachers. The system was still not fully equal, but it was progressing. Women were seen more than just a man's property. They were humans with a brain, intellect, drive and dreams. Then, literally overnight their lives changed with the Taliban seizing power. How did this happen?
I can't help but to wonder if this is what it felt like in the early 1930's when the world's citizens watched silently as Hitler began rising to power? The slow trickling of murders that became a full race's genocide? Did we just watch? Despite thinking what was happening was horrible, did we think it would never happen to us? That what is happening a sea away has no impact on our day-to-day? That one group's action won't impact the future? I don't have the answers, but I want you to contemplate what your responses are. I know we can't save the world. I know we can't constantly meddle in other peoples (or countries) affairs, but this whole situation makes me sick.
I keep imagining what if this happened here? What if an extremist political force took siege of our capital? What if they also believed that women should not exist in the public eye? What if our democracy was destroyed? The Declaration of Independence and all its amendments abolished? We, women, would also become forgotten. As a minority woman who has endured a lot of hate and have had to overcome numerous adversities, everything pales in comparison to what the women in Afghanistan are going through. One day, these women were getting dressed, taking public transportation to their job. A job they worked so very hard for. A job that their own family may not have supported. An education that made relatives uncomfortable. Then, they came home, had dinner with their family, kissed their children goodnight and as they tucked them in bed they hear that the Taliban has re-taken power. Their world stood still. With the blink of an eye their life was shattered and the next day they were shackled to the confines of their home. They were berated. They were degraded. They were lesser. They were property.
They're helpless in this situation. Some may say, why don't they fight? Why don't they revolt? Some may even go as far as to say, "If women want equality, they should fight for it." Yes, but not in the year 2021. Women should not have to reclaim what is righteously theirs. They should not have to wage a war. Even if they wanted to fight, how could they? How could they revolt if they lack the backing of stronger allies, the finances, the bodies, the weapons? It's a saga that will only end in further bloodbath and extermination. A saga that will rewind today's present to the modern WWII. To the beginning of mankind, when women were nothing more than a vehicle to populate the planet. How did we come so far, yet tumble back down to the start?
Why is that we only band together when something happens in our country? Why do we revolt when bad things happen to good innocent people in our backyard? Why do we stand together for our brothers...but not our sisters? We need to change this narrative. We need to change the future, which is why we will be donating a proceed of all KLADO sales to the Women for Afghan Women (WAW). If we have the power to do something, we should MUST.
My heart goes out to all the women in Afghanistan. My soul hurts for you. My dreams are now your dreams. I want you to know that you're not invisible. You matter. Your courage is commendable. I wish I could make a difference. I wish I could do something. I wish I could fix this wrong. I wish I could change your circumstances. I know whatever I do will not be enough, but if we all do a little then that can grow into a lot. Even a drip of compassion. A drop of support can help install change.
I can't stand here idly. Just waiting. Just watching. Just commenting. As a woman. As a minority. As a child of immigrants. I know too well the power of a dream and how it can change the future. I want to be on the right side of history. How about you?!
If you want to learn more about the crisis in Afghanistan and how you can support, there are numerous organizations doing amazing things. From assisting refugees seeking asylum to providing the necessities to women and children on the ground. Check out https://womenforafghanwomen.org/ to learn more about their initiatives and how you can help.
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