Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and co-founder of the Central Asia Institute, has written passionately about educating women and girls in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan. Long before the world's involvement, Greg was already quietly building schools in Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since the 1990's, he has built 90 schools --all of them have included girls. He has been ahead of the curve, a visionary and more to the point, someone who has been willing to make it his life's work.
While there are plenty of arguments about failed missions, or against state-building, if there's any reason to be in Afghanistan, it is to offer the opportunity for a better life. This has to include raising the status of the silent and sheathed, giving them access to education. While this represents a cultural shift, having women able to make choices by virtue of education makes it easier for the men economically. But there are risks when anyone injects change, and sadly, a fight against it is taking human lives. Is it worth it? Maybe not to someone who has lost a loved one. But, perhaps the future of their country relies on it.
We know slavery, brutalizing, subjugation and humiliation of women are real. My wishes are twofold: that milbloggers won't let this cause go, and that those who consider themselves to be anti-military come to see those in uniform as individuals who can bring life-enhancing changes to those with fewer options than they. Because frankly, neither side can do it alone.
Article comments
1 - Glenn Contrarian
Kanani -
I strongly agree with the purpose of your article. I would only offer one comment - that when Bush called it a 'crusade', and with every attempt by Americans in or out of uniform to proselytize their 'Christian' faith, our efforts to make life better for women and girls were sabotaged, poisoned by giving the Islamic leaders an opportunity to say, "See, if you support more rights for women, you might become Christian" and thus frame the issue as one of protecting one's religious faith rather than one of simple human rights.
2 - Kanani
Thanks for your comments, Glenn.
While there are those who will no doubt talk of their Christian faith, the vast majority of soldiers on the front lines who go into the villages and have established relationships with the locals don't proselytize --especially in Afghanistan.