An Afghan’s Questions

An Afghan’s questions about global civility, about kindness

Why have we become so inhumane? Who is kind?

Can I trust NATO or the ‘terrorists’ ? Surely, they, like I, crave the possibility of love?

Do we, including you and I, Obama and Osama, the CEOs and the laborers, the haves and have-nots from the beginning of time, share the same understanding that we are human?

That we are born in times and places not from our own voluntary choosing?

That we all die?

That we wish for happiness and a better life?

That we admire compassion and value love?

That we have not seen any benefit from wars, save creating permanent rifts and permanent deaths?

That we don’t desire to be lonely, because we want to relate deeply with others?

Are there those in this world who will pursue a humane kindness?

Why must Man always insist that he alone is correct? Why has Man’s heart not enlarged?

Why is every Man unmoving with this obstinate presumption of CORRECTNESS?

If I asked two conflicting groups , won’t each group say that they, and not the other group, are correct? Correct socially, politically, religiously and ‘civil-ly’? Won’t they immediately think that I, Habib, have got my facts wrong about their ‘enemies’? Would there be any avenue for me to reason otherwise?

Isn’t it apparent that there is no ancient or modern way of judging who of the two parties is right? Nor plausible scientifically or spiritually within all of our lifetimes to call upon a verdict from the unseen God many claim to know vaguely?

How can I shirk SELF?

Whatever happened to Man’s heart?

Who is a sincere friend? Who can I trust?

Doesn’t our actual practice of love and conscience reveal how imperfect we are? Who is the friend who will tell me what’s real?

Why has Man reached the Moon and yet has not been able to reach his less fortunate neighbors? Why can we reach Space but not souls?

Why does Man rely on atoms and expensive defense systems yet cannot trust fellow human beings? Why do we trust machines more than Man?

Why does the world have more money, but yet, there are more poor people? Why don’t others figure significantly?

Why do a minority of men and women, in the name of democracy or Marxism, religion or civilization, have so much sway over common people like myself, making decisions that perpetuate the wars which the majority of us do not want?

Isn’t humanity’s hurt, anger and disappointment abysmal?

Can’t I build my life in peace?

Are we not human? Can we not smile?

Why are MY interests bigger and more important than YOURS?

What happened to the ancient possibility of a civilized world?

Why do some claim they love their enemies but resist and even kill them?

Why do some claim they desire peace but hold on to such hate?

I am tired but am willing to take any hard questions in a hard life just as much as I am hoping for some answers. Answers to questions I am asking on behalf of Afghans, on behalf of Man.

Technorati Tags: civility, inhumane, InHumanity- Struggles, kindness, possibility of love

The Story of Our Journey

The beginning

2008 AD

Could have been 1008 AD.

A group of Afghan college students from different conflicting racial groups volunteered to test the difficult question of humanity.

Are humane relationships possible in the depth of conflict and global self-interest? Is civility possible?

Can we smile?

It has been a tough journey. It’s hard to see some of us leave.

But terrible darkness calls for a tough light, and in-human hate hopes for a humane love.

We wish to smile.

Join and follow our journey in 2009.

We hope to gather Afghan college students from all over the hurting country of Afghanistan, to build friendships, to grieve together and to recover our smile. Humanity’s smile.

On 21st September 2009, for the International Peace Day celebrations, we invite you to the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan , built and destroyed by fellow humans.

Would you, one from every nation of the world, join us in asking those sad but hopeful questions, in encouraging wide scale humane relationships and in raising the possibility of love?

MY JOURNEY TO SMILE WITH NAJIB

Najib was a Pushtoon refugee I befriended at the Afghan border. He was orphaned by the war and fled with his aged grandmother. I remember his sad, empty eyes.

He collected and sold rubbish to survive. On many evenings after work, he would look for me, for some safety in our friendship.

When I invited Najib and his grandma to come share some fruit, I washed his dirtied hands and bare feet and then posed for this picture. I asked Najib to smile.

His grandma said in a rather indignant tone,’ Why? Why are you asking Najib to smile? He has no reason to smile…..he has no reason to smile.’

I miss the occasions when Najib smiled, at me and his fellow rubbish-collecting friend Faisal.

One day, he came to tell me he was leaving because life was difficult. And he cried. I wish I could have continued my journey to smile with Najib.

MY JOURNEY TO SMILE WITH KHAMAD

About 9 years ago, Khamad’s family of 8 dispersed separately across the Hindu Kush mountains, away from the fighting. When Khamad finally returned to his village, he found that his father had been killed.

His mother says that since then, Khamad has been chronically depressed and wonders if she should call upon the ‘magician’ to cast out the ‘depressed spirit’ that makes him stare and frown.

Khamad has become my brother and friend. I enjoy relating with him through an arduous but simple life, in building a potato chips business, in finding purpose and dignity.

Very occasionally, when he sings a quiet tune or breaks out into a smile, I take delight that love can lighten our souls and change our faces.

I am continuing my journey with Khamad, even when failure greets us or life disappoints us.

Because our smiles will journey in our hearts.

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