The unequal value of an Afghan child
February 25, 2010 by
Filed under Journey Updates
As civilian casualties rise in the escalating Afghan war, listen to an Afghan child think about the value of life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CG6_zMH4NA
The value of working people
The Associated Press 15th of Feb 2010 : U.S. Army units fighting the Taliban in Helmand province have a compensation system for any death, injury or damage to crops and buildings…. The death of a child or adult is worth $1,500-$2,500, loss of limb and other injuries $600-$1,500, a damaged or destroyed vehicle $500-$2,500, and damage to a farmer’s fields $50-$250.
Transcript of Video
Zekerullah Jan, what are you doing?
Teacher, I am peeling potatoes.
Is having work good?
Yes, it’s very good for the people. Not having work is a disease.
How old are you?
13 years old
In 2009, 3 Afghan children were killed daily in war, children like yourself
This is ‘vulgar’ and bad news….
Bad because there’ll be less Afghans, the people of Afg will no longer exist…
When an Afghan child is killed in war, foreign & local leaders express their ‘regret’. Is their ‘regret’ appropriate?
No, their ‘regret’ seems to mean that however much the ‘regret’, children will still be killed again, so their regret isn’t acceptable
If your younger brother was killed by a bomb & you were offered money in compensation, would you accept the money?
No, I won’t accept the money because firstly, why was he killed? Secondly, those responsible should be punished so they won’t infringe on the rights of other people
The monetary compensation shouldn’t be accepted as money doesn’t match up to the value of a person
Is your life as valuable as the life of Obama’s daughter?
Her life is very good because she’s the child of a minister or king
Aren’t you as valuable as Obama’s daughter?
In terms of humanity, both of us are human beings
Zekerullah, never forget that you are as valuable as every other child, whether in Afg, America or Europe.
Okay…
And all of us love you.
Be alive and be at peace, teacher…
