A love letter asking for forgiveness from our Afghan friends

We cannot manage

A open love letter to ask forgiveness from our Afghan friends

When I see the pain of my Afghan friends, I need to tell someone, anyone, that we are floundering.

Not from want of purpose or meaning.

But because unselfish power may not exist & isn’t yet in the hands of ordinary people

Though many are trying, we’re still shackled by a self-revolving madness

Does it make sense to you that when Abdulai asks ‘why is life like that ?’, I take his hand and keep quiet?

“Please. Stop behaving like you’re gods. Please stop throwing money at Afghans. Please stop killing. Please, stop.”

And then we have to keep back those tears while struggling with them, because nothing of the unsustainable, ‘developed’-world-stuff ever stops.

When everything is taken away from the important values & people of our lives, we run on empty.

Do we get it? We’re running on empty.

People have remained distant from other people, so the powers-that-be will play and laugh haughtily in a vacuum of expert derision.

Abdulai, we love you & the Afghans whom we’ve come to know. But you know that already. I’m sorry that doesn’t help much.

I’m sorry not because you are to be pitied. I’m sorry because life is not giving you an equal space to appreciate love.

I’m sorry our systems mean that your wishes will not matter to Presidents & the wealthy few, so while you wish from the bottom of your heart, please don’t wish with your all, lest you’re completely robbed of that which we want you to keep, hope.

My reasons are bland before you, because people like you, who possess nothing, understand not with your eyes or ears but with your soul.

I remember sighing with you when we talked about how we are losing both ways, when we try our very best and also when we manage very badly.

My mind thinks it may be hard for you to forgive, but that’s when I shake. I shake because my heart knows that you WOULD forgive.

You manage much better than us.

Yes, love is how we’ll ask for peace.

With love from Hakim, Douglas, Josh, Conor

& all your friends from The People’s Journey,

Salam, Pam, Mark, Dennis, Bob, Andrea…….