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A Flower Blooms in the Desert
Author: BobR    Date: 03/19/2010 11:29:40

"9/11 changed everything", the saying goes. While there's a certain amount of hyperbole there, there's no denying that it created ripples in the pond, causing changes both great and small. It's made the experience of commercial flight something to be dreaded. In 2001, it opened people's eyes to the reality that there is a big world out there beyond our borders. A large percentage of the populace who couldn't even find Afghanistan on the map were getting a crash course on Islam, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda.

Most westerners, and particularly those of a liberal bent, were shocked and angered to see women treated like cattle, wearing bhurkas that completely covered them head to toe. As the U.S. attacked that country, there was some hope that besides destroying the machinery of terrorism, we could free the women from their chains. There was hope of creating a secular society.

Of course, after making initial strides, the Bush Administration dropped the ball and decided to destroy the only actual secular country in the Middle East, and invaded Iraq. The Taliban began to re-surge in the vacuum of jobs and security. Nearly 8 years after our initial military actions, we are still in Afghanistan. Has it all been worth it?

There are no concrete answers to that question. Al-Qaeda has been stepping up its game, and while IEDs in Iraq are down to historic lows, they are on the rise in Afghanistan. That is bad news for our soldiers. CIA Director Leon Pannetta says that al-Qaeda has been hobbled by US actions, but is it really true? And isn't that an admission that the CIA is doing a lot of military work there? On the other hand, perhaps this is the proper way to fight a shadowy group with no borders.

However, we are beginning to see some positive developments. There are reports that the new Afghan government is luring Taliban members away to fight for them against their previous leaders. While al-Qaeda is fighting harder than ever, the Taliban seems to be losing its influence on the Afghan people. The Afghans are tasting freedom from social constraints and fear, and they like it. Nowhere is this more dramatically displayed than with a TV show: "Afghan Idol".

HBO has a documentary on this recent phenomenon; you can read about it here. I caught the last 20 minutes of it last night, but have DVRed the repeat and will watch it tonight. If you have HBO, I suggest you seek it out.

While it may seem that a show which mimics some of the worst of western culture (American Idol), it must be seen within the context of the setting. In Afghanistan, all TV was banned until 2004, so TVs are a rare commodity (as is the electricity to power them). Singing and dancing were also banned by the Taliban. Yet in this war-torn country where religious rule is still a fresh wound (and in more remote areas, still the law), it is amazing to read about women singing and dancing on TV, not only not wearing a bhurka, but not even wearing the hijab, the traditional veil. When questioned about not wearing the veil, one woman declares "I am not afraid of the Taliban".

Keep in mind this was not a single show, but - like its American counterpart - a series of shows that wind down to a single winner. Supposedly 1/3 of the country voted, the show was that popular. It may not seem like much, but when a woman declares that she is not afraid, and young women have the courage to show their faces on TV, singing with hair flowing, and the country loves it, the shift has already occurred. It won't happen overnight, but when the people cease to fear their oppressors, the oppressors have lost their power.

The ripples of 9/11 sent waves crashing the world over. In the US, we chose fear. 8 years later, the waves have watered the deserts of Afghanistan, and a flower has bloomed.

 

41 comments (Latest Comment: 03/19/2010 22:54:39 by Raine)
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Comment by wickedpam on 03/19/2010 12:26:09
Morning

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:07:56
Good Morning! Wonderful post this morning, seeing the minutes of the show that we did, it was very inspirational. I know that I mock our American Television, but I think the media in Afghanistan might actually help transform the nation. Int eh Ask A vet this week there was an article that caught my eye,



The Marine concentration in one part of the country -- as opposed to Army units, which are spread across Afghanistan -- has yielded a pride of place. As it did in Anbar, the Corps is sending some of its most talented young officers to Helmand.



The result has been a degree of experimentation and innovation unseen in most other parts of the country. Although they account for half of the Afghan population, women had been avoided by military forces, particularly in the conservative south, because it is regarded as taboo for women to interact with males with whom they are not related. In an effort to reach out to them, the Marines have established "female engagement teams."



Made up principally of female Marines who came to Afghanistan to work in support jobs, the teams accompany combat patrols and seek to sit down with women in villages. Working with female translators, team members answer questions, dispense medical assistance and identify reconstruction needs.



Master Sgt. Julia Watson said the effort has had one major unexpected consequence. "Men have really opened up after they see us helping their wives and sisters," she said.
This gives me hope for the nation, even under such terrible conditions.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:09:57
Cool wHip!

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:10:50
ewww Momma was on the Boortz show.

Comment by wickedpam on 03/19/2010 13:16:37
I can confirm Michaela IS one of the housewives of DC - I have my connections

Comment by Scoopster on 03/19/2010 13:16:50
Mornin' all!

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:17:42
What? Momma got evicted?



Oh dear.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:18:16
Quote by wickedpam:

I can confirm Michaela IS one of the housewives of DC - I have my connections


I was just googling...

Comment by wickedpam on 03/19/2010 13:19:28
Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

I can confirm Michaela IS one of the housewives of DC - I have my connections


I was just googling...




I know someone who knows someone who worked on the show - didn't have it confirmed till this past weekend

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:22:37
Here is the Hannity Article Chris mentioned:



If he was a liberal he would be SKEWERED.



Sean Hannity’s Freedom CONcert Scam: Almost None of Charity’s $ Went to Injured Troops, Kids of Fallen Troops; G5s for Vannity?



[...] I began investigating these claims, and lo and behold, I discovered that Freedom Alliance gives very little money to the children of slain troops to pay for college and even less to wounded troops. The stories of injuries to troops and how much Freedom Alliance gives them–$200 for a soldier from a poor neighborhood who lost three limbs–is heartbreaking. Soldiers with traumatic brain injuries, severe wounds to the face from disfiguring burns and explosions, and multiple amputations got $1,000 or less, with only a handful of exceptions.



The tax forms available to the public for the Freedom Alliance–for the years 2006-2008–paint a tragic story, a story of a charity that makes gazillions and spends very little for the purposes it claims, a charity that spends millions more on its small staff and crony consultants than it ever gives in scholarships to the children of the fallen or severely injured troops or in aid to the injured troops themselves. While Hannity’s Freedom Concerts take in millions, only a few hundred thousand go to the claimed intended recipients.



Over a year ago, when I began looking into this story, I contacted both Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance seeking comment and an accounting for where the money went. Both declined to answer any of my questions. Hannity refused to respond to an inquiry I sent to his personal private e-mail address asking him about the lavish expenses described in the e-mail above. [...]





Comment by Scoopster on 03/19/2010 13:37:37
The absolute stinking hypocrisy of these people always gets to me...

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 13:59:43
Quote by Scoopster:

The absolute stinking hypocrisy of these people always gets to me...


I'm with you on that Scoop. It pisses me off to no end.





Comment by TriSec on 03/19/2010 14:15:18
I'm sure they already know, but could our blog wizards make sure that story gets passed on to IAVA? Paul will be incensed, to be sure...





Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 14:39:25
Another congresscritter saying that Deem and Pass is a RW term.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 14:41:03
Quote by TriSec:

I'm sure they already know, but could our blog wizards make sure that story gets passed on to IAVA? Paul will be incensed, to be sure...



Posted it to his Face book wall....



Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 15:10:33
Comment by wickedpam on 03/19/2010 15:35:50
Pres at the Patriot Center, I wish I could have gone. Stupid working thing I have to do to pay my bills

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 15:39:44
Quote by wickedpam:

Pres at the Patriot Center, I wish I could have gone. Stupid working thing I have to do to pay my bills
I didn't know until this morning! the crowd is really fired up!



Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 15:41:57


Drama Queen? Really? First off I cannot stand Jonathan Martin, and secondly -- I find that a bit sexist -- considering he only mentioned --- MEN.





Comment by wickedpam on 03/19/2010 15:49:47
Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Pres at the Patriot Center, I wish I could have gone. Stupid working thing I have to do to pay my bills
I didn't know until this morning! the crowd is really fired up!







oh wow, I thought you did, sorry about that - I got like emails and phone calls wanting to know if I was going. Patriot Center is a great medium size venue for rallies and concerts - the place really rocks it when it gets going

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 16:09:02
well that is alright -- I am just feeling good enough to take a walk right now. I am sure I'll have other chances to see him.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 16:09:42
John Boehner is lying his orange greezy face off on C-span 3 right now.

Comment by TriSec on 03/19/2010 16:11:55
Oh, and I've only been blogging about it for five years; you'd think I'd remember.



Today is day 2,557.





On this day in 2003, the United States, along with coalition forces primarily from the United Kingdom, initiates war on Iraq. Just after explosions began to rock Baghdad, Iraq's capital, U.S. President George W. Bush announced in a televised address, "At this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger." President Bush and his advisors built much of their case for war on the idea that Iraq, under dictator Saddam Hussein, possessed or was in the process of building weapons of mass destruction.



Hostilities began about 90 minutes after the U.S.-imposed deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq or face war passed. The first targets, which Bush said were "of military importance," were hit with Tomahawk cruise missiles from U.S. fighter-bombers and warships stationed in the Persian Gulf. In response to the attacks, Republic of Iraq radio in Baghdad announced, "the evil ones, the enemies of God, the homeland and humanity, have committed the stupidity of aggression against our homeland and people."





From the History Channel...





Comment by wickedpam on 03/19/2010 16:12:20
Quote by Raine:

well that is alright -- I am just feeling good enough to take a walk right now. I am sure I'll have other chances to see him.






oddly enough he actually pays attention to the DC burb's

Comment by livingonli on 03/19/2010 16:45:21
A belated good day to everyone. A nice morning and I end up crashing. Although it took forever for me to fall asleep because the cat wanted to be entertained as I was getting ready to turn in.



At least the good thing is my vacation starts tomorrow. I'm taking a whole week off for my birthday this year.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 17:04:42
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

well that is alright -- I am just feeling good enough to take a walk right now. I am sure I'll have other chances to see him.






oddly enough he actually pays attention to the DC burb's


I know... I am hoping he comes back HERE this year. This is my neighborhood! I the Dairy Godmother!

Comment by livingonli on 03/19/2010 17:13:27
Watching last night's Daily Show. He is doing a hilarious parody of Glenn Beck.



Comment by Scoopster on 03/19/2010 17:53:12
Hey you guys remember John Hall?



You know.. lead singer of Orleans, congressman from NY's 19th district (Oh hey that's where my grandma's house is!)



Yeah well he needs a call from everyone here to remind that his Yea vote on HCR is "Still The One"

Comment by TriSec on 03/19/2010 18:58:01
Rep. Steven Lynch (D-South Boston) has come out against.



My union brother tells me that any candidate for re-election in this Commonwealth is going to have zero union support next time if they vote no.



And Rep Lynch is a bigtime union supporter. That could prove interesting in the fall.





Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 19:05:18
You know... it's friday ya bastahds!



















Bounce what you got!


Comment by livingonli on 03/19/2010 19:06:47
Quote by TriSec:

Rep. Steven Lynch (D-South Boston) has come out against.



My union brother tells me that any candidate for re-election in this Commonwealth is going to have zero union support next time if they vote no.



And Rep Lynch is a bigtime union supporter. That could prove interesting in the fall.





I guess he is still embrading the hard line that Kucinich was taking. Maybe Kucinich can whip him in.

Comment by Scoopster on 03/19/2010 19:09:24
It's Fridee, yabahstids!





















Comment by livingonli on 03/19/2010 20:02:14
Just as I pulled into work I heard the KKKlowner calling into Randi. She was trying to trip him up. I wonder if he ended his call with "Heil, Hitler". Maybe he's a friend of Scott from Massachusetts.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 20:12:34
Boyd (D-TN) Just flipped from no to yes!!!

Comment by TriSec on 03/19/2010 20:36:51
Comment by livingonli on 03/19/2010 21:27:20


They also live amongst the wackos who posted comments. The phrase is an oxymoron.

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 22:51:46
Busy DAY -- Murphy in NY just flipped from No to yes !!!

Comment by Raine on 03/19/2010 22:54:39
From Fox News (So take it for what it's worth)



BREAKING: Dems appear to reach magic 216 vote number, putting them in position to pass health care bill #hcr




I want MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE!