Return to Afghanistan: What’s next for Afghan women?

by Evin Maria Phoenix, AIDemocracy Regional Coordinator

Not that we ever left. Indeed, the United States has been entrenched in the brutal landscape of Afghanistan for nearly a decade, becoming America’s longest war (USA Today). We’ve also poured somewhere between a conservative estimate of $32 Billion (not including Iraq) and a staggering $3 Trillion (including Iraq) into our military campaigns and infrastructural projects, sometimes going completely down the drain as an “outrageous waste of taxpayer money.”

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One would think we have a lot to show for it. Also, one would certainly hope that we’re safer as a nation. While back-and-forth debate endlessly circulates amongst us all, one issue almost always goes without address. In fact, it was used as partial justification for the invasion: the plight of women.

In fact, before the Wikileaks non-crisis, it seemed like everyone forgot all about Afghanistan. Lindsay Lohan dominated the CNN headlines and Twitter trending topics whilst “the plight of Afghanistan’s women” took a backseat on a long bus ride to nowhere. It’s time for a second look at what originally warranted the Bush-led pied-piper clarion call.

Recap: Prince Among Slaves – First Installment of the Hope Not Hate/20,000 Dialogues Film Series

Well, last Thursday, we officially launched the Hope Not Hate/20,000 Dialogues Film Series that has been months in the making, and is only just getting started! Oh, and by “we” I mean not just AIDemocracy, but also our invaluable partner, Unity Productions Foundation (UPF).

Our first screening took place at Busboys and Poets and we screened Prince Among Slaves, a documentary about an African Muslim prince that was enslaved in the American south. It was actually my first time seeing the film, so I was just as anxious as the audience was, and at the conclusion of the screening, the film did not disappoint. I encourage everyone to see it if you haven’t already. Contact UPF for more details about acquiring a copy. Afterward, we then conducted a dialogue session about the film, the issues it raises, and how it relates to contemporary society and our relationship with Muslims and Islam today. UPF, through their 20,000 Dialogues program, has conducted approximately 300 dialogues so far, and we look forward to working with them to continue increasing that number.