This morning we went to a grand opening of a generator. It was a fancy ceremony, they put big rugs out on the dirt and hung a tapestry as a mock wall to shield everything from the street. The generator is for an advanced learning school. They had to get a generator because now that this old bombed out university was fixed to be used as a school again, and they recieved 30 computers, they realized they had no power! The crazy thing is, connecting to the city's power will not be enough to support this.
(Picture of Afghan National Army Soldiers)I went wandering around all the other buildings on the compound, they are all shells of buildings. Bullet scars cover the outside, "inside" they are burned out or bombed out. These buildings are down to the bricks, not even window frames or the paint on the walls are left. It's hard to imagine the school being in the same state as the other buildings on the property, but just a couple years ago it was.
I couldn't help but feel a little mad at the Taliban who did this, who ruined this country. And thankful for the people like the Major who are so dedicated to progress, even in the form of such baby steps. This Major is truely fantastic, and projects like this need people like her.
posted by jo portnoy @ 3:37 AM
3 Comments:
Seems silly, but I walked around there so mad at the Taliban, it was a weird feeling. My anger was so strong looking at all that.
A week ago I had dinner with one of the interpreters on base. He has 4 children. Two are 8, a boy and girl who are twins. I met the boy, he likes to box and play-boxed with my boss. His oldest kids would have been 15 and 16, a son and a daughter. They were killed by the Taliban who bombed his house while they were asleep inside.
I remember in college being at a friend apartment in 2002. I was telling my friend about the 6 month ceremony I watched in NYC, where they lit the beams into the sky. I remember starting to cry, not being able to explain to him the seemingly-sudden emotional connection to the attacks 6 months later.
I guess I'm saying that the more I see, the more I support all we invest and give this country and it's beautiful people. We are so blessed.
And how it saddens me to see scoffers on this side of the water who happily berate our enlisted and will not lift one finger to help someone in need. That, my dear, raises my emotions.
We support you, jo.
I really like your insightfulness Jo and I am proud of you for so many reasons.
And Blake, Amen to what you say. Emotions raised indeed.
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