30 Days in Afghanistan - Dispatches to the Homeland

I've received some very interesting feedback after the last couple of blog entries. Most of them have been encouraging;

"...You're a great writer. You are so strong and your writing so smart and vivid. Thanks for providing this resource that is unavailable here in the US...impartial reporting. Please add me to the blog."

"This is simply remarkable. I don't know what to say. I can't believe I've read what I just read. Congratulations to you. God must be protecting you. I agree with you - you did go there for a purpose. You give me so much hope with these dispatches; journalism still has meaning, Westerners can still do it, and maybe someday I can do it too..."

"This journal is simply breathtaking. I hope you consider publishing them officially..."

But a few folks sent me emails asking to be removed immediately from the subscribers list, with a note saying that they would explain later. I was somewhat puzzled.

Then a day or two later, a few others in that circle, started sending a similar request with the same cryptic message. Now, I don't write counting my readers, I write because I feel compelled to share what I see, but this puzzled me. These folks were patting me on the back a few days ago, so what was this about?

The explanation came a day later, it started with one, and spread to the others via phone calls and emails. I received an email explaining that apparently my writing was perhaps "un-American", and that at this "time of war" our responsibility was to support our troops "over there", and writing about the Taliban, showing kids with guns, was irresponsible, and was potentially putting these readers at risk (through association to me).

Hmm.., apart from the incredulous statements, I actually had to let this sink in before I responded. Was this a hoax? Could friends really be this scared of our government? Am I gullible enough to think that as a writer, I have the freedom to write about what I want? These are fellow writers, I thought we writers were usually at the forefront of documenting our observations, independent of where the story leads?

Maybe it's this international air I'm breathing, but having a world view enlightens a person doesn't it? Stepping into the shoes of someone else, even our enemies helps us understand our own humanity - does it not? Well, before this gets out of hand, lets' ban the writing. Let's also ban Rory Stewart's book, "The Places in Between", a New York Times bestseller, about his walk through Afghanistan, meeting with all kinds of people, Talibans, Mullahs, Americans, and his observations. Ya, let's ban his book, and anything else that doesn't adhere to the Reich, I mean the particular point of view of some Americans.

The fact, that my writing has little to do with politics, and more to do with watching people, whether they are Afghanis or Americans seems to have suddenly disappeared. Over the last few days, I've attended an Afghani wedding, shared a conversation with two Americans running business that help Afghani women and children, spoken to Afghanis on the street, and UN workers as well as Ministry civil workers on life and the future of this country. These conversations continue to give me insight into people - all people.

I also have plans to hopefully meet with Rory Stewart, and ask him what prompted him to start a charity in Kabul, to help save the old city, and other work he's doing for the locals. I'll be sure to ask him, if he realizes how many readers he's put at risk with his bestseller book.