by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
This week, the U.S. war against the people of Afghanistan entered its 12th year. It’s the longest war in our history, but you’d hardly know we’ve been at war or that we continue to kill Afghan civilians. But on top of this, few Americans realize Afghanistan has suffered almost continuous warfare for the last four decades. About 2 million Afghans have died over the last 40 years.
It’s hard to imagine what the people of Afghanistan feel about this, because we are not permitted to hear their voices. We know so little about the Afghan people.
But a remarkable group of young people in Kabul who espouse nonviolence and call themselves the Afghan Peace Volunteers have decided to tell us what they think, how they feel and what they want us to do. Recently, they called upon the whole world to join their campaign for the end to the war on Afghanistan by signing their appeal, “Two Million Friends for Peace in Afghanistan.”
Instead of anger or revenge for the ongoing killings, these young Afghan peacemakers want 2 million people around the world to sign their petition to the United Nations, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the U.S/NATO war on Afghanistan and to pledge their friendship to the people of Afghanistan. I urge you to visit their website, 2millionfriends.org, to sign on and join this historic campaign for peace…
It is very difficult to get know a people if the pathways to that are nonexistant or if the clan structure of the country prevents it. I would need to know if the people of Afghanistan are really open to having people from the WEST assist them. I hope Father Dear, S.J. will be successful though and will pray for that success. The U.S. has been involved with Afghanistan’s battles for 40 years so it is difficult to see the people trusting people now.l Pax et Bonum