A Tribute To Women of Afghanistan
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The National Geographic Photo
The picture has appeared on the cover of National Geographic and was chosen one their 100 Best Pictures, an amazing accomplishment.
However, until 2002 she was unaware of that her face graced covers, posters, and many other surfaces. She did remember the photographer because it was such a rare occurrence. He remembered her because of her haunting eyes.
The original photo was taken in the Nasir Bagh refugee camp. A National Geographic team went back in 2002 to try to found her. Through a series of interviews located her brother and husband, who agreed to ask her about the interview.
She agreed, but as a traditional Muslim, would not meet alone with a man. That woman photographed her for the second time in her life. She eventually met with Steve McCurry. I think it is important to note that the brother and husband asked her. She is obviously an observant Muslim, but she is not ruled by the men in her family. She made the decision. It is the Taliban, not Islam that has enslaved these women.
Because of her status as a married woman, (she has three daughters, and one who died), she has done relatively well during the Taliban occupation, but had to go into obscurity again, as the Taliban might recognize her and try to punish her or her family.
Her haunting eyes in the portrait has come to represent the women of Afghanistan to the world.
The National Geographic Girl is Found!
- The Search for the Girl in the Picture
- The entire story of the search to find this woman is recorded on this link.
The Inspiration for This Lens
This is an intriguing novel by the author of The Kite Runner. I happened upon it while perusing lenses, a habit that reaps many rewards. Thanking Everything Mouse for the information, I was inspired to write a lens about the movie, "Osama".-
A Thousand Splendid Suns
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A Thousand Splendid Suns is not an easy book to read. It is emotional and powerful in a way that few books manage to be. Khaled Hosseini tells a story covering the last 30 years of the history of Afghanistan through the eyes of two women,...
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Thanks to Everything Mouse for starting all of this! And thanks to Squidoo, Seth and the others for giving us this forum where we can cross pollinate our creativity to bring stories like this to more people.
OSAMA. The Movie About Survival in Impossible Places.
Unfortunately, this is the only video I could find about this movie; I found no clips. If you know of others, please let me know and I will add them.
However, this is not your typical movie clip. It is well worth watching.
Osama
This devastating movie, based on a true story, depicts the dire plight of the women in Afghanistan after the takeover by the Taliban. Things were never good for the women of this tribal country, but the restrictions brought by the Taliban literally killed many women, both actively an passively through slow starvation.
This grandmother and mother decided that they would survive! They cut off the daughter's hair so she could disguise herself as a boy and go out to work.
The movie isn't easy to watch, but it is important. Things got better for these women after the US invaded Afghanistan looking for Osama bin Laden, however, we know that recently the Taliban is making a resurgence there and women's lives again hang in the balance.
Osama
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
The movie won the 2004 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Picture in addition to many other awards and nominations. It is an excellent movie and and of itself.
If it were the product of someone's imagination, it would have been thoroughly enjoyable. However, it is based on a true story. This makes it hard to watch, but worthwhile to watch, and a necessity to watch.
Osama
- Review of Osama
- With a title like Osama, many might expect the flick in question to present a biography of the infamous Al Qaeda leader. However, this flick - the first to come from Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taliban - offers nothing of the sort.
"Instead, Osama focuses on the plight of the average Afghani during the reign of the Taliban. At the start of the flick, women stage a rally to demand the right to work. This doesn't set well with the Taliban; they send troops to disrupt the protest with hoses and also arrest some of the women".
Please Go to These Links and Support These Brave Women
- Support the Women of Afghanistan
- "But despite this progress Afghan women are facing enormous obstacles."
* 85.1% of women have no formal education
* 74% of girls drop out of school by 5th grade
* Only 1% of girls in rural communities attends school
* Nearly 79% of women are illiterate
* The average salary is just 48 cents a day
* Maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world - Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan
- RAWA is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan since 1977.
"A Rising of the Women is a Rising of the Race"
I know that there are still many horrible things happening in the world, from Darfur to Tibet. I am not in any way trying to reduce the importance of those people or their plights.
However, I feel that Afghanistan and what the Taliban has done and is starting to do again to those women is a top issue. While the Taliban limits the freedoms of everyone, they are virtually saying that half the race is not really human. When we are able to stop that, it will be a beginning to bringing all of the human race up to where it belongs.
Helping the women of Afghanistan is a major blow to tyranny everywhere.
Women Helping Women
I can't describe just how much admiration I have for these women. Thanks Comfort Doc!-
Patricia Quigley and Susan Retik 9/11 Widows Live Beyond the 11th
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Turning a tragedy into a tribute is one of the ways for survivors to keep going and and keep living after the traumatic loss of a loved one. Introducing my superheroes...Patricia Quigley and Susan Retik, two 9/11 widows on a heroic mission to overco...
The Original National Geographic Cover
Important Blogs About Afghani Women
The Horror of the Taliban
These videos are hard to watch. You do not have to watch them to care about these women, however, you can still hold them in your hearts, minds and prayers and of course give to those who work to help.
Come Join My Salon...And Read About a Hero
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Victor Frankl: The Value of Meaning
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Victor Frankl was a physician and neurologist until in 1942 he and his wife and parents entered Auschwitz, one of the most notorious death camps of the Nazis. He was the only one who survived. He worked a laborer's jobs, but they also put him in the...
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Oskar Schindler: Accidental Hero
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This is basically the story of a womanizing war profiteer who became a hero. He certainly didn't seek that status; he obtained it almost, no pretty much in spite of himself. Before Hitler, Schindler, a German national, was a salesman and a pretty go...
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"A" is for "Arrowsmith"
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I began this journey as a lens master on June 21, 2008. I started with the story of how my parents began their first small business. That first lens reached a top rank of 188 overall and 14 in business, and then started back down, getting as low as...
Women and Men Organize and Make Progress
Any Purchase Here Will Contribute to Heifer International: The Pay It Forward Entrepreneurial Charity.
Of course, you could also just give to one of these organizations.
Do Not Despair! Read These True Stories About the Women Who Resist
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/13/2009)
The Other Side of the Sky: A Memoir
Amazon Price: $10.98 (as of 07/13/2009)
With All Our Strength: The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Three Women of Herat: A Memoir of Life, Love and Friendship in Afghanistan
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Behind the Burqa: Our Life in Afghanistan and How We Escaped to Freedom
Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 07/13/2009)
Comments or Information You Have About These Women is Appreciated
And comments about the lens and stars heartily welcome.
Ahmady wrote...
I remember that issue. I wanted to go to Afghanistan in 1963 with Peace Corps administration and then reading up on Afghanistan and about the life of women there, decided to go to Nigeria instead. Very nice lens.
Posted April 29, 2009
a_willow wrote...
He was right... That eyes expression is priceless! Blessings to you for being such a keen supporter of defending human rights!
Posted April 11, 2009
The New Library
Kindle: Amazon's Original Wireless Reading Device (1st generation)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Blog About Small Business with Me
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySwedish Women Soldiers in Afghanistan
There is also a homemade video, made by a family whose loved one, a woman is in Afghanistan.
Sharbat Gula Then and Now
by Margo_Arrowsmith
For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and w... (more)
