I fear that my rights are trampled upon with impunity, my honor is at stake, my safety is threatened and I am terrorized. The death of my compatriots chills me to the bone and compounds the meaninglessness of life for me. I see the oozing blood of men, women and children, I see mothers crying before the bloody corpse of their children, I hear painful sobs but I also see people who are blind and deaf to all this .
I see people bully one another; they torture the defenseless people severely, oppress and shed the blood of innocent humans. The weaker if a person is the more cruelty s/he will receive. Yes, in this society “man is man’s wolf.” Men prey upon men. The human’s dignities and values are the most meaningless words in this world. Oh my God, what a crying shame!
I see some old men taking their carts, with shivering hands, to the bazaar in the early morning. Their gloomy faces reflect their worry about the earnings of the day. I also see some children and aged men who are collecting garbage, to burn for heating. I see some youth, searching for jobs, who return home in frustration and disappointment. I see some women and children shivering in winter. There are vendors who are unable to make ends meet. I remember Mohamed Bou azizi, a Tunisian fruit vendor who set himself on fire on December 17, 2010, in protest against unemployment. This caused a wave of protest against oppression, government corruption and inefficiency, across the Arab World. Then I ask myself, what if a person sets himself on fire in this country, to protest the current situation. Will the same revolution break out in our country?
Of course, most of our people are dissatisfied with the current government. Our country is on the top list of the most corrupt countries, there is 36 percent rise in opium production, 38 percent rise in HIV disease, 28 percent rise in violence against women, and the death toll among civilians and the national police is getting higher. No one can tolerate such a chaotic and disorderly situation.
Isn’t it anarchy? Undoubtedly, we are experiencing the exact meaning of anarchy in our country. Anarchy derives from the Greek language. The prefix, an, denotes not or without. Anarchy denotes rule, or ruling. Thus, anarchy means lawlessness; without rule. By this definition, an anarchic government is a no government. This often happens after a civil war, when a government has been destroyed and adversary groups are fighting to take its place.
John Milton defines anarchy as, “Anarchy is the sure consequence of tyranny; or no power that is not limited by laws can ever be protected by them.” Moreover, Jeremy Bentham says, “Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.”
Cruelty and tyranny is rampant in our country. On the one hand our officials consider themselves above the law and they are corrupt. They violate the human rights. They usurp land, accept bribe, and support the criminals. On the other hand, Taliban militants are destabilizing the country and terrorizing people. They use many methods to kill innocent Afghan civilians, male, female and children! Taking over power in Afghanistan is their aim.
In the patriarchal society of Afghanistan, women suffer cruelties indoors and outdoors. Despite being busy with household chores, they fall victim to inhuman acts such as physical torture, mutilation, and even death. Their schools are still set on fire and in insecure parts of the country; they do not dare go to school.
Our culture, religious values and social norms are eroding. Western culture has invaded Afghanistan, especially amongst our younger generation. Our moral standards and values are being replaced by outside ones. This is a cause of serious concern.
When a country is in limbo, can we still claim that we do not live in a state of chaos and anarchy? In my point of view, when a country’s officials are corrupt, there will be no law and order.
Cruelty and injustice are very prominent across the country. If you have money or power, you will be idolized otherwise your humanity will go under question. People are surrounded in the triangle of power, possession and deception.
Religious laws are debated in a hot manner; however in practice they are ignored. Indeed, if religious values were respected and practiced in their true forms, the society would not drop in such an unlucky situation. Hence, religion is also marginalized from the personal and collective life of our people. As far as religious laws and morality are not brought back in active use, our society will not develop. John Foster Dulles say very truly, “Economic and military power can be developed under the spur of laws and appropriations. But moral power does not derive from any act of Congress. It depends on the relations of a people to their God. It is the churches to which we must look to develop the resources for the great moral offensive that is required to make human rights secure, and to win a just and lasting peace.”
It is debated that we need a fundamental change not only in politics but also in the social, cultural and educational fields.
As the ambition for presidency wets the appetite of our politicians, the situation may become worse. When the foreign forces withdraw, insecurity will result. There may also emerge sectarian violence and racial tension which might change the country into a battlefield.
The deteriorating security situation has cast a cloud over Afghan people. Civilians are losing their lives every week through deadly attacks carried out by Taliban militants. The President seems unconcerned about these matters! People are disappointed!
I think it is still not too late for our officials and political leaders to ask themselves why the country is so deep in challenges. Why should Afghanistan be known as the most corrupt or the highest opium producing country? Why, are challenges being compounded daily? Why the situation is worsening? What are the solutions and what measures should be taken to pull the country out of the current disorder?