Tag: Afghanistan

Family’s Fallen Soldier

sennymcfly1 Comment

Dear Aunt Lela,

We didn’t know each other for very long. It was only recently that I got to experience the joy of being in your company. Every time we met you greeted me with a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. You were always so loving. It didn’t matter who I was or who anybody was for that matter, you loved them and welcomed them into your home. Your humor made everyone smile. Your children loved you dearly. Spending time with you and Uncle Nick showed me what having a big family was like and I loved it.

And who can forget your cooking? Soul food! Talk about your typical black family, getting together after months and sometimes years of not seeing each other and enjoying yummy food and family time. Delicious collard greens, mouthwatering macaroni, Dominoes and cigars in the back yard, Al Green playing on the stereo. Even after such a long period of being apart it was like we had never left. You brought the family together. You raised the family. It’s true I wasn’t there for most the family’s relationship, but since the few times that we have met, I’ve come to the conclusion that you are most definitely very important to me. I didn’t realize how much losing you would make me cry. We didn’t see it coming, or at least I didn’t. So, I guess my point is, if you are in Heaven or Paradise or wherever else we go when we die, know that I am sending you my love and prayers every day. If only we could have just one more day to spend together. The last family gathering. But, you are supposed to be there aren’t you? Love you Aunt Lela.

Your Great Niece,

Madisen

❤

Aunt Lela

R.I.P. Lela Norris

Afghanistan Women Cry in Fire

vabenissimoLeave a comment

To burn is the only form of expression allowed to Afghanistan women.

Having been Married and suffered at young age, they fail to find an escape.

Gulbar, for example, was rushed into a local hospital in Northern Afghanistan with horrid burn on her nearly deformed body and face. Her internal body scans and blind eye narrate the story themselves: she had been brutally abused by her husband.

In another case, after an argument, Salehah’s husband poured gasoline over her tied up body and set it on fire.

Zarghona was also burned by her father-in-law for not washing her husband’s clothes thoroughly. She was fifteen.

However, these three are not the only victims. So far, about 800 cases have been “officially” recorded for the abuse cases.

The unfortunate social, mental, and physical suppression continue to bring greater depression and slavery for these women.

So, they burn themselves in fire.

If they get to survive with a slim chance, they cry muted again.