Afghan Press Release from Michael Basman

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John Upham
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Afghan Press Release from Michael Basman

Post by John Upham » Sun Aug 22, 2021 11:50 am

The following appeared in my INBOX today from Michael:

THERE WILL BE A RALLY OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT IN LONDON
AT 11 am ON 24th AUGUST 2021 ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN (AND THE MEN WHO ARE
TRYING TO PROTECT THEM)

PLEASE COME
Michael Basman

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN
We have a duty of care to protect the majority of people in Afghanistan. That majority is primarily made up of people who do not normally carry weapons – women and the children of the country.
It is time we ditched the stereotyped way of thinking that sees only men, and often men of violence, as the natural leaders of a country.
On a recent radio program, the presenter asked “What is the average 20 year old Pashtun boy in Afghanistan going to think about the fact that foreign troops have been in his country for 20 years? He will, of course, be trying to throw them out.” The question is flawed by automatic thinking. Why does it not ask “what is the average 20 year old girl in Afghanistan going to think about the situation in her country, worried about her education, her freedom, her personal safety, and that of her family and children?”
This is not a call for women to take up arms – that is an outmoded male approach. Women can now realise the power of their voices and build on all the progress they have made in recent decades due to education and influence; and they will be heard.
It should be quite possible to reserve vast tracts of land in the Sahara or the Gobi desert for the men of violence to recreate their Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings fantasies to their hearts content. We need to ensure that women and children (and any responsible men) are not caught up in the cross fire.
Mike Basman, August, 2021
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Tim Spanton
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Re: Afghan Press Release from Michael Basman

Post by Tim Spanton » Mon Aug 23, 2021 10:58 am

John Upham wrote:
Sun Aug 22, 2021 11:50 am
The following appeared in my INBOX today from Michael:

THERE WILL BE A RALLY OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT IN LONDON
AT 11 am ON 24th AUGUST 2021 ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN (AND THE MEN WHO ARE
TRYING TO PROTECT THEM)

PLEASE COME
Michael Basman

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN
We have a duty of care to protect the majority of people in Afghanistan. That majority is primarily made up of people who do not normally carry weapons – women and the children of the country.
It is time we ditched the stereotyped way of thinking that sees only men, and often men of violence, as the natural leaders of a country.
On a recent radio program, the presenter asked “What is the average 20 year old Pashtun boy in Afghanistan going to think about the fact that foreign troops have been in his country for 20 years? He will, of course, be trying to throw them out.” The question is flawed by automatic thinking. Why does it not ask “what is the average 20 year old girl in Afghanistan going to think about the situation in her country, worried about her education, her freedom, her personal safety, and that of her family and children?”
This is not a call for women to take up arms – that is an outmoded male approach. Women can now realise the power of their voices and build on all the progress they have made in recent decades due to education and influence; and they will be heard.
It should be quite possible to reserve vast tracts of land in the Sahara or the Gobi desert for the men of violence to recreate their Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings fantasies to their hearts content. We need to ensure that women and children (and any responsible men) are not caught up in the cross fire.
Mike Basman, August, 2021
stereotyped way of thinking How true.

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