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American Afghans Worry About Relatives in Homeland
by Sahar Kassaimah
LOS ANGELES, Oct 14 (IslamOnline) - As some American Afghans applauded the U.S. strikes against Taliban, others expressed sorrow and anger, confirming that a war against Afghanistan is not the solution.
However, all American Afghans are unified in their concern for their homeland, which before the war, already suffered from impoverishment, famine and starvation.
Mostly, they are concerned about their relatives and friends left behind in Afghanistan.
Harith Tarin, 22, an Islamic studies teacher at New Horizon School in Los Angeles, feels sad and angry for the innocent people already suffering in Afghanistan.
"I feel that no one understands the actual situation of Afghanistan," said Tarin.
"For the past 25 years, Afghanistan has been in the state of continuous war. The average person does not know and care who Osama bin Laden is, or if America is out to get him," added Tarin. "They only worry about finding their next meal and finding medicine for their children.
"When I hear the claims that civilians will not be affected by this war I cannot help but feel angry. For the past 25 years people have been saying that, but the friends and family I have lost say a different thing."
Mastora, an American Afghan woman, worries about her family in Afghanistan. "As an American Muslim and an Afghan, it is hard to me to watch the bombing in Afghanistan because I know it affects my family directly," said Mastora.
"This is also difficult because I feel I cannot share my sadness and sorrows with others the way I did on September 11th," added Mastora. "I pray for all the innocent people hurt wherever they are."
Soraya Faheem, 45, a mother of three, worries about her mother, sisters and relatives in her homeland.
"It is really so sad," said Faheem. "For how long should those innocent people in Afghanistan suffer?"
"They are struggling to live. They have suffered in the past because of the war and in the present because of the Taliban regime."
"And they will suffer in the future because of the U.S. strikes."
"Why should innocent people be punished for bin-Laden or Taliban's mistakes?"
"The U.S. confirms that civilians would not be affected. But how could we believe that if so far, almost 400 people were confirmed dead and 1,000 people are in hospitals," said Faheem. "Who are those dead people? They could be my relative, my friends or any innocent people."
"Afghan people have the right to live in peace like all other nations. But just Allah knows when this dream will come true."
Naeem, 48, a civil engineer and a father of two children, has many relatives in Afghanistan. "It is a very difficult situation," said Naeem. "The U.S. has the right to fight terrorism."
"But I wonder if the war is the right way and the right choice for America."
"As American Afghan, I am in a very difficult situation because my country 'America' is attacking my mother country 'Afghanistan'."
"I am against terrorist acts and against the Taliban regime. But I am also against the war because I believe that it will go on the expense of the innocent people who did not commit any crime and who does not even know why America is attacking them."
"They have no televisions, radios or Internet. They have no food, no covers and no shelters. Isn't so sad?"
"I have many relatives over there. I am so worry about them, but I cannot call them to see whether they are still alive," Naeem added
Another Afghan American woman, Khalida Aminzai, 24, a mother of one, feels angry for the innocent people in Afghanistan.
"This fight between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance has nothing to do with Islam. It is merely a tribal war between the Tajiks and the Pashtun," said Aminzai.
"If both sides truly loved Afghanistan they would have united a long time ago and stopped this pointless war."
"I cannot comprehend what the U.S. is trying to accomplish, they bomb these innocent starving people, and then at the same time they give them food," added Aminzai.
"The U.S. says this war is not against civilians," said Aminzai. "That is what we heard when Iraq was attacked.
"And now ten years later, we can see that the U.S. strikes against Iraq did not stop Saddam, but have only hurt the civilian population."
"The sanctions on Iraq have killed over 750,000 children, but could we say that Saddam was affected?"
"I strongly condemn what happened in New York, but I believe the war against innocent people is not the solution," added Aminzai.
Sara Noori, 17, an American Afghan, feels sorry for the innocent victims inside Afghanistan, although she approves the U.S. strikes against Taliban.
"Innocent victims are going to be killed. The fact is that a lot of Afghan people are happy because they are going to get the Taliban out," said Noori. "It is sad that innocent have to go through this, but it is the best."
"Taliban kind of deserved it because they killed Ahmad Shah Masood, our national hero," added Noori.
Another student, 13, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "I'm an Afghan girl, and I feel very bad about what is happening in Afghanistan. Many innocent people are being killed. I hope one day may Allah save our country and bring Osama bin Laden to justice. God bless Afghanistan."
Mahgoub Rahmani, 56, has no relatives in Afghanistan. "All my family and relatives have fled from Afghanistan," said Rahmani. "It is so hard to live over there."
"I think the Taliban should be punished for what they do. They should get them out, regardless of how much it will cost.
"I am sad for innocent people there, but they are suffering anyway because of the Taliban, and Allah will reward them in the hereafter."
Khalida Mansoory, 17, an American Afghan student, feels very disappointed for the innocent people in Afghanistan.
"Innocent people are suffering to death in Afghanistan because of some weak and nonsense idea of Taliban that volunteered to keep Osama bin Laden," said Mansoory.
"I can't tell whether Osama bin Ladan is actually responsible for these attacks or not," she added. "But I can tell that putting the life of thousands of people in danger to save his own life is not related to Islam."
"He should think about the life of all innocent people who are dying from bombing and not about his own life.
"I am very sad and desperate for this situation since all my family are under the target in Afghanistan and I don't have any news to notify me whether they are dead or alive," said Mansoory.
"I cannot concentrate on my schoolwork and my daily life because of all these situations that is happening every day and the innocent people are suffering from the consequences."
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