Thankfulness...and humility

My back has been out for about 2.5 weeks now. Getting through the daily "stuff" takes a lot, especially with a toddler. So, while trying to take a nap I turned on the tube yesterday to get my mind off the pain. I chose CNN thinking I would see enough boring news blah blah blah that I would fall right to sleep. Boy, was I wrong.

CNN was featuring a story of the life of women in Afghanistan for the last 6 years. I was so captured by the story and images that I could not sleep nor relax. The women in this story, or in Afghanistan for that matter, would think of me as a woman of great wealth and luxury. I think of them as woman of great strength and power, though they are unable to demonstrate their strength and power in their current culture. These women continue to wear burkas, and many are found begging on the streets as they have no education or jobs. One woman featured in the story was a war widow...her husband had been killed by an American bomb. She was left to raise her two daughters. Her days consisted of begging on the streets. The cameras showed men laughing at and belittling her. Very few stopped to give her money. Other women remained in extremely abusive relationships. It was a free-for-all type of abuse....they could be abused by their mother-in-laws, husbands, brother-in-laws, or their own family. Many set themselves on fire to escape the abuse. The video, pictures, and stories are heart wrenching.

Not much has changed for these woman since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan 6 years ago, despite reports they are experiencing better treatment, living conditions, etc. since the Taliban is no longer in power. I live a life of great luxury compared to these women. I am free to make my own choices, state what is on my mind without fear, be independent, choose my relationships with significant others, obtain 23 years of education, and raise my child to be strong and independent yet compassionate toward others. Yes, I worked for it and Yes, I live in a different country. And there are no doubt social psychology issues within that culture which maintain the current state that I can't even begin to discuss here. However, I am grateful and thankful everyday for everything I have...this show and the story of these women is a fantastic reminder.

Now I'll go back to bitching about my in-laws...