They Don’t Grow Flowers In Afghanistan
Published after 9/11 2001by Maria Panlilio
(Written immediately after 9/11, this is dedicated to all the heroes of the WTC attack, all the persecuted women of Afghanistan, and all the forced slaves of the world.)
They don’t plant seeds to grow flowers in Afghanistan
None to express affection for their mummified women
Who live their lives without respect, warmth and inspiration
How can there be love when one is treated as subhuman?
In the desert of hell the Talibans plant bullets and guns
Iraq, Philippines, US, Europe, Sudan, Algeria, Pakistan
Throughout the world Osama bin Laden buys young men
Enslaving the world’s forsaken and troubled minds
One gun for each young man, slavery for mankind
The seeds of evil philosophy sprout among the Afghans
The young men grow, and now it’s harvest time
Americans plant trees that scrape the sky in Manhattan
Made of steel, earthquakes they could withstand
But on Sep 11, towering trees burn and fall to the ground
As the Al Qaeda slaves execute the works of the demons
Murdering more than five thousand of our innocent civilians
Gripped with terror and disbelief we hug our loved ones
While the Red, White and Blue waves all over the land
As we sing the Republic’s Hymn in our hearts and minds
We lay flowers where dust and debris cover the grounds
Flowers we give to express our love and affection.
And they don’t grow flowers in Afghanistan.
Strange Alliances Form
In U.S. Campaign To Fight
Global Terrorism
“Either you’re with us, or you are with the terrorists,” declared President Bush. And most of the free world jumped the bandwagon of coalition. Unfortunately, this new alliance includes those ruling regimes that have provided refuge to the world’s terrorists, as well as those who engage in chattel slavery like Sudan’s National Islamic Front, which harbored Osama bin Laden for six years.
Osama bin Laden buys young men from all over the world with guns and raise them to become the most feared terrorists. In Uganda, it costs one Kalashnikov assault rifle for every child bin Laden buys. In Sudan he uses the children as forced labor on the marijuana fields that fund his international terrorism network. Sudan has been a training ground for terrorists with at least 17 training camps and the target is to install Islamic fundamentalist governments in east and central Africa by 2002.
Since 1994, Sudan has abducted at least 8,000 Ugandan children and forced them to serve as soldiers or sex slaves, or traded into slavery, many to bin Laden, in exchange for guns and ammunition. Some of these slaves have escaped and testified before the U.S Congress about Sudan’s own jihad—terrorizing, killing and enslaving black African civilians.
Before September 11, the Sudan Peace Act, which imposes capital sanctions against foreign companies who continue to do business with Sudan was about to be passed. In the wake of the USA attack, Congress has tabled action on the proposed legislation and the US may soon reopen formal ties with Sudan who “promises to turn over several of bin Laden’s associates.”
The US already is waiving, easing or softening economic and military sanctions imposed against countries known for their human rights violations; who develop and test nuclear weapons; governments that come to power through a military coup d’etat; and even some countries charged with backing terrorism. For their cooperation during this “New War,” the Bush Administration is preparing major aid packages for these countries, which include Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Algeria, and lifting sanctions imposed against them. U.S. officials say that these countries have become very cooperative and have provided significant information on key terrorist figures in the Al Qaeda network and have promised to bring them to justice.
The sudden USA-Sudan alliance might have sacrificed the struggle for freedom for the tens of thousands of slaves in Sudan. Anti-slavery and modern abolitionist organizations that have worked so hard at getting the Sudan Peace Act are now watching the realization of their dreams fade from the country’s paradigm shift in foreign policy.
While I agree that fighting and ending global terrorism should be the central organizing principle of our country, we cannot abandon America’s performance on human rights to reward those brutal regimes who have “joined us” in our battle to shatter Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network.”
The United States must persevere in pressuring Sudan and other human rights abusive countries to clean up their acts.
What can you do
to make a difference
in stopping global slavery?
There are international anti-slavery organizations that exemplify the best of American values in their campaigns against enslaving regimes. If you want to make a critical difference in ending global slavery, you may start by logging on to iAbolish.com and learn about this modern day abolitionist movement.
From the Underground Railroad Movement to the electronic superhighway. Modern day abolitionists still help slaves escape to freedom. Many of the leading abolitionists of these contemporary times are young, educated, vocal and visible human rights activists. Their voices and organizations are strong, powerful and international. They observe, scrutinize and battle modern day slavery around the globe, untiringly fighting for the liberty of the victims.
Unlike their popular predecessors these 21st Century anti-slavery activists do not ride the imaginary railroad to freedom trails; instead, they navigate the cyberspace to take slaves to safety. There is no hiding in the dark, no keeping their identities a secret, no whispering in public or clandestine meetings to discuss their activities. In fact, you can log on to their websites and read about their missions, join the organizations, and contribute your financial support through the Internet. You can learn about their activities by subscribing to their newsletter, delivered to you through weekly e-mails.
--------------------------------© Copyright 2007 writeartista (UN: mariapanlilio at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Nice job, Maria. You show your political ideologies here -- another side of the multi-faceted woman. You never cease to amaze me.
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