NY Times photo

[AlphaChiGirl]

Okay, in today's Times, there is a picture of a woman, who took off her required hair and facial covering. Women's faces have not been seen in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over. Many people are skeptical about this, because Kabul could possibly go back to the Taliban--and this woman and many others like her could end up in severe jeopardy.

How does everyone feel about this? Should they feel free to do this, or should caution and discretion be the key?

[TechAPhi]

That is what has been missing in Afghanistan. The fact that women now have the courage to take off their veils (burquas) and men are shaving their beards says a great deal about the changes that are taking place.

Women should be free to wear the veil...or not. Men should be free to grow their beards...or not.

I think the fact that they are not cowering in fear anymore can only be a positive thing.

They are taking the risk...

Daring to play music. Daring to dance. Daring to show their faces (women by lifting the veil, men by shaving their faces). I hope that, as in former communist countries, once they have taken these initial baby steps, they will be emboldened never to allow themselves to be "imprisoned" like this again.

With every step comes risk. I just pray they will continue to have courage in spite of the risks.

Just my two cents.

Jen

[justamom]

You are so right Jen. They have to want freedom enough to take those risks. They must understand they can't be passive or they will backslide into another dictatorship perhaps an even "angrier" one.

AlphaChigirl, you do see the problem though. It still isn't a "given" that the Taliban have retreated vs regrouping. If the Pakistan, Taliban forces make it into Afghanistan, we could see the fighting regain momentum BUT if the citizens of Afghanistan start participating now, unrest may be containable until the new government is in place.

[carnation]

I can certainly understand why they want to throw caution, and those nasty burqas, to the winds. In 1985, I took several American Girl Scouts to an encampment in Singapore and there were several conservative Muslim girls there. It was Ramadan and they couldn't eat during the day, no matter how active we got. Not only that, but they were covered up in black in that heat and some nurses who worked with the Muslims there said that the girls and women were always getting revolting skin and scalp infections because those parts of their bodies were never exposed to the sun, never got a chance to dry out.

Can you imagine the exquisite freedom of having the wind run through your hair after years of coverage?