My Forbidden Face

I have been reading "My Forbidden Face: Growing Up Under the Taliban: A Young Woman's Story" by Latifa. As I was reading this story I was remembering an article I had read in a magazine a few years back, I found it ironic that the article that I had read was the one that got this girl exiled from her country. This story talks about how the Taliban captured Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 27, 1996. Until September 11, 2001, most countries ignored or even tolerated the Taliban's oppressive regime. Young Latifa is growing up in Afghanistan, living the same type of life that we enjoy and take for granite everyday. This book is her journal and observations of the life that was taken away from her versus the life she was forced to lead as the Taliban systematically tried to eradicate women from society and Afghanistan.

The Taliban banishes all signs of their past and leaves them with virtually no future. She calls out the Taliban's hypocrisy and denounces them from the religion of Islam. And Latifa, although oppressed, still manages to defy the Taliban although to serious risk to herself and family. When I finished this book I wanted to do all I could to support and defend Afghan people, especially the women who have lived under the Taliban's oppression. This Book made me feel I guilty for having such a good life, with all of its pitfalls, while women were being raped, murdered, hidden, oppressed and otherwise abused in another country. I recommend this book because it demonstrates the very humanity of the faceless nation about whose interest we all debate. Latifa puts a face on a current event and makes us identify with her. I am amazed that while this was happening, the United States and United Nations did not get involved. This makes me wonder what is happening with our Foreign Policy when it is well known that the Taliban took power illegally, and Pakistan was the only country that officially recognized their government. Where were we?

Many Americans like to turn their backs and pretend like they do not see anything. I remember when my house was robbed a few years back. It happened between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm when I was at work. I had neighbors on both sides that were retired and knew everything that went on in the neighborhood, but when my house was broken in to, they heard no alarm and saw nothing. I was pretty amazing because either a U-haul was used or many trips were made. That though sums