The following is a true story as relayed by an Afghan friend who has been corresponding with me about life in his country since the Taliban took power last August. The names have been changed.
***
Dear David:
I know a young man, Musa, and a young woman, Shirin, who live in Kabul. They both come from Bamyan, where they met at school and fell in love in the 9th grade. At first, they were very happy just to be able to see each other in class. During vacation week, they met surreptitiously beneath the trees or next to the raceway in the village. When they couldn’t do that, Musa walked close to Shirin’s home, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just looking at each other was enough for them to feel good for the rest of the week apart.
As they grew older, their attraction grew. But when their relationship became known at the school their classmates made fun of them and Shirin’s family told her she was forbidden to see Musa any longer.
In Afghan society, what is considered an illicit relationship brings shame for the girl and her family. If a parent finds out their daughter has a relationship with any boy, the girl will be blamed, beaten or even killed, because they believe their daughter has disgraced them. Therefore, if a girl should fall in love with someone, she tries to keep it secret.
This is especially true with the Taliban in control of the country. Sharia law dictates that if a man and a woman have such a relationship, they will be killed by stones thrown at their heads.
Shirin and Musa were too much in love to stay apart despite the scandal and they continued seeing each other, including after they finished high school two years ago. Then, one year ago, Musa decided he had to end their relationship because he was a college student and couldn't provide for their expenses if they got married. After hearing this news, Shirin became despondent and tried to commit suicide by ingesting a packet of tablets. Her family took her to the hospital and she survived.
After this, Musa and Shirin again resumed their relationship and got engaged. But he still cannot afford to marry her.
Recently, Shirin left her parents’ home after a family quarrel and asked Musa’s mother what she should do. Her future mother-in-law said there was no choice – she had to go back to her own parents’ house. (This has been the steadfast position of both families throughout their relationship.)
For now Shirin has returned to her parents’ home, where she suffers their constant rebukes, and Musa is continuing with his university studies. Their story does not yet have an ending.
***
Thank you to the small group of people who have helped me from time to time with various aspects of my Afghan friend’s situation. This is 22nd conversation I have published.
TODAY’S NEWS:
‘It’s Chaos’ as Schools Confront Omicron — After an unrelenting spike in cases, a small but growing list of districts — including Newark, Atlanta, Milwaukee and Cleveland — moved temporarily to remote learning. (NYT)
U.S. Covid Cases Top One Million After Holiday Backlog (WSJ)
COVID case counts may be losing importance amid omicron (AP)
Congress is experiencing an unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases, with the seven-day positivity rate at a congressional test site surging to 13% from just 1% in late November, the Capitol's attending physician said. (Reuters)
When Three Shots Are Not Enough — People with compromised immune systems are getting unapproved fourth or fifth Covid-19 shots, despite uncertainty about their safety or effectiveness. (NYT)
Australian COVID-19 cases soared to a pandemic record as the Omicron variant ripped through most of the country, driving up hospitalization rates as the once-formidable testing regime buckled under lengthy wait times and stock shortages. (Reuters)
Attorney General Merrick Garland plans speech on Jan. 6 investigation for Wednesday (WP)
Trump came so dangerously close to successfully orchestrating the overthrow of the U.S. government last year that he only needed a few extra radical loyalists to pull it off, according to an essay on the conservative website The Bulwark. Americans can shrug off the insurrection as violence by a bunch of disorganized "crazies," but the “second way of looking at 2020 is that the attempted coup came much closer to succeeding than many would admit and was just a dress rehearsal for 2024,” Philip Rotner wrote. [HuffPost]
Trump Endorses Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Far-Right Prime Minister — Democracy in Hungary has been backsliding under Mr. Orban, whose efforts to consolidate power have caused consternation in the European Union. (NYT)
As Jan. 6 anniversary approaches, fear, disbelief and anger still felt in Capitol Hill neighborhood (WP)
The U.S. Congress' probe of the deadly January 6 assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters soon begins weeks of public hearings that will put the investigation in the spotlight as campaigning intensifies for the November elections. Here's an hour-by-hour look at the assault on the Capitol. (Reuters)
Just days before the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Trump endorsed a man whom much of Europe considers a threat to democracy: Hungary's Victor Orbán. The former president’s Orbán endorsement comes as pro-Trump groups and media outlets have become increasingly fond of the Hungarian leader. “It’s more evidence that the GOP has embraced Hungarian-style electoral autocracy as its model,” said professor and author Ruth Ben-Ghiat. “Which is bad news for American democracy.” [HuffPost]
If we are to save our democracy, there must be a reckoning for the Jan. 6 attack (Eugene Robinson/WP)
Another Far-Right Group Is Scrutinized About Its Efforts to Aid Trump — The organization, called 1st Amendment Praetorian, is not as well known as the Oath Keepers or the Proud Boys, but it worked closely with pro-Trump forces in the months after the 2020 election. (NYT)
Facebook groups topped 10,000 daily attacks on election before Jan. 6, analysis shows (WP)
Less than half of GOP say 1/6 was very violent: AP-NORC poll (AP)
Afghan agents pour 3,000 litres of liquor into Kabul canal — Selling and consuming alcohol was banned even under the previous Western-backed regime, but the Taliban, known for their austere brand of Islam, are stricter in their opposition to it. (Money Control)
Afghanistan's blue mountain lakes deserted as tourists stay away (Reuters)
Floating offshore wind farms could allow California to achieve 60 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045. (Atlantic.)
Verizon, AT&T delay 5G rollout plans again, bowing to aviation safety concerns (WP)
A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November (AP)
Elizabeth Holmes is found guilty of four counts of fraud. (NYT)
DNC staff votes by ‘overwhelming margin’ to unionize (Politico)
China, Russia, Britain, the United States and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin. (Reuters)
"Amazon is focused on new ways to get users to interact with Alexa, such
as in-home devices with screens, Alexa-enabled headphones, and
applications for cars. (Bloomberg)Jack Dorsey and Marc Andreessen are still beefing over crypto (Protocol)
The ancient secrets revealed by deciphered tablets (BBC)
Happy perihelion 2022! Earth reaches its closest point to the sun for the year (Space.com)
Japanese automaker Toyota is poised to outsell General Motors in the United States in 2021, which would mark the first time the Detroit automaker has not led U.S. auto sales since 1931. (Reuters)
Women 32% more likely to die after operation by male surgeon, study reveals (Guardian)
Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith Steps Down to Found News Startup —
Justin Smith sees opportunity to help address a crisis in trust among news consumers, and he has recruited Ben Smith of the New York Times to lead its future newsroom. (WSJ)
California twins born 15 minutes apart in two different years — A set of fraternal twins born in California have achieved an extremely rare feat - their birthdays fall in different years. Alfredo Antonio Trujillo was born at 23:45 local time on New Year's Eve of 2021. His sister Aylin Yolanda Trujillo arrived just 15 minutes later, at the stroke of midnight on 1 January 2022. (BBC)
What We Get Wrong About Emotions — Fear, excitement, disgust: These feelings don’t deflect us from good judgment. They help guide it. (Atlantic)
The Onion: 20 Years Later — Each week, we review The Onion from exactly 20 years ago to laugh, see what holds up and what pop culture references we forgot about. (James daSilva/Substack)
NASA Scientists Confirm Earth Dating The Moon (The Onion)
TODAY’S LYRICS
“In Dreams”
A candy-colored clown they call the sandman
Tiptoes to my room every night
Just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper
Go to sleep, everything is alright
I close my eyes then I drift away
Into the magic night, I softly say
A silent prayer like dreamers do
Then I fall asleep to dream my dreams of you
In dreams I walk with you
In dreams I talk to you
In dreams you're mine all of the time
We're together in dreams, in dreams
But just before the dawn
I awake and find you gone
I can't help it
I can't help it
If I cry
I remember that you said goodbye
It's too bad that all these things
Can only happen in my dreams
Only in dreams
In beautiful dreams
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