Note: This is the latest in an ongoing series of discussions I have been having with a young Afghan friend about life under Taliban rule. I am concealing his identity for his safety.
***
Dear David:
I have been struggling with depression for a long time, at least since I was a teenager. Now as I am entering my third decade of life, I find I am depressed four or five days a week.
I have tried to discover the root of this suffering. That's probably why I got into philosophy and literature and started reading so many books, especially novels. Each author made me aware of one of the causes of my depression. Schopenhauer, Camus, and Dostoevsky had the greatest impact, although I have not yet read all of their works. In the process I have realized that my suffering is rooted in poverty and deprivation, personal failures, and a pervasive sense of despair.
Poverty is commonplace in Afghanistan. According to WFP's statistics, published on Twitter a few days ago, 9 out of 10 people in Afghanistan cannot get enough food to eat. That is true for my family. Our inability to meet our basic needs is probably the main cause of my depression.
Meanwhile there have been many failures in my life. As a student in high school and college, I did not succeed in being able to study in my favorite field, business administration, which led me to underachieve in academics generally.
After school, I applied to work in international institutions more than 50 times, but due to corruption, I was only shortlisted for the exam once or twice. I never got one of those jobs.
My emotional failures cannot be ignored either. They have also been common in my life. When I look back on my memories, I remember mainly a series of failures and humiliations.
Everyone has dreams and aspirations that they strive to achieve. For those of us who fail to reach any of our dreams, despair easily overwhelms us. My main personal dream has always been quite small but still unattainable: It is to escape from this place.
I wish to escape from a country where hunger, religious beliefs, and crazy people have joined hands and torn apart the peaceful and peaceful society we were trying to build.
But escape seems to be impossible.
This is not a complaint. This is the reality of an Afghan's life. Any Afghan who wishes to save himself from this misery feels as I feel.
It may be hopeless to get out but I will never stop trying because I am grateful for the things I do have – a nice family, kind friends, a healthy body, and someone whom I love.
***
Note: A recent survey of mental health in Afghanistan documentd a “highly traumatized population.”
NEWSLINKS:
Let’s Not Kid Ourselves: Afghanistan’s Taliban Regime Will Not Become More Inclusive (Lawfare)
Afghan girls’ will to learn is powerful. Even a bomb won’t crush it. (WP)
CNN is out with two new polls containing generally good news for Dems in two of the tightest Senate races in the country:
— Pennsylvania: Democrat Fetterman leads Republican Oz, 51% to 45%.
— Wisconsin: Republican Sen. Johnson holds only a slim one-point lead over Democrat Barnes, 50% to 49%. Likewise, encouraging numbers for Dems in three swing-state gubernatorial races: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
‘Nation’s Report Card’ shows new evidence of Covid-19’s devastating impact on US children’s education (CNN)
Math Scores Fell in Nearly Every State, and Reading Dipped on National Exam (NYT)
Rishi Sunak will be Britain's next prime minister (NBC)
Clarence Thomas freezes order for Lindsey Graham to testify before Georgia grand jury investigating 2020 election (CNN)
In contests for various secretary of state and attorney general posts, victories for GOP election deniers could put U.S. democracy itself at risk. The problem is particularly stark in places like Arizona, one of three swing states ― along with Michigan and Nevada ― where election deniers won GOP nominations for both secretary of state and attorney general. To vanquish the threat that Republicans pose, Democratic candidates need to win every race ― at least in major battleground states. [HuffPost]
Democrats are losing Latino voters as Republicans eye opportunities these midterms (NPR)
‘Trump is an unparalleled danger’ Woodward warns, following hours of interviews (Guardian)
Jury selection begins in the Trump Organization tax evasion trial (NPR)
Trump’s Business, Under Threat, Faces a Tough Test in Court (NYT)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told a New York Times reporter several times that she’s in “continuous” discussions with Trump about being his running mate if he decides to run for the presidency. Over the weekend, Trump alluded to running in 2024, saying he “will probably have to do it again.” [HuffPost]
Russia says it is preparing for contamination after ‘dirty bomb’ claims (Financial Times)
West rejects Russia’s ‘dirty bomb’ claim as Moscow activates counter-WMD forces (Politico)
Western countries also accused Russia on Monday of plotting to use a threat of a bomb laced with nuclear materialas a pretext for escalation in Ukraine. (Reuters)
Arshad Sharif killing: Prominent Pakistani journalist shot dead in Kenya (BBC)
Their America Is Vanishing. Like Trump, They Insist They Were Cheated. (NYT)
Forgotten U-2 pilots helped end the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago (WP)
Ethnic group says Myanmar air attack kills 80 at celebration (AP)
Sept. 11 Case Awaits Biden Administration’s Reply on Plea Deal (NYT)
U.S. home prices could fall as much as 20% next year (CBS)
Japanese currency continues to weaken in London (NHK)
1 in 10 Americans over 65 have dementia, study finds (CNN)
NASA proved it can deflect an asteroid. But spotting them is tricky. (WP)
Scientists Find an Ancient Stellar Catalog Written by Hipparcus Hidden in a Medieval Tome (Universe Today)
Swedish archaeologists find 17th-century warship (Guardian)
Nation Attempts To Fall Asleep By Doing Little Impression Of Sleeping (The Onion)
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