If I were a Mummy Blogger in Afghanistan, it’s possible I’d like to write about the same issues women all over the world write about each day. Perhaps, like many other bloggers, I’d talk about the daily grind of finding the balance of motherhood and career. I’d write about vaccinations, schooling, control underwear and whether we could afford the new bathroom renovation.
Or maybe not.
Maybe I’d take a few pictures of the garden and throw the roses I’d proudly picked in to my Grandmother’s vase for a fantastic instagram shot. I could list my top 10 Etsy online purchases and my 5 favourite pizza toppings. Maybe they’d be a shot of a badly iced birthday cake with a child’s toothless grin and a handful of candles.
Or maybe not.
Perhaps I’d write about my friend who was tied up and raped by her cousin’s husband. I could write about how she was thrown in jail for adultery after reporting it to the police. And how after assessing her options she’d decided the only hope for survival was to marry him.
Maybe I’d write about a sister or a cousin who was running away from my abusive husband. Perhaps I could show photographs of her face after her nose and ears were cut off, I would zoom in on her feet to show you exactly where he poured the boiling water.
It’s possible if I were a mother blogging in Afghanistan, that today may have been my last post. Today as I am walking to a religious festival with my family a suicide bomber will blow himself up – and I will be left lifeless on the ground with my children’s bodies draped over me.
But this would never happen.
If I was a mother in Afghanistan, I would never be able to blog.
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devastatingly true.
I do also wonder about our aboriginal communities here, if they had the facilities to blog or the capabilities. Would they blog about the daily sexual abuse, the suicide, the petrol sniffing, the stolen children, the alcohol that is killing them.
We are one privileged bunch of women to do what we are able to do.
Thought provoking post. Thank you.
I remember being shocked while reading ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ and thinking that, surely it couldn’t be like that still. I’ve seen several articles about these abuses and it’s incredible to me that such things can go on in this day and age. Thanks for the reminder, Kirsty.
Sends shivers
Where is the love? Truly loveless relationships indeed. Where is the justice? There is none.
So very upsetting. And so vey true. Every now and then I read something like this and I “remember” that not everyone has it as good as me.
It doesn’t seem right that we live in our cozy little homes, have food AND dessert on the table every night and buy christmas decorations for our tree, when women are being abused. Children are being left to die on the side of the road. Where did we go so wrong?
It’s funny cos just a few days ago I posted about how I’d bought Christmas decorations for $40 and hubby said that that wouldve fed a family in Afghanistan. I decided that one little thing I could do was pledge to donate 50c for every new “liker” until the 20th of December. A few hundred dollars won’t save the world. But it’s something I guess. If we all did just a little something we COULD change the world.
I can’t even fathom this life you describe. It just horrifies me that this is reality for people in our world.
Holy crap. I don’t have the guts to click on your links yet. Bloody hell.
I have goosebumps at the back of my skull.
It’s 8am in San Francisco, on a bright sunny day, and I’m getting ready ot take the kids to school and walk the dogs. I really, really didn’t want to read this post.
Shame on me.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own life and its (usually) minor dissatisfactions and then you get hit over the head with these types of stories. And then I think: There but for the grace of God go I.
I am forever grateful for being born in a free country (the Netherlands) where I had/have every choice and every chance.
I second what Rebekah says. Thanks Kirsty, for reminding us there’s a whole world out there, where normal has a very different guise.
Thanks Kirsty…you really made me count my blessings today.
Very poignant for me as I’ve just finished reading the Book Seller of Kabul. We in the west truely have a lot to be thankful for. x
Very good point Rebekah, it’s easy to forget/ignore what’s happening in our own back yard.
Great book as is The Kite Runner. I agree, it’s unbelievable that women continue to live like this.
I agree. My feelings exactly.
I haven’t read that one, will go and have a look now. xx
This post was sent to me by Nicole Melancon, the thirdeyemom. She suggested that I ask you to write with us, and I totally agree with her. We’d love to have you on board!
World Moms Blog is an international blog that writes from 17 countries about motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. You’d fit in fantastically!
You can contact me at worldmomsbloggmail .com, if you’re interested.
(Sorry to post this on a comment — I couldn’t find another way to contact you!)
Jennifer Burden
Founder/Editor of World Moms Blog
Thanks for this post. Makes you think and be more appreciative of your life – of our first world problems that shouldn’t even be a problem in the first place. We are so very lucky to be able to blog freely, share our random thoughts and we should really be grateful for the freedom we do have.
I’m sorry i missed this post, it’s alarming & all so true. I know we’re at war over there & few support it but seriously, if they only knew the difference it makes, education is the key, women are commodities & that is the most wrong thing ever!! Well written, love Posie