The candle of Afghanistan’s modern Dark Ages

An independent review of Anne E. Brodsky’s first hand account of the
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan

‘With All Our Strength’ – Published June 2003, Routledge

The aftermath of 11 September forced the world to fully realise that terrible atrocities had long been taking place in Afghanistan, and that for equally as long little real help of intervention had been forthcoming from the outside world. Western governments chose to look away through the turmoil years of brutal civil war, the Soviet invasion and 10 years of resistance, the Taliban.

Formed in 1977 and undeterred from their evolving goals despite the assassination in 1988 of their founder leader known simply as Meena, a relatively small underground group of dedicated women calling themselves the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan continued risking their own, and sometimes the lives of their family members and friends, to spread the message of equality of human rights and secular democratic

Anne Brodsky handing small toys to children at a RAWA orphanage outside of Rawalpindi Pakistan in December 2002

freedom, and to deliver education among their people in a struggle almost unseen by the wider world. And all this in a country where education for girls aged over eight became outlawed under Taliban rule.

Almost unseen, until 11 September.

Revolutionary and underground resistance groups have existed since the dawn of society. Only very few through history have grown from national to international prominence and effect. Few if any of those who resorted to the use of arms or violent means to achieve their aims survived intact in the longer term to pursue those aims. Others, who refused to regress to violence, gradually vanished as the need for their existence diminished — yet others have been brutally and ruthlessly crushed by the oppressors against whom they struggled.

With All Our Strength, Anne E. Brodsky’s impassioned firsthand account of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, stands as a key literary cornerstone in documenting the need for a greater awareness of an all-embracing approach towards change for any true betterment and progress within society. It is a tale of triumph and perseverance against the tragedies of brutal oppression.

It recounts the stories of a people, whose choice of a hugely difficult and dangerous lifestyle we in the West would say calls for constant utmost dedication and bravery, but which RAWA supporters simply see as what needs to be done.

From her independent perspective gleaned through conversations with many RAWA members and supporters, who were and still are forced to operate in high measures of bravery and secrecy, Anne Brodsky’s impassioned account warns of the potential dangers in steadfastly holding to accepted values and in refusing to sanction the possibilities achievable through enlightened change.

With All Our Strength portrays how the Internet can be of immense benefit. It was not until 1997 that RAWA was able to access the web and to create their own web site (www.rawa.org) and that elevated their relative isolation from the rest of the world to a far broader international awareness.

A community psychologist and assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Women’s Studies Programme at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Anne Brodsky compiled her account after meeting, living and working with RAWA members and supporters in Pakistan and Afghanistan

It pulls focus on the accepted and acceptable organisation and structure of society the world over – from gender separation in educational systems that are geared towards material or financial profits to the very real and continuing prejudice and discrimination caused by inadequate education and non-secular rule.

It reveals why people cannot afford to ignore the poisonous seeds of unintentional or deliberate oppression within their midst, for to do so will only result in them later reaping the poisoned fruit of those seeds with each harvest.

It records the widespread disquiet that continues to be voiced within Afghanistan as, even after the US led military removal of the Taliban, brutal Northern Alliance warlords who were themselves guilty of atrocities prior to Taliban rule are reinstated to power in parts of the country.

Everybody should read this book. It is a vital piece of the jigsaw of progress towards freedom and equality the world over. Yet for a book such as this to have true impact, any misconceptions born of prejudice must first be set aside.

The book explores feminist separatism as viewed through the eyes of both female and male RAWA members and supporters. It examines the views of Afghanistan men towards male domination — men who were brought up in an environment where male domination, often ruthlessly enforced, was widely viewed as the norm.

Of particular note are the recorded thoughts and comments of men who were once themselves members of the Taliban or Northern Alliance and who admit to having participated in atrocities with those regimes, but who have relinquished their old ways to become supporters of and accepted by RAWA—a complete role reversal on the part of such men.

The foreword to the book, penned by RAWA, reads:

"...even as September 11 suddenly brought the world’s largest forgotten tragedy to the centre of attention, still most people and governments and media do not understand our reality. The tragedy of our country has been reduced to the image of the Taliban and the burka and a narrow 5-year period of our history…"

The world is a changing place. The ever-present threat to life encouraged the sense of human selfishness to prevail – self preservation. The reality of the need to survive against violent odds has been reduced by the developments of people everywhere — yet the individual perception of the true reality of the need to survive against violent odds has not changed much at all in many people in many parts of the world. Ill-conceived perception still drives many of us and it is clear that root causes must be tackled to remove repressive negative attitudes towards change.

Anne E. Brodky’s penetrating and meticulously compiled book documents how RAWA has built itself upon the core principle of tackling such root cause.

This is a multi-faceted book that everyone should have the opportunity to read — those working for changes in civil or human rights, those working in or on behalf of government, and the ordinary individual at home. It is also an important book for all involved in the reporting industry as it records how the media stood back from on-going human atrocities in the world.

It is the hopes and aspirations of so many within Afghanistan who have found the courage to fight against terrible oppression. It is a witness to male insecurity and the dangers such insecurity can produce if not addressed.

"The work of RAWA must stand as a model for every group that struggles against the twin evils of oppression and violence. Brodsky’s account reveals the boundless courage of these warrior women, who have fought for basic human dignity while the rest of the world looked away."
       — Eve Kensler, author of The Vagina Monologues – sleeve note

With All Our Strength is a moving and biting portrayal of the remarkable bravery and resilience of Afghanistan’s people, led by women in a country that has traditionally oppressed women and has seen some of the most brutal abuses of human rights of the last thirty years.

RAWA began as a lone candle flickering in a dark night fighting to stay alight against a storm. Anne Brodksy’s book presents that flame to the world and thus helps ensure that it is nurtured and its light seen beyond the darkness within Afghanistan.

The author is donating her proceeds from the sale of the book to RAWA.

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ORDER DETAILS PLUS AN ON-LINE LINK TO AMAZON
- profits from using the Amazon link go to RAWA

With All Our Strength is published by Routledge, New York & London (hardback) [published June 2003] US $25.00 UK £14.99 ISBN: 0-41593492-3

Interviews with Anne Brodsky may be arranged through Aine Duffy: +44 (0) 207 842 2117

aine.duffy@tandf.co.uk

review compiled by keith harris

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