I know a rickshaw-puller in the sub-divisional town where I work. He is a good man in every possible way. But he loves his country liquor after a hard day’s labor. Then he turns into a monster. This same man is aware that adulterated country spirits may kill him any day. Will you call him good or bad now? And why does he drink such cheap poison? Why self-destruct?
ABC News asks such naive questions when it very seriously highlights the woes of Afghan youths. The latter seem to have received a double whammy. First their nation has been nearly bombed out of existence by the US and her allies. Now wicked and barbarous warlords are sowing poppy by the thousands of acres and everyone knows that what one sows, that shall be certainly reaped. Thus the growing menace of heroin addiction goes to justify the civilising effects of Western military presence in Afghanistan. ABC news in time tested journalism methods, has even named so and so for being the sad victims of the greed and uncontrolled power of depraved Afghan warlords. As if, no blame accrues to any developing nation for this growing addiction in the Afghan youth.
Why is Afghanistan so dependant on heroin production? Why are youth there increasingly turning towards heroin as a solace? The answers are so universal that what applies to Afghan youths, also applies to my local rickshaw-puller.
Both are trapped in such poverty that anyone who has access to a computer can never understand. What are only theories of economic development for us are lived realities for them. Imagine being trapped in a life where there is simply no avenue of self-improvement; no matter how hard you try and work. Imagine being nameless. Imagine being called merely a native, just another Afghan or a rickshaw-puller. The only certainty of their lives is grinding poverty. So they naturally turn to drugs and liquor. At least these provide some escape and relief. No matter the costs. None cares, after all.
Why are the poor so poor? Pat comes the answer. They are lazy and do not work. See what we have done with our nations and see what these underdeveloped third world countries have done with themselves. This is the most spacious argument ever put forward by unscrupulous first world nations. The Afghans and my rickshaw-puller are poor because the rich nations have robbed us all. They took our money, jewels and every conceivable natural resource. They are looting and ravaging Afghanistan and there is indeed no other way for the ambitious Afghani man to become rich save by cultivating poppy.
Reports such as these in the mainstream media just serve to buttress Western claims of Eastern decadence. Incidentally, my rickshaw-puller is called Amlesh. At least, he has a name but the nameless Afghan youth does not even have this luxury. He only has his drugs.
Via & Image: ABC News
