I've been following a program on PBS that features school-aged children in various parts of the world. The series, entitled "Back to School," follows children in Nigeria, Benin, India, Afghanistan, Romania, Japan, and Brazil. (The program is available online.)
What struck me the most about the series is the acknowledgement, in the first episode, that if you are poor and female, the odds are against you in certain corners of the world when it comes to education. In many cases, the daily obligations of girls severely limit their chances for learning the basic skills of reading, writing, and math.
As we debate our future role in Afghanistan, I hope we take into consideration the fact that the displacement of the Taliban has opened up educational opportunities for young girls across the country. In short, this war, which begins its ninth year this month, is not just about keeping the Taliban at bay--it's also about giving a large segment of the Afghan population a chance to educate themselves, despite the horrific hurdles religious despots place in their path.
Perhaps we have a cause to fight for after all?
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