See Inside Quote of the Week 2. Personal Essays 6. Star Related “Do not wait for leaders; do 3. Short Story 7. Literary it alone, person to person." 4-5. News 8. Interview - Mother Teresa Saturday, March 04, 2017 Vol. 2, No. 67 Star Educational Society Weekly Interstellar (adjective): situated or occurring between the stars; conducted, or existing between two or more stars Happy International Women’s Day 10 inspirational quotes from Afghan women and our friends at Free Women Writers http://www.freewomenwriters.org/10inspirationalquotesbyafghanwomen/ his International Women’s Day, and the world a better place. Every week ity in many parts of the country, Afghan push their country forward. Here are we are celebrating the wisdom a new story of horrifying violence against women continue to be imprisoned for ten powerful quotes from some of these and resilience of ten Afghan women is uncovered in Afghanistan and being raped, falling in love or marrying women that will motivate you to rededi- women who are using their the public lashings of women by Taliban by choice. Despite all this, the women cate yourself to gender-equality. T voices to make Afghanistan seem to have become a reoccurring real- of Afghanistan are risking their lives to 1. Sonita Alizadeh, Rapper 2. Zarghuna Kargar, Journalist and Author 3. Mahnaz Rezaie, Writer and Ac- 4. Humira Saqib, Activist and Director of 5. Sahraa Karimi, Filmmaker and Activist of Dear Zari tivist Afghan Women’s News Agency “We, Afghan women, must “To the women of my be- “Afghan women are no longer silent. They “We, Afghan women, must fight “We are working for equity, justice and remember that opportunities loved country: believe in are a force for progress. From now on, if we for our rights and work towards equal rights in a country where women are are rare therefore we must use yourselves. You are strong. have sons, we will teach them to stand up our economic and intellectual in- imprisoned for the simple fact of existing, them efficiently to grow, to Speak up about your dreams for girls, and if we have daughters, we will dependence. A woman who is de- stoned by illegal courts, and raped at ter- make ourselves, to learn, and and your goals every day so make sure they know their value and re- pendent on the financial support rifying rates. These words are not merely to improve. It is then that we that everyone knows that you member the struggles of the women before of her father, brother or partner is slogans, they are the sound of alarm we are will become a force for prog- exist and you have the right them. Our struggle continues but our hope more vulnerable to violence and rising under the ears of radical terrorists, ress in our country and no one to choose.” will not fade.” oppression.” Taliban and other misogynists.” can deny our power.” 6. Shahla Zaland, Mu- 7. Parween Pazhwak, Author 8. Lina Rozbih, Journalist 9. Sana Safi, Journal- 10. Dr. Alema Alema, Director of Women’s Political sician and Singer “I want the new generation of Afghan and Poet ist Participation Committee in Afghanistan “Afghan women are women and girls to work and work “I want the women of my “Women must protect “Afghan women are not made aware of their political no longer in cages. We persistently. We cannot bring about a country to know that they women. I think we rights. We must vote with awareness. We must study will hold our heads movement without solidarity. Isolation are equal to men in the eyes need to believe that every candidate’s strategies in regards to women. We high and continue to kills our self-confidence. We need to of religion, of civil laws, and it is our duty to fight should vote not for people, but for strategies that sup- fight for our rights and believe in ourselves and we must nour- humanity. God created for our own rights and port women’s rights. This time, we should not be si- dignity.” ish that in one another.” them equal.” that of other women.” lenced.” A sunset of sorrow Bakht Begum reveals Afghan government Relationship between It was several weeks that I was just the talents of women planning exports Culture and Language staying at home, feeling depressed and Once upon a time in a land far away, strategy It is first necessary to understand and alone. My mom and nephew, Hayatul- an orphan lived. She had torn clothes Ministry of Commerce and Industry realize what the meanings of both cul- lah, urged me to go outside. Since the and shoes with so many holes that they of Afghanistan is trying to make a ture and language are. Understanding weather was good and the Chehel didn’t keep her balance between the very close relationship between Dokhtaran Mountain is near my house, feet from touching importing and these two huge concepts is vital and I agreed to go for a walk. Everybody the ground and exporting. Based on fairly complicated. Culture is defined thought it would make me feel better. she was very available statistics, as gathered ideas, beliefs, morals, cus- The summit of Chehel Dokhtaran talkative.... Afghanistan has toms, laws, and traditions. Culture is a Mountain,... Page 2 Page 3 over... Page 4 part of every human being.... Page 6 Afghanistan’s Approach to Russian Diplomacy:... Page 5 Vol.2, No. 67 Personal Essays A sunset of sorrow reached the summit just as the sun was beginning to set. The sky became totally red, like blood. The vision of this unusu- al sunset made me relive the horrible, bloody night of the October attack at the Sakhi Shrine. I was at the shrine with my friends, Abass and Ali, and Ali’s grandparents. Ali and I were outside the mosque, talk- ing and visiting in a corner of the beau- tiful tiled courtyard. While we chatted, Ali’s grandparents and Abbas were inside praying. That’s when the attack began. I can’t write about the details of that night. When I start writing, I am overwhelmed with sadness and pain. Ali’s grandpar- ents and our dearest friend, Abbas, were killed on that unforgettable night. The fresh and painful memories of About the author: Hakim Nasiri is a Star the attack came rushing back to me on the alumnus and student in the 12th grade. summit of Chehel Dokhtaran Mountain. He is a current student in Star’s TOEFL The image of the sunset made me feel unhappiness, hardships, poverty, and and corruption have stolen our lives, our course and plans to study his bachelor’s the pain suffered by Abbas, Ali’s grand- war. They have been deprived of educa- comfort and our happiness. degree abroad. parents, my own grandparents, and my tion, liberty, unity, and human rights. Standing on the summit of Chehel It was several weeks that I was just ancestors. Hayatullah photographed the People do not have decent access to Dokhtaran Mountain, I looked at the city staying at home, feeling depressed and blood red sunset. Although the image is knowledge, transportation systems and below me full of smoke and dust. I saw alone. My mom and nephew, Hayatullah, peaceful and beautiful to other people, it modern communication. They suffer several decades of sorrows in that view. urged me to go outside. Since the weath- is an absolutely tragic picture for me. In from inadequate food, shelter and other The west of Kabul is just a desert of hard- er was good and the Chehel Dokhtaran this photo, I see the bloody body of my essential things. Our government does ships and sadness. Mountain is near my house, I agreed to friend, Abass, and many others at the not pay attention to the basic necessities The events of my country have been go for a walk. Everybody thought it would Sakhi shrine. I remember the many re- we require and the suffering of Afghan so tragic that I cannot express them in make me feel better. cent attacks in Kabul, the tragic history of people never ends. words. However, Hayatullah’s photo- The summit of Chehel Dokhtaran Afghan people and the thousands of Haz- We were born in a country with no graph from that afternoon conveys my Mountain, located in the west of Kabul, aras who were killed just like them. Only security or peace - a place where safety volumes of unspoken and unwritten is higher and more beautiful than other their names and memories are alive. and modern conveniences are only a mi- words of grief. parts of the mountain. Hayatullah and I My ancestors have suffered so much rage. War, poverty, misery, greed, religion is the existence of gangsters who victimize men and women in Kabul every day. Gangsters rob the shops, Life in Kabul steal mobile phones and money and, if the victim The Afghan dream does not give them what they want, the thieves may Hey life, we are so tired of injure or kill the targeted person.Therefore, it is dif- you! We know that you are not ficult and risky for people to go out to have fun and entirely responsible for our situ- travel back and forth to work each day. There is al- ation. But leave us in peace, ways a fear of getting killed in suicide terrorist at- please. For many Afghans, dying tacks or being robbed. is better than living. Living in a Population density is another major issue. war-torn country is not an easy Many people have moved from villages and remote thing.