David Rohde and Kristen Mulvihill (2010) tell their alternating stories of David’s kidnapping by the Taliban, which lasted 7 months. And, in doing so they reveal much more than the difficult to imagine the situation this event created for the newly wed couple, their families, friends, and colleagues. David and Kristen also take their readers through the twists and turns of the Afghan and Pakistan tribal relationships along with the deprivation and disenfranchisement that 30 years of war, occupation, and international politics of exploitation have wrought on these people. Afghan women and Pakistani women are noticeably absent from David’s accounts as just one burqa-enclosed woman crosses his path ~ literally ~ as he is taken on a transport during captivity. At the same time, Kristen allows us to travel the twists and turns of governmental and non governmental players in the side industry of the Afghan war: kidnapping.
One statement by David stands out for us at Help Women Heal, Inc.
“Churchill was wrong. All Pashtuns are not inherently violent. They are deeply disenfranchised. The biggest difference between the Pashtuns who kidnapped me and the Pashtuns who saved my life is education” (pp. 305-306).
HWH knows this is an important read for all U.S. taxpayers ~ especially students. When we are asked why we aren’t raising $$$ for U.S. students, we explain, “HWH isn’t charity; it is justice.” A Rope and a Prayer can help explain why we want U.S. taxpayers to partner with us ~ to become informed and to accept this opportunity to spread some healing and hope for generations of Afghan women and their children!
Best read of 2010! Great gift for twenty-somethings!