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Afghans into Americans?

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Twinkling with Ninfa R. Leonardia

Whenever I think or see reports about what is happening in Afghanistan, I remember that our country, too, was once upon a time, invaded by the Japanese. And although we were then under the United States, there were never any plans of evacuating our people to the U.S. Today, we hear about evacuations of Afghans from their country now being overrun by their grasping neighbors, the Taliban, and I bet a lot of our countrymen even envy the Afghans for that privilege. Planeloads after planeloads of the natives have been transported to what must have been to them the land of milk and honey!

***

Although, many other people of various nationalities must believe there is no place like home, it seems a sure bet that a lot of people from several countries all over the world must envy the Afghans who have been airlifted by American transport, i.e. aircrafts themselves, to spare them from what could be the ravaging Taliban. I wonder, though, how much of their population had been “evacuated” to the U.S., and how many, also wanting to flee, had been left behind.

***

And then what would be the status of the evacuated Afghans? Would they be eligible for jobs, that is, for those who are skilled in some craft or business? And what about the language problem? How soon can they adjust? But of course that is not our problem to worry about, those “evacuees”, who may turn permanent residents, or even citizens later, must be quite happy and satisfied with their jobs. I hear, though, that some Asian countries, and others are not willing at all to accept Afghans as settlers in their countries. Pakistan, I hear is one of them.

***

I am sure those Afghans who had been evacuated consider themselves very lucky, compared to those who either opted to stay behind, or those unable to get on the planes hauling the evacuees and getting them out of the way before the Talibans rushed in. Our sympathies to the women and girls there, especially, because there are also reports that the Taliban are note very respectful of women and girls, especially those not of their own nationality. It must indeed, be a sad day in the exotic country that I liked reading about so much in the storybooks.

***

Is it true, though, that Afghan evacuees are not very welcome in the European Nations? Coalition forces have apparently withdrawn from that country which is now left to fend for itself. During the last World War, where the Philippines was also embroiled, our hopes lay in the eventual liberation by American troops. That did happen, but after several years, during which, perhaps, majority of our people were still hiding in towns and distant barrios where they had evacuated. I wonder if that is also the case in Afghanistan.

***

But one thing we can be grateful about is the way our people have accepted the use of masks in their everyday transactions, and even in their homes. It is such a simple means of keeping away the vicious virus from your person, but why do some people in some countries still get into arguments over its use? I came upon such an item that this is happening in the state of Florida, where it has become a cause for arguments in schools. I wonder if parents are getting into the picture and giving their own opinions about the matter to school authorities.

***

Ever since I was a student in high school, I had always been fascinated by Afghanistan, not only its name, but by its exotic-looking people, also known for being fierce tribesmen. That is why I sympathize with them, now that their country has been overrun by the Taliban that I once thought was just a tribe, but now apparently capable of battling with a well-known country like Afghanistan. Are there any countries willing to help Afghanistan, or will it be left to fend for itself in battling the marauding Taliban? Both countries are too distant for us, but one cannot help sympathizing or siding with the so-called underdog.

***

I forgot where I read or saw the item that named Manny Pacquiao and Kobe Bryant as two of the world’s sports icons. Wow! Our Manny P. has indeed gone places and got matched with the best! And why not? The guy has proven his mettle in the sports of boxing, just as Kobe had done in basketball. Me, I still grieve whenever I remember how Kobe died, with his daughter in a helicopter crash. I think he was really one of the most, if not the most admirable basketball stars that ever came to the horizon of sports. As for Manny, his record is also hard to break for any other in the sports he specializes in. If his last fight was not to our liking, let us remember that he is now 43 years old, which is about time he had hung up his gloves.*

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