TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains a description of the Taliban's historic abuse of women. [In the past few days I have been glued to a group chat with Afghans in the diaspora. They are using every resource at their disposal to help abroad. Meanwhile, I watched as my own parents, who were born in Afghanistan, communicated with local families to help them evacuate their families to safety. The images of my compatriots clinging to U.S. military planes (open in new tab) and risking their lives to escape Taliban rule are in stark contrast to the country I grew up visiting as a girl before 2001.

My earliest memories are of frolicking through the streets of my family's village in Herat, a city known as the cultural center of Afghanistan that the Persian poet Rumi compared to an oyster pearl. (Open in new tab) I remember buying gum from street vendors with cute pastel-colored money, guzzling disgustingly large amounts of Fanta and cheesy corn puffs with my cousins who followed me everywhere, and returning home to a patriarch who would sweetly cuddle me in a heated blanket. My experience was nothing like what was portrayed in the news, in first-person shooter video games, or in Hollywood's yellow-tinted action movies. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to be in the comfort of my American home.

Now Afghanistan is suffering anew after 20 years of American occupation: the Taliban (opens in new tab) took over the country (opens in new tab), causing the Afghan government to collapse after the American withdrawal (opens in new tab) ended in chaos The Afghan government was in a state of chaos. One cannot help but wonder what the future holds for women, children, and families in this country. The Taliban (open in new tab) are known for banning women from education and employment, forcing young girls into marriage, killing children, destroying art and artifacts, raping and mutilating women.

It is horrifying to think what women's lives will be like under Taliban rule, but I am reminded of Toni Morrison's words (opens in new tab): no place for self-pity or fear." The Afghan women I know understand this. They are autonomous and have their own desires and will. They will not give up without a fight (opens in new tab). And while some women are bravely protesting (opens in new tab) this terrible new form of occupation in the streets, others are burning their degrees (opens in new tab) out of survival necessity.

As Americans and as global citizens, we must continue to defend these women. While doing so, we must be aware of the intentions behind the calls for safety and compassion and educate ourselves properly. To be an Afghan woman is to be exploited by congressmen, photographers (opens in new tab), and white women in power (opens in new tab) Since 9/11 and the beginning of the US invasion, American women have rallied to "save Afghan women and children." tried to justify the war in Afghanistan under the guise of feminism and concern. It was a perfect emotional ploy conceived to win the hearts and minds of Americans, a perfect execution of branding, and a way to get people into the war regardless of their political affiliation (opens in new tab). Today, we must not make the same mistake when it comes to caring for, funding, and securing the Afghan people.

Right now, there are too many hoops to jump through for the Afghan people to safely leave the country. We must urge Congress and the Biden Administration to protect Kabul's airport (open in new tab) and ensure that military and commercial aircraft can continue to operate and safely evacuate Afghans. The Administration must also announce an unprecedented refugee open-door policy to ensure the safety of my family and many others. The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) (opens in new tab) and Priority, 1, 2, 3 (P1, P2, P3) applications (opens in new tab) must be expedited. U.S. The scope of the P2 program (open in new tab) should be expanded to include vulnerable Afghans who have not previously received direct assistance or protection, particularly women and girls, human rights defenders and activists, the LGBTQ+ community, and ethnic and religious minorities.

As for the international community, countries should change visa issuance requirements to make it easier for people to resettle. They should also step up to protect their Afghan brothers and sisters and provide humanitarian assistance to help millions of Afghans meet their basic needs. Any global citizen would agree that no family deserves to starve in a crisis situation and feel compelled to help. [Many young Afghan-Americans like myself, after 20 years of war in Afghanistan, have never known a life without aggression, a life without worried phone calls and telegrams to their homeland, or gathering around the TV to see what the latest atrocity is. As I continue to watch in horror along with my fellow Afghans, I fall asleep at night listening to Ahmad Zahir (opens in new tab) on the radio, dreaming of picnics in my uncles' gardens, and hoping for a world where reparations and black and brown bodies are not used for exploitation. But all we have left is hope, solidarity, and action.