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February 10 How do you continue a legacy?Nothing grows in a big tree's shadow ... ?
There are always two sides to extraordinary people - particularly when they are extraordinarly capable.
They become the focal point - the only focal point in their circle, they become the ones that everybody relies on.
This is particularly true if such persons get to handle situations which they think to be temporary, passing in their lifetime.
It so happens that for matters of efficiency all decision making is concentrated in their hands, in their brains.
And if such a leader posseses extreme integrity and benevolence in taking all those decisions the system works. The optimal decisions are indeed being taken.
The other side of that coin is, however, if that person is suddenly ripped from his life or otherwise incapacitated a void of incredible depth opens infront of all. A deep sense of loss is followed by a deep sense of being lost. Not being trained in taking decisions the followers of such great individuals lose all hope, are unable to conceive a future without that person, unable to picture them playing a role above and beyond what they did before.
Ahmad Shah Massoud was such a person. A benevolent, extremely capable leader, who, due to his perception that his state of struggle is a passing one, did not appoint a successor and did not delegate much.
His most efficient manager was himself, capturing and processing everything with his enormous brain and intelligence. Plans for powersharing he had for the political system he envisioned for Afghanistan, but not for his own operations.
It has been more than 5 years now since his brutal murder ripped him from our lifes and ever since those close to him have been struggeling to work in his memory, to uphold his dignity.
The Massoud Foundation has done nothing much above and beyond churning out publications and posters of mediocre quality.
First it was taken hostage by incapable Mujahedin who achieved nothing and where just interested in taking money.
Then even his close friends and relatives - mostly educated individuals - were unable to create something with a plan.
Everybody appeared to be waiting for somebody else, everybody afraid to assume a leading and defining role.
And here's the other amazing thing: in failing to succeed Amir Sahib's example all his followers sadly demonstrate one thing: how little inspiration they take from his life and struggle. How little inspiration they take from the small beginnings that his resistance movement had to overcome in the late 70s, how many set-backs and situation with bearly any chance of a positive outcome he had to master in twenty years of struggle.
"But he was a much greater human being than us". But his challenges were also much greater than yours!
There are 1001 reasons to excuse one's own inactivity and laziness to pull people together and to start projects which inject meaning into the Foundation - and if it is only 5 friends, and one rocket launcher - it's a start. And if there is only one reason not to be lazy and to just start somewhere with something it is this: Amir Sahib himself.
Now that even Dr. Abdullah has surrendered to inactivity, preferring to live in India, it is time that others take the helm.
Others with no name, but who care just the same, perhaps even more. Others with no or little political baggage, others who are neither afraid to start from scratch nor to fail.
I wish that the love for this great man can move a handful of individuals to discard their concerns and come forward - and that I can be a part of this renaissance ...
February 07 Kabul Diaries 26th Jan - 7th Feb 07Spring is coming to Kabul
These few days winter is on the run, the temperatures have been above freezing.
While in the evening we still need our woodovens during the day it is around +10C.
I have discarded my winterboots and shifted to normal heels.
It started two weeks ago.
I was on one of my regular Friday-walks around Shar-e-Now with only a large woolen scarf covering the rest of my clothes. As I turned a corner with the sun warming my black scarf I saw it: the snow-capped mountains peeking throught the houses and bare tree branches. A beautiful sight! In a few more weeks the trees will carry fresh green. I took a deep breath of spring air and turned into buzzling Flower Street to do my grocery shopping.
This weather has continued past last weekend. I went with a friend to the Intercontinental for lunch. Then on a wimp we decided to drive out to Darulaman Palace - this piece of history, now in ruins. Standing on that hill overlooking most of Kabul one can't believe that 11 years ago this city was shelled from all sides by waring Mujahedin factions in a deadly power struggle. It were some of those shells that also destroyed the KIng's palace.
Just drving around this town is so interesting, so much to observe.
5th Feb 2007
I finally managed to visit the Massoud Foundation, finally spoke to somebody on how I can get involved.
I suggested to found a library in his name, honouring his intellectual legacy.
We are all waiting for Dr. Abdullah to return from India to lead the foundation and finally make an impact with it.
I am looking forward to presenting my idea to him - hopefully soon.
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