AFGHANISTAN

Kristi Laughlin

In January, I began working at Global Exchange, a human rights organization in San Francisco coordinating their Afghanistan campaign. I began just in time to be involved in sending the Sept. 11 families to Afghanistan on a journey of compassion to meet Afghan families who were suffering the same grief and loss as a result of the bombing campaign. That delegation was poignant, revealing the story of our shared humanity, of healing, and of reconciliation - an act that transcended the political debate and divide. I wanted to continue to promote that message of transcendence. As a result of that trip, I proposed that Global Exchange sponsor an interfaith delegation to Afghanistan.

In this time of escalating preparations for war and intensified religious conflict, including attacks against the Muslim community in the U.S., it is essential that our religious leaders, people of faith and conscience, come tog ether in a concrete gesture to sow the seeds of peace. As the US government has chosen to pursue national security primarily through military might, I believe that it is critical for religious leaders to come together to model what they know to be true: Lasting peace will only be brought about through the sharing of resources and building of friendships across national and religious boundaries.

I am so excited about this delegation and the possibilities it holds for collaboration and mutual transformation:

First, this delegation is a joint project between faith-based communities and Global Exchange, a secular human rights organization, one very active in mobilizing against the exploitation of globalization. I see this delegation sowing the seeds for future collaboration --bridging the gap between peace groups and globalization groups.

Secondly, I see the inter-faith dimension as especially critical in this post 9/11 world where we need to work beyond our faith communities and grow in understanding and solidarity with people of all religions. Furthermore, I see this delegation as an important symbol Afghanistan. Maybe just a small one, but one that reveals that faith can be a source of and vehicle for building peace and tolerance.

Thirdly, as an associate, this is an incredible opportunity to work with RSCJ more closely on a joint project to support the people of Afghanistan as Sister Mary Pat White, my friend and mentor of ten years, will be participating in the delegation. Our hope is that we can work to establish a partnership with a girls school in Kabul, fostering an ongoing exchange between teachers and children in Afghanistan and in those involved in the Sacred Heart Schools.

This is a new opportunity for lay collaboration, a pursuit of a joint project by an RSCJ and associate. I am filled with the sense of "new beginnings". Yet, as I reflect on this nascent project, and how it came into being, I realize that it is not quite accurate to view it as the "beginning" of lay collaboration. That would be only half the picture. For in truth, this interfaith delegation to Afghanistan is actually the fruit of lay collaboration thus far. I actually credit the Society for giving birth to this project. Without my relationship with Sr. Mary Pat, without my journey as an Associate in the Bay Area and in Mexico over the last three years, I would never have initiated an interfaith delegation involving religious leaders from around the country. I would never have felt qualified or entitled to initiate such a thing. I would have considered it out of my league. But my journey as an associate has been affirming and empowering one, one that has helped give me the understanding and the vision that we are all in this league together.