Remember Afghanistan? Last week was the second anniversary of the ignominious withdrawal from Kabul with Afghans at Bagram Airbase clinging onto airplane wheels in desperation of what would happen with the Taliban in charge. The older ones among us should remember April 30, 1975, when desperate Vietnamese were besieging the U.S. Embassy as helicopters took off from the roof.
Now, two years later more than 157,000 Afghans who worked for US – yes, US – still await special visas so they can come to the United States assuming they are able to get out of Afghanistan alive. And Afghans who managed to get here still await some action from our noble Congress so they can have peace of mind.
What on earth is wrong with us? Is this the way we should treat those who risked their lives for us? We should be banging on the doors of our Representatives and Senators demanding that we show some semblance of morality. Are our memories so short?
Prayer for the Day
God of righteousness and justice, who created us all as your children,
You gave us eyes to see and ears to hear, but we often ignore what is around us;
Your Spirit calls us from our history to live in this day and time,
But we struggle to find your truth to guide us in our daily decisions.
Move us from our failure of ourselves and of you,
So we are able to reflect your justice in the world around us.
In the name of the One who opens our hearts to your justice
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Giving our Afghan allies a chance to apply for legal status is the right and necessary thing to do. This bipartisan legislation will help provide Afghans who have sacrificed so much for our country with the legal certainty they deserve as they rebuild their lives.
- Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator Minnesota
This measure will provide safe haven for Afghans fleeing Taliban persecution. Our bipartisan bill fulfills a moral obligation to the men and women who sacrificed in support of the U.S. mission helping American troops and diplomats. These Afghan allies worked as journalists, translators, non-profit workers, guards, and interpreters – as well as other dangerous professions that put their and their families’ lives on the line.
- Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator, Connecticut
O Lord my god, in you I take refuge; save me from my pursuers, and deliver me,
Or like a lion they will tear me apart, dragging me away,
With no one to rescue.
Psalm 7: 1-2