20 Years of War Come to an End
Taking to the streets to uncover what every-day people think about the war ending in Afghanistan and our evacuation from Kabul
The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster. If you’ve been keeping up with the chaos unfolding on the ground in Afghanistan, you’ll know it’s been a rough ride for many Americans, Afghans, and others involved as we’ve drawn the 20-year conflict to an end. It’s a confusing time—was there someone to blame for the chaos that transpired at Bagram Airbase? Are we able to trust the input of intelligence officials when this is the result? How will this impact our relationships with our allies? Are our enemies using this disarrayed evacuation as proof of American incompetence? How will two decades of war in the middle east be remembered? Questions flooding the minds of many who are watching the conclusion of a war spurred into action after the events of 9/11.
I’ve watched a lot of different news broadcasts covering this story. I’ve seen scores of Twitter posts opining their views, and listened to more than my fair share of podcasts informing on what the hell is going on with the Kabul evacuation. Much of what I see, at one point or another, dictates what the “American public opinion” is on pulling out of the war in Afghanistan. Several statistical numbers fly across the screen or through my car’s speakers, and that’s that—I’m told what everyone around me thinks through way of binary surveys.
But that’s not good enough. Not for me. I don’t feel like everyone sees this issue as cut-and-dry. Everyone’s got views of their own, thoughts and feelings that transcend the shallow ask of, “Do you support withdrawing or not?” The intricacies of belief burrow far deeper than these surface level questions that shoehorn thinking individuals into one opinion or another. So I took to the streets to find out what people really thought.
What I found was a collection of 11 people, all from the American south/southwest, who expressed a wide range of emotion and consideration on this complex issue. Some were apathetic, some were intensely critical, and others were supportive. Even still, some were all three of those emotions at the same time. In the end, everyone had a unique way of looking at the war and it’s ending.
It’s my belief that we only get anywhere as individuals, as communities, and as a country when we listen. Truly, intently listen. The voices that make up our cities, states, nation, and world have incredible value—they stoke the fires of innovation, introspection, and ultimately, impactful change. How else can we learn from our past, allow it to inform our present, and use it to generate a better future?
Below I have included the list of names as they appear in the episode, as well as the Spotify player of the full Bedletter: Voices experience. If you enjoy this production, let me know by using the comments section below, or over on Twitter. You can also send me an email at bedlettlerpodcast@gmail.com.
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Interviewees in Voices: 20 Years of War Come to an End, in order of appearance:
Alfred
Claire and Chelsea
Pete
Cody and Ellie
Mike
Bobby
Robb
Gabrielle
Corey
A special thank you to these 11 individuals for taking the time to talk with me about stuff happening on the other side of the world. They were great conversations and I appreciated their willingness to be authentic and forthright.
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