"Situated at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Routes, Afghanistan enjoys a unique cultural heritage marked by the multiple influences from Persia, Greece, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam", -UNESCO.  That alone ensures the preservation of a country's cultural heritage, a heritage that enriches the entire world. Yet on March 1, 2001, the Taliban began destroying all statues in Afghanistan.  "Because God is one God and these statues are there to be worshipped and that is wrong. They should be destroyed so that they are not worshipped now or in the future."- Mullah Muhammed Omar, Taliban founder, is the  reason behind this horrendous desecration. Destroying ancient history and the images that represent one's spiritual beliefs or practices will not destroy one's interest in or worship of their choice of religion- it makes it stronger.
   At one time in the world's history, when many were easily forced into submission by those who were either greedy or envious or ignorant or all of the above, terrorists could get away with committing crimes against humans and religion; now, in 2001, after wars have been fought, new boundaries drawn, laws and treaties created and enacted, unspeakable crimes are being committed in Afghanistan, with seemingly no military action taking place in order to correct and bring to justice the members of the Taliban who are guilty of these crimes.
   Nothing steadies me more than utilizing my academic studies in art in order to contribute to and preserve the hierarchy of the art world for future generations of academics and lovers of art. Browsing through museums, libraries and university courses that specialize in pinpointing significant art and archaeological finds is an enjoyable task- the outcome is always rewarding. We, 21st century humans, are thrown a lifeline of a continuum in a cyclic pattern of evolution and regeneration. We had made incredible progress in fortifying this continuum and with only a few years of life in their veins, the Taliban is a throwback to our progress that includes all people.
   Amnesty International released a shocking report on the state of Afghanistan women in 1995. Women in Afghanistan: a human rights catastrophe, details the filthy and tragic evils the Taliban inflicted on women and girls despite the presence of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, (RAWA, founded in 1987), The Afghanistan Women's Council, (AWC, founded in 1993), and the Afghanistan Constitution which "guarantees fundamental rights to women".