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In my brief association with a small Dallas-based film company, Envoy Films, I have come to realize what great stuff ordinary Americans are made of. Filmmaker Naeem Randhawa and many of his subjects, who frequently visit Afghanistan, have teamed up to produce a documentary, “Tea with the Taliban,” to show how they are impacting the lives of ordinary Afghans.
The documentary follows people such as a voluntary humanitarian worker from Virginia, Jonathan Hoffman, who builds schools for less fortunate Afghan children. Maria Witz, a researcher, works with street children in Kabul to keep them safe from improvised bombs found in dumpsters in and around the city.
These are powerful stories not often heard in the popular media. What is marvelous is that these independent humanitarians, with very limited budgets, are doing what the U.S. government and its agencies have failed to do with millions of dollars – bringing normalcy back to people’s lives.
In the state of affairs where the United States is considered an enemy and its foreign policy is viewed as imperialistic, these Americans are loved by the indigenous people because they bring the core American values of democracy to their doorsteps. They provide the people with opportunities to make their lives better on their own terms. What better tribute to the people than to tell them their way of life is worth preserving and we are there to help!
The United States deserves to be loved since its citizens contribute immensely to humanitarian causes all over the world. If it were not for riveting Hollywood movies and such brave individuals, the country would have totally lost its reputation as a caring and benevolent superpower.
It will serve the United States well if its future president, whether Barack Obama or John McCain, concentrates on narrowing the widening chasm between foreign policy and the deep-seated democratic ideals of the American people.
This documentary will be an attempt to change the negative perception of the United States through the lens of Afghanistan. It will also show the impact of sincerity of purpose. Recent news from the United States has been dismal, with millions of dollars in financial aid to Afghanistan drained away in useless projects and little progress made after the Taliban.
The narrative of the subjects in the documentary, on the other hand, is sad but not without hope. The future of the children of Afghanistan will be bright. It is comforting to know that ordinary American citizens are playing a crucial part in the nation-building process, and will forever be remembered with love and gratitude by many Afghan children.
The documentary will be a study of how Jonathan Hoffman operates in difficult circumstances to bring successful results. This summer he is returning to build another school. The movie is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2009.
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(Ayesha Hashmi is a freelance writer based in Allen, Texas. Originally from Pakistan, she writes primarily on social issues. ©Copyright Ayesha Hashmi.)
