A few weeks ago in Dallas, Texas, my dear sister Roya gave birth to
a beautiful baby girl. My sister and her husband Feridoun named
their new lovely daughter Afsana.
Last week I returned from Dallas;
on the plane back home, I could not stop thinking of what world little
Afsana would grow up in. As an Afghan born in the West,
will she know her Afghan history and culture? Or will she grow to learn only
Western history, philosophy, or heritage? Will she be able to understand
where her parents came from, and if so, will she only read in books of a
land-locked country in Central Asia left in turmoil and war for decades?
Will she learn her language or adopt English as her first language?
What will she know and learn of Afghanistan?
These are just a few of the many questions that Afghans have to face
for their children growing up in the West.
In this issue, the staff of Lemar-Aftaab
has again endeavored to portray the rich Afghan heritage, culture and arts.
Lemar-Aftaab is your
magazine, and we need your help in rebuilding and unearthing our heritage
from the rubbles that have fallen on our beloved homeland. Please inform
us if you have articles, arts, or any other aspect of Afghan culture that
you would like to publish. We are here to serve you. Let us all work
together in bringing out the sun from the cold gray skies and let its
warm rays shine in our hearts.
I dedicate this issue to my new niece, Afsana jaan.
May God be with you,
Farhad Azad
Publisher
