Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The story behind the title

The title of this blog, "You can't clap with one hand" comes from an Afghan proverb (supposedly) that means something along the lines of: "there is strength in union". To me this title represents my thoughts on how we should be approaching development and security in Afghanistan- through a unity of effort with the Afghans that lays the groundwork for Afghan ownership, accountability, and empowerment for the future of their country. I plan to discuss lessons learned through my experiences and observations in working for a Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Another Afghan saying that symbolizes why I'm going to do a job when many believe the situation is hopeless is, "Community is not created by force". I hope that through the work that we do, together, the Afghans will get an opportunity to live in peace.