Walking the Precipice

by Barbara Bick

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  It is not the end I would have hoped, for the story of political changes I witnessed in Afghanistan. From Communist regime to mujahidin victory and civil war, from chaos to Taliban, followed by liberation and high visionary hopes for women in 2003. And now, in 2008, back to Pakistan supported Taliban militias threatening Afghan civil society again. A tragic story. But it is not the end of history. One must hope that the day will come when demagogic imperialist nations will heed the voice of their people as they did not during the massive, worldwide demonstrations against the US war against Iraq which led to a virtual abandon of desperately needed reconstruction help for Afghanistan.

  Writing this book has been lonely work. My deepest appreciation and gratitude to my son, Robby, for his sustained enthusiasm and great help during these eighteen years, including his much needed technical support. My thanks also to my friend, Aviva Kempner, for her faith and gracious help. I’ve leaned on many other friends and they know they have my gratitude. Both Nasrine and her husband, Max Gross, have always been there for me and have helped in so many ways with their deep knowledge of Afghan society and Islam.

  My thanks to the new Director of the Feminist Press, Gloria Jacobs, for her editing which sharpened the narrative flow of my book. I also want to thank the founder of The Feminist Press, Florence Howe, for her acceptance of my manuscript and our discussions for restructuring the book. I greatly enjoyed working with the superb editor, Jean Casella, with whom I had many heated discussions, always resolved with mutual understanding.

  Barbara Bick

  Martha’s Vineyard 2008

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