Afghanistan is doomed if women are barred once again from public life.

Hassan and I looked at each other. Cracked up. The Hindi kid would soon learn what the British learned earlier in the century, and what the Russians would eventually learn by the late 1980's: that Afghans are an independent people. Afghans cherish customs but abhor rules. And so it was with kite fighting. The rules were simple: No rules. Fly your kite. Cut the opponents. Good luck.

‎I know you're still young but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You're a very very bright girl. Truly you are. You can be anything you want Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated Laila. No chance.

In my experience, men who understand women seem to rarely want to have anything to do with them.

Public justice is the greatest kind of show, my brother. Drama. Suspense. And best of all education en masse.

Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.