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Caroline Hudson Firestone

Caroline Firestone early in life learned how vital the private sector is to the city, when she became the first lady trustee of the cathedral of St. John the Devine; then chairman of the N.Y. Boy’s Club annual ball; on the board of the YWCA camping service of New York City; but her most profound experience was becoming part of Kairos Outside, which involves working and living with women who have either been in prison or who have children or grandchildren in prison.

AFGHANISTAN  EVOLVING

For those of us who are not on the frontline, our duty and privilege is to help support those who have made that sacrifice for us.  To do so for those who have served and died in Afghanistan is the purpose of this book.  you will certainly see here evidence of the horrendous evils perpetrated by the Taliban, some of it physical and some of it psychological.    But you will also see what the people of America are doing in Afghanistan in response, including wonderful stories of the work of the men and women in the non governmental services who have done so much to improve the everyday life of the Afghan people. 

(about the artist please go to gallery)

About the Cover:

The image featured on the cover of this book is an oil painting entitled Afghan Storyteller by American artist Peter Adams. The scene depicts typical activities that circulate around an outdoor marketplace in Afghanistan, including a local storyteller who enjoys telling his tales to informal gatherings.  At this point he is directing his story to a little girl who one day hopefully will be able to vote and be part of Afghanistan’s emerging future.

Coincidences are often God's appointments, and out lives are often a tapestry of friendships and acquaintances that spark surprise and delight.  In talking to Peter Adams, the artist for the pointing on the jacket, he told me that his godfather was General William Atterbury, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad during World War I.  It was he who loaned a private railroad car for the use of my grandfather General Roy Hoffman and Colonel Archibald Roosevelt, who were aides to General Pershing.  Together with General Foch, the Supreme Commander of the French Army, they traveled by train around the major cities of the United States to build support on behalf of the Treaty of Versailles.

Such was the terrible carnage of World War I that, at a conservative estimate , more that ten million soldiers were killed and more than twenty million wounded, not to speak of the untold number of civilians.  The death in World War II was even more horrific.  Those men on that train made a valiant effort on behalf of peace.  The eventually failed because the United Sates Senate did not ratify the treaty, but looking back today on "the to end all wars" that led to "the peace to end all peace" we now know the cost to the world of their failure.

Such lessons from history should not only sober but spur us.  Those who have lost their limbs or their lives in Afghanistan must not have done so in vain, and our task is to show them our gratitude by our support.    Proceed from this book will support dedicated Afghan men and women strive daily to improve the well-being of their communities and their country, and are deserving of our support.  Your contribution to I.M.C, less the fair market value of the book, may be tax deductible to the extent provided by law.  My hope is that there will be a tremendous interest in this book and in passing it on and giving it to others, so that the stirring deeds shown here can encourage and inspire others in far wider circles.

At the end of the book you will find a retrospect of all the groups whose pictures are here and who are working in Afghanistan.  Their addresses , telephone numbers, and emails are listed for those who would like to follow up further.  I have also included at the end a brief history of Afghanistan through the centuries.  How fascinating a note that the Afghans can trace their blue and green eyes to the hundred yeas stay of thousand of Alexander the Great soldiers.

Freedom is never free, it is said rightly.  Let this book speak to you of the sacrifices our men and women have made in Afghanistan, which are at least our applaud and support.

                                                                                           Caroline Firestone

                                                                                           New York, June 2004