| 04/30/2005 |
| Muslim chaplin offers insight into Afghanistan |
| By JOSH MROZINSKI , Middletown Press Staff |
MIDDLETOWN -- "Hope is God and he works with miracles," said Imam Abdullah Antepli on Friday to a small group of Wesleyan University students.
Antepli, the university’s Muslim chaplain, was nearing the end of his discussion on the Muslim world and Afghanistan. He told the students that Afghanistan, once the leader of the Muslim world in culture and science, is now devastated.
Antepli spoke at the university’s Center for Public Affairs in conduction with One Book, One Middletown. It was one of several events that will continue through early next week as part of the community-wide reading of "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. The author’s fictional book is about life and culture of the Afghani people. Antepli delved into his experience visiting Pashtun refugee camps in Pakistan, how the Afghans view the Western world and Muslim countries. He spoke briefly and then spent the rest of the session answering questions. Antepli visited the refugee camps as a part of a Turkish non-governmental organization in 1998 and 2003. During the first visit, he saw overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, but during the second one he saw the camps had fewer people because they had gone back to Afghanistan. Despite the sometimes-deplorable environment, they were not crushed, said Antepli. "They always kept smiles on their faces," said Antepli. "In the midst of the crisis God blessed them with joy and happiness." Jessica Eber asked if the Afghan people hate the Soviet Union. Antepli answered yes, but went farther by saying they hate Westerners more for using them against their Cold War rival. "They were blaming America for their suffering and misery," he said. He said it is almost impossible to not blame Western colonialism for the world’s problems. "I don’t say this out of hate or anger but it’s a historical fact," said Antepli. Eber asked what the United States should have done? The United States, he said, could have brought stability, investing in the country as it did with Turkey or Germany after World War II. But the United States simply left, said Antepli, leaving the warlords with arms, money and drugs. Unfortunately evil people such as Osama Bin Laden and dictators in Muslim countries use the anger to harm innocent people, he said. Hayley Stokar asked about the relationship between Muslims in different parts of the world. "In general, Muslim communities don’t know what is happening with each other because of the dictators," said Antepli. "There is not much interaction." He said although Syria and Turkey share a long border, the trade between the two countries only comes to $700 million. The Middletown Adult Education program will be holding a cooking demonstration Tuesday on traditional Afghani dishes as part of One Book, One Middletown. It begins at 6 p.m. and is limited to 15 participants. Call 343-6044 to reserve a space. There will be a kite flying demonstration May 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Vinal Technical High School fields. To contact Josh Mrozinski, call (860) 347-3331, ext. 222 or e-mail jmrozinski@middletownpress.com.
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