By Gramfan
This true story was sent to me by one of our readers. How many of us have had interesting chats with cab drivers? Must be very many indeed. This one is a bit different.
“Yesterday, while being away in another medium-sized metropolis, I had the need of a cab driver to get me to my hotel. Like many western cities the cab drivers are usually immigrants from pretty much all over the world.This driver looked somewhat different to the ones I had had before.
As what is usually the norm, as soon as I settled into the cab we started chatting.
Cab drivers so often have a wealth of information, and insights into all things political. This, in fact, somewhat enhances the whole experience for me, even if I disagree with their perspective.
I asked him where he was from and how long he had lived here. It turns out he was a Hazara from Afghanistan.
He told me he was a Shiite Muslim, and had lived here for ten years.
He also told me that he never prayed five times a day as prescribed in the Koran because he was far too interested in making a good life for his wife and family. He felt he would not incur Allah’s wrath because he spent his time “doing good things”, and praying five times a day didn’t necessarily constitute that.
He went on to tell me that in Afghanistan things are not too good for the Hazaras. But then again one could wonder how many Afghanis are having a good time? Certainly not the women!
He asked me if I was Iranian. I was rather taken aback because I never thought I looked like an Iranian and frankly I don’t know what the “average Iranian” looks like!
“No I am not Iranian. Why do you ask?” I said.
“Because you have a moustache, and they are not so common here”, he replied.
This is not exactly accurate: many men here have moustaches, but never mind.
“So where are you from then?” he continued.
“I am, like you, an immigrant, but came here decades ago. In fact I came here after World War 2 with my parents who were Holocaust survivors. So you see I am Jewish.
“That is very interesting”, he replied. “In Afghanistan we were taught to hate Jews, even though most of us had never met one. But since I have come to this country I have realized that good people everywhere are the same.
I have changed my opinions. I really believe that more education makes a huge difference as to how one sees others and it is a pity that many people are never given this opportunity.
I no longer hate Jews or others for that matter. I have learned a lot. I do not believe in violence towards others. I just want to lead a happy life here with my wife and family”.
Needless to say I was rather impressed with his frank comments about his transformation and his attitudes.
By this time we had reached our destination. I got out of the cab, took my luggage and paid the driver. To my surprise, at this point, he shook my hand.
I know he shook it in friendship and with sincerity. I was deeply touched by his gesture. I couldn’t help but wonder what a difference a short ride in a cab can make”.
Editor’s Note: There is now only one Jew left in Afghanistan. This is possibly the most recent post on him. There is quite a lot of history of Jews in Afghanistan on this site for further reading.
