High spirits are also casualties of the 21 years old war in Afghanistan. Most adult Afghans have lost their spirited by witnessing their cities being destroyed, lives being up-rooted, household economies going down, social order becoming non-existent, relatives being killed and their future being uncertain. The culmination of these factors has caused a decline in the emotional and psychological strength of most Afghans living inside Afghanistan. Even I, a short-term visitor, felt disillusioned at times during the two weeks in Afghanistan. I especially felt disheartened while witnessing the destruction and despair in Kabul.

In the midst of it all, however, Afghanistan’s children fill the cup of hope for Afghanistan’s future. Despite the everyday struggles and fears associated with living in Afghanistan, these children’s faces radiated with innocence, content, joy and respect.

It is worth mentioning that the children in Afghanistan have been some of the most civilized that I have seen anywhere. Almost every child would pay respect by saying "Salaam" (Hello) as he or she passed by me. The children were also not afraid to be friendly with strangers and would usually crack a joke in response to one.