How powerful is a woman’s voice – in song?

Well, it’s powerful enough to make a big old Taliban guy go weak in the knees. Scary stuff, right? In Afghanistan, women have now been banned from singing publicly or in their homes in celebrations. I expect that all these men were long ago held in their mom’s arms as they sang of lullabies – and love. As they sang a welcome to this community. Their voices brought comfort and a sense of belonging.

Of course I expect that lullabies are not what scare them. It’s all that other stuff – of women singing in play, singing of yearning and heartache. Singing of wanting. Ahhh – that’s the stuff.

The arts evolved as homo sapiens evolved. They bring us together to share concepts, beliefs, histories – they bring us into communion with one another. They make us strong – and clever – and compassionate. We are interdependent.

So, yes, very powerful stuff.

Afghan women sing to protest a law that orders them to keep quiet