It was a great relief getting word from David about his trip back. Mom and I will be going to pick him up. The families got word about their return before some of the soldiers did. That means we have to travel into Michigan which, as proud Ohioans (Go Buckeyes!), we don’t do unless absolutely necessary.

And there will be plenty of time to say it tomorrow, but I can’t help to say it now. To every one of the soldiers belonging to the 783rd, thank-you for everything, and welcome home.

A young Afghan journalist, Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, has been sentenced to death for “downloading a report from a Farsi website that criticized Islamic fundamentalists who misrepresent statements in the Koran to justify the oppression of women.” He was tried in a sharia court, which is responsible for maintaining Islamic law, and without any legal representation.

The most disturbing part is that the Afghan Senate is actually supporting the death sentence. The Afghan parliament, which was elected in 2005, consists of 28% women. Are those 28% merely eye-candy for the remaining 72% men? That means that 70 women allowed it’s House Of The People to pass a motion supporting the death sentence of man accused of supporting their rights as human beings.

If you feel motivated to help this young man out, The Independent is campaigning the UK Foreign Office to intervene. They have an online petition to collect names to help increase the pressure.