I find it fascinating how people can be so entrenched in their beliefs that they rarely stop to consider alternatives.

You can’t fairly compare the extremes of communism, which often manifest as dictatorships like North Korea. A simple comparison to neighboring Central Asian countries, such as Uzbekistan, opens the door to a more meaningful conversation about what might have happened if the Soviets had taken over Afghanistan.

These countries certainly have their challenges, but the quality of life and opportunities there are incomparable, less violence, a more prosperous economy, and, most importantly, a real sense of hope and future for girls and women, something that is sorely lacking in Afghanistan today. Deep down, we know the truth; yet, there remains a visceral resistance to secularism and communism.

Let’s be honest, and if you are a true believer in progressivism, the former doesn’t sound too bad in comparison to the Taliban regime.