When I Left Afghanistan, o my, o my

Summary

The website content is a reflective piece reimagining the biblical exodus led by Moses, paralleling it with the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, and is authored by Fred: Almost Famous.

Abstract

The article titled "When I Left Afghanistan, Oh My, Oh My…" draws a metaphorical comparison between the biblical exodus of the Israelites from Egypt led by Moses and the recent U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden's leadership. The author, Fred: Almost Famous, uses the framework of the spiritual song "When I left old Egyptland" to convey the emotional and logistical turmoil of the Afghan evacuation. By rewriting the song's lyrics to fit the contemporary context, Fred captures the sentiment of leaving a troubled land and the uncertainty faced by those involved. The article also provides navigation to Fred's other works and encourages reader interaction through clapping, commenting, and following on Medium.

Opinions

The author implies a critical view of President Joe Biden's role in the Afghanistan withdrawal, likening it to the Pharaoh's pursuit in the biblical exodus.
Fred: Almost Famous suggests a sense of abandonment and loss, as reflected in the rewritten lyrics of the song, which now bid farewell to the Afghans rather than the Pharaoh.
The piece conveys a sense of empathy for the Afghans left behind, as well as a subtle critique of the U.S. government's handling of the withdrawal.
The use of religious songs from the American deep south era indicates a historical pattern of oppressed peoples seeking solace and hope in times of distress and transition.
By encouraging readers to engage with his work through comments and follows, the author appears to seek a dialogue on the subject, suggesting the importance of community and shared reflection on recent events.

Joe Biden: The new Moses ... “Follow me … to the promised land”

Exodus … Moses or Biden? * Image by CCXpistiavosa on Pixabay

The slaves of America’s deep south often sung songs of religious stories; songs that gave them comfort or reminded them of promises of a better life. Like: “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen”, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Go Down, Moses,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand.”

Today I want to take another ‘Moses’ song titled “When I left old Egyptland” (written by Albert C Fisher around 1900) whose words describe how Moses leads his people from Egypt to ‘The Promised Land’, escaping the reach of The Pharaoh and his army. I’ve rewritten the words to cover the 2021 exodus from Afghanistan. But first, the original words: (Copyright: Public Domain)

When I left old Egyptland

When I left old Egyptland, oh my, oh my When I left old Egyptland, good reason, why. When I left old Egyptland, Thought I sure would die.

My heart was aching, aching. Mine eyes kept nearly breaking. Goodbye Pharaoh, goodbye.

The drums were beating, beating. And Moses preaching, preaching. Goodbye Pharaoh goodbye.

Goodbye Pharaoh, goodbye Pharaoh Goodbye Pharaoh, goodbye.

Now, my re-write:

When I left Afghanistan

When I left Afghanistan, oh my, oh my When I left Afghanistan, good reason why. When I left Afghanistan, Thought I sure would die.

The drums were beating, beating And Biden preaching, preaching “Goodbye Afghans, goodbye”.

“Goodbye Afghans, Goodbye Afghans Goodbye Afghans, Goodbye”.

“Goodbye Afghans” … indeed! … and “good luck to y’all”.

When I Left Afghanistan, Oh My, Oh My…

Joe Biden: The new Moses ... “Follow me … to the promised land”

When I left old Egyptland

When I left Afghanistan

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NAVIGATION PANEL: TO EVERYTHING FRED: (clickable links)

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