It's a myth that it has to be an elephant. It doesn't have to be an elephant. I almost believe, with all possible respect, that the international community fears culture so much, they tend to avoid it when we actually don't have to avoid it.
Regarding Islam and the interpretation of Islam, the unfortunate reality is that the people we hear in Canada are those with the microphone, and the people with the microphone are the fundamentalists, the radicals. But there is a whole subset of mullahs, of imams, who have a much different interpretation of Islam and a much more beautiful interpretation of Islam and, many would say—including the women who are deeply faithful—a much more accurate interpretation of Islam.
A lot of groups, including CARE, work with this more moderate set of mullahs both to ensure that they're able to spread the word regarding women's rights and to ensure that groups such as CARE learn about what the Koran says, learn about what Islam says, on women's rights so that we can also be more amenable and more...I don't want to say “respectful” in the sense that we weren't respecting it before, but so that we can tailor our work so our voice is one that Afghan audiences will hear and understand.
It doesn't have to be an elephant.