NOTE: I am publishing this blog entry retroactively because during this time I was busy performing base defense operations and didn't have enough time to write and post.
We may be from completely different cultures, but we still have the same needs and concerns. I've been spending a lot of time on the base's guard towers lately and sharing that responsibility with the contracted security personnel. A British firm has been contracted to provide security for us on our compound, and they hire both British ex-patriots and local Afghans as private security guards.
While there's a pretty big communication barrier between the U.S. Troops and the Afghan guards, the British guards who maintain the security camera system have a lot to talk about. (This isn't to say that some of the British don't have communication barriers as well. Have you ever tried conversing with a Scot and completely understand everything they have to say through their thick accent?) They have many of the same major concerns as us in the U.S. They're concerned about their own economy and having to bail out the rest of the world. They're angry about immigration and feel their country is being flooded with immigrants, both legal and illegal. They don't like their social welfare monies going to foreigners who chose not to work then send it back home out of the country. They're concerned about domestic terrorism spreading from corners of the world that have been left to rot for too long. But they don't seem too concerned about gay marriage or gays in the military. I suppose that's because my country was started by religious extremists who weren't really welcome in England due to their extreme prejudicial moralistic views. Some things never change I guess.
Though most don't speak English well, and we don't speak much Dari, the Afghan guards still have a lot to say, if even with few words. Through a series of just a few English words and a lot of gestures, we can actually hold somewhat of a conversation. These are a few of our topics:
Politics. They asked us what we thought about our last few U.S. presidents. Using the thumbs up or down gesture, they really love President George Bush. My guess is probably because he is seen as a liberator of their society from the Taliban. President Clinton is also viewed favorably, although I wasn't able to figure out why. However, they do respect him for his work with Monica Lewinsky. (Don't ask, I don't know why...) By contrast, President Obama is not viewed absolutely unfavorably, but he is not as popular. My guess is that he appears to be focusing more on domestic issues and is not offering the support to the War on Terror as his predecessor. As for foreign policy, they overwhelmingly do not like their geographical neighbors, namely Packistan and Iran. They feel these two countries especially cause the instability in Afghanistan and want them to mind their own business.
Economics. Residents of Kabul enjoy the U.S. and international presence. Not only do they like no longer being under the thumb on Taliban control, but the economic stimulation has helped this area tremendously. We employ a lot of the local population and we also purchase locally when possible for construction and using the local bazaars. A couple of the guards explained that they are working for us to save money because they are not married. One has a woman (and living in sin with his family under the same roof) because he does not have the money to hold a proper wedding. The other explained that he cannot find a wife because he doesn't have enough money to pay a prospective bride's parents for the hand in marriage. He has no prospective bride yet, although he is partial to the Jennifer Lopez type of woman because he likes the "jiggy jiggy". I explained that in English we call that "booty".
Religion. I spent a couple hours one night in a tower with a guard angrily staring off into the darkness who did very little but to repeatedly utter the phrases "Fucking Taliban" and "Bad Islam" while he took long drags on his cigarette and spoke between exhales. All the guards were quick to point out that the Taliban were "No Islam!". I explained in English snippets they understood that [Drawing a large circle with my hands] this was Islam and "is good". While this [drawing a small circle inside the larger] was Taliban and "bad Islam". I then explained "in America same-same", that again [drawing a large circle] that Christianity "is good", and then [drawing a smaller circle] "some Christians, bad Christians. No Christians" They understood completely. Too bad the "bad" Christians don't understand this concept. We also came to the conclusion that we all believe in the same God that wants us to be kind to each other, but we just worship differently.
Morality and social responsibility. We tossed bottles of water down to the poor and the police and military who were working checkpoints in the streets. A form of social welfare I suppose to ensure that those who need help are given it by those who have the resources that can be spared. We watched a cross section of society walk past our towers. We decided that full burquas were not entirely bad. We also saw women in the nun-like abaya and hejab head scarf. It was good that all three options for covering were available and acceptable for wear that that it was up to the family and the individual to make that decision. I suppose that if people in Afghanistan can rebel against a religiously motivated political group that tries to legislate morality, we in the U.S. should do the same.
This got me to thinking that these people have a lot of the same concerns as we do back home. Granted that their requirements on the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs are much more basic that what we give focus, but the basic concepts are still the same. All politics are local, and those views are based on their needs for survival. The abstract concepts are the same for everyone in the world, irrespective of religion, political affiliation, or economic status. We may not fully understand each other, but you are still my brother and we have the same concerns in life.
More to follow.
We may be from completely different cultures, but we still have the same needs and concerns. I've been spending a lot of time on the base's guard towers lately and sharing that responsibility with the contracted security personnel. A British firm has been contracted to provide security for us on our compound, and they hire both British ex-patriots and local Afghans as private security guards.
While there's a pretty big communication barrier between the U.S. Troops and the Afghan guards, the British guards who maintain the security camera system have a lot to talk about. (This isn't to say that some of the British don't have communication barriers as well. Have you ever tried conversing with a Scot and completely understand everything they have to say through their thick accent?) They have many of the same major concerns as us in the U.S. They're concerned about their own economy and having to bail out the rest of the world. They're angry about immigration and feel their country is being flooded with immigrants, both legal and illegal. They don't like their social welfare monies going to foreigners who chose not to work then send it back home out of the country. They're concerned about domestic terrorism spreading from corners of the world that have been left to rot for too long. But they don't seem too concerned about gay marriage or gays in the military. I suppose that's because my country was started by religious extremists who weren't really welcome in England due to their extreme prejudicial moralistic views. Some things never change I guess.
Though most don't speak English well, and we don't speak much Dari, the Afghan guards still have a lot to say, if even with few words. Through a series of just a few English words and a lot of gestures, we can actually hold somewhat of a conversation. These are a few of our topics:
Politics. They asked us what we thought about our last few U.S. presidents. Using the thumbs up or down gesture, they really love President George Bush. My guess is probably because he is seen as a liberator of their society from the Taliban. President Clinton is also viewed favorably, although I wasn't able to figure out why. However, they do respect him for his work with Monica Lewinsky. (Don't ask, I don't know why...) By contrast, President Obama is not viewed absolutely unfavorably, but he is not as popular. My guess is that he appears to be focusing more on domestic issues and is not offering the support to the War on Terror as his predecessor. As for foreign policy, they overwhelmingly do not like their geographical neighbors, namely Packistan and Iran. They feel these two countries especially cause the instability in Afghanistan and want them to mind their own business.
Economics. Residents of Kabul enjoy the U.S. and international presence. Not only do they like no longer being under the thumb on Taliban control, but the economic stimulation has helped this area tremendously. We employ a lot of the local population and we also purchase locally when possible for construction and using the local bazaars. A couple of the guards explained that they are working for us to save money because they are not married. One has a woman (and living in sin with his family under the same roof) because he does not have the money to hold a proper wedding. The other explained that he cannot find a wife because he doesn't have enough money to pay a prospective bride's parents for the hand in marriage. He has no prospective bride yet, although he is partial to the Jennifer Lopez type of woman because he likes the "jiggy jiggy". I explained that in English we call that "booty".
Religion. I spent a couple hours one night in a tower with a guard angrily staring off into the darkness who did very little but to repeatedly utter the phrases "Fucking Taliban" and "Bad Islam" while he took long drags on his cigarette and spoke between exhales. All the guards were quick to point out that the Taliban were "No Islam!". I explained in English snippets they understood that [Drawing a large circle with my hands] this was Islam and "is good". While this [drawing a small circle inside the larger] was Taliban and "bad Islam". I then explained "in America same-same", that again [drawing a large circle] that Christianity "is good", and then [drawing a smaller circle] "some Christians, bad Christians. No Christians" They understood completely. Too bad the "bad" Christians don't understand this concept. We also came to the conclusion that we all believe in the same God that wants us to be kind to each other, but we just worship differently.
Morality and social responsibility. We tossed bottles of water down to the poor and the police and military who were working checkpoints in the streets. A form of social welfare I suppose to ensure that those who need help are given it by those who have the resources that can be spared. We watched a cross section of society walk past our towers. We decided that full burquas were not entirely bad. We also saw women in the nun-like abaya and hejab head scarf. It was good that all three options for covering were available and acceptable for wear that that it was up to the family and the individual to make that decision. I suppose that if people in Afghanistan can rebel against a religiously motivated political group that tries to legislate morality, we in the U.S. should do the same.
This got me to thinking that these people have a lot of the same concerns as we do back home. Granted that their requirements on the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs are much more basic that what we give focus, but the basic concepts are still the same. All politics are local, and those views are based on their needs for survival. The abstract concepts are the same for everyone in the world, irrespective of religion, political affiliation, or economic status. We may not fully understand each other, but you are still my brother and we have the same concerns in life.
More to follow.
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