Taliban’s Rise To Power

The Taliban originated as a group of Mujahideen fighters (holy warriors) fighting a guerilla war against the Soviet Invasion from 79-89. However, shortly after the Soviet’s collapsed, Afgahnistan fell into a brutal civil war. In 1992, Kabul was captured and an alliance of mujahideen set up a new government with Burhanuddin Rabbani as interim president. However, the various factions were unable to cooperate and fell to fighting each other. Afghanistan was reduced to a collection of territories held by competing warlords. During this time, the Taliban began to rise in power and stature by defending trade routes into Asia from competing mujahideen groups and hostile Warlords. As they grew in power, the Taliban quickly lost reservation towards civilian life and began killing indiscriminately, this only escalated when the US and other forces moved into the area. The Taliban had always been a set of brutal, bloody, backyard brawlers, unafraid of a fight and incredibly shrewd. But after Afgahnistan was occupied yet again by foreign powers, they quickly became branded as terrorists due to their willingness to suicide bomb civilians as well as military targets.

 

i chose this topic because I was intrigued as to why, more rather how the Taliban gained so much power and quickly became a thorn in the US’ side. What I’ve been able to conclude is that without severe instability and a cause men, women, and children were willing to die for, the Taliban NEVER would’ve gained so much prestige.

Soviet-Afghan War

The Soviet–Afghan War lasted over nine years from December 1979 to February 1989. Insurgent groups aka “the Mujahideen” fought against the Soviet Army and allied Afghan forces. Between 850,000–1.5 million civilians were killed  and millions of Afghans fled the country as refugees, mostly to Pakistan and Iran. After King Mohammad Shah was deposed by his cousin Daoud Khan and Khan was then assassinated shortly after by his own military, President Taraki took over, then assassinated by Hafizullah Amin. Amin was shortly killed in a Coup immediately before the Russian invasion. This intense power struggle caused more death and destruction due to the execution of political prisoners as well as rebellion led by the Mujahideen and Taliban. At the time the Mujahideen and Taliban were highly sympathized and only became known as terrorists after the violation of humanitarian laws, however both fight for religious reasons.

 

 

Mashallah

“Mashallah” is an Arabic phrase used to express appreciation, joy, thankfulness, or praise to a person over a certain event or person that was mentioned. Muslims tend to use “Mashallah” as a reminder that all great accomplishments are done according to the will of Allah. A direct translation of Mashallah is “God willed it”.

 

“Shaking hands in the Muslim world.” 24 Dec. 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.

In the Kite Runner, I ran across the word, “Mashallah” numerous times and I never really understood what it meant, I understood to some extent it was like saying, “Thank you” but I never realized the religious significance of Mashallah. Although, Amir uses the traditional Muslim Mashallah less and less that the reader can see AFTER he moves to America with Baba. It appears that when he embraces the American ways, he leaves his old life and much of the traditions that he used to perform all the time in Afghanistan in Afghanistan…. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Kite Running

Kite Running itself is an Afghani tradition that first began in China primarily because all the materials to actually make a kite were already there. Afghani tradition dictates that kite fighting has two people per kite, one: Charka Gir is the person who holds the spool that the line is wrapped around. Two: Gudiparan Baz is the person who actually fights the kites, the one who controls it. Typically the Charka Gir is the one who chases down the fallen kites, especially the final kite. Tradition has it that in order to be Sharti or kite-fighting champion, you must cut the string of the final kite as well as retrieve it.

 

Death from Above – The Kite Battles of Pakistan

Amir is so desperate to gain Baba’s acceptance that he not only HAS to win the kite-fighting competition, but MUST also return the kite. In a sense it makes sense why he abandoned Hassan to his fate at the hands of Assef, doesn’t make it forgivable, but it makes sense. I’m not sure how most of us would react in a situation like that, on one hand you have gaining the acceptance and love of someone you crave it from at the expense of a close friend, on the other however, you save your friend, possibly lose the possibility of gaining the acceptance you crave and might even share your friends’ fate… What would you do if you were in Amir’s place?

Parents and Lack Thereof

Let’s face it, we all know someone who comes from a broken home, family, friends, acquaintances. Unfortunetly, Americans have become so used to broken homes that for some (including me) it’s strange to look at a family that has both biological parents. For the most part, we may not be able to understand the widely conflicting emotions that wreak havoc on the children of these broken homes as they grow up. Now, rewind 30-40 years and you may see something totally different, divorce was extremely taboo and that is painfully obvious the farther back in history you go. Homes were only broken through one’s infidelity or death, almost never through divorce. Oh how the times have changed….

 

 

House, Defending Our Fathers. Finally fixing broken family law! Responsible spouse guidelines. 16 Mar. 2015. Web. 7 Apr. 2016.

 

In The Kite Runner, it quickly becomes clear that there is some serious animosity between Amir and Baba. Although some may be written off as small things like miscommunication or misinterpretation, but that doesn’t seem to fit. Why would Amir think that it is natural for every father to lowkey harbor a thought of killing their only son who inadvertently caused the mother’s death during childbirth? Ali makes it clear that he has some jealousy if not a small amount of resentment for the father-son relationship between Ali and Hassan. Amir is clearly struggling very fiercely with the lack of acceptance he feels he has from Baba. I’m certain that most teens in today’s society who have siblings know all to well the curse of sibling rivalry (I’m an only child) and attempting to one up each other to become the favorite, but how easy is it to compete against a sibling? When the one you have to compete against is yourself and the view you believe your parent has of you?

Social Media and Its Effect on Society

Ripples

F451 Quote: “‘You see?’ Granger turned to Montag. ‘Grandfather’s been dead for all these years, but if you lifted my skull, by God, in the convolutions of my brain you’d find the big ridges of his thumbprint. He touched me.'”

 

 

Honestly, this quote strikes a more personal note with me, so instead of using a world application, I’m using my own personal experiences. I’m sure most of us can agree, that life as a teen isn’t always the most…. glamorous. You got drama, sports, school, stress, relationships, friendships, and the list just goes on and on. Now I’m sure right about now your probably wondering, “what does this have to do with you, Kaleb?” Well, I’m getting to that. Life is hard enough as is, but imagine attempting to have a childhood while going through your parents’ (my Mom’s) untimely death, a father who had to quit the Airforce to take care of his only son and dig himself deep in debt trying to keep his son from falling in the same rut (I’ll explain more on this later) that eventually led to the mother of his child’s death. I’m sure if not all of you, the very notion of having a parent dead is insane; granted now a days there are more divorces and parents that are “outta the picture” then there were back then. I’m not attempting to get anyone’s pity or recognition, all I’m saying is that from an early age,  I’ve had to grow up and mature (debatable on mature). My Mom’s death affected me, although I don’t have the benefit of many memories due to my age, what I do remember is long drawn out court battles as her parents attempted to keep me from my dad. I was to young to understand what exactly was happening, but as I grew up, especially the last 3-4 years, the full shock of what happened has hit home. Making me realize just what I lost due to poor decisions. My mom’s parents spoiled their children so much that they believed it was okay to drink and drive, sneak out, hang out with the wrong crowd, and that belief got my mom killed! Every person who has been in my life has left an imprint, a “fingerprint” if you will. Each of them has taught me lessons, no matter how small or large, a lesson was learned (in some cases still being learned). My friends, family, peers, teachers, they all affect me in small ways, no matter how subtle. Granger was right when he said, “… In the convolutions of my brain, you’d find the big ridges of his thumbprint. He touched me” because every relationship we have, impacts us, and as people move in and out of our lives, it makes us appreciate what we have/had and cling all the more fiercely to that which we love. I apologize for how long this is, I might’ve gotten carried away, but hopefully you liked (if not found this marginally interesting) this post.

 

 

 

The Fear

F451 Quote, Page 139: “The Hound did not touch the world. it carried its silence with it, so you could feel the silence building a pressure behind you all across town. montag felt the pressure rising, and ran.”

The Drama of the Anxious Child

Real World Applications: I believe that every man, woman, and child has a sixth sense, no matter how strong or weak this sense is, we all have it. It alerts us to danger, trouble, or even has us in edge, we call it anxiety. It allows us to tune in on how others are acting, talking, or writing, or makes us aware of the consequences of our actions. Although most of us (especially high school and college students) are able to ignore it, there are always special circumstances that allow us to tune in and feel “the building pressure of silence”. This could even be a way to say that we know the consequences of our actions are building to an explosive point. Some of us are so tuned in that it’s considered an anxiety disorder, however, I believe that anxiety and the urge to help our fellow man (reference to prior blog post) are ingrained in all of us. And as a result, no one can truly justify us becoming a F451 society, as long as we humans still hold onto these urges, we will cling to what makes us human.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those Who are Sent in Your Stead

F451 Quote, Faber to Montag: “And something more! It listens! If you put it in your ear, Montag, I can sit comfortably home, worming my frightened bones, and hear and analyze the firemen’s world, find its weaknesses, without danger. I’m the Queen Bee, safe in the hive. You will be the drone, the traveling ear. Eventually, I could put out ears into all parts of the city, with various men, listening and evaluating. If the drones die, i’m still safe at home, tending my fright with a maximum of  comfort and a minimum of chance. See how safe i play it, how contemptible I am?”

 

 

Real World Implications: So many have been sent to their deaths while their superiors sit at home, “tending my fright with a maximum of  comfort and a minimum of chance.” Commanders’ responsibility in any war is to A) fulfill their objective and B) with minimal loss of life. The days leading up to the Armistice Agreement (Nov. 9th, 10th, and 11th) COULD have been used to maintain control of already controlled territory, instead, commanders like Pershing and Foc decided to try and take even more territory, paying for these advances in blood instead of just being able to stroll into these territories in a few days peacefully. Faber shows a willingness in the above quote to sacrifice Montag, making sure Montag is the ONLY one taking risks while Faber is the “hidden hand”.  In this sense, we are already a F451 society, many of us are more then willing to make sacrifices if we aren’t the ones taking the fall if it comes crashing down. Pershing, Foc, and Faber are all one in the same in the sense that they have no problem sacrificing others to take their place in death while they sit fat and sassy at home.

Emotions Lead

F451 to Mrs. Phelps, “Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions you’ve had, go home and think of that and your dam Caesarian sections, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it? Go home, go home!” he yelled. “Before i knock you down and kick you out the door!”

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140717173227-71159660-use-logic-to-determine-emotional-appeal

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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/top-political-outbursts/story?id=16004628#2

Real World Political Connection: Although many of us run our lives based off of logic, even more run their lives on emotion. However, almost ALL of us are prone to emotional outbursts, just like what Montag went through on the above quote. However, we dont really expect our leaders to go through these outbursts, they are supposed to be the calm, cool, and collected men and women, always the one to solve problems, always the one to keep themselves in check. Unfortunately, that inst always the case, George W. Bush for example, was having a side conversation with his running-mate in 2000, Dick Cheney. “Then there is Adam Clymer- Major League Asshole- from the New York Times.” Although its fairly certain that the audience didn’t hear him, the news media definitely did through the microphone that was “switched on” and the media was listening to.

 

Because of this, i do not believe that our society is becoming a F451 because emotions can overtake literally anyone given the right circumstances. Be it anger, depression, love, or mania, emotions can lead and logistics can follow later. M