Are we fighting "against" Afganastan or "for" Afganastan?

[klenger]

I was watching a late night news report last night. The reporter was talking to some locals (soldiers) in Afganastan, and was trying to explain why the US was there. The locals had heard of America, but didn't know where it was. He drew a map of the world and tried to explain. He sensed that they were having problems comprenhending his explanation. After further questions, the reporter determined that they did not know that the earth was round!

 

[illflem]

no flame intended

Ken, when you think about it how much does it really matter if the earth is round to most people on this planet when they rarely venture more than a few miles from where they were born?

 

[Power Wagon]

For your examples, there are equal numbers of Afghani's who are educated and very lucid about the world and the state of their country. I have maintained that the secret to world peace is education... An education that has not only failed to reach much of the world, but it slowly going away here... Education about the value of individual liberty, the respect of others, free enterprise, and the basic respect for religion, culture, and history.



illflem... I always condidered myself untravelled and somewhat ill-aquainted with the country I live in, but at one point, I had lived in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and was in school in New Mexico. One of the girls in my class was discussing the idea of a "vacation", and why she had little use for it. Wondering why, I asked her about vacations, to discover that she had never ventured from Albuquerque, where she was born, to Santa Fe, just 45 miles away. Nor anyplace else that far, either. She was stunned to realize that I actually lived 275 miles away, and during the summer routinely travelled 160 miles or more just to go to town.



After much discussion, I realized she'd never actually had enough interest to drive over there (she had a car, and lots of free time) to Santa Fe, or even visit Sandia Peak, which was even closer.



I met her in August 99, on church youth event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, both of us as adult assistants. I must say, she had so radically changed, I only recognized her appearance and voice. She was nothing like the person I knew in school. Does broadening your views change you that much? I don't know, but I cannot comprehend lacking an interest in seeing the world you live in.

 

[Pit Bull]

These Afghans don't sound much different than the Americans Jay Leno interviews when he does his man on the street bit every week.

 

[illflem]

Mark, I wholeheartedly agree that travel is an excellent source of education and that knowing the world is round is essential for realizing how the seasons, moon etc work. Problem is that most people on this planet have barely enough time to feed themselves, first things first.



DL, lots of the folks that Leno interviews are much like Afghanis except that their range is downtown LA, many think that Washington DC is the capitol of Seattle.

 

[Jeff H]

I prefer Letterman my self. Not as much of an a$s kisser.

 

[Champane Flight]

Navy Brat

Being a Navy brat,I had seen allot of the world by the time I was five. When in first grade (parochial school),the Nun would have geography and show pictures of the world. She would show the Golden Gate bridge and I would say"Been over and under it". Or she would show a picture of Hawaii and I would remark "Lived there". She began to beat the he!! out of me every time I made a remark,and finally called my mother in and told her I was a terrible liar. My mother asked "why"?After the explanation my mother told the Nun that I had done all the things I said and to keep her hands off me. Some people just don't know.



I believe we are fighting for Afganastan. Anytime you can free a people of religious zealots,its OK in my book. When are we going to free the bible belt?