What Did I Learn About Afghanistan?

Unit One Recap, Revisit, and Reflect

I can speak for our whole class when I say that everyone learned something about Afghanistan. Whether it was food, military, people, etc., there is definitely many things to learn about this not so wonderful place. My research was on the women living in Afghanistan, nothing specific, just women and girls in general. The things they go through...

...Afghan woman burn themselves to get away from abusive husbands

like this photo, both her and many others are hurting themselves to get away from men. Husband or not, men in Afghanistan believe that women are slaves. They are locked up, beaten, or even raped on the streets. Men are not strong punished or not punished at all, they are just set free...which is unfair to anyone. Also, under the Taliban, the women we forced to listen to them and follow their rules. They were not allowed to do basically anything. Women who weren't in "dress code" were whipped, beaten, or verbally abused by the Taliban. This so called "dress code" was wearing a burqa. This item of clothing must cover your ankles and cover your face. A thin slit or screen would cover the eyes and face. I have myself worn a burqa, as my history class knows, and to me I felt like I wasn't suppose to speak. The burqa, under the Taliban rule, couldn't be brightly colored. This just enforces the whole idea of not pretty and be quiet theory of mine.Even though the Taliban was taken from power, they still roam the streets of Afghanistan. If they enjoy other people's pain? I don't know how they work, but they need to be stopped.

I felt I was to be quiet while wearing this, I don't know what it was...

More recently, they had an election. The people of Afghanistan re-elected President Karzai. According to an article I've read Karzai is okay with the fact, United States President, Barack Obama is sending 30,000 more troops over to Afghanistan, and that the Taliban agreed to "escalate the eight-year war." Afghanistan is becoming a worse place to live as we know it, it will soon turn into a big hole in the earth's crust. The war is still going on, and we, the U.S., are in hope for it to end soon. Both presidents are trying to do what is best for their countries. As long as Afghanistan can stand, I want to go there myself and let the people there know, hope is present.

Afghan President Karzai (left) U.S. President Obama (right)

In my opinion, everything happening in Afghanistan is something hard to deal with. Every little child, every small animals, every grown man and woman, see people blown up. They see houses and schools engulfed in flames. They are living in something we might know as Hell. A big fiery pit of death with no end. Afghanistan is in a situation where no one can see or find hope. If I was there as a local Afghan I might not want to leave, if it was possible. If it was possible, maybe not even then. People in Afghanistan may have no hope for the future, but they can still be proud of what they still have. Nationalism plays a big part in some of these people's lives. Not wanting to go because they are proud of where they live. They stand for there country even if they aren't out on the battlefield showing it.

Are you proud of your own country? Would you leave everything behind?