Thursday, October 29, 2009
Woman whipped for wearing a bra in Somalia !!!
I wish I was kidding but unfortunately I'm not. A woman was whipped because she wore a bra. According to Somalians breats are to be naturally firm. It doesn't really make sense of why they are not allowed to wear it. They were alot of stuff to cover up because they believe that women are temptation to sin according to the extremists. Women also are not allowed to dance at weddings , football games and there are so much more things that women are limited to. Reason for not wearing the bra was to actually show the womens real bodies not there artificial ones. Women are just either for pleasure or making babies down there but is the west any different. Some ads are driven towards scantly dressed women that makes the west also use women as an object. My opinion on this is that women should have there own say of what they want to do and they should try to lose this image of them by just saying no and by asking males to help stand up for them . They need a powerful group of women just like the old women's rights groups. Overall I say that the extremists should just stick to themselves and let the women live their lives and treat them better.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
A review about the movie Afghanistan Unveiled
The film Aghanistan Unveiled is produced by a group of female journalists from Afghanistan who travel around and talk to women about their lifestyle in different parts. It shows their lifestyles and the fear that they must deal with. It shows the discrimination towards women in Afghanistan. This film really makes us feel lucky here at North America that we don't have to live in these fears or have women discriminated against. This film really opens ones eyes to Afghanistan and the lifestyle that women have down there.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Summary of Modernization and Modernity of Afghanistan
A Summary of Modernization and Modernity of Afghanistan
The territorial state of Afghanistan was created in the west from the Persian civilization, in the southeast from the Indian subcontinent and in the north from central Asia. Because of its location, the area has been invaded and conquered many times over two thousand years and has experienced many different influences from its occupations. The area’s first real rulers were the Medes in 700 BCE, the Persians in 550 BCE, Alexander the Great in 330-327 BCE who introduced Hellenic culture, and the Mauryans of India in 305-180 BCE. They introduced the religion of Buddhism to the area. Later Mahayana Buddhism was introduced by the Iranian Parthians who controlled the area in 150 BCE to 300 CE. This rule was followed by the White Huns from Turkey in 500 who began to control the area and brought fierce tribal autonomy. From 300 to 870, Hinduism was brought in by the Shahi kings. It was replaced gradually by Islam in the area after the Arab-Muslim conquest of Persia. By 900, most of the people in the area were followers of Sunni Islam. An Islamic empire followed for about 300 years. However, in 1220, Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire launched a devastating war against Afghanistan. Later in 1379 Tamerlane, a descendent of Genghis Khan, occupied Afghanistan and incorporated it into his own empire. In 1504, the southern part was taken over by Babur for the Indian Moghul Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries the Persians and the Indians wanted control of the area because of its value as major migration routes/crossroads. Eventually the Indians gave up the north part to Uzbeks and the west area to the Iranians. In 1747, Ahmad Shab Abdali, an army leader from the area and his army, returned to the Afghan area from a war in India. They and tribal leaders from the area announced their independence from Iran and chose Ahmad Shah as their leader. With this, the short lived Durrani Empire was established and the country of Afghanistan was actually formed. In 1826, Dost Mohammed Khan became king. He asked the British for support because of a conflict with the Sikhs. They declined to support his territorial demands and he turned to the Russians. The British invaded Afghanistan, resulting in the first Anglo-Afghan War which lasted 4 years from 1838 to 1842. The British removed and replaced Dost in 1838, however he was returned in 1842. The British suffered a great military defeat here. As an act of revenge they slaughtered an entire village. In 1863, Amir Sher Ali succeeded Dost. He created a Council of Elders, a national army, a taxation system and civilian and military schools. He signed a defensive alliance with Russia. The British revolted by taking Kabul, a city in Afghanistan, chasing Sher Ali out, making it a protectorate and making Abdul Rahman Khan king. Afghanistan was to be independent with no relationship with any other country and “A buffer state between British India and Russia” (pg.44 Modernization and Modernity). To unify the different ethnic groups, Adbul stressed Islam. He established provincial governments to override tribal and clan powers. He built a strong army, began state bureaucracy and brought in experts to begin small industry economy. He did much to his country a political entity however he did with terror-killing and relocating many. Later Afghanistan in 1919 declared their independence from Britain and established diplomatic relations with Russia. During this time, a constitutional monarchy with a cabinet and a council of ministers was established. A legislative council was formed which was partly elected and partly appointed. Secular laws were created. In the educational system secular curricula were introduced and women were to have access. There were major social reforms, especially for women. However there was major resistance to these changes, which resulted in rebellion. In 1929, the king had to abdicate because the chieftains and local religious leaders demanded the repeal of the reforms and the return to Shariah law. The next king was Mohammed Nadir Shah who repealed most of the reforms. He introduced banking system, economic planning and made a national army. The next king in 1933 made links with Germany which provided technical help with factories and building of hydroelectrical projects. Later more links were established with Russia. In 1949, a more liberal parliament was allowed with a new group of reformers, which were committed to political democracy. Progressive newspaper and a student union were developed. Mohammed Daoud Khan was named as prime minister. He ruled from 1953 to 1963. His reforms were cautious. The veiling of women was voluntary. Religious leaders who were against the government were arrested. From 1963 to 1973 the New Democracy period appeared in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister Mohammed Yousuf had been educated in Europe and created a new constitution. It was debated, amended and conclusions were reached by democratic consensus. It was approved in 1964. It provided for an elected parliament with two houses. Individual rights were stressed. Women had equal political rights. There was independent judiciary and secular law. Elections which took place in the following years had very poor turn outs. In 1973, Mohammed Daoud who had been previous prime minister in 1953 to 1963, seized power, ended the monarchy and created the Republic of Afghanistan. He created his own political party and declared himself president of a one party state. In 1978, Mohammed Daoud was killed by members loyal to the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) a Communist Party formed in 1965. PDPA seized power in Afghanistan and were being backed up by the Soviets. They believe that they can impose a revolutionary program of social (involving women in the labour force) and economic reform. Women were to be educated. Due to resistance to these reforms and a major rebellion, the Soviet invaded Afghanistan in 1979, killed the leader of the government, and installed a new leader. A more moderate reform package was announced. From 1979 to 1989, Soviet supported PDPA forces fought against Mujahideen rebels of Afghanistan who were backed up the USA. In February 15, 1989, the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan. Two years later, the USA and the USSR both agreed to cut military and financial aid to their supported forces in Afghanistan. The Afghan government fell apart. Then one year later, the USA backed Islamic forces, which consisted of the Taliban, seized power in Kabul and a civil war started. By 1996 the Taliban controlled two thirds of Afghanistan, in 1998, 90%. The Taliban believed that there was no need for elected government, need for religious police, and believed strongly in the seclusion of women. In 2001, the USA and UK forces began an assault on Afghanistan to get rid of the Taliban.
Reference
J.W. Warnock, 2008. Creating A Failed State. Chapter 3-Modernization and Modernity (p. 40-61), Fernwood Publishing, Halifax and Winnipeg.
The territorial state of Afghanistan was created in the west from the Persian civilization, in the southeast from the Indian subcontinent and in the north from central Asia. Because of its location, the area has been invaded and conquered many times over two thousand years and has experienced many different influences from its occupations. The area’s first real rulers were the Medes in 700 BCE, the Persians in 550 BCE, Alexander the Great in 330-327 BCE who introduced Hellenic culture, and the Mauryans of India in 305-180 BCE. They introduced the religion of Buddhism to the area. Later Mahayana Buddhism was introduced by the Iranian Parthians who controlled the area in 150 BCE to 300 CE. This rule was followed by the White Huns from Turkey in 500 who began to control the area and brought fierce tribal autonomy. From 300 to 870, Hinduism was brought in by the Shahi kings. It was replaced gradually by Islam in the area after the Arab-Muslim conquest of Persia. By 900, most of the people in the area were followers of Sunni Islam. An Islamic empire followed for about 300 years. However, in 1220, Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire launched a devastating war against Afghanistan. Later in 1379 Tamerlane, a descendent of Genghis Khan, occupied Afghanistan and incorporated it into his own empire. In 1504, the southern part was taken over by Babur for the Indian Moghul Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries the Persians and the Indians wanted control of the area because of its value as major migration routes/crossroads. Eventually the Indians gave up the north part to Uzbeks and the west area to the Iranians. In 1747, Ahmad Shab Abdali, an army leader from the area and his army, returned to the Afghan area from a war in India. They and tribal leaders from the area announced their independence from Iran and chose Ahmad Shah as their leader. With this, the short lived Durrani Empire was established and the country of Afghanistan was actually formed. In 1826, Dost Mohammed Khan became king. He asked the British for support because of a conflict with the Sikhs. They declined to support his territorial demands and he turned to the Russians. The British invaded Afghanistan, resulting in the first Anglo-Afghan War which lasted 4 years from 1838 to 1842. The British removed and replaced Dost in 1838, however he was returned in 1842. The British suffered a great military defeat here. As an act of revenge they slaughtered an entire village. In 1863, Amir Sher Ali succeeded Dost. He created a Council of Elders, a national army, a taxation system and civilian and military schools. He signed a defensive alliance with Russia. The British revolted by taking Kabul, a city in Afghanistan, chasing Sher Ali out, making it a protectorate and making Abdul Rahman Khan king. Afghanistan was to be independent with no relationship with any other country and “A buffer state between British India and Russia” (pg.44 Modernization and Modernity). To unify the different ethnic groups, Adbul stressed Islam. He established provincial governments to override tribal and clan powers. He built a strong army, began state bureaucracy and brought in experts to begin small industry economy. He did much to his country a political entity however he did with terror-killing and relocating many. Later Afghanistan in 1919 declared their independence from Britain and established diplomatic relations with Russia. During this time, a constitutional monarchy with a cabinet and a council of ministers was established. A legislative council was formed which was partly elected and partly appointed. Secular laws were created. In the educational system secular curricula were introduced and women were to have access. There were major social reforms, especially for women. However there was major resistance to these changes, which resulted in rebellion. In 1929, the king had to abdicate because the chieftains and local religious leaders demanded the repeal of the reforms and the return to Shariah law. The next king was Mohammed Nadir Shah who repealed most of the reforms. He introduced banking system, economic planning and made a national army. The next king in 1933 made links with Germany which provided technical help with factories and building of hydroelectrical projects. Later more links were established with Russia. In 1949, a more liberal parliament was allowed with a new group of reformers, which were committed to political democracy. Progressive newspaper and a student union were developed. Mohammed Daoud Khan was named as prime minister. He ruled from 1953 to 1963. His reforms were cautious. The veiling of women was voluntary. Religious leaders who were against the government were arrested. From 1963 to 1973 the New Democracy period appeared in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister Mohammed Yousuf had been educated in Europe and created a new constitution. It was debated, amended and conclusions were reached by democratic consensus. It was approved in 1964. It provided for an elected parliament with two houses. Individual rights were stressed. Women had equal political rights. There was independent judiciary and secular law. Elections which took place in the following years had very poor turn outs. In 1973, Mohammed Daoud who had been previous prime minister in 1953 to 1963, seized power, ended the monarchy and created the Republic of Afghanistan. He created his own political party and declared himself president of a one party state. In 1978, Mohammed Daoud was killed by members loyal to the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) a Communist Party formed in 1965. PDPA seized power in Afghanistan and were being backed up by the Soviets. They believe that they can impose a revolutionary program of social (involving women in the labour force) and economic reform. Women were to be educated. Due to resistance to these reforms and a major rebellion, the Soviet invaded Afghanistan in 1979, killed the leader of the government, and installed a new leader. A more moderate reform package was announced. From 1979 to 1989, Soviet supported PDPA forces fought against Mujahideen rebels of Afghanistan who were backed up the USA. In February 15, 1989, the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan. Two years later, the USA and the USSR both agreed to cut military and financial aid to their supported forces in Afghanistan. The Afghan government fell apart. Then one year later, the USA backed Islamic forces, which consisted of the Taliban, seized power in Kabul and a civil war started. By 1996 the Taliban controlled two thirds of Afghanistan, in 1998, 90%. The Taliban believed that there was no need for elected government, need for religious police, and believed strongly in the seclusion of women. In 2001, the USA and UK forces began an assault on Afghanistan to get rid of the Taliban.
Reference
J.W. Warnock, 2008. Creating A Failed State. Chapter 3-Modernization and Modernity (p. 40-61), Fernwood Publishing, Halifax and Winnipeg.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Politics in The Olympics ?
They do truly say that politics is everywhere. When I saw that politics also took place in sports I could barely believe it. I decided to look up more info about this topic and it took me on a wirlwind of info. Michelle Obama and Barrack is right now in Copenhagen trying to support the olympics in Chigaco and I find this a perfect time to give you a brief history of politics on sports. Well I mean it does make sense to make a political statement at the biggest spectacle ever like the olympics. Adolf Hitler in 1936 wanted to show the world during the olmpics in Berlin who was boss. He wanted to show of what a strong leader he was through the olympics and to promote the aryian race. Also there were many boycotts and countries trying to show their power. Why can't they just play sports? It seems that every olympics has some type of problem. For Vancouver 2010 the local indians are saying that the olympics are being played on their land. I guess its true what they say that there is always sore losers in sports. Sports is a vehicle for politicians !!!
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