The Forever War- Blog 1- A Robbed Culture

I am fascinated by culture. How they develop, how they are different, how they change. I chose the Forever War because I desired to learn more about a culture that seemed unreachable. A place that only exists in news footage. I also have a deeper personal reason for wanting to read this book, I am half Persian. It is a part of my heritage that I have always been fascinated by but felt completely clueless about. Growing up in the United States, Arab countries get very little attention in the world of education. The only thing anyone ever knows about "those" places is that their is lots of violence there. I am not satisfied with that being a culture, my culture.


The 2 chapters of the book have been written from the perspective of Dexter Filkins, a New York Times reporter. He speaks of his time in Afghanistan along side Marines, interviews with militant leaders and common people alike, and of the events on 9/11. I find the book refreshing as it breaks away from the path of the modern day media and explores the trials of a faithful, war-torn people.

I find that I am learning a lot about Middle Eastern history reading through the book. The author doesn't assume anything about the readers knowledge on the subject and I am greatful for it. He breifly but relevently explains the Soviet Union invasions and the rise of militia leaders throughout the country. These timelines told through extensive interviewing with people on every side of the battle. I imagine getting interviews with men like high-ranking Taliban representatives and glory-faded militia commanders would be a difficult and very dangerous thing to do. However, the book value increases greatly due to this. Gaining perspective and self-awareness from each side of a conflict gives a deeper understanding to where groups of warriors have come from. Also, being able to understand the current situation of each group today without relying on tired, uneducated answers such as, "hate" and "Jihad" creates a knowledge that is invaluable. Without knowledge, only hate can survive.

I found myself saddened by the culture that once was. The vivid descriptions given by various people regarding what once was -- what could have been. After the Soviet Unions fall, men who sought power would create militias that would fight over areas as small as streets. The Taliban coming out on top and destroying the majority of those spread out powers. The Taliban rule shoved an extremist culture down the throat of frieghtened families. A beautiful culture that was once focused on itself has now become focused on everyone else, the non-believers.

I am finding that I as I review the things I have written that the general tone is pretty somber. I think that I find it hard to understand how the faith of one man- the love he can have for a tool to unite, religion- can create so much hate, fear and death. I look foward to reading more about this hot topic and this journalists stories.