Taliban Closing Schools for Girls in Afghanistan Again

silkroad

The Taliban are at it again in Spina, Afghanistan. They have closed a school for girls, and are threatening all in the citizens in the Paktika provence.

Two brothers in the town began quietly to teach math, reading and writing to their female relatives. But soon word spread and now many girls are being taught by the brave two men. They are seeking more resources, but the province is very poor.

The news is not all dismal, female enrollment in Afghan schools is up from 5,000 during the rule of the Tabiban, to 2.5 milllion today.

Jason P

I guess closing schools wasn't good enough .... so let's take it the next step and just poison the girls.

Bravo, Taliban.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/afghan-schoolgirls-poisoned-hundreds-hospitalized-second-time-week-190135368.html

I'd complain, but I've been taught not to judge other cultures.

dasvidana

sad but not surprising. Culture change often takes generations.

fuck

silkroad wrote:

The Taliban are at it again in Spina, Afghanistan. They have closed a school for girls, and are threatening all in the citizens in the Paktika provence.

Two brothers in the town began quietly to teach math, reading and writing to their female relatives. But soon word spread and now many girls are being taught by the brave two men. They are seeking more resources, but the province is very poor.

The news is not all dismal, female enrollment in Afghan schools is up from 5,000 during the rule of the Tabiban, to 2.5 milllion today.

Sounds like the NATO war is helping! Yes! War! War! War! War!

Join me everyone!

War!, etc

Jason P

fuck wrote:

silkroad wrote:

The Taliban are at it again in Spina, Afghanistan. They have closed a school for girls, and are threatening all in the citizens in the Paktika provence.

Two brothers in the town began quietly to teach math, reading and writing to their female relatives. But soon word spread and now many girls are being taught by the brave two men. They are seeking more resources, but the province is very poor.

The news is not all dismal, female enrollment in Afghan schools is up from 5,000 during the rule of the Tabiban, to 2.5 milllion today.

Sounds like the NATO war is helping! Yes! War! War! War! War!

Join me everyone!

War!, etc

War or extremist religious teachings?

Perhaps you should read some history of the region prior to 9/11.

Or perhaps once NATO leaves it will return to the glorious Shangri-La that is always was. :crazy:

unsung

Just keep using our troops to protect the opium fields...shhhh.

fuck

Jason P wrote:

fuck wrote:

silkroad wrote:

The Taliban are at it again in Spina, Afghanistan. They have closed a school for girls, and are threatening all in the citizens in the Paktika provence.

Two brothers in the town began quietly to teach math, reading and writing to their female relatives. But soon word spread and now many girls are being taught by the brave two men. They are seeking more resources, but the province is very poor.

The news is not all dismal, female enrollment in Afghan schools is up from 5,000 during the rule of the Tabiban, to 2.5 milllion today.

Sounds like the NATO war is helping! Yes! War! War! War! War!

Join me everyone!

War!, etc

War or extremist religious teachings?

Perhaps you should read some history of the region prior to 9/11.

Or perhaps once NATO leaves it will return to the glorious Shangri-La that is always was. :crazy:

You clearly missed my point, I was sarcastically referring to the last sentence which was obvious propaganda to show that the NATO invasion/occupation of Afghanistan is some type of moral act, as if the White Man is the liberator, come to save women from their poor abusive husbands and clan elders.

Knowing about random things like the Taliban not letting women attend schools in the 90s does not qualify as "reading some history of the region." Can we quit acting as if we know what the fuck Afghanistani culture/religious practices are like? There are some universalist principles we can all agree on, of course, like equal opportunities for all. But just because equal opportunities are better where we live (not to say that they are stellar, of course) does not make us liberators elsewhere. This demonization of the Taliban is absurd, because it makes it as though they are more despised in their homeland than we are. As long as foreign occupiers exist on the land, the Taliban can continue to round up support against them, and people will join them, even if it means losing some (smaller) social benefits, like access to education.

Jason P

fuck wrote:

You clearly missed my point, I was sarcastically referring to the last sentence which was obvious propaganda to show that the NATO invasion/occupation of Afghanistan is some type of moral act, as if the White Man is the liberator, come to save women from their poor abusive husbands and clan elders.

Knowing about random things like the Taliban not letting women attend schools in the 90s does not qualify as "reading some history of the region." Can we quit acting as if we know what the fuck Afghanistani culture/religious practices are like? There are some universalist principles we can all agree on, of course, like equal opportunities for all. But just because equal opportunities are better where we live (not to say that they are stellar, of course) does not make us liberators elsewhere. This demonization of the Taliban is absurd, because it makes it as though they are more despised in their homeland than we are. As long as foreign occupiers exist on the land, the Taliban can continue to round up support against them, and people will join them, even if it means losing some (smaller) social benefits, like access to education.

You do know that the Taliban staged a ruthless take-over of Afghanistan in the mid-90's, correct? Their "culture" wasn't even 5 years old.

And the Taliban were formed and backed by Pakistan's military ... hmm, Pakistan ... :think: ... that would make the Taliban ... foreign invaders!!! :-o :-o :-o

:shh:

Nevermind90

Fucked up planet, makes me feel ill, damn shity fucked up, god(?) damn it...

MotoDC

Jason P wrote:

fuck wrote:

You clearly missed my point, I was sarcastically referring to the last sentence which was obvious propaganda to show that the NATO invasion/occupation of Afghanistan is some type of moral act, as if the White Man is the liberator, come to save women from their poor abusive husbands and clan elders.

Knowing about random things like the Taliban not letting women attend schools in the 90s does not qualify as "reading some history of the region." Can we quit acting as if we know what the fuck Afghanistani culture/religious practices are like? There are some universalist principles we can all agree on, of course, like equal opportunities for all. But just because equal opportunities are better where we live (not to say that they are stellar, of course) does not make us liberators elsewhere. This demonization of the Taliban is absurd, because it makes it as though they are more despised in their homeland than we are. As long as foreign occupiers exist on the land, the Taliban can continue to round up support against them, and people will join them, even if it means losing some (smaller) social benefits, like access to education.

You do know that the Taliban staged a ruthless take-over of Afghanistan in the mid-90's, correct? Their "culture" wasn't even 5 years old.

And the Taliban were formed and backed by Pakistan's military ... hmm, Pakistan ... :think: ... that would make the Taliban ... foreign invaders!!! :-o :-o :-o

:shh:

I'm glad you're trying, Jason P. All I could glean from his rambling was that the education of 2.5million Afghan women instead of just 5,000 was nothing but a "smaller" social benefit. Because education isn't at the core of liberation, amirite?

Jason P

MotoDC wrote:

I'm glad you're trying, Jason P. All I could glean from his rambling was that the education of 2.5million Afghan women instead of just 5,000 was nothing but a "smaller" social benefit. Because education isn't at the core of liberation, amirite?

I would hate to see someone try to defend the Taliban and their "culture" and then in another thread claim they have one iota of respect for woman's rights. Or gay rights. Or religious rights. Or civil rights. Or just about anything the media claims the GOP is waging a "war" on locally ......

gimmesometruth27

i guess the taliban can see that public schools and teacher's unions are the problem... those teachers are destroying the economy and indoctrinating the students... all students should be homeschooled...i'd bet they would be walker supporters if they were americans...

Jason P

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

i guess the taliban can see that public schools and teacher's unions are the problem... those teachers are destroying the economy and indoctrinating the students... all students should be homeschooled...i'd bet they would be walker supporters if they were americans...

??????????????????

So the Walker campaign is throwing acid and poisoning girls who attempt to get a meager education? And forcing them to conceal their identities? Banning media? Enforcing law based on a religious book?

PJ20 wasn't that long ago, but I didn't see that to be the issue up in cheese land. Now if you want to talk about the availability of healthy food in Wisconsin, that is another issue. But to blame Walker for that ....

gimmesometruth27

Jason P wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

i guess the taliban can see that public schools and teacher's unions are the problem... those teachers are destroying the economy and indoctrinating the students... all students should be homeschooled...i'd bet they would be walker supporters if they were americans...

??????????????????

So the Walker campaign is throwing acid and poisoning girls who attempt to get a meager education? And forcing them to conceal their identities? Banning media? Enforcing law based on a religious book?

PJ20 wasn't that long ago, but I didn't see that to be the issue up in cheese land. Now if you want to talk about the availability of healthy food in Wisconsin, that is another issue. But to blame Walker for that ....

chill out. there is no tongue in cheek emoticon... it was a joke meant to say that clearly the taliban are shutting down schools, because like many republican governors and politicians, they see the teacher's unions as a problem, and even see teachers as indoctrinating thier kids.... and yes, the taliban do not want women educated. they never did before 9/11, why would they allow it now??

we were talking about what the taliban's views on women were when i was in grad school in 1998....

Jason P

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

chill out. there is no tongue in cheek emoticon... it was a joke meant to say that clearly the taliban are shutting down schools, because like many republican governors and politicians, they see the teacher's unions as a problem, and even see teachers as indoctrinating thier kids.... and yes, the taliban do not want women educated. they never did before 9/11, why would they allow it now??

we were talking about what the taliban's views on women were when i was in grad school in 1998....

I just don't think it's fair to bring up the comparison in this thread. As Jules might say:

Ain't no fucking ballpark neither. Now, look, maybe your method of massage differs from mine, but, you know, touching his wife's feet and sticking your tongue in the holiest of holies ain't the same fucking ballpark. It ain't the same league. It ain't even the same fucking sport.

Jason P

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

there is no tongue in cheek emoticon...

Smellyman

Isn't there a functioning democracy yet?

fuck

MotoDC wrote:

Jason P wrote:

fuck wrote:

You clearly missed my point, I was sarcastically referring to the last sentence which was obvious propaganda to show that the NATO invasion/occupation of Afghanistan is some type of moral act, as if the White Man is the liberator, come to save women from their poor abusive husbands and clan elders.

Knowing about random things like the Taliban not letting women attend schools in the 90s does not qualify as "reading some history of the region." Can we quit acting as if we know what the fuck Afghanistani culture/religious practices are like? There are some universalist principles we can all agree on, of course, like equal opportunities for all. But just because equal opportunities are better where we live (not to say that they are stellar, of course) does not make us liberators elsewhere. This demonization of the Taliban is absurd, because it makes it as though they are more despised in their homeland than we are. As long as foreign occupiers exist on the land, the Taliban can continue to round up support against them, and people will join them, even if it means losing some (smaller) social benefits, like access to education.

You do know that the Taliban staged a ruthless take-over of Afghanistan in the mid-90's, correct? Their "culture" wasn't even 5 years old.

And the Taliban were formed and backed by Pakistan's military ... hmm, Pakistan ... :think: ... that would make the Taliban ... foreign invaders!!! :-o :-o :-o

:shh:

I'm glad you're trying, Jason P. All I could glean from his rambling was that the education of 2.5million Afghan women instead of just 5,000 was nothing but a "smaller" social benefit. Because education isn't at the core of liberation, amirite?

The Taliban are foreign invaders now? Just because the Taliban began its government in Afghanistan during the mid-90s, that means the culture and ideology that many Pashtun adhere to is only 5 years old? What the hell are any of you talking about?

And yes, education is a smaller social benefit, compared to sovereignty, a truly representative government, freedom from occupation, etc. Though, I can't say I'm surprised that the dude chillin in his house in the U.S. thinks that education is the most important thing.

PJ_Soul

It's a god-awful situation for girls and women there, and many other places, particularly where Sharia law is a focus. It makes me feel so angry... infuriated. And hopeless. These people keep reaching towards this shit and at this point I don't think a thing can be done to stop it at all. I think that in the end, it simply has to be something that we step back and watch in sorrow, and watch these societies either sink or swim. As devastating as it is to know that women are living this way, history and the present are teaching us that we can't stop it from the outside. Insiders - people within those societies - must be the ones who fight the fight. That's the only way this shit will ever stop and change. If that even does it. I say that reluctantly, because I want sense and common decency to be pounded into the heads of ALL Islamists who think women are inferior in any way... but let's face it. It is a major factor in Islam, and outsiders can't do a thing about it.

It will take real effort on the part of Imams and communities at large... and I just don't see that happening any time soon outside of immigrant communities. In fact, I think opposition from the outside encourages this shit more than it discourages.It's something that probably just has to happen organically without intervention for it to ever happen. I don't normally have this kind of defeatist attitude, but given all things involved in this particular issue, I,m both most horrified and most hopeless about this human travesty. That goes for all issues of women as second class citizens (or non citizens) in certain cultures and communities. It's just too fucked up on the inside for anyone to help it through reason. There is no reason or logic behind these kinds of beliefs, and so reason can't encourage change here. It's a completely manic issue. I think it's either leave them to it (as women continue to suffer horribly), or continue wars that don't do any good either. Fucking heinous.

PJ_Soul

fuck wrote:

MotoDC wrote:

Jason P wrote:

And the Taliban were formed and backed by Pakistan's military ... hmm, Pakistan ... :think: ... that would make the Taliban ... foreign invaders!!! :-o :-o :-o

:shh:

I'm glad you're trying, Jason P. All I could glean from his rambling was that the education of 2.5million Afghan women instead of just 5,000 was nothing but a "smaller" social benefit. Because education isn't at the core of liberation, amirite?

The Taliban are foreign invaders now? Just because the Taliban began its government in Afghanistan during the mid-90s, that means the culture and ideology that many Pashtun adhere to is only 5 years old? What the hell are any of you talking about?

And yes, education is a smaller social benefit, compared to sovereignty, a truly representative government, freedom from occupation, etc. Though, I can't say I'm surprised that the dude chillin in his house in the U.S. thinks that education is the most important thing.

Fuck, Fuck. You don't know what you're talking about. It is an absolute proven FACT that the success of a society relies very heavily on how educated the population is as well as how involved women are in that society.

MotoDC

fuck wrote:

The Taliban are foreign invaders now?

Define foreign. They established an oppressive, militaristic rule over a people that did not actively choose to be ruled as such. They are equally willing to kill locals and nonlocals to reestablish their power.

fuck wrote:

Just because the Taliban began its government in Afghanistan during the mid-90s, that means the culture and ideology that many Pashtun adhere to is only 5 years old?

Nope. But we were talking about Taliban rule specifically, which kinda implemented its own thing (i.e., culture).

fuck wrote:

What the hell are any of you talking about?

Lotsa cool stuff. You should yell less (on the interwebs, a name like "fuck" always imputes yelling, sorry bro) and listen more.

fuck wrote:

And yes, education is a smaller social benefit, compared to sovereignty, a truly representative government, freedom from occupation, etc. Though, I can't say I'm surprised that the dude chillin in his house in the U.S. thinks that education is the most important thing.

Those things (except freedom from occupation, though that might be debatable) are impossible without education, at least at liberation's nascence.