Role Models: Thoughts

[tor_khan]

Here's a question that I have been pondering for a little while. Because the entire world are all consumers of media - Pashtuns being no different, do we suffer because of lack of positive role models? Do young Pashtuns either those living abroad or at home have anyone to look up to?

Is it easier for Indian kids, for example, to aspire for better because they can choose between innovators, cultural icons, media superstars and aspirational figures in their communities? Do we have the same or are we caught up too much in the past?

[Dreamer]

Here's a question that I have been pondering for a little while. Because the entire world are all consumers of media - Pashtuns being no different, do we suffer because of lack of positive role models? Do young Pashtuns either those living abroad or at home have anyone to look up to?

Is it easier for Indian kids, for example, to aspire for better because they can choose between innovators, cultural icons, media superstars and aspirational figures in their communities? Do we have the same or are we caught up too much in the past?

I did when growing up... they included Hippocrates/Galen/Ibn Sinna and Pasteur

[Afghanistan2010]

we have the best of role models one can have....if i look back into the history of Afghanistan and into the history of Islam....there are uncountable men who were like a thousand men,like mountains.

When Zubair ibn Al Awam (radiAllahu anhu) was sent to war by Umar ibn Al Khattab(rad) : he wrote a letter "Im senting a thousand men with eache and at the head of every thousand men there is Zubair Ibn Al Awaam(rad) and he is equal to a thousand men.

«I sent to you a group of Arab horsemen, each man is equal to a hundred horsemen. When this letter reaches you, address people and urge them to fight to be patient and go to fighting after suset as of Friday.» It is an hour of response: Heading each thousand out ofthe four thousands whom Omar sent was a man: They are al-Zubair Ibn al-Awam, al-Meqdad Ibn al-Aswad, Obada Ibn al-Samet and Maslamat Ibn Mukhaled. Omar told him: «know that you have now 12000 men and these 12000 will not be defeated by a few»,

[tor_khan]

I did when growing up... they included Hippocrates/Galen/Ibn Sinna and Pasteur

Notice my question and how I pointed out that we were consumers of media - in the contemporary sense. I was kind of hinting that perhaps Indian kids have it 'better' because they have more home-grown contemporary icons compared to Pashtuns, hence we have to look elsewhere, beyond our own cultures.

[Dreamer]

Notice my question and how I pointed out that we were consumers of media - in the contemporary sense. I was kind of hinting that perhaps Indian kids have it 'better' because they have more home-grown contemporary icons compared to Pashtuns, hence we have to look elsewhere, beyond our own cultures.

maybe... those men I mentioned only increased my resolve to do what I do today... The 1st is an international figure for he is the father of medicine... the others have made a contribution to the field... I see people beyond their ethnic background...

[tor_khan]

maybe... those men I mentioned only increased my resolve to do what I do today... The 1st is an international figure for he is the father of medicine... the others have made a contribution to the field... I see people beyond their ethnic background...

Seeing people beyond ethnicity is commendable ... perhaps most of us here have the sense to do so. The issue centres around whether this is inevitable because we just don't have the role models within. In the long haul, the cultural/linguistic 'drift' means we lose even more chance of having these aspirational figures within. Classic example: Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood King.

[BLS_1919v2.0]

In the contemporary, there are a few role models, but they are few and far between. Plus, the conception of a role model nowadays is shifted mostly to celebrities, sports icons, etc. Again this is a generalization.

[tor_khan]

^BLS Jan. That's what I was getting at. We have few aspirational figures compared to other communities. That leaves us looking for:

1. Religious role models - often from outside the culture - (some of whom are nutheads)
2. Secular role models - ditto
3. Hollywood media stars - culturally 'inappropriate' ???
4. Indian media stars - the closest 'acceptable' role models

All of that probably goes some way towards explaining why some of our youth are in a no-man's land and easily influenced, because there's nothing to look up to from within. What is there to aspire to unless we opt out culturally? I'm making a bold statement, but that's what I've sort of come to conclude.

[faye]

malalai joya is pretty amazing. she has to be protected from the people who threatened her with rape and murder, in the now afghan government, because she speaks the truth.

[faye]

really, the legends today are the civilians of afghanistan. they have struggled to survive under the oppression and abuses, murders and rapes by their own people and foreign invaders. praise be to them.

[Haris]

We have many famous figures such as Malalai of Maiwand, Khushal Khan, Ahmad Shah, Bacha Khan etc.

The question is, are they rolemodels? and what do they represent?

In Wardag, everyone will have heard of Ghazi Mahmad Jan Khan. He is probably the most famous Wardag who ever lived. I doubt he is a role model though. Ditto for Farooq Wardag, many Wardags will have heard of him and hold him in relatively high esteem yet I doubt he is any sort of role model.

Rural Pashtuns generally don't really have role models like that. They live their lives based on their own experiences with their family & society. People aspire to be like the doctor of the village or the shaheed of the village or the mullah or the teacher or the father or grandfather etc. Pashtuns have their own interesting lives & folklore, there is no need to emulate some famous figure on the television set. I mean you always see kids back home saying "I want to be a teacher when I grow up" or "I want to be an engineer when I grow up". The succesful people at the local level are our people's role models.

With urbanites I suspect that changes. Greater exposure to television and the greater encroachment of modern interpretations of values & ideals such as fashion, cooking ('59 minutes' program on Ariana), singing (Afghanstar), drama, sports etc will have a greater effect on their mentality. Certainly I can see the younger generations growing up to favour such types, especially with a sustained peace.

Me personally, I have two role models. My older brother (who is a Pashtun) and Umar II (who is an Arab). The former stems from me knowing him and looking to his achievements and trying to emulate them myself. The latter is more of a historical/religious figure from the times of the Caliphates whose life and rule was righteous & one which I would have no issue with emulating.

Do I have any Pashtun role model who is a celebrity or historical figure? Nope. To be honest, most Pashtuns in our history garnered their reputation because of bloodshed. Most role models, historical & contemporary have very bloody pasts. I cannot think of a single Mujahid leader, Taliban leader, Communist leader, secularist leader in our history who has done things in such a way that I would be content to live my life 100% as they did or atleast be heavily influenced by their lives (i'm sure that's not the case for others). Many have done good things for Pashtuns yet they have also done much bad. Regarding sportstars & entertainers. Heh. I never looked up to such people (except Rambo as a kid, he was cool )

With the young diaspora, Pashtun rolemodels become even more insignificant. People have other things in their lives to worry about and have far more varied influences on their lives. You get people like Sahil who know their history and historical figures but I doubt most ex-pat Pashtuns have much knowledge of their historical figures let alone try to emulate their lives.


Note: Admiring someone & someone being your rolemodel are not the same thing.




To answer your questions,


do we suffer because of lack of positive role models?

Not necessarily. Role models who are famous figures, in my opinion, never held much influence over Pashtuns. We may have heard of them and name our kids after them but because of the war and other social issues we don't really have much opportunity to look up to them. As a result we instead look to our family & friends on a more local level.


Do young Pashtuns either those living abroad or at home have anyone to look up to?

It largely depends on their own life experiences as those experiences will shape their beliefs and who they choose to look up to. There are indeed people to look up to and Ghorzang listed some of them and the types that they appeal to. Though they are probably not the most desirable figures (that is of course subjective).


Is it easier for Indian kids, for example, to aspire for better because they can choose between innovators, cultural icons, media superstars and aspirational figures in their communities?

Similarly Pakistani expats have Amir Khan, the boxer. The effect that such people have on ordinary kids is limited. Certainly Indian kids will aspire to be like such people but in reality the social position that most are in (principally caste and income problems) mean that their dreams cant be realised fully. You can play cricket with sticks & stones in the slums all you want but chances are you wont be the next Sachin Tendulkar.
I don't think the problem is that Afghan kids don't have any drive to improve themselves. Its more that they have other things to worry about such as feeding their family. Same thing for Indians.


Do we have the same or are we caught up too much in the past?

History has not allowed us to develop such role models to such an extent. I wouldn't say its because we are too caught up in the past. Indeed, I can see a rise in the role models we have. For example, the successes of the cricket & football teams will no doubt have a positive effect and even moreso should these successes be sustained.
But these figures will only really have much effect on those who are living more content lives.



That's my understanding at least, I could be way off the mark.