Violence

[Zayam]

There is a quote from Isa (PBUH) concerning a disciple of Isa who was trying to support him, when he was about to be captured and withdrew his sword and cut of the ear of one of those who was taking Isa away, and Isa said to his student;

"Sheath your weapon, put it back in its place, for all who take the sword shall die by the sword."

Why is it here so often when someone shows a picture of a Pashtun whom they particularly like, the Pashtun so often has a weapon? I am always turned off by weapons such as guns.

I appreciate the "weapons" of intelligence, gentleness, and faith. Am I alone with these ideals?

I understand that we must protect the innocent, but are there not many ways to do this? Or am I naive?

[graveyardofempires]

you are naive

[Catya Sher]

I love that they carry weapons.
Not only Pashtuns but for example Yemeni, Omani tribesmen all carry
khanjar daggers -
it not only looks cool but IS cool !

It broadcasts a message that the man is capable of defending himself
so don't hassle him.

It speaks of independent taking charge of one's life. Not relying on your local police to come rescue you. These days in America, they are loath to get involved and stay very neutral if someone is attacked.
They don't want retribution themselves and are in fact quite nervous to assert themselves in big cities especially. They are on the defensive.
So how can a citizen rely on such as these?

One has to take one's defense into his own hands to really be secure.

Thus I love their bandoliers and Kalashnikovs and daggers.

[sahil112]

i love weapons also

[IamDZJ]

that is a very good point zayam. some of my friends who live in usa always talk about how they keep loaded shotguns behind their sofas for intruders and what not and it just upsets me. what is the point of living in usa if you have to defend yourself with a gun...
it's good to know how to use one but to own one and take pictures of what and what not...silly boyish stuff..points shouldn't have to be made with guns. too bad, we afghans of all people, fail to understand that.
one other thing that really upsets me is how afghans/pashtuns take pride in themselves by their babar sarona..why does the appearance of a caveman appeal to us so much? what point are we exactly making by that? i don't understand.

[Zayam]

I love that they carry weapons.
Not only Pashtuns but for example Yemeni, Omani tribesmen all carry
khanjar daggers -
it not only looks cool but IS cool !

It broadcasts a message that the man is capable of defending himself
so don't hassle him.

It speaks of independent taking charge of one's life. Not relying on your local police to come rescue you. These days in America, they are loath to get involved and stay very neutral if someone is attacked.
They don't want retribution themselves and are in fact quite nervous to assert themselves in big cities especially. They are on the defensive.
So how can a citizen rely on such as these?

One has to take one's defense into his own hands to really be secure.

Thus I love their bandoliers and Kalashnikovs and daggers.

That may be true Catya, but I still wish we were beyond this way to protect ourselves.

Do I rely on a gun or on Allah. Is life not sacred? If no one had weapons would as many people die? If I shoot first and ask questions later-how much do I destroy?

Maybe, I do not know, but I still feel that Allah is the only judge of life and death, and by hurting someone else with a weapon then I am making myself to a god.

there is so much proof that we humans use so little of our brain power, I wonder what other skills we have that we are unaware of?

I prefer to follow Isa, Ghandi, and Badshah Khan.

[Catya Sher]

Well that's your style
Mine is the type that joins in the fighting, such as Afghans against brutal Soviet occupation. At least WATCHING the fighting, and writing about it!

I dislike Gandhi, Ghaffar Khan and all on the passive resistance model.
I know how popular they were in California especially, like Santa Cruz, Berkeley etc.

I said : HAVING a weapon; I didn't say : using it.

If you search your conscience, maybe you might protest about all the gigantic number of unborn babies who are brutally killed - the stories are horrific if one is brave enough to read up - through legalized abortion in America.

The US is hardly any example of having laws promoting peace and justice !

Just because citizens don't wear bandoliers with bullets doesn't mean that many are not secretly killing huge numbers of young babies every single day!

Think about THAT form of INSTITUTIONALIZED MURDER !
That's the one to protest loudly!

But most people are afraid to be labeled 'reactionary' these days...

[Alchemist]

The Holy Prophet peace be upon him, had 9 lances, 7 spears, 9 swords, 5 shields and 2 bows (I think)...and he peace be upon him has said " "My provision has been placed under the shadow of my spear, and abasement and humility have been placed on the one who disobeys my command."

What you are quoting is a christain saying...

[graveyardofempires]

That may be true Catya, but I still wish we were beyond this way to protect ourselves.

Do I rely on a gun or on Allah. Is life not sacred? If no one had weapons would as many people die? If I shoot first and ask questions later-how much do I destroy?

Maybe, I do not know, but I still feel that Allah is the only judge of life and death, and by hurting someone else with a weapon then I am making myself to a god.

there is so much proof that we humans use so little of our brain power, I wonder what other skills we have that we are unaware of?

I prefer to follow Isa, Ghandi, and Badshah Khan.

what the hell is Gandhi?
i think you need to understand that no one in the world loves guns and the world reality is that their are always powers who want to oppress the weak and vunerable.

i think you need to step back to reality and understand.

im also proud of Bacha Khan but must say h was a little passifist and gandhi was at british service.and you need to follow Muhammad (pbuh) if you are a muslim.

[ScimitarXEdge]

that is a very good point zayam. some of my friends who live in usa always talk about how they keep loaded shotguns behind their sofas for intruders and what not and it just upsets me. what is the point of living in usa if you have to defend yourself with a gun...
it's good to know how to use one but to own one and take pictures of what and what not...silly boyish stuff..points shouldn't have to be made with guns. too bad, we afghans of all people, fail to understand that.
one other thing that really upsets me is how afghans/pashtuns take pride in themselves by their babar sarona..why does the appearance of a caveman appeal to us so much? what point are we exactly making by that? i don't understand.

Silly Macho Posturings in photographs aside; cavemen represent our primal connections, it's rediscovering who we are which is being caked under centuries of trying to domesticate us. It represents that our real nature still exists free.

[ScimitarXEdge]

That may be true Catya, but I still wish we were beyond this way to protect ourselves.

Do I rely on a gun or on Allah. Is life not sacred? If no one had weapons would as many people die? If I shoot first and ask questions later-how much do I destroy?

Maybe, I do not know, but I still feel that Allah is the only judge of life and death, and by hurting someone else with a weapon then I am making myself to a god.

there is so much proof that we humans use so little of our brain power, I wonder what other skills we have that we are unaware of?

I prefer to follow Isa, Ghandi, and Badshah Khan.

So do the imperialists, a peaceful flock is easier to manage.

[graveyardofempires]

ok lets have a National Guard An Army and police force and than we could ask people to give up their guns.you wouldnt see more pashtuns posing with guns.

[randolph85]

pacifism is a hilarious ideology, i wish my enemies were all pacifists.

violence is needed when the time calls for it. not wanton violence but fighting by strict discipline and for a specific goal.

dont quote hazrat isa to confirm ur bias towards non violence, as isa himself said that he came to confirm what came before him in the old testament as the scripture has many instances of god ordained violence. u use a biblical quote of his, so i use one as well, though the credibility of the entire scripture is questionable.

had it not been for violence, the prophet and his companions would of been slaughtered by their enemies, and a hunger strike wouldn't of done anything.

[Shehbaz Khan]

Interesting point Zayam.
I myself love guns and like keeping them. What you pointed out is too good, like why can't we imagine a Pakhtun without a gun? And that we must be loaded with the guns of intelligence and knowledge. We must keep guns but we must not give those guns a right to represent us.

Plus, Voilence is very common in us Pakhtuns. We are dying of hunger but are always ready to fight on silly issues with out cousions. I think we need to come out of this thinking..

[graveyardofempires]

I dont think its about that you will always find Pashtuns with guns, considering the situation of my area...

Which gets worse when you move to tribal belt because there they have mortars , RPGS. I consider guns a waste of money we should spend on something better.

One can keep a gun at home for safety but no other means.

im talking about a situation somewhere in the future when we Pukhtane wont even need to have guns in home for protection,a time when we have have non corrupt authorities who would secure our homes and areas.
right now we should arm every pashtun man ,woman and child to protect him/herself. :P