Salaam from the other side.

[Warrior Philosopher]

Salaam alaikum. I've been reading these message boards for weeks but I figured that in order to learn more I'd need to join in and become an active participant.

A little bit about me:
I am an American, half Korean, half Norwegian by descent. I was born in San Francisco and am currently a service member in the U.S. Army.

Now the part that some of you might find interesting is that currently I am in a 2 year program that's goal is to teach me the Pashtun language and to make me (to some degree) a subject matter expert in Pashtun culture. Ultimately I will be acting as a linguist and liason in all manner of capacities.

My goal here is to learn from all of you more about what true Pashtuns are because quite honestly, I find the culture fascinating and am constantly frustrated by the lack of available documentation on your people.

Anyhow, I hope to be well received, to learn much about your people and maybe even to answer a few questions about my own.
Thank you.

[kakargirl]

pa khair raghlai .

[Digital Malang]

You want to go to Afghanistan?

Obviously, he is interested to learn Pashto and go to Afghanistan so he can get paid well.

[randolph85]

a piece of advice. dont mention u are an american soldier, u are not going to make any friends here.

[Warrior Philosopher]

You want to go to Afghanistan?

At this point? Yes, I would love to go there.

Obviously, he is interested to learn Pashto and go to Afghanistan so he can get paid well.

To be honest, up until I received my language assignment (I was hoping to learn Korean) I had never even heard of Pashto. I have no doubt in my mind that as a Pashto speaking soldier I will eventually be in Afghanistan but keep in mind we soldiers don't get a whole lot more money while deployed, the biggest benefit is probably not having to pay federal taxes while deployed.

a piece of advice. dont mention u are an american soldier, u are not going to make any friends here.

I appreciate the tip but I don't need to lie about what I do. I said I'm here to learn and there should be no reason for any of you to want me to do otherwise.

I read so much about how so many of you believe your culture is unique and beautiful (with which I am not disagreeing) and how you want to see it protected and proliferated. So, I ask, how better to further your culture than to educate an "ignorant American invader"? Especially one who is willing and eager to learn?

Never forget, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

[qunduz92]

let me educate you on pashtun beliefs and culture

pashtuns do not want you roaming around in their country and you have sufferend and will continue to suffer the consequences of your ignorance thereof.

[randolph85]

At this point? Yes, I would love to go there.


To be honest, up until I received my language assignment (I was hoping to learn Korean) I had never even heard of Pashto. I have no doubt in my mind that as a Pashto speaking soldier I will eventually be in Afghanistan but keep in mind we soldiers don't get a whole lot more money while deployed, the biggest benefit is probably not having to pay federal taxes while deployed.



I appreciate the tip but I don't need to lie about what I do. I said I'm here to learn and there should be no reason for any of you to want me to do otherwise.

I read so much about how so many of you believe your culture is unique and beautiful (with which I am not disagreeing) and how you want to see it protected and proliferated. So, I ask, how better to further your culture than to educate an "ignorant American invader"? Especially one who is willing and eager to learn?

Never forget, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

if u want to learn, then do so in the capacity of a person with no ulterior motives rather than someone riding along the hoard of military and political imperialism that is a poison to the region. feel free to stick around and learn about us, while u are doing that u should also learn why nato presence is despised by afghans.

[Admin Khan]

Welcome aboard. It would certainly be interesting to find out how you might justify the war in Afghanistan.

I just have a question, do you have a genuine interest in Pashto? Afghans? or is the military more or less forcing you to learn it for your work-related tasks. It's just a question, we have no malicious intentions here. And a question that I also might want to ask is, how did you end up finding us on the internet? Also, we don't mean to sound xenophobic at all.

P.S
We have a pretty huge archive of Afghan related books, threads etc

[Gulalai]

Welcome to PF.

I hope you are not offended, or don't be come offended in the future. But these responses should be no surprise. We are all concerned about what is going on back home with our sisters and brothers, and out families so of course we have a wall up against soldiers who are on the side of fighting against, and killing our people.
Well i hope "a subject matter expert in Pashtun culture" is not a tool to hurt our people back home even more.

Anyways, i hope we receive as much respect as we give.

Enjoy your time on PF.

[Warrior Philosopher]

Welcome aboard. It would certainly be interesting to find out how you might justify the war in Afghanistan.

I just have a question, do you have a genuine interest in Pashto? Afghans? or is the military more or less forcing you to learn it for your work-related tasks. It's just a question, we have no malicious intentions here. And a question that I also might want to ask is, how did you end up finding us on the internet? Also, we don't mean to sound xenophobic at all.

P.S
We have a pretty huge archive of Afghan related books, threads etc

My original reasons for joining the military were to make a modest living and to develop professionally. Initially I was forced to begin learning Pashto but as I learned more about the language and people, my interest and respect grew and now the desire to learn more is my own.

To be perfectly frank, before I'd joined (~7 months ago) I was fairly apolitical and never really thought that deeply into world events. As of now, I can't be sure beyond a reasonable doubt that I have a reason to justify it or vice-versa.

Also, thank you very much for your welcome, I can't say a certain measure of xenophobia was unexpected but I understand it is not representative of all Pashtuns. Whom I hear, possess the most hospitality of any people in the world.

Welcome to PF.

I hope you are not offended, or don't be come offended in the future. But these responses should be no surprise. We are all concerned about what is going on back home with our sisters and brothers, and out families so of course we have a wall up against soldiers who are on the side of fighting against, and killing our people.
Well i hope "a subject matter expert in Pashtun culture" is not a tool to hurt our people back home even more.

Anyways, i hope we receive as much respect as we give.

Enjoy your time on PF.

Once more, thank you for your welcome and it would take far more, I am afraid, than most are capable of to offend me. And you need not worry about me hurting your people, I believe that what I'll be able to do will be of some small good to all concerned.

Your army goes and kills innocent civilians, and commits crimes along with the ANA.

I am not presumptuous enough to make excuses for the actions of others, just as some might benefit from not having the presumption to condemn others for actions that are not theirs.

[qunduz92]

pashtuns are far from hospitable to those that kill, rape and torture them.

[randolph85]

dont play the xenophobia card, dude.

its like calling the polish xenophobics against germans during ww2.

we are xenophobic against foreign armies who play our country like a chess piece. we are hospitable with people who arent drawn to the country on the wings of imperialism.

[randolph85]

sure we want foreigners. we would love tourists, those interested in islam and the national culture. the good people who come based on their unique interests that arent spearheaded by a multi trillion dollar war machine. as for soldiers on assignment, eh.

[Warrior Philosopher]

So, in other words, you think the world should keep quite about the killings and crimes being committed by US and ANA? Is that what you are trying to say.

Look don't pretend to be concerned. You can surf this website as much as you want. But know that as people in Afghanistan are not intimidated, no one here is either.

Don't try to take the moral high ground when your army along with ANA, and private contractors are going around and killing innocent civilians, raping, and wiping villages of the map. And then the media here is forced to tout a certain point just so they can get access to those areas to report news.

The whole Afghanistan is against this failing war.

1) Nobody said you needed to keep quiet about anything. It just seems as though you see me as a personal representative of the US army and the ANA and have found me accountable for whatever has passed. This is just foolish.

2) At what point in time have I ever tried to intimidate someone? Do you see an honest introduction of myself as an attempt to throw my weight around? All the weight of an early 20's private who has decided to introduce himself to a community?

3) I have no interest in the moral high ground which you so vigorously insist on maintaining . I made you aware of my presence and intentions and you seem to take this as a thumbs up to rape, pillage and plunder.


It's no stretch of the imagination that all of Afghanistan is against the war but that has no bearing on what is still my earnest desire to know more about Pashtu culture.

[qunduz92]

warrior philospher, be prepared for some hugs and chai.