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.

[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.”

[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.

[randolph85]

we should not attack this guy but rather show him the example of humanity show him the error of the structure he is a member of. lets enlighten minds instead of pushing them away.

as many meat head members of the US military would not even bother talking to pashtuns and would shoot before asking questions, i assume someone on a language assignment has a higher capacity of understanding than someone named bowe. let us make our position felt to him in order for him to question the very reason he came here in the first place while taking away knowledge he wouldnt get otherwise.

[randolph85]

warrior, if u have some questions go ahead and post them in the other sections related to the topic so we can answer accordingly.

[graveyardofempires]

warrior[hilosopher wants to learn pashto because if he is caught by the taliban it will come handy.:P

[Shehbaz Khan]

Welcome To PF !!

We hope that you will enjoy your stay here .. and learn about Pakhtuns, their language and their culture.

[Feroza_Banu]

welcome to our community.

you will learn more about our language and our culture here on the website way more than you can ever learn in Afghanistan.... to us you have come as a guest... and we have opened up our doors to you, but for the Afghans in Afghanistan, you are an invader and you will never be welcomed... so learn as much as you can here, for there u won't even get the chance...

Pashtoons are known for hospitality of their guests, but also known for their rebellion to the invader