Free Essay

Afghan Culture

In:

Submitted By smc2228
Words 353
Pages 2
The common Islamic food prohibitions are respected in Afghanistan. For example, meat is only eaten from animals that are slaughtered according to Islamic law; alcohol, pork, and wild boar are not consumed, although some people secretly make wine for consumption at home. The Shiites avoid rabbit and hare
In Afghanistan, people work as long as they are fit.

Judges apply a tribal-based conception of Islam. Those who commit adultery and consume drugs and alcohol are severely punished. Beatings, amputations, and public executions (beheading, stoning, and shooting) are commonly practiced.

Read more: Culture of Afghanistan - history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Afghanistan.html#ixzz1bU0F3iWv Women now must be completely covered by a long veil and accompanied by a male relative when they leave the house. Women face overwhelming obstacles if they seek to work or study or obtain access to basic health care

women do not inherit land, real estate, or livestock

The most important rite of passage for a boy is circumcision, usually at age seven. Although surrounded by affection, children learn early that no one will intervene when they cry or are hurt. Adults do not interfere with children's games, which can be tough. Physical punishment is administered, although parents tend to be indulgent with young children.

To express affection, it is customary to complain, sometimes bitterly, about not having received any news.

Since modern medical facilities are limited, people rely on traditional practices that employ herbs and animal products. Every physical ailment is classified as warm or cold, and its cure depends on restoring the body's equilibrium by ingesting foods with the opposite properties. Another way to cure disease is to undertake a pilgrimage to a shrine. Sometimes, pilgrims put a pinch of sand collected from the holy place into their tea or keep a scrap from the banners on a tomb. Certain springs are considered holy, and their water is believed to have a curative effect. Talismans (Koranic verse in a cloth folder) are sewed onto clothing or hats to protect against the evil eye or treat an illness.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Afghan Culture

...Afghan Persian/Farsi   From: shannanchurch@hotmail.com To: shannanchurch@hotmail.com Subject: Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:17:55 -0600 The common Islamic food prohibitions are respected in Afghanistan. For example, meat is only eaten from animals that are slaughtered according to Islamic law; alcohol, pork, and wild boar are not consumed, although some people secretly make wine for consumption at home. The Shiites avoid rabbit and hare In Afghanistan, people work as long as they are fit. Judges apply a tribal-based conception of Islam. Those who commit adultery and consume drugs and alcohol are severely punished. Beatings, amputations, and public executions (beheading, stoning, and shooting) are commonly practiced. Read more: Culture of Afghanistan - history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Afghanistan.html#ixzz1bU0F3iWv   Women now must be completely covered by a long veil and accompanied by a male relative when they leave the house. Women face overwhelming obstacles if they seek to work or study or obtain access to basic health care women do not inherit land, real estate, or livestock The most important rite of passage for a boy is circumcision, usually at age seven. Although surrounded by affection, children learn early that no one will intervene when they cry or are hurt. Adults do not interfere with children's games, which can be tough. Physical punishment is administered, although parents...

Words: 374 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Blah

...paper is largely based on his own fieldwork conducted in the two sites of Afghan settlement in exile: Peshawar, Pakistan and Freemont, California in the United States. As his article largely focuses on Afghan music culture after the communist coup of 1978, Baily first offers a description of Afghan music as it was before the 23 years’ war, and describes trends between music and migration. He describes three categories of music in Afghanistan and focuses on the latter two: regional folk songs, which are characteristic of various regions and ethnic groups; popular music that was created and promoted by Afghanistan’s only radio station, called Radio Afghanistan; and art music that was created in the musician’s quarter of the old city in Kabul (Kabul’s Kucheh Kharabat). Baily also notes an important social distinction between professional (kesbi) musicians for whom a musical profession is hereditary, and amateur (shauqi) musicians who were typically from educated middle-class or even upper-class families and whose attitudes toward music were more liberal. Hereditary professional musicians tended to regard playing music as an occupation that was in their own tradition and right. Knowledge of Indian music theory and specific performance techniques that are associated with certain instruments were considered exclusively their domain, and something that amateur, self-taught musicians lacked. Music practiced by Afghan refugees who fled to Peshawar was similar in style and sound to the traditional...

Words: 642 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Pak Afghan

...1- Pak-Afghan Trade Relation: Pakistan and Afghanistan have a history of bilateral trade relations and economic interactions. A distinguishing feature of relationship in both countries is the shared border spanning about 2500 kilometers which is crossed by some 50,000 people everyday. This reflects the strength of socio economic interaction between two countries. Pakistan is currently the largest trading partner of Afghanistan, while Afghanistan is Pakistan’s third largest trading partner. Pakistan's exports to Afghanistan tripled during last six years, from half a billion dollars in fiscal year 2004 to 1.5 billion dollars in 2010. Afghanistan is now Pakistan’s third major export destination after the United States and the United Arab Emirates. In the last fiscal year it has left behind China, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in terms of generating our export earnings. The list of the items Pakistan is currently exporting to Afghanistan is long and varied. It includes cement and other construction materials including glass sheets, iron and steel structures, paints and varnishes plus a large number of electrical items, fuel and edible oils, oilseeds, food items including wheat flour and rice, fruits and vegetables, confectionary, mineral waters and ice creams, medicines, soaps and detergents and a vast array of kitchen wear and bathroom fittings. As it is a proved fact that in last about a half decade Afghanistan has made steady progress...

Words: 780 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

U.S Policy on Afghanistan

...Op-ed: US Policy on Afghanistan The role of the U.S. in the security and stability of Afghanistan, and what it means to the rest of the region and the world is a relevant topic today. A nation that has been surrounded by invasion, external pressure and internal upheaval since before the time of Alexander the Great, Afghanistan has endured more than most people can ever imagine. Going back to the beginning, the country has been ruled by Persian, Greek, Sassasian and Central Asian empires. In addition, it has also been conquered by the Mongols, British, Russians, and more lately by the Taliban and the U.S. In 1989, with the help of nationalist groups such as the Mujahadeen and the US, who supplied these groups, Afghanistan gained independence from the Soviet Union, which had invaded and remained in the nation since 1979. The US policy program involving the funding and supplying of Mujahadeen shaped the US foreign policy on Afghanistan during the concluding Cold War. Then came the current war. Following the September 11 World Trade Center bombings, the United States accused Osama Bin Laden of the crime and demanded that the Taliban handed over Bin Laden. The Taliban refused to do so, which resulted in the bombing of the impoverished country by the US, and which led to the current war between the two nations. The US recent policy on Afghanistan involves the improvement of the nation’s security and infrastructure, yet this policy is in fact generating more destabilization in...

Words: 1334 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Steve Mccurry: The Afghan Girl

...Afghan Girl, one of the most iconic photographs ever, was taken in 1984 by Steve McCurry. McCurry was visiting refugee camps along the Afghan-Pakistan border, and he chose a student in the camp of Nasir Bagh.i In his words, “I saw this . . . girl who had this really kind of haunted look in her eye. So I got permission to photograph her.”ii The girl had moved from Afghanistan because of the Soviet invasion of December 1979. To McCurry, “her look . . . summed up the horror, because her village had been bombed . . . and she'd had to make this two-week trek . . . to the refugee camp.”iii The Afghan Girl photograph has since been used in a number of fundraisers, documentaries and campaigns. It has raised awareness for women and child refugees...

Words: 671 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Union Aid for Afghan Refugees

...Assignment Of: Budget of Union Aid for Afghan Refugees (UAAR) For 1st Jan, 2011 – 31st Dec 2011 Presented To: Mam Aysha Sami Latif Presented By: Amjad ur Rehman (15) (Group leader) Aamir Khan (21) Zeeshan Arshad (55) Union Aid for Afghan Refugees By means of limited sources but with the objective of humanitarian assistance, Dr.T.Nassery, an Afghan Professor laid the foundation stone of Union Aid for Afghan Refugees (UAAR) as a pioneer organization and initiated its activities in health sector after its establishment in 1997 that formally commenced from 1980 with the prior permission of Govt. of Pakistan. The organization has close coordination with UNHCR, Afghan Commissioner ate, PDH and other NGOs that are serving for the welfare of Afghan Refugees. This organization operated most of its activities by Humanitarian Assistance of the Government & the generous people of Germany. They afforded their financial and moral assistance to this organization. Basically, this organization had financially been supported by a German based organization VAF “Verein fur Afghanish-Fordrung”. Due to decrease of funds from our German Donor, UNHCR started funding this organization in health sector, since 1992. PRESENTLY THE ORGANIZATION IS RUNNING THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: * BHUs (since 1980): Total Number of BHUs (8) Funded by UNHCR (6) since 1992 Funded by AFV (2) since 2000 UNHCR funded BHUs 1. Kababian 2. Khazana 3. Naguam ...

Words: 1715 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Literacy Note

...Insight is an Afghan women-owned group of companies established in 2004. Our primary areas of service are in media, research and education/training. In just a few years Insight has established a track record of positive past performance in Afghanistan. Insight has been a successful U.S. military subcontractor and Afghan Woman Owned Business (AWOB) prime vendor since early 2008. Education and Training Experiences • Rehabilitative Educational and Counseling Program at the Detention Facility in Parwan (Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435) Since 2010, Insight Group has been developing curricula and implementing rehabilitation, de-radicalization, and re-entry training and counseling at the Detention Facility in Parwan (DFIP) through educational and vocational programs. We provide literacy instruction and vocational training to several hundred detainees, as well as detention counseling services and life skills training. As part of this service, Insight Group has Ministry of Education authorization to operate as an adult literacy provider in Afghanistan and to certify detainee graduates of our literacy programs. • ANSF Native Literacy Program (CSTC-A/NTM-A) We are presently executing an adult literacy Program of Instruction and delivering classroom-based courses for Afghan National Security Forces throughout RC-N, RCW and in Kabul (14 provinces total) as part of a nationwide initiative to raise literacy rates among the ANSF. We are currently providing instruction at more than...

Words: 592 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Admissions Essay

...role. The Northeastern University MBA program will provide me with extensive exposure to the different areas of business. In particular, this program will allow me to bridge the gaps I currently have in accounting, financial management, and supply chain optimization. Closing these gaps will put me in line with my civilian peers. The ability to collaborate with classmates in my cohort will provide me with valuable real world examples of successes and failures in the business world and give me a better sense of what to expect as I transition. My military career has had many successes that will help me integrate well into this program. The accomplishment that has given me the most pride is when I planned and executed the largest combined Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) mission in the history of Eastern Afghanistan. This was the first time that the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), Afghanistan Border Patrol (ABP), Afghanistan Local Police (ALP), and Afghanistan National Police (ANP) participated in a joint operation of this size. It included over 70 vehicles and a combined 280 ANSF personnel. Many steps were taken to ensure the success of this operation....

Words: 788 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Dyncorp International

...and program and executive support. The performance work statement indicated that these services would be provided worldwide but, the current locations would be Columbia and Afghanistan. The performance work statement also specifically noted that the goods and services provided would outfit and support counter-narcoterrorism units such as the Counter Narcotics Police in Afghanistan and the Counter Narcotics Brigade in Columbia. The solicitation for these ID/IQ contracts included three sample task orders. Sample tasks were (1) develop high resolution short-wave infrared cameras for surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, (2) provide intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance support in the Trans-Sahara region of Africa, and (3) train Afghan Border Police to perform functions necessary to deny the flow of illegal persons, drugs, and weapons across borders. Task order requests for proposals (TORP) 150 is for mentoring and training the Ministry...

Words: 423 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Culture of Pakistan

...Culture Definition A simple definition of culture is that it is the human response to the forces of Nature and History. According to the (World Conference on Culture Policies, Mexico 1982)Culture is “the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs." PAKISTANI CULTURE Pakistan is the country full of natural and cultural wealth. Pakistan has its own unique and specific cultural identification. Culture and heritage of Pakistan reflects the extra ordinary skill and devotion of Pakistani people. Pakistani people are playing a vital role in the presentation, development and promotion of Pakistani culture. The Pakistani culture is dominated by Islamic tradition and heritage. Islamic heritage has great impact on Pakistani culture. In ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub. Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. One of the greatest cultural influences was that of the Persian Empire, of which Pakistan was a part. In fact, the Pakistani satraps were at one time the richest and most productive of the massive Persian Empire. Other key influences include the Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and later, the short-lived but influential, the British...

Words: 287 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Satire

...volunteer military with repeated, unnecessary tours of duty, saying that it is needlessly killing and maiming our young people. Others may bicker and dispute that the United States should not be in the Middle East because it is a civil war that is being fought, and we cannot resolve a conflict that has been going on for thousands of years. I find myself in the utmost disagreement with those positions. I mean where else could any one nation hope to send it's young to get a world view than a far distant mountainous or Desert region that is geographically isolated as well as culturally. By continuing the wonders of this endless war effort our politicians and their supporter are actually enriching our nation's youth with exposure to other cultures while simultaneously letting them revisit history. The critics of these amazing little countries that have tied up so much time and resources of much of the world's nation building efforts in history is in fact a walk backwards in time all by themselves. This experience that is offered to our young adults is very enriching in its own way. Where else could we ship self absorbed teens and young adults to firsthand experience medieval teachings on a woman's "place" or how to live without electricity and running water? It is this kind of back to basics that leads me to say again and again "o yes, let's fight this war forever and a day" because as Americans we have forgotten our shamed past of female suppression and slavery. We need to look...

Words: 517 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Travels and Culture

...background, culture, language, values, or beliefs. My success hinges on my ability to relate to other people and earn their trust. This in and of itself can be an overwhelming task when dealing with other Americans. Pile on top the stresses of a hostile environment where your country is viewed as an occupier, morally and religiously at odds with the host nation, and the fact neither of you speak the other’s language. This, to some extent or another, has been a large part of my life for the past eight years in the Marine Corps. Other than making me really, really good at party games like Pictionary where you have to communicate without words, I have picked up some similarities through my experiences between the cultures I have interacted with that are shared despite geographic separation, cultural exclusivity from lack of outside influence or exchange, and prior indoctrination of biases through propaganda or limited experiences. In the following pages, I intend to discuss these similarities to assist the traveler when she or he finds themselves in a similar position. While each interaction with an individual in a foreign country may seem trivial to the average American, that may be the only American that foreigner ever comes across, thus shaping perceptions for generations in the village. An example which we will discuss later is Greg Mortensen, author of “Three Cups of Tea”, who forever changed remote villages in Pakistan. We will primarily compare the Muslim cultures in Iraq...

Words: 1306 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Student

...The Afghan Perspective of Governmental Structures and Political Processes: Analyzing Afghanistan’s Potential to Develop Through Effective Formation and Operation of Government Why do Afghans Identify So Little with Political Parties Even though the Spectrum of Parties is So Wide? Which Candidate From the Recent Election Has a Better Plan on Rebuilding Afghanistan? Aimal Pahrand December 10, 2014 Abstract With U.S.-led NATO forces exiting Afghanistan in 2016, Afghan stability relies on the strength, capacity, validity, and permeability of Afghan governance. Although the size and overall adequacy of the Afghan governing structure has increased drastically since the fall of the Taliban regime, the government remains prevalent with corruption as political and ethnic tensions among its major subdivisions remain present. The recent election showed that Afghans still vote according to ethnicity. The Pashtun population heavily favored Dr. Ashraf Ghani, advisor of the Bonn process and Finance Minister to former president Hamid Karzai’s erratic administration. Alternative candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, former foreign minister in the Karzai administration and Secretary General of the Masood foundation as well as United Front’s Minister of Foreign affairs during the Taliban regime, was heavily favored by non-Pasthun voters. Ghani’s victory led to a huge backlash due to claims of fraudulent voting, which forced the two candidates to f ormally signing a power-sharing agreement...

Words: 2769 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

English

...and cultural backgrounds. Since culture greatly impacts communication, it is helpful for teachers to introduce lessons and activities that reveal how different dialects, forms of address, customs, taboos, and other cultural elements influence interaction among different groups. Numerous films contain excellent examples of intercultural communication and are highly useful resources for teachers. Additional reasons for teachers to incorporate films in class and encourage their students to watch movies in English include: • Films combine pleasure and learning by telling a story in a way that captures and holds the viewer’s interest. • Films simultaneously address different senses and cognitive channels. For example, spoken language is supported by visual elements that make it easier for students to understand the dialogues and the plot. • Students are exposed to the way people actually speak. 2 2010 N u m b e r F • Films involve the viewers, appeal to their feelings, and help them empathize with the protagonists. • DVDs usually come with subtitles in English, which facilitates understanding and improves reading skills. After discussing the importance of teaching intercultural communication and suggesting films that match specific cultural categories, this article describes some activities to use when showing a film in the classroom and presents a task-based project involving the use of films. Using films for intercultural training Culture, according to one definition, is...

Words: 6086 - Pages: 25

Premium Essay

Managing Cultura Differences

... MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES SERIES Managing Cultural Differences: Global Leadership Strategies for the 21 st Century, Sixth Edition Philip R. Harris, Ph.D., Robert T. Moran, Ph.D., Sarah V. Moran, M.A. Managing Cultural Diversity in Technical Professions Lionel Laroche, Ph.D Uniting North American Business—NAFTA Best Practices Jeffrey D. Abbot and Robert T. Moran, Ph.D. Eurodiversity: A Business Guide to Managing Differences George Simons, D.M. Global Strategic Planning: Cultural Perspectives for Profit and Non-Profit Organizations Marios I. Katsioulodes Ph.D. Competing Globally: Mastering Cross-Cultural Management and Negotiations Farid Elashmawi, Ph.D. Succeeding in Business in Eastern and Central Europe—A Guide to Cultures, Markets, and Practices Woodrow H. Sears, Ed.D. and Audrone Tamulionyte-Lentz, M.S. Intercultural Services: A Worldwide Buyer’s Guide and Sourcebook Gary M. Wederspahn, M.A. SIXTH EDITION MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES ST FOR THE 21 CENTURY 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION PHILIP R. HARRIS, PH.D. ROBERT T. MORAN, PH.D. SARAH V. MORAN, M.A. JUDITH SOCCORSY Editorial Coordinator Elsevier Butterworth–Heinemann 200 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA 01803, USA Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK Copyright © 2004, Philip R. Harris, Robert T. Moran, Sarah V. Moran. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or...

Words: 229816 - Pages: 920