Week 9: War and Preservation

Greetings travellers,

As I continued my studies and research, I came across a couple articles that focussed on some very interesting issues at hand: The destruction of religious symbols and cultural objects and how their destruction relates to war. The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha's was an event that caused extreme uproar, making the people of Afghanistan seem horrible and that they committed such an act without a cause. The real point at hand though was that the destruction of the Buddha's was not a religious motive, but meant instead to send a political message.

UNESCO funded a rehabilitation of Afghanistan's cultural heritage, raising up to seven million dollars used for the preservation of a culture. I think that an organization set up to preserve culture is an inspiring cause, especially living in a country where I am constantly immersed in so many different cultures. Culture is everything to a country because it defines who they are and where they have come from. Without that comes a loss of identity, which could eventually lead to the abolition of an entire race and culture altogether. However, in a country heavily populated and surrounded by poverty, should all of that money be going towards preserving the past, or should it go towards preserving the future?

Tune in next week as I continue my adventure along the Silk Road.

Yours truly,
~A.V. 

Week 8: Formation of Islamic Identities

Greetings travellers,

I write to you about a slightly different topic at hand. My studies have shifted from Buddhism to the study of Islam, and I have encountered many different articles surrounding this religion's influence along the Silk Road and also in The West. A particular article stood out for me and it was written by Hirschkind and Mahmood, and the message I got from it was that we in The West tend to make assumptions and place labels and ideals on religious groups and religious movements that are half way around the world from us. Assuming certain things of Islam is ignorant on our part and only aids to the turmoil and aggression within the Islamic culture.

Due to biases and pre-determined opinions around Islamic groups such as the Taliban, the news has been able to manipulate situations against the Taliban and in favour of Western ideals. Also, we claim to be living in a country that accepts and welcomes all cultures, peoples, and religions, and yet we have instated laws that ban the use of female headscarves in an attempt at creating "equality". I am torn, because although I understand the frustration surrounding assumptions and biases, these assumptions are, in part, based off of real events that have spurred such a reaction. I guess the question is what do we do now?

Tune in next week as I continue my adventure along the Silk Road.

Yours truly,
~A.V.