Episode 2: "The Citizen Vs. The Tribesman"

Citizen = Western. Tribesman = Eastern. These are two different breeds of cat, who see the world in diametrically opposed ways. Can we Westerners impose "citizen values" on a tribal society?

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Afghanistan
• Tribe
• Tribalism
• Osama bin Laden
• Taliban
• Pressfield
• Steven Pressfield
• Afghan Campaign
• Its the tribes
• Pashtun
• Pakistan
• Tribal
• Alexander the Great
• Gates of Fire
• Mullah Omar
• Swat
• Jihad
• Islamism
• terrorism
• militant extremism
• Islam
• jihad
• Tora Bora

[igdrasil21]

The tribe system was not that strong like some Westerners think. It only become stronger becuase of the war. If Afghanistan didn't had a war our tribesystem would be merely by name, and it would not had a big influence, and you wil see in the future when Afghanistan progresses the tribal influence will become weaker and weaker. 

[ze000ez]

tribal system is backward and its really a pain in any Mideastern country's ass , i live in one and im a tribesman myself and its one of the main reasons why our countries are backward

[PakhtunSupremacist]

I can tell u that our tribesmen from the villages show tremendous respect to those with the simple ability to read/write even. They refer to such people as 'kalami' or people 'of the pen.' The tribes don't want their children to read Pashto Bibles or that Barbie has two mommies, or Ken has two daddies. 'Education all the way, but my way.'

[PakhtunSupremacist]

As a Pashtun tribesman, I agree with most of what u say. The only thing is that we also want education. Remember that the Prophet Mohammad(saw) has directed us to seek knowledge from 'the craddle to the grave.' so we want education but our own way. People accuse the Taliban of burning down schools. Did u know that most of those schools were burned because of their anti-Islam/anti-tribe curriculum?

[aljneral]

From the Highlanders of Arabia, passing historically through the Persian Sasania, Seljuqian Guards Formations, Ottoman Turks, Mughal AKBAR of India, the Golden Horde of theTatar and now Afghan Pashtun guerillas.

hence, Mr. Steve its all tribes and simply westren gentleman VS an Eastern Scholar

peace west, to hopes best...

[flonow89]

awsome. like i always say, we always think say lets spread democracy( westerner civilization), but nobody ever takes the time to consider other lifestyle.

[Kurtlane]

Sorry, but I find oversimplified dichotomies like the one presented here very annoying.

There's too much disagreement I have with all this. But the very last example illustrates the problem and demolishes the whole argument.

Who was it that talked about the psychological salary? A US Marine! Someone born and brought up in the US. And yet, here he is, being very tribal.

Correspondingly, it wouldn't be surprising to find someone from tribal are yearning for freedom in our sense.

(cont)

[worldnewsjunkie]

Steve, This is really eye opening stuff for a lot of westerners. The differences between tribemen and citizens on freedom and things like education are important. Do you think the tribal view of education is changing?

[KhanZazai]

the thing with education being negative to the tribesmen is not true. but undermining the tribesmen system works while importing western ideas clashes.

[ahmedkhan007]

nice description