JUST CONTEMPLATING ON - THE STRUGGLE FOR THE SOUL AND FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN AND THE AFGHANS. PART 1.

 

'It is more than likely that all people, in the formulation and expression of their social, political, religious and economic thoughts, will be or have the potential to become 'imperialistic' and/or 'colonialistic. 

In that they will have extended their visions to include people who do not share them, but would be expected to do so, if those thoughts were to be realised.'

So, the people, the diverse people of Afghanistan are literally fighting for the soul and future of their country. 

One might say that Afghanistan is still trying to achieve the status of 'nationhood.' 

That the country is not only made up of people of different and divergent tribes, nationalities, religions and cultures. 

But that its people also reflects different political ideologies and ideas about what the government of Afghanistan should look like. 

There is religious divide between Afghans who follow the Sunni denomination of Islam, and those who follow the Shia version. 

In common with other predominantly Muslim countries, such as Pakistan and Iraq, Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have been subject to violence and oppression from the Sunni majority.  

The impression I get, is that Shias are seen by Sunni extremists as 'second class' Muslims, and are perceived as 'heretics.' 

Of course, although we have seen this kind of internecine strife or conflict within the family of Christendom, probably most notably in the Catholic and Protestant civil war of the 1970s and 1980s.  

It has not been as prevalent in Europe since Catholics and Protestants were giving vent to their religious blood-lust during the Middle Ages.

To be continued!