"You've got boys flying kites again..." —George W. Bush

About:

Oh, the privilege. 

And what a privilege it is to publish a story about the broader theme of culture and identity, specifically for Afghanistan’s diaspora living in the States, like those on that third-culture-wave, when Afghans from the home country are left dealing with far harsher realities.

The diaspora’s dilemma pales in comparison (if you’re that foolish to try and compare the two) to their dilemma. No less, it is still a dilemma.

With that in mind, Part I of this multi-part story dives into that nebulous question...what does it really mean to be Afghan? Really, what does it mean to be from anywhere?

This is a tricky one.

Show Notes

1. [00:45] “The Layers of Heaven” by Jovica
2. [02:15] “I Know A Way Through” by Phillip Ayers
3. [03:30] “Afghan National Anthem”
4. [06:05] 2010 Census data on the number of Afghans in America 
   1. Related: Some of the other largest ethnic groups in America
   2. Related: Light reading on Dearborn, Mich.
   3. Related: Light reading on Egyptians in Jersey City (h/t @Saressaa)
   4. Related: Light reading on Iranians in Glendale / Tehrangeles
5. [07:10] More on the Kalacha
   1. On the real estate
   2. The surrounding area
   3. And some other stats
6. [07:50] “Don’t Say No” by Mike Franklin
7. [08:40] Light reading on Flushing
8. [08:50] Light reading on the local soccer club scene
9. [12:05] “Burnin’ Things” by Mike Franklin
10. [14:35] Light reading on Rumi
    1. Related:“I am not of India, nor of China, nor of Bulgaria, nor of Saqsín; / I am not of the kingdom of Irãqain, nor of the country of Khorãsãn.”
    2. And the debate over where Rumi is from 
11. [16:55] More reading on consumerism and American culture
    1. Here
    2. Here
    3. Here
    4. Here
    5. Here
12. [19:05] More on Jamil Jan Kochai (@jamiljankochai)
    1. Read his book, 99 Nights in Logar
    2. 2020 Pen Award finalist for debut novel
13. [19:20] Light reading on Logar, Afghanistan
14. [19:45] “Khaista Logar De” 
15. [20:05] Afghanistan by Mohammad Hassan Kakar
16. [21:45] “Antidote X” by Van Sandano
17. [21:45] George W. Bush announcement of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan on Oct 7, 2001
18. [21:50] President George W. Bush’s comments in December 2008
19. [22:25] President Barack Obama’s comments on drone strikes in 2013
20. [23:00] President Donald Trump comments on US Afghan war in 2019
21. [23:45] Rory Stewart’s two-part documentary series: Afghanistan: The Great Game 
22. [24:30] John Rambo’s history lesson of Afghanistan in Rambo III
    1. Related: this was propaganda
    2. Related: the Rambo musical score
23. [28:30] “Desert Hideout” by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
24. [31:00] “Wandering Soul” by Gabriel Lewis
25. [31:10] Light reading on the rise of the median home price vs the median household income
26. [31:20] Light reading on the increase of the cost of education
27. [31:30] Light reading on the rising cost of healthcare over the past few decades
28. [32:19]  “Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” by Jamil Jan Kochai
29. [32:25] Light reading on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
    1. “Afghanistan is a big place”
30. [33:10] “The Early Eagle” by Jon Sumner
31. [35:25] Shout out to the prologue
32. [38:10] Light reading on Dari vs Farsi
33. [38:15] Light reading on the attan
34. [39:45] “Nysnö” by Sandra Marteleur
35. [40:00] Light reading on the history of slavery in the U.S.
    1. Related: Seeing White 
36. [41:15] Light reading on 
    1. Modern-day redlining
    2. The state of U.S. law enforcement
    3. The socioeconomic wealth gap
37. [43:25] “Mountain Solitude” by Moorland Songs
38. [44:00] The second-coming of the Bamiyan Buddhas 
39. [44:15] “Good words, good thoughts and good deeds.”
40. [45:10] John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction