Thursday, April 22, 2010

“Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History - Newsweek” plus 3 more

“Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History - Newsweek” plus 3 more

Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History - Newsweek

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 03:49 PM PDT

1. Don't believe the claim that there will always be insurgencies in Afghanistan. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in 2009 that Afghanistan "has probably had an insurgency forever, of some kind" (page 320). Barfield disagrees. There have been several civil wars, but most insurgencies were short-lived, he argues. And when Afghans fought back against British invaders, the insurgents dissipated quickly after the foreigners left. In fact, the hardened, long-lasting insurgency is a relatively recent phenomenon, Barfield says, beginning with the invasion by the Soviet Union in 1979.

2. Much like the U.S. strategy today, state-building throughout Afghan history has centered on the creation of a powerful Afghan armed force. When the British first invaded in 1839, they revamped the country's tax system and began to build a national army. And though the British were soon driven out, Dost Muhammad—the leader who then came back to power—found himself armed with an army to rule the entire country. State-building, indeed.

3. The history of Afghanistan is rich and complicated, but Barfield drives home two ever-present facts: a detached elite class rules, and governance is rooted in corruption. The ruling class, while prevalent for centuries, was repeatedly weakened by the interference of foreign invaders, but at the national and provincial level there's still a sharp divide between those deemed capable of ruling and the masses. Corruption foiled many of the British plans for colonizing the diverse peoples inhabiting the country's rugged terrain. It's tough to institute a tax system in a country where officials depend on backroom payoffs.

4. More than anything, what dominates daily life in Afghanistan is one's qawm, or local population and ethnic group. Over the centuries, qawm in Afghanistan has made for a widely fractured political landscape. Pashtuns, long the dominant group, making up about 40 percent of the population, are the largest group and speak Pashto. Tajiks, who make up 30 percent of the country and live mostly in the capital, Kabul, speak Persian and are Sunni Muslim. Next are the Hazaras, who are Shia Muslims and live in the Hindu Kush, which borders Pakistan. Ten percent of Afghans are Uzbek, who are Turkish-speaking Sunnis. Then there are Aimaqs, Nuristanis, Pashai, Qizilbash (they speak Persian, too), Baluchs, Arabs, Pamiris, Jugis, Jats. And don't forget about the 1,000 nomadic Kirghiz living in the Wakhan corridor. Did you catch all that?

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County seeks help from Gov. Rounds to re-work deal ... - Argus Leader

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:44 PM PDT

In light of wide-ranging concerns about the Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County leaders are asking Gov. Mike Rounds to help them re-do the terms of a $1.8 million deal with the facility.

The request is the latest response to controversy swirling around the center, which could face more oversight if Rounds agrees to modify the deal.

The president, vice president, treasurer and secretary of the Multi-Cultural Center's board all resigned with no explanation within the past two months, and its executive director returned to work recently after a forced leave of absence.

A confidential Feb. 10 report made public this month outlined several short-comings, and local officials have expressed concerns that remaining board members haven't moved quickly enough to address problems.

The deal, which dates back to the Gov. Bill Janklow administration, gives county officials little ability to make sure the center is properly operated and serving the needs of the community, county officials told Rounds.

It is the only non-profit receiving county support with "no strings attached" under terms of the agreement, the letter states.

"The Multi-Cultural Center is heavily supported by both public funds of the City of Sioux Falls and by public property owned by Minnehaha County," according to the letter, signed by all five commissioners. "Yet the current agreement has no provisions to hold the Multi-Cultural Center accountable in its performance to receive this public support."

The state provided the $1.8 million to remodel the former Sioux Falls Coliseum, so the building could be used by the Multi-Cultural Center.

A copy of the letter was obtained today by the Argus Leader.

For more on this story, see Friday's Argus Leader.

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College Park school explores cultural ties with Chinese ... - Maryland Community Newspapers Online

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 04:03 PM PDT

Bob Akaoma — a sixth-grader at Paint Branch Elementary School in College Park — wasn't sure how he'd communicate with his new classmates when he was placed into a classroom with more than 30 native students at Nankai University Elementary School in Tianjin, China.

"I started feeling comfortable because I'm studying their language and they're studying our language," said Bob, 11, of Greenbelt. "It was awesome ... going to China is an opportunity that may never come in a lifetime."

Bob was among 19 Paint Branch sixth-graders and 15 staff members who visited China from March 26 to April 8. The school has a three-year partnership with Nankai, the University of Maryland, College Park and the Confucius Institute, a Beijing-based nonprofit organization that promotes Chinese education at universities throughout the world.

Students were selected for the trip by a panel of school, city and university officials after several projects and essays. The trip cost about $1,200 per traveler – including air fare – with most funding provided by the Confucius Institute, the city of College Park and area businesses.

The students spent three days attending classes in Tianjin, followed by stops in four cities, culminating in Beijing, 80 miles from Tianjin.

"The trip has given them the actual experience of being in China and learning what they have read," principal Jay Teston said. "It has given them the impression that there's a bigger world out there."

In Tianjin, Paint Branch students were placed in groups of three and inserted into classrooms with 35 to 48 Chinese students, Teston said. Subjects included math, science, English and calligraphy, with some calisthenics thrown in as customary exercise for many Chinese students.

After leaving Tianjin, the students, staff members and 15 parents and chaperones toured four cities — Jianan, Qufu, Taishan and Beijing. In Qufu, they visited monuments paying tribute to ancient philosopher Confucius, and saw numerous landmarks in Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

"I was kind of surprised by the height of the wall," said Eric Elue, 12, of Laurel. "They say don't run, because you're so close to the edge."

The students brought back many souvenirs, including yo-yos, figurines and a needlepoint design presented to them by a teacher at Nankai. They will describe their trip at speaking engagements before the Confucius Institute, College Park City Council and school PTA later this spring.

"[The students] were excited going there," Teston said of the 13-hour direct flight from Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va., to Beijing. "But coming back, everybody zonked out."

Paint Branch incorporated Chinese culture into its curriculum throughout the year. The 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle was used to teach first-graders math and patterns; history classes included lessons on the Great Wall and terra cotta warriors; and science classes featured indigenous Chinese animals such as tigers and pandas.

Paint Branch is in the first year of its partnership with the University of Maryland and will continue using Chinese culture in its lessons next year, Teston said. He said he hopes to visit Tianjin again next year or possibly host Chinese students at Paint Branch.

"[Current fifth-graders] are asking now, 'Can I go on the next trip?' " assistant principal Viola Harris said. "That's a good energy to leave for next year."

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.

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Cultural Attraction Visitation Up 2.1% in 2009 - Plain Dealer (blog)

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 09:29 AM PDT

(AP) — Cultural Attraction Visitation Up 2.1% in 2009

April 22, 2010 (MMD Newswire) -- Cultural attraction attendance increased 2.1% in 2009, according to Morey Group's newly released 2009 Cultural Attraction Attendance Trend Report detailing attendance, membership, and pricing trends in the cultural attraction industry. This year's report is based on a survey of 189 cultural attractions.

Additional key findings:

- General admission attendance - paid attendance excluding school groups and events - increased 2.8%.

- Attractions charging less than $10.00 had a total attendance increase of 3.8% and a general admission attendance increase of 3.2%, while those charging $10 or more had a total attendance increase of 1.3% and a general admission attendance increase of 2.6%.

- Aquariums, zoos, and children's museums had the highest percentage increases in both total attendance and general admission attendance. Art museums and science museums experienced decreases in both areas.

- Membership increased by 2.2%. Cultural attraction membership represented 2.8% of total attendance.

- Average adult admission cost was $11.18, up 5.9% from 2008.

- Average child admission cost was $7.55, up 6.4% from 2008.

''Since museums offer an affordable and high quality experience, cultural attraction visitation usually increases during an economic downturn," said John Morey, President of Morey Group. "After the concerning 6.6% drop in 4th quarter attendance in 2008, we are pleased to see this trend of overall growth in 2009."

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