Essay about The Women of Afghanistan - 855 Words

Today in the United States, freedom is taken for granted by almost all citizens. People think that because of the way our government is structured, not having freedom will never be an issue. This thought of peace and safety was similar to that of the women in Afghanistan prior to the Taliban reign, and before the government in Afghanistan was overthrown. Their fortunes would change in 1996 when the Taliban ended up controlling Afghanistan, and denying women of all their rights such as work, education, health care, and many more. The lifestyle women were accustomed to be forced to be drastically changed, and the country they once felt love for, they felt fear. Even though their regime only lasted for about 5 years, the Taliban took a†¦show more content†¦Khaled Hosseini displays these ridiculous rules in his novel, The Kite Runner, through the eyes of a man who spent his childhood living in Afghanistan. Because most of the storyteller’s ties were to Afghanistan, the r eader finds out about how devastating the rise of the Taliban was to Afghan citizens. They saw a once thriving country free fall into one that has a corrupt government, and an overall depressed state of mind. (Afghanistan Online) As odd as the restrictions women had, the punishments for violations were even more unbelievable. To humiliate the women, most of the punishments were available to be seen by the public. The penalties for broken laws were often held public in sports stadiums, town squares, or other densely populated areas for everyone to see. For a minor infraction, oftentimes the one who committed the transgression was often beaten until unconscious. A woman once had her thumb removed because her thumb nail was exposed, and when the Taliban guard saw this, she was taken into the town square to have her exposed thumb taken off. The things that the Taliban do to innocent citizens are cruel, and they should be the ones being reprimanded, not the other way around. In general, many of the punishments that the Taliban give out to women are, in most cases, much too excessive for such insignificant â€Å"crimes†. (Delcan Walsh) Since the Taliban have been overthrown in 2001, life for women has vastly improved throughoutShow MoreRelatedWomen in Afghanistan1203 Words   |  5 PagesIn 2010 a young Afghan women had her nose and ears cut off. Aesha Mohammadzai, first appeared on the cover of time magazine in 2010, shared her story on how her husband and in-laws cut off her nose and ears as punishment for trying to run away. Mohammadzai said: â€Å"Every day I was abused by my husband and his family. Mentally and physically; Then one day it became unbearable so I ran away. Three years later Mohammadzai began her reconstructive surgery. Aesha Mohammadzai now lives with a foster familyRead MoreWomen in Afghanistan1611 Words   |  7 PagesResearching the Women in Afghanistan has informed me about the many different aspects that have shaped these women int o who they are today. They have survived through incredibly harsh periods when education for women was illegal and when being out in public without a male accompaniment was a punishable act as well. Not only have the women of Afghanistan survived through these terrible times, but they never seemed to give up home schooling girls in their homes and searching for a way to better theirRead MoreEssay on Women in Afghanistan1708 Words   |  7 PagesWomen in Afghanistan Brief Outline of Afghanistan History: 1910’s-1920’s : Reform movements in Afghanistan 1933-1973 : Some reform, country remains fairly static 1978-1992 : Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1979-1989 : Soviet Intervention 1992-1996: Islamist Mujanidin 1996-2001 : Taliban 2001-Present : U.S. Occupation, new government The reason I chose to study Islamic Feminism and Afghanistan, is that for many people, these words do not belong in the same sentence. AfghanistanRead More Women in Afghanistan Essay756 Words   |  4 Pages Women in Afghanistan The Taliban group is a group of men who formed in 1994 in the country of Kandahar by Islamic students who took an approach to interpreting Islam. The Group also believes in strict Islamic rules. According to them the men must have beards four fingers in length, there shall be no music and women should not be allowed to do anything other than stay home and watch the children and clean the house. This Taliban group when first started had about twenty to thirty thousandRead MoreThe Effects of Afghanistan War on Women777 Words   |  4 PagesFighting is constant in Afghanistan and it affects women significantly. The men in their lives control women, and because of the oppressive government, they hold no power in society. A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by Khaled Hosseini is a story of two young women, Laila and Mariam, who face and overcome many hardships and live in a country destroyed by political oppression and war. Hosseini exposes the inner strength of Afghan women through the point of view of these two women; a strength that enablesRead MoreResearch Paper: Difficulties for Women in Afghanistan963 Words   |  4 PagesDifficulties for women in Afghanistan In Afghanistan, there are many differences in the lives of males and females. A child’s life is based around their gender, because gender is an important and prized aspect of a person’s life. Both boys and girls do not live luxurious lives, they are subject to disease, malnutrition and war in Afghanistan. However, while these are similarities among the genders, there are many more differences. Roles in economics, education and childhood are some of the manyRead MoreEssay on Women Led Organizations in Afghanistan1530 Words   |  7 Pagestheir hardship, the women were able to organize themselves in groups aimed at championing the cause of women. They did so by establishing secret schools and health clinics. Some noted organization that evolved as a result is listed below. Women Led organizations in Afghanistan AWC Afghan Women’s Council REFWID Feminist Majority Foundation of Refugee women in Development Inc CCA Cooperation Center for Afghans AWN Educators and Human Rights Commission in Pakistan, Afghan Women Network WAPHA Women’sRead MoreNo Respect for Women in Afghanistan in the Novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini1378 Words   |  6 PagesThrough their bravery and hope, Mariam and Laila demonstrated what little rights women had in Afghanistan, between the 1960s and 2000s. The Taliban army and husbands treated women horribly and showed them absolutely no respect. They were two examples of the many women that were fighting for their rights. They were fed up with the constant beating. They could not stand being treated like dogs anymore. So one day they stood up to their husband and fought back. This is great example of two strongRead MoreThe Rate Of Ptsd Different Among Men And Women Returning From Iraq And Afghanistan1606 Words   |  7 PagesAnalyzing Dissonance in Similar Research: Is the Rate of PTSD Different Among Men and Women Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a concern for many Americans, especially soldiers. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reports that 11-20% of military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle with PTSD (PTSD: National Center for PTSD). Thankfully, extensive time, effort, and money go into researching the disorder so that psychologists, psychiatristsRead MoreOppression of Women in Afghanistan in the Text Aa Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini1141 Words   |  5 PagesJacob Turnhout Statement of Intent Type of writing: Formal Writing Purpose: Inform students of the oppression of women in Afghanistan Audience: Year 13 students of the college Q: Novelists write about aspects of society we do not normally consider. To what extent do you agree with this view? â€Å"One in every Three Afghan women experience physical, psychological or sexual violence†. This a quote referenced from Harvey Thompsons book review of the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns written by Khaled

Essay about Problems of Civilization and Society - 1341 Words

Throughout human history, man has always encountered problems and seeks to solve it in order to alleviate his own suffering. Pain is one of the pertinent reasoning behind almost all actions taken by humanity as a whole, not dependent on status, class, race, gender, etc. However, as humans, we are also constrained to the society in which we live. We behave the way we do, and react the way we do because society has structured us to do so in that particular manner. Civilization cannot exist without the existence of man, however, man never ceases to change the construct of his civilization. In his Civilization and Its Discontents Sigmund Freud explains the conflict in which humans experience self-entanglement, primarily due to the†¦show more content†¦There is no possibility at all of its being carried through; all the regulations of the universe run counter to it. (Freud 25) In stating this, Freud says that although the purpose in our lives is to strive after happiness, this mental programming is strictly limited and, therefore, we must follow it according to the constructs from civilization. Similarly, the best way to attain happiness is by instinctual gratification, which is also restricted by civilization, since most of the energy that goes towards achieving this personal gratification is to satisfy civilizations requirements, and thereby delay sexual gratification, which is another way to attain happiness. Coming directly from nature, which man cannot change, sexual gratification gives happiness, but the suppression of these sexual desires is a discontent of civilization. The purpose of civilization is to divert the attention of the individual from seeking sexual gratification and put forth all energies, which would under normal circumstances be used for sexual gratification, to achieve two main purposes of civilization: one, to protect men again st nature, and two, adjust their [man and nature] relationship. In order to avoid displeasure received from the suppression of sexual gratification, Freud suggests substitution gratification. He writes, One gains the most if one can sufficiently heighten the yield of pleasure from theShow MoreRelatedSigmund Freud : Civilization And Its Discontents1682 Words   |  7 PagesSigmund Freud: Civilization and Its Discontents In the book Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud writes about how civilization is a place of conflict when it comes to the need for conformity. Civilization is a place that does not function orderly despite having laws and regulations put in place. People often face the challenge in conforming to the restrictions in their daily lives when it comes to satisfying their needs. Sigmund Freud refers to religion as a method of conformity whenRead MoreThe Death Of The Nuremberg Trials ( 1945-46 ) Essay1712 Words   |  7 Pagescrime against humanity which must be recognized. He uses his authority to speak on the behalf of those who have been oppressed, who have been dehumanized in the process of colonization, to question and define what the relationship and situation of civilization and colonization. The situation is that Cà ©saire sets the foundation of a trial to prove that colonization is a crime. Cà ©saire’s stages a trail of humanity. â€Å"Europe is indefensible†¦And today the indictment is brought against it†¦on a world scaleRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Civilizations, Mesopotamia And Ancient China868 Words   |  4 PagesMany of the early world civilizations had similar experiences when evolving to become the influential societies that affected other societies. They were called the first civilizations because they were able to form the first functional communities, successful systems of organized laws over people, the distinction of social classes, economic income, and development of arts and educations. Two of histories well-known civilizations, Mesopotamia and Ancient China had similar experiences in the beginningsRead MoreThe Collapse Of The Western Civilization994 Words   |  4 Pagesancient civilizations. From 551-479 B.C. with the Chinese, to the nineteenth and early twentieth century with western civilization. Ranging from the collapsing of the Roman and Mayan empires, to the ending of the Byzantine and Inca empires. Historians and architects use ancient readings left behind on stone and walls to gain knowledge about these civilizations. To comprehend these civilizations that were once there and the culture behind them. The virtue and values of these civilizations have hugeRead MoreIs Civilization the Answer to the Chaos?1144 Words   |  5 PagesAs Mark Twain once said, â€Å"Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.† The society believes that civilization is the solution to disorder and chaos, but sometimes it creates more problems than solutions. To the imperial Europeans, turning the natives into civilized human beings was the main goal, and that is why they felt as if it was their job to take over the natives’ lands. In general, civilization is seen as a solution to a utopian realm. William Shakespeare in TheRead MoreIs The Classic Mayan Civilization?1558 Words   |  7 Pagescomplexity, over a considerable area, for an extended time.†(AOC) With Mr. Tainter’s definition of collapse, I will be focusing on one specific civilization, what led to their falling as a society and elaborate on some theories as to why collapses may occur. The development that I am going to be discussing is the Classic Mayan civilization. The civilization was located in Mexico around the region of the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala. The Growth and collapse of the Classic Mayan started at approximatelyRead MoreEssay on Slaves in Roman and Germanic Societies591 Words   |  3 PagesWhile both Roman society and Germanic society do not view slaves as full people each society does have some safeguards to slaves wellbeing. Although both societies try to protect their slaves they also illustrated that slaves were not equal to free and even freed slaves were not equal. While both societies have positive aspects to their treatment of slaves I believe it would be better to be a slave in a Germanic society rather than a Roman society. In a Germanic society a slave had a greater abilityRead MoreEssay on Factors Leading to The Collapse of Past Societies1693 Words   |  7 PagesAt present day, our worldwide civilization of the human race continues to surpass many achievements of other past societies. Everyday, new technological advances are being achieved and the population is growing faster than it ever previously has. We must look back at past civilizations and analyze them to understand what is in store for us in the future. In the pursuit of progress, human societies create problems they do not have the resources or political motivation to solve, for fear of short termRead MoreNietzsche versus Gandhi Essay1378 Words   |  6 Pagescurrent trend of society. Their individual philosophies and concepts suggest a fundamental problem: if civilization is so disea sed, can we overcome this state of society and the sickness that plagues the minds of the masses in order to advance? Gandhi and Nietzsche attain to answer the same proposition of sickness within civilization, and although the topic of unrest among both may be dissimilar, they have parallel means of finding a cure to such an illness as the one that plagues society. Nietzsche’sRead MoreCulture And Ideologies Shape Relationships1567 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophy. In 1996 Samuel P.Huntington published â€Å"The Clash of Civilizations† which the author gave a geo political theory that cultural differences between civilizations rather than ideological differences would be the primary source of global conflict in the post-cold war. This essay will focuses on the argument in Huntington’s book about how it presents the world, the problem and the proposal for a solution. In The Clash of civilizations Huntington argued that the future conflict would be different

Life of buda Essay Example For Students

Life of buda Essay General Essay on BuddhismLife of the BuddhaBuddhism arose in northern India in the 6th century BCE. The historical founder of Buddhism, Siddharta Gautama (c.560-480 BCE) was born in a village called Lumbini into a warrior tribe called the Sakyas (from where he derived the title Sakyamuni, meaning Sage of the Sakyas). According to tradition Gautamas father, Suddhodana was the king of a small principality based on the town of Kapilavastu. His mother, Queen Maya, died seven days after Gautamas birth. Following the death of Maya, Suddhodana married Mayas sister, Prajapati, by whom Gautama was brought up in great luxury and sheltered from the harshness of the outside world. At sixteen the prince married Yasodhara. Yasodhara bore him a son whom he called Rahula (meaning chain or fetter), a name that indicated Gautamas sense of dissatisfaction with his life of luxury. His apparent sense of dissatisfaction turned to disillusion when he saw three things from the window of his palace, each of which represented different forms human suffering: a decrepit old man, a diseased man, and a corpse. So traumatised was Siddharta by his new found awareness of the transience of pleasure and the universality of suffering, that he decided to embark on a life dedicated to true knowledge. Inspired by the example of a mendicant monk, Siddharta abandoned his family and life as a prince, cut off his hair and adopted the lifestyle of a wanderer. Siddharta began his spiritual quest under the guidance of two teachers who showed him how to reach very deep states of meditation (samadhi). This did not, however, lead to a sense of true knowledge or peace, and the practice of deep meditation was abandoned in favour of a life of extreme asceticism which he shared with five companions. But again, after five or six years, of self-mortification, Siddharta felt he had failed to achieve true insight and rejected such practices as dangerous and useless. Resolved to continue his quest, Siddharta made his way to a deer park at Isipatana, near present day Benares. Here he sat beneath a tree meditating on death and rebirth. It was here that Siddharta attained a knowledge of the way things really are; it was through this knowledge that he acquired the title Buddha (meaning awakened one). This awakening was achieved during a night of meditation, which passed through various stages. In the first stage he saw each of his previous existences. In the second he surveyed the death and rebirth of all living beings and understood the law that governs the cycle of birth and death. In the third he identified the four noble truths: the universality of suffering, the cause of suffering through selfish desire, the solution to suffering and the way to overcome suffering. This final point is called the Noble Eightfold Path, this being eight steps consisting of wisdom (right views, right intention) ethics (right speech, right action, right livelihood), m ental discipline (right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration), which ultimately lead to liberation from the source of suffering. Although initially hesitant to share his insight on the grounds that humanity might not be ready for such a teaching, the Buddha decided to communicate his discovery to those willing to listen. His first converts were the five ascetics with whom he had lived when he himself followed the lifestyle of the ascetic. To these he preached his first sermon in the Deer Park at Benares, outlining to them the Four Noble Truths. Out of this small group the community of monks (or sangha) grew to about sixty in size and included Buddhas cousin, Ananda, and his son, Rahula. Later the Buddha was persuaded by his step-mother and cousin to accept women into the sangha. The remaining forty-five years of the Buddhas life were spent journeying around the plain of the Ganges, teaching and receiving visitors. At the age of 79 the Buddha fell seriously ill and died. During his life the Buddha had taught that no one was to succeed him as leader of the Sangha. Instead, his followers were to take his teaching and rule as their sole guides. Councils and Early Schisms in the CommunityFollowing the Buddhas death, his teachings were gathered together at the first Buddhist council, which is said to have taken place at Rajagrha shortly after the Buddhas Final Nirvana. A second council, which is said to have taken place a century after the Buddhas death, took place at Vaisali. The purpose of this council was to consider allegations that certain monks at Vaisali permitted ten practices that contravened the rules of conduct of the Vinaya. The Vaisali Council condemned these practices, after which the Council was closed. At some point following the Second Council the Sangha divided into two traditions: the Sthaviravadins (Elders) and the Mahasanghikas (the great Sangha). The difference between the two traditions seems to relate to their perception of the status of the layperson and the status of the arhant. Whereas the Mahasanghikas were more open to the laity practising Buddhism and tended to believe that the lay person was capable of becoming an arhant, the Sthaviravadins believed that monastic life alone could lead to arahantship and, therefore, nirvana. Sometime in the 3rd century B.C.E. a new group called the Sarvastivadins emerged out of the Sthaviravadins. The name Sarvastivadin is believed to derive from the phrase sarva asti (everything exists). The Sarvastivadins taught that the dharmas, the most basic elements of existence, exist in the past, present and future which are simply modes of being. The growth of this movement led King Asoka, of the Maurya dynasty, to call the third Buddhist Cou ncil at Pataliputra (c. 250 BCE) which decided against the teachings of the Sarvastivadins. This decision prompted some of them to emigrate to north India and establish a center in Kashmir where they survived for about a thousand years. Visual arts Argumentative EssayKoreaBuddhism arrived in Korea from China towards the end of the 4th century. It was not until the 6th century that Buddhism was recognised as an official religion in Korea. This official religion paved the way for Korean monks to visit China in the 6th and 7th centuries and to introduce into Korea various major schools of Chinese Buddhism. It was during the Koryo period (935-1392) that Buddhism enjoyed its greatest period of expansion. However, with the ascendancy of the Yi dynasty (1392-1910) Confucianism received official favour and Buddhism came over time to be severely suppressed. Such was the degree of suppression that by the 19th century Son (Chan) Buddhism remained the only dominant school in the Sangha. Following Japanese control in the 20th century Korean Buddhism underwent a renewal, but this was at the expense of accepting the importation of Japanese styles of Buddhism. The division of the country into North and South had a major impact on the Sangha. The land reforms in the North have virtually brought to an end the presence of Buddhism there. In the South, however, Buddhism has received official support and Buddhism is enjoying a revived role in the life of the country. JapanBuddhism was introduced into Japan from Korea in the 6th century in the form of gifts sent by Korean kings to the Japanese imperial court. During the 7th century Buddhism was integrated into the state apparatus through the support of a series of Buddhist emperors. The close relationship between the court and Buddhism has meant that periods of Buddhist history are identified by the location of the capital city at a particular period of the countrys history. Between 710 and 794 the capital was located at Nara. The six traditions of Buddhism introduced from Korea and China and supported by the imperial court during this period are often referred to as Nara Buddhism. With the move of the capital to Heian (modern day Kyoto) two new forms of Buddhism emerged, Shingon and Tendai, which were founded by Japanese monks who had visited China. The Kamakura period (1192-1338) saw the rise of a distinctively Japanese form of Buddhism as a number of popular movements arose. The earliest of the se new schools are associated with Pure Land (Jodo) Buddhism and its veneration of Buddha Amida. Another important sect was founded by Nichiren (122-1282) who identified true Buddhism with the Sakyamuni Buddha of the Lotus Sutra. The medieval expansion of Buddhism was curtailed in the 14th 16th centuries by the outbreak of national unrest and the subsequent destruction of a number of major centres of Buddhism. Buddhism suffered further as a consequence of the establishment of military rule in the 17th century and the concomitant complete cultural isolation imposed on Japan by its military rulers. The situation changed with the emergence of the Meiji dynasty in 1867, the acceptance of Shinto as the official state religion and brief persecution of Buddhism. In the 20th century Buddhism has become open to the rest of the world. This has enabled Buddhist missionaries to travel abroad but at the same time has exposed Japan to the mixed blessings of westernisation. TibetBuddhism entered Tibet surprisingly late. Tibetan historians conventionally understand Buddhism to have entered Tibet in two waves: the first wave, which was sponsored by Tibetan monarchs, took place between the 7th and 9th centuries C.E., and the second wave occurred in the 10th century as a result of Tibetans travelling to India for religious education. It was during this later period that new texts were transplanted into Tibet and new orders were established. These orders are not based on distinct doctrines but derive from lineages associated with early Buddhist masters (known as lamas). Buddhism in the WestIn the 20th century Buddhism has spread well beyond its Asian origins and has become a global religion. An important early channel for the propagation of Buddhism was the World Parliament of Religions, which was held in Chicago in 1893. Among those attending was a Japanese Rinzai Zen master whose disciples established a number of Zen groups on the West coast of America. Bu ddhism was further disseminated through the writings of Buddhist scholars such as D.T. Suzuki in the United States and Christmas Humphries and Edward Conze in the United Kingdom. In the 1950s and 1960s the study of Buddhism became an integral part of higher education through the establishment of Religious Studies or Asian Studies departments. The establishment of Buddhist temples and centres for European and American converts or Asian immigrants has further strengthened the presence of Buddhism in the West.