touransafghanistanlitblog

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

And in 2010, when the media discovered that Hamid Karai- the president himself- had been receiving monthly payment totaling millions- in cash- euros- from Iran... an uproar erupted. Media commentary kept circling obsessively back to the back to the way the payments were made: in plastic bags, brought to Kabul by Karzai associate as carry-on baggage!

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (304)

#focusonthelittlethings

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Afghans were poised to embark upon another epoch of civilized achievement. Or were they?

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (286)

#foreshadowing

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Then came a glitch.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (271)

#conversationalelement

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Comedian Jay Leno's wife Mavis Leno donated money to the cause.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (255)

#focusonthelittlethings

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Week 17 Blog

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary

Pg. 190-250

Words: 381

Summary:

In this chapter, Ansary talked about Nadir Shah and his family. During the Cold War, Nadir Shah used both sides, America and the Soviet Union, to strategically use both sides and pull out their resources to benefit his country. During his reign, Nadir Shah developed Kabul so it went from a city to the main city of Afghanistan, which was formerly Kandahar. Later, however, Afghan communists rose to power, which caused clashes between Kabul and country side, the clash between the urban developed parts and rural countryside. The clash caused Afghanistan to erupt into a war, a war that was caused by the Soviets.

Analysis:

In this quote, Ansary uses humor when he says “This was the country that was, to Western eyes, winning the Cold War and might (cue evil laughter) rule the world.”. When he says cue the laughter, it shows how the Soviet Union was portrayed cartoon villain like in the West and how they wanted to take over the world. “Something would have to be done about Afghanistan.” In this quote, Ansary uses simple conversational language as a tool to just simply state what happened in Afghanistan. Ansary does this in order to relate to the reader and convey the idea that, in a simple diction, that Afghanistan was attacked by America.

Personal Response:

I thought this chapter was very interesting. The book is getting more into modern history, which I am more aware of and familiar with. I really hate that a nation like the Soviet Union was the one that ruined Afghanistan. They unbalanced the nation and made the nation into the war zone it is to this day. I like the writing of this section, and it was very enjoyable. It was sad seeing the decline of the nation just because of the Cold War, and the reasoning was very stupid in my opinion. It was the Soviets' Vietnam War, which means it was very pointless and destroyed the nation for years to come.

#blog17

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

He was just a rich man who had fought in a jihad.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (248)

#diction

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Something would have to be done about Afghanistan.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (229)

#conversationalelement

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

This was the country that was, to Western eyes, winning the Cold War and might (cue evil laugher) rule the world.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (213)

#humor

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Many of the mines are still there. Most of the people who planted them are middle-aged men living in some blighted part of the former Soviet Union. And the men who dreamed up this scientific scheme have, for the most part, died of natural causes by now.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (200)

#ObservationalOutsider

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Week 16 Blog

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary

Pg. 130-190

Words: 381

Summary:

Abdu Rahman’s reign over Afghanistan created structure in Afghanistan. He made a deal with the British to keep them at bay while he developed the provinces, districts, and borders of Afghanistan. He developed Afghanistan to what it could be. He modernized cities like Kabul to Western standards while rural areas still maintained their tribal and conservative views. There were experienced a cultural tug of war, where the rural and the urban fought over the cultural dominance of Afghanistan. Western powers still had a great amount of power in Afghanistan, but during this time, it was a conflict between the modern and the traditional.

Analysis:

In this quote: “There, the daughters of aristocratic families studied side by side with girls from less distinguished families. When Malalai set off no cataclysm, a second girls’ high school, Zarghuna, was opened, and after that came more.”  Ansary focuses on specific girl schools in Afghanistan by using details such as the names of the actual schools and that appeal to the senses of greater understanding in the reader. In order to create a strong image in the reader’s mind and convey the idea that there were multiple schools and girls that seek education. This is a focus on little things because of how much more detail the author gave then most details. In this quote: “Of course the hippies liked Afghanistan. What’s not to like?” Ansary uses simple, conversational language such as “Of course” and “hippies” in order to relate to the reader and convey the idea that hippies supported Afghanistan in the simplest way.

Personal Response:

I think this section was interesting and detailed. I found it interesting to learn about the politics of Afghanistan in the 1900s and the relationship they had with other foreign powers like Britain and Russia. I always find it interesting the differences between rural and urban life in different regions of the world. It is almost always conservative vs modern, but usually for different reasons, so I liked learning that the cities were influenced by the West more while the rural decided tradition was better. It sounded like Afghanistan was pretty good, however, during this time period but I could see the tension build. Overall, it was an interesting section.

#week16blog

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

When Amin went in to use the facilities, they would lock the door- boom! Ha!

Games WIthout Rules by Tamim Ansary (189)

#conversationalelement

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Of course the hippies liked Afghanistan. What's not to like?

Games WIthout Rules by Tamim Ansary (168)

#humor

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

As all this infrastructure was going in, the family was pushing ahead on the social and cultural fronts as well.

Games WIthout Rules by Tamim Ansary (155)

#observantoutsider

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

There, the daughters of aristocratic families studied side by side with girls from less distinguished families. When Malalai set off no cataclysm, a second girls' high school, Zarghuna, was opened, and after that came more.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (139)

#focusonthelittlethings

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

Week 14 Blog

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary

Pg. 85-130

Words: 379

Summary:

This section talks about the British invasion or attempts of invasion of Afghanistan. It talks about the Great Game, where Russia was getting imperial and conquering Central Asia from the North and Britain was conquering the Indian Subcontinent. Both of these powers wanted to influence Afghanistan but the nation resisted them both and pushed them back. The Durand Line was created between Britain and Afghanistan which still exists today and Russia had some influence but not full control of the region. Afghans from all over the nation stopped fighting with each other to focus on the common enemy of keeping foreigners out because it was a game to them against each other and it was in the interest of the people in not getting involved in it.

Analysis:

The first quote is "He banned slavery too. So far, so good." This is a conversational element because of the common language used and the phrase "so far, so good." It is a colloquial phrase that is made up of small words, which highlights the easy-going tone the author is going for. Plus, since this is a history book, I do not get much of personal touches from the book, so parts like these are easily highlightable. Again, for my next quote, the author used conversational Element when he talks about the fighting part, where the language of the author makes it sound like anyone on the street could be this character that is fighting.

Personal Response:

Just like every other part of the book, I’m still very interested in the book. The mapping of the history is pretty interesting and detailed from the Afghan’s perspective, which highlights their accomplishments and perspectives. Previously, there had been little to no other powers in Afghanistan except maybe India, but now that the bigger powers are getting involved, the history gets more complex and it becomes interesting to see how they will react with each other. Overall, the book is very interesting and I still want to keep reading it and get to even more modern sections, since right now, it’s in 1919, which is interesting since its right after World War One, but I want to get to the modern parts too.

#week14blog

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

His code banned slavery too. So far, so good.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (117)

#ConversationalElement

[touransafghanistanlitblog]

But the king was busy having fun and put the envelope in his pocket unopened.

Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary (107)

#humor