Slashdot Mirror
The Dangers Of Amateur Astronomy In Afghanistan
Nancy_A writes "Most amateur astronomers take for granted that they can just go outside and enjoy viewing the night sky without encountering many problems. But in order for amateur astronomers in Afghanistan to simply set up a telescope in a dark region, they have to deal with more serious complications, such as making sure the area is clear of land mines, not arousing the suspicions the Taliban or the local police, and watching out for potential bombing raids by the US/UK/Afghan military alliance."
Most of us in the West complain when we don't have enough science grants or when some Bible-thumper questions our biology textbook.
These poor bastards have to practice astronomy in a country where 70% of the population is illiterate, where the Koran-thumpers cut people's heads off, and where the occupying military force takes a blow-them-the-fuck-up-and-ask-questions-later approach to anyone who looks like they have a scope.
Now *that's* rock-hard dedication to getting some astronomical observations.
On the upside, the piss-poor electrical service probably really cuts down on the light pollution.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Wow such an insightful article. Who would have thought that it would be dangerous in a country that has been a war zone for over 2 decades?
I spoke to a man that was a college graduate out of Kabul when I was in Golestan, Farah Province, Afghanistan.
He asked, "Which country is better, the USA or Afghanistan?"
I replied "I think the USA is a better country."
"Why?"
"We have paved roads everywhere, and every house has electricity and running clean water." Only SLIGHTLY off, but it gets the idea across.
"I think Afghanistan is a better country because I know that those things are impossible. And we have beautiful gardens and can see the moon."
"We have gardens in America, and we can see the moon, too"
"I know you are lying, because I have been to college and you cannot see the moon from America."
This is a true story. Obviously, the dangers of astronomy in Afghanistan are worth the risk, because we cannot see the moon.
I am the actual son of an actual ex-Mujahiddeen from Afghanistan, and I second that. Afghanistan was not sand and dirt. Not at all. It was beautiful and green, with the best irrigation system in the world... or so I'm told by my dad. Fact is, they even had plantations with huge water melons, enough to eat, schools, culture, and life wasn't bad at all. Maybe a bit more primitive, but far from a backwards shithole.
But you got one thing wrong: Soviet Russia was invading Afghanistan at that time. And the US gave them weapons "to defend themselves".
Of course, it actually was the US and Russia fighting it out with the lives of others, but oh well... It's not as if you'd complain if somebody gives to weapons to defend against an invasion. ^^
In the end, they lost. Everybody who invades Afghanistan loses. Always. No exceptions. That's kinda an inside-joke in Afghanistan. But it's not because of the human defenses. It's because of the terrain itself.
What fucked things up, is Karzai being so massively evil, that the Taliban looked good in comparison. That's why they came to power in the first place. And guess who the US set up as the leader again? That's right! Karzai! Including his drug-lord bastard of a brother.
So now people plant poppy instead of food, as it brings 10 times the money. But no sustainability.
If you want to do one good thing, give them Internet access wherever you can. One mobile phone tethered to a router with a bit of bandwidth optimization/compression/filtering and a few cheap terminals will do wonders to to a town. No, illiteracy wouldn't prevent those children from "getting" the net. If Afghani children want something, they don't think about if they can do it. They simply do it. :) Like learning to read and write a foreign language, and sharing stuff on YouTube.