Afghan Men Struggle With Sexual Identity, Study Finds

[koz]

Is this the real reason that BHO is trying to repeal the "Don't ask don't tell" policy?

___________________________
Afghan Men Struggle With Sexual Identity, Study Finds

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns -- though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

As if U.S. troops and diplomats didn't have enough to worry about in trying to understand Afghan culture, a new report suggests an entire region in the country is coping with a sexual identity crisis.

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns -- though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

The study, obtained by Fox News, found that Pashtun men commonly have sex with other men, admire other men physically, have sexual relationships with boys and shun women both socially and sexually -- yet they completely reject the label of "homosexual." The research was conducted as part of a longstanding effort to better understand Afghan culture and improve Western interaction with the local people.

The research unit, which was attached to a Marine battalion in southern Afghanistan, acknowledged that the behavior of some Afghan men has left Western forces "frequently confused."

The report details the bizarre interactions a U.S. Army medic and her colleagues had with Afghan men in the southern province of Kandahar.

In one instance, a group of local male interpreters had contracted gonorrhea anally but refused to believe they could have contracted it sexually -- "because they were not homosexuals."

Apparently, according to the report, Pashtun men interpret the Islamic prohibition on homosexuality to mean they cannot "love" another man -- but that doesn't mean they can't use men for "sexual gratification."

The group of interpreters who had contracted gonorrhea joked in the camp that they actually got the disease by "mixing green and black tea." But since they refused to heed the medics' warnings, many of them re-contracted the disease after receiving treatment.

The U.S. army medic also told members of the research unit that she and her colleagues had to explain to a local man how to get his wife pregnant.

The report said: "When it was explained to him what was necessary, he reacted with disgust and asked, 'How could one feel desire to be with a woman, who God has made unclean, when one could be with a man, who is clean? Surely this must be wrong.'"

The Pashtun populations are concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country. The Human Terrain Team that conducted the research is part of a military effort to learn more about local populations.

The report also detailed a disturbing practice in which older "men of status" keep young boys on hand for sexual relationships. One of the country's favorite sayings, the report said, is "women are for children, boys are for pleasure."

The report concluded that the widespread homosexual behavior stems from several factors, including the "severe segregation" of women in the society and the "prohibitive" cost of marriage.

Though U.S. troops are commonly taught in training for Afghanistan that the "effeminate characteristics" of Pashtun men are "normal" and not an indicator of homosexuality, the report said U.S. forces should not "dismiss" the unique version of homosexuality that is actually practiced in the region "out of desire to avoid western discomfort."

Otherwise, the report said, Westerners could "risk failing to comprehend an essential social force underlying Pashtun culture."

[Dozer523]

ding, ding, ding! we have a winner. BS.

[Penn]

Assuming this article is based in fact, it implies that the entire male culture engages in, or condones homosexual behavior. I find it somewhat difficult to incorporate such a widespread cultural practice/ acceptance of this behavior in Pashtun culture. For it counters the cultural impressions instilled over two semesters of demanding course work. That such a defining intrinsic cultural behavior/ subject matter never surface during that exploration, not only confuses me, but leads me to question the possibility of a prejudicial viewpoint, or bias on the part of the good professor.

In that regard I have fwd the article to my Professor. His area of specialization is: “The Pashtun Culture”.

[craigepo]

"For it counters the cultural impressions instilled over two semesters of demanding course work. "

How much of that demanding course work consisted of living with Pashtuns?

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Penn

Assuming this article is based in fact, it implies that the entire male culture engages in, or condones homosexual behavior. I find it somewhat difficult to incorporate such a widespread cultural practice/ acceptance of this behavior in Pashtun culture. For it counters the cultural impressions instilled over two semesters of demanding course work. That such a defining intrinsic cultural behavior/ subject matter never surface during that exploration, not only confuses me, but leads me to question the possibility of a prejudicial viewpoint, or bias on the part of the good professor.

In that regard I have fwd the article to my Professor. His area of specialization is: “The Pashtun Culture”.

I have been reading this line of though for some time, in several other fora. In fact the 1st time it became obvious was a short movie clip produced by some Scandinavian EU SF types. The clip (maybe 7-8minutes) was a collage of short pieces created by the same unit. It covered their tur from the beginning to end. Around the middle, you could see they were being very productive in some hearts & minds effort and had some close-ups of the locals.

One of the close-up showed 3-4 frumpy old locals,, and one young boy (12-14 yo). The old goats were in ruff, worn, tattered outfits,, and the your boy was dressed in what I would call a DRESS,, fresh out of a shower, hair combed, and a small flower in his mouth. It also looked he had makeup on..

The implications were scary. I was waiting for some sort of explanation, but there was none. They showed the kid in several clips as if they wanted to say something..

[Penn]

Let’s be clear here; I am not defending a position. I am asking if this judgment of the culture is true. And further, I fwd the question to a subject matter expert.

[Penn]

The good Professors reply to this question :Professor, I hope this finds you well and enjoying another semester at I am hoping you can render an opinion on the attached article...as to its cultural truth.

His answer:It is kind of like the ancient Greek phenomenon. Yes, the Kandahar region is the source of a lot of jokes on this general theme, though it's (a) a practice that occurs in other areas and (b) not as universal (or universally approved) as it is made out to appear here. It's a power and status game more than anything else, and not really a 'sexual identity crisis' - it really has little to do with sexual orientation.

Which tells me he is very political with regards to this question.


That such a defining intrinsic cultural behavior/ subject matter never surface during that exploration, not only confuses me, but leads me to question the possibility of a prejudicial viewpoint, or bias on the part of the good professor..

Originally Posted by Penn

The good Professors reply to this question :Professor, I hope this finds you well and enjoying another semester at I am hoping you can render an opinion on the attached article...as to its cultural truth.

His answer:It is kind of like the ancient Greek phenomenon. Yes, the Kandahar region is the source of a lot of jokes on this general theme, though it's (a) a practice that occurs in other areas and (b) not as universal (or universally approved) as it is made out to appear here. It's a power and status game more than anything else, and not really a 'sexual identity crisis' - it really has little to do with sexual orientation.

Which tells me he is very political with regards to this question.


That such a defining intrinsic cultural behavior/ subject matter never surface during that exploration, not only confuses me, but leads me to question the possibility of a prejudicial viewpoint, or bias on the part of the good professor..

Perhaps the good professor just cannot wrap his brain around such a culture, due to western bias? This professor is a cultural anthropologist?

If I were to continue along some of the lines I highlighted and reaching back to when dirt was new and I was in college the first time.. my minor was anthropology. (as it related to clothing in culture) The Greeks, depending on the city-states culture accepted homosexuality while serving compulsory military service. However post service it was not accepted and men were expected to marry and rear a family.

The green highlight mentions "power and status". If I take that line out of context, and consider what I read and saw in both the book/movie Kite Runner.
It is not about sex, rape never is about sex, it is about power. Dominance over those less powerful. I would assume (emphasis on assume) That in that particular culture, the way it has evolved This is an acceptable means of establishing dominance. To my western trained mind, it is a pretty disturbed society. However, taken into context, it apparently works for them. I think that someone has interpreted the Quran in a rather odd way to think that this thing is okay, however, it seems that one can take any religious text and twist it to suit ones goals and purposes.

Less evolved cutures, I have noticed, tend to go in one of two directions with regards to women. They will either put women on a pedestal as the 'givers of life' and it goes into a matriarchal society. OR... The opposite direction, where that fact that we are the givers of life, we are just to scary to deal with and anything associated with women becomes 'unclean.'. The diretion taken, is directly attributable the base religion.

With all that said, I find a lot about Islam and the things acceptable beyond distasteful on so many levels that it makes me throw up in my mouth.
AM

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Penn

Let’s be clear here; I am not defending a position. I am asking if this judgment of the culture is true. And further, I fwd the question to a subjest matter expert.

It's true and it's not just the Afgan men.

Why do you think michael jackson took up residence in Bahrain & Dubai ?????

[Dozer523]

The notion that homosexuality is accepted and encouraged on a wide spread basis, in any culture, is absurd.
That it is tolerated, possibly. I have read reports that captured Soviet soldiers were raped as part of the torture preceding a gruesome death and I do not doubt it. But, homosexual rape isn't what this author is talking about. Male hand-holding is common and I've held the hand of Egyptian, Jordanian, and Afghan males in the course of doing business and I've never wondered what he was doing with the other hand. (BTW I've been "pecked on the cheek" by my countepart bro's too.)
As for "Man Love Thursday" nothing got my terp more pissed off then mentioning that. He'd never heard of it before he met Americans and it was quite clear that he believed it was a notion that had it's origin with Americans.

It is no more a Pashtun or Afghan cultural trait then it is an American trait. But, we have homosexuals in America -- so I've been told.


Add: I assume the researcher has never seen an Afghan male's reaction to picking up MAXXIM for the first time. (Penthouse is banned under GO 1A)