Yes, for a while, parts of Afghanistan
started to look modern.
But the point is, to have a good country,
need a good culture. But about all
Afghanistan has is Islamic culture, and
it is more than just a religion -- it
is also about food, clothing, education,
laws, government, etc. Just can't have
a good culture, good enough for a good
country, from just a religious culture.
E.g., people in Afghanistan do not have
enough information to have any good
reason to believe in democracy so don't.
So, the Taliban with Islam and Mafia
techniques can run the place better than
the elected government the US helped
set up.
Right, the Taliban are not 500 years old,
but Islam is. If Islam were just a religion,
then the 500 years might not be so bad.
But with Islamic culture, also get Islamic
laws, education, and government, and those are
500 years out of date and bad.
Talk to a guy 500 years ago about US
democracy in the 21st century, and he
will think you've been smoking funny
stuff. Well, that's about what the
US faces in Afghanistan.
But the point is, to have a good country, need a good culture. But about all Afghanistan has is Islamic culture, and it is more than just a religion -- it is also about food, clothing, education, laws, government, etc. Just can't have a good culture, good enough for a good country, from just a religious culture. E.g., people in Afghanistan do not have enough information to have any good reason to believe in democracy so don't. So, the Taliban with Islam and Mafia techniques can run the place better than the elected government the US helped set up.
Right, the Taliban are not 500 years old, but Islam is. If Islam were just a religion, then the 500 years might not be so bad. But with Islamic culture, also get Islamic laws, education, and government, and those are 500 years out of date and bad.
Talk to a guy 500 years ago about US democracy in the 21st century, and he will think you've been smoking funny stuff. Well, that's about what the US faces in Afghanistan.