Our global effort against “terror”
is no doubt inescapable. Its influence is everywhere. This is not just a war in
which the United States is involved, respectively, but it encompasses our
global society. What makes this war so unique is that fact that it is in turn
molding, shaping, and reconstructing our social reality both on an individual
and collective parallel. The interesting affair that we are currently
witnessing is the emergence of a new formal language based around our global
involvement in the war on terror.
Habib Zahori, a journalist with
the New York Times, recalls this phenomenon through several personal
accounts. Habib and his family are
native to the Arghandab district of Kandahar Province—the south of where the
Taliban hold their strongpoint in both ideology and physical force. Habib
recalls that the war in his country has influenced the native people to adopt
certain terminology typically used by the foreign fighting forces in the area.
Words such as “ISAF,” “casualties,” “suicide attack,” “Al Qaeda,” and “night
raid” are now simply common language used on a daily basis. Our author gives
accounts in which these newly adopted terms and mannerisms are applied. Our
author uses a friendly dispute as an example: “When two friends tease each
other and one gets angry, maybe he will say: “Leave me alone, or I’ll put on
the vest” — referring to an explosive suicide vest.”
It is
an interesting phenomenon, this change in language and dialogue. By witnessing
this phenomenon, we can begin to recognize how dramatically war shapes and molds
our society. The citizens of the Arghandab district of Kandahar Province are
not the only ones adopting a new language due to the impact of war. The citizens
of the United States are commonly seen doing the same. Words such as “haji” or “towel
heads” have emerged in common language within the states. This is no doubt a
unique phenomenon and it allows for us to witness just how strongly war impacts
global society.
Nathaniel Funkhouser
02/15/2013
1:14 pm
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