Heroes or Villains - The Taliban - 1464 Words

What is a hero? What is a villain? Although definitions vary within our global society, it is generally accepted that a hero is selfless, humble, and moral and has integrity, while a villain is corrupt or evil, incapable of feeling guilt or compassion and is guilty of committing heinous crimes. However, it should be noted that the labels of ‘hero’ and ‘villain’ are subjective, and that, in the words of Sirius Black (the falsely incriminated godfather of the titular hero of the Harry Potter series) â€Å"†¦ the world isn’t split into good people and [villains]. We’ve all got light and dark inside of us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Yates, 2007) The Taliban are a group who were once perceived as heroes, by those who now label them as ‘villains’. The Taliban, whose name is†¦show more content†¦The U.S Country Report on Human Rights Practises – Afghanistan (2001) detailed the physical requirements demanded by the Taliban, with men being required to have â€Å"a beard extending farther than a first clamped at the base of their chin†. Men were also required to wear their hair short and to wear a head covering. Sharia law was enforced by ‘religious police, who beat offenders with long sticks. Crimes such as theft were punished by amputation of a hand, rape and then public execution by a gun shot or by being stoned to death. Punishments were carried out in front of crowds in Kabul’s former soccer stadium. These bans and brutal punishments were enforced as they were detailed in the Holy Koran, which the Taliban interpreted as the law. According to the Taliban’s interpretation of the Holy Koran, women were inferior in every aspect of life. As a result women and girls were stripped of their rights and were considered possessions. As Sirius Black said in the novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, â€Å"†¦ to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.† (Rowling, 2000). The Taliban’s treatment of their â€Å"inferiors† shows their indifference towards the helpless innocents of their society, an inability to feel compassion regarded as a villainous trait. Following the conflict with the Soviets and warlords, Afghanistan’s infrastructure andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Documentary To You It s A Reality 1671 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å" To you it’s a film, to them it’s a reality†; the translated poster headline of the award winning observational war documentary Armadillo (Metz, 2010), a captivating film, shadowing a platoon of soldiers as they fought the Taliban in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. A controversial and sensitive topic, in which director and filmmaker Janus Metz endeavoured to depict the brutalising effects of war, with a character driven and emotional story embedded through out. With such impact surroundingRead MoreHeroes Throughout History and Popular Culture1873 Words   |  8 Pages Heroes A hero is defined as a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities (Hero, n.p.). Through the passage of time in history, the perceptions and characteristics of what makes a hero have changed. While some characteristics have remained constant, others have evolved and developed as society has changed. One thing that is certain is that most people have their own individual descriptions and ideas that define a hero. Heroes have high standards to meet. Thousands of peopleRead MoreThe Comic Books And Propaganda1855 Words   |  8 Pagesrestore a sense of nationalism to the populace, and fight the Chinese and North Korean communists that were invading their homeland. Like the Second World War, the comic books of the Korean War were meant to portray the Communists forces as cruel villains. After Korea, the Vietnam War raged on and psychological warfare troops known as Psywarriors spread propaganda to troops on both sides of the war. The South Vietnamese Political Warfar e Department made various comics to keep their soldiers moraleRead MoreEssay on Fall of Asclepius95354 Words   |  382 Pagesworld have refused to answer questions whether this disease is the swine flu or an Ebola outbreak. Due to lack of cooperation with politicians, rumours formed across the internet and Twitter that the illness was a biological attack by Al Qaeda or the Taliban. Neither group has taken credit for the illness. Scientists who are working towards treatment and a cure for this illness have declined to release any information on their research, but they have denied the rumours that the riots around the worldRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesThey are creating next generation, fuel efficient vehicles, developing sustainable sources of energy, and exploring the farthest reaches of outer space. The impact of project management is most profound in the electronics industry, where the new folk heroes are young professionals whose Herculean efforts lead to the constant flow of new hardware and software products. Project management is not limited to the private sector. Project management is also a vehicle for doing good deeds and solving social