My son Colin-begins his journal and his journey.

Journal entries from Afghanistan

4/25/07
So I’m sitting here in the Seattle Tacoma airport. Just got through check in and security. Now I have 2 hours to wait until my flight. Excessive security measures require 3 hours advance arrival for international flights. I got through check-in and security within 30 minutes.
As I look around me at all the other international travelers enjoying a cocktail before their flight, I can’t help but ask myself, “ are they going somewhere as crazy as I am? “ In most cases no! As I’m riding a British Airways flight most of them are probably going to a destination in Europe somewhere, though Africa and Asia aren’t out of the question. Who is going to the Middle East? Not many Americans that’s for sure.
Am I crazy? Why am I going to a place where Americans are openly disdained? Is it going to be as bad as it seems it would be? The reactions of people that I told I was going to go to Afghanistan were exactly what I would have predicted given the portrayal of the war on terror by American media. An incredulous “why?” was the overwhelming response to the statement. My sarcastic retort: “for vacation!”. Which of course brought even further incredulity.
Why? What a great question. Superficially this is a trip to visit my mother. Granted I do really miss my mother, but there is a whole host of other reasons that are a little closer to the truth of the matter. I was always able to resist my mom’s attempts at luring me out to Afghanistan in the past. However it is really the change in my own self that is allowing me the courage to undertake what will likely be the most challenging travel I’ve ever undergone. The past year of my life I’ve undergone a transformation of self that I feel has left me in the right spot to take this trip. There are things I want to prove to myself that this trip will allow. I truly love other cultures, people, and ways of life. In past travels I have found myself feeling homesick for the “good ole US of A” . This was more likely a function of missing loved ones back home than missing the way of life. This time I have no girlfriends back home waiting for me, nothing other than my wonderful family, which is always there. My girlfriend is actually in Japan right now, starting her own adventure, while I start mine.
What freedom! To take off and leave the country for two months without a thought to what is left behind. This is a wonderful feeling of independence and self direction. I’ve never really had this before, and it excites me.
I want to talk for a bit about the reactions and impressions of “my fellow Americans” upon hearing that I was going to Afghanistan. While in Montana I received the typical conservative American response. “Don’t get your head cut off by a terrorist” was pretty common, or “I’ll see you on CNN” was another good one. It was rare to hear anything other than a “you’re crazy” type of response. The idea that an American would go to Afghanistan for any reason other than military engagement was unreal to them. Most Americans these days see a middle eastern man and have a gut reaction of distrust. Although understandable given our history, its too much a “black and white” distinction, which Americans have become good at as of late. Most Americans believe that all middle eastern muslims hate America. Is this true? I think I know the answer to this question but would like to verify it with my own experiences. I’d like to compare the ideas Americans have of the region, people, and religion; impressions influenced by the intense media coverage on the matter as of late; to the facts on the ground in Afghanistan.
Are there differences between what is being portrayed here and the realities of the conflict? If there are then, is there a motive behind this or is it just reactionary? Is there true design behind the propaganda or is it just a function of fear run wild? Fear has caused terrible scenarios in the past. Consider the average German during WWII-did they all hate Jews? Probably not, but why would they let such horrible things happen under their noses? Fear. When a leader learns to wield fear upon his populace, he can get almost anything to seem reasonable. It is a tool that has been used and abused in the past. Is 21st century America a case of this? I hope not but fear it to be true.
So off I go, with lofty ideas and questions in my head, to one of the few places in the world where I probably shouldn’t go. Oh well, you only live once. Right?