Photo by Simpatika
The Afghan diaspora won't stand for character assassination anymore. After living on the margins of US society for 40 years and inspired by people of color demanding their true stories be heard, we're speaking out and combating the belittling and marginalization of the Afghan story in the media, plays, television, and movies. Creators beware.
By Humaira
Have you ever watched a film or a TV show and thought -- What were they thinking, that would never happen?
Well, in my newest video, Misrepresenting Afghanistan on Screen, I will show you some of those cringe-worthy moments in movies and vlogs about Afghanistan that made me wonder -- What were they thinking?
I’ll walk you through a few scenes from Rock the Kasbah, a Bill Murray movie directed by Barry Levinson, to show how the costume choices and makeup clashed with the reality of how an Afghan girl from a remote village would live and wait for it, wait for it...she also happens to sing Cat Stevens’s song Wild World, in flawless English, in a cave. Don’t get me started.
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Are you finding it hard to see the silver lining in our current situation with the outbreak of Coronavirus, social distancing and shelter in place? I struggle with it every day.
My kids (17 & 20-year-old) are doing online classes while facing cabin fever. My husband is working in his office and running most outside errands since I’m immune-compromised with asthma. I’m trying to manage the chaos of feeding four people three times a day while working on my own projects and consulting on a TV show. The house looks endlessly cluttered and washing towels several times a week due to Coronavirus precautions is getting old.
To stay sane I’ve been meditating in the morning, doing an online yoga or workout class midday and searching for uplifting articles to share on my Afghan Culture Unveiled Facebook page since no one wants to hear more bad news. I feel at times like this the poor, uneducated and dislocated populations are hit the worst and it’s important that we have humility, compassion, and generosity in our hearts so we can reach beyond our comfort zone to help others whether it be with words, phone calls or funds. And in order to find humility, compassion, and generosity we have to stay grounded, we have to look with-in for strength and we have to look for stories of hope and share it widely.
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