Afghanistan is a country with no images. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, “Limbs of No Body,” The Iranian (2001)
Monthly Archives: May 2010
Afghanistan: The Twelfth Century
The Minaret of Jam is the second tallest brick tower in the world after the Qutub Minar in New Delhi… Located east of Herat, the minaret stands on the site of what may be the capital of the Ghorid Dynasty, which ruled Afghanistan from 1148 to 1214. The site also includes the ruins of a […]
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged architecture, art, Ghurids, history, imperialism, medieval, minarets
1 Response
Haiti: Katherine Dunham
Recently, Katherine Dunham, the world renowned dancer and choreographer, ended a long hunger strike in support of the Haitian refugees. Dunham, well into her 80’s and in failing health, was asked why she would risk her own life for this cause. She said that she wanted to make the world understand the struggle of some […]
Afghanistan: Rugs of War
Max Allen, “War Rugs of Afghanistan,” Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, 2008
May 18th: Haitian Flag Day
Historically, students in Haiti learn that on May 18th, 1803, in a congress held at Arachaie, a township located about fifty miles north of Port-au-Prince, Dessalines created the country’s first flag. Ripping apart a French one — blue, white and red, he threw away the white portion that was in the center and asked Catherine […]
Haiti: Belafonte
Harry Belafonte, “Haiti Cherie,” from Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean (1957)
Haiti: Architecture
Residence of Mr. and Mrs. André Mangones, Bizoton, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (1942). Architect: Albert Mangones. Source: A.D. White Collection of Architectural Photographs, Cornell University Library.
Afghanistan: Intervention
What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war? Zbigniew Brzezinski, Le Nouvel Observateur (15-21 January 1998) When we moved into Afghanistan almost eight years ago—and with a very […]
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged history, Russia, Soviet, Taliban, U.S.A., U.S.S.R., war
Leave a comment