Schwarzenegger second most popular man in Afghanistan

According to World Politics Review, Arnold Schwarzenegger may be the second most popular man in Afghanistan. I'm not sure what to make of this. Is it a sign of more freedom in Afghanistan? Is it a sign that the Taliban are losing and Sharia law is not ruling?

First place indisputably goes to Ahmed Shah Massoud, the mythic guerilla leader assassinated by al-Qaeda agents in 2001 after decades of fighting the Soviets and the Taliban. His image is venerated with a fervor that borders on the religious in government ministries, street side cafes and on bumper stickers.

But take a drive around the capital known for its modesty, and massive homemade billboards of the shirtless former Mr. Olympia turned action star turned California governor are hard to miss. The message is clear: Afghans are getting pumped up.

"Bodybuilding is fashion today," said Yasar Ahmedzai, 20, a local journalist and recent devotee. "Life is so much better when you look strong and are in good shape."

Today, there are more than 100 gyms around the same city where six years ago kite flying was illegal and the soccer stadium was an execution venue. (more)

Other reading:
Conservative Cat, Adventures with Bruce - Not a Very Revolutionary Rubik
On the Horizon, Sacred Text by Sandy Carlson

Comments

[Phil]

So Rastaman is that working some what similar to the well known Stockholm Syndrome?

[michael]

I think it's a sign that they all want Conan the Barbarian to come and end the anarchy...

[Rastaman]

You know, that sounds just like Japan after WWII. They hated us for beating and humiliating them but they welcomed all the entertaining aspects of our society. Cowboys and baseball became the rage.

I think it was because they had failed so badly that they took on so much of the American image. We were the conquerers, therefor we had a better way and it should be copied.

The Afghans failed. After kicking out the Russians they were humiliated and beaten by their own trust. They allowed a bunch of outsider Arabs to enslave them and we Americans set them free. So now they're in a quandary. The Americans are the infidel according to their imams, who inflame them against us. At the same time, they know we are vastly superior to the Taliban. By emulating one of our cultural heroes, which Schwarzenegger certainly is, they can feel they're becoming like us without being singled out as heretics for it.

If our government has half a brain, they'll capitalize this right into the dirt. We could set up physical improvement programs for father and son, mother and daughter and have the local governments run them instead of us so the attendees don't get attacked by Taliban sympathizers. Put up billboards with Schwarzy waving a muscled arm and maybe an eagle in the background or something vaguely, but not too explicitly, American. Connect being friendly with America to being strong and healthy.

Whistling into the wind just makes the spray come back in my face...

Rasta