Panel on Afghanistan: what wasn't said...

Not to inadvertently join the "post-Thanksgiving flurry of blogging" (ahem), but a quick thought as I breathe between tonight's panel discussion on Afghanistan and all of the productivity I have to bury myself in for the next several days... or weeks:

The first question of the Q&A was one I don't normally hear, but yielded interesting results- if there were a fourth person on the panel, who would you add? Most intriguing was not what they answered, but what they did not answer; namely, "an Afghan." Another specialist (female), someone with divergent views, a younger analyst. They nicely hit two other demographic groups (gender and age), but opted out of voting in someone actually native to the country under discussion.

Perhaps it's an oddity of mine - or perhaps it was because I am fairly good friends with and was silently observing Nasim Fekrat '13 - but I'm fairly certain my first reaction in such cases is generally a wish to talk to a native. I want to get a new perspective on Israel? I'll read Grossman and take a course with someone who grew up in Israel. I want to get a new perspective on India? I'll volunteer with the Assoc. for India's Development and join my new friends in everything from a baby shower to celebrating Holi (greatest. celebration. ever.) or Vishu. I want to get a new perspective on Afghanistan? I'll probably talk to Nasim. ...and, when I've got the funding, you can bet I'll go there - and while there, you're likely to find me chatting with the everyday people themselves. Or better yet, listening to them.

I arrived at the event this evening just as it was about to begin and, opting out of the overflow room, gave my legs a good stretch and leaned against a comfortable piece of wall in the back. The perk of such an observation point: I was able to take note not only of the panelists, but also of the audience, which for me is one of the most intriguing - and sometimes telling - features. Look into the faces or eyes of people who truly know the subject matter just after they've watched "Waltz with Bashir" or "Lebanon." Watch the shakes of a head, fidgeting, and facial expressions of a young Afghani, or an American POSC student, or a few professors, at a panel discussion on the situation in Afghanistan. ...Fascinating stuff.