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50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

theatlantic.com

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Re: 50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

#3
50 years ago in Afghanistan it was 1962.

Today it is 1262.

Sort of makes you realize that peace, freedom and technological advancement aren't defaults, but aberrations. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be an Afghan citizen who was born in Kabul in the 1940s... It must feel like being stuck in a time machine.

Re: 50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

#6
I am from India (currently living in NY) and I find it really surprising that it was only 50 years ago that there was race discrimination in US. My college friends are all over the world (UK, rest of the Europe, Germany, Australia etc.) and based on my conversation with them, USA is the place with least amount of 'racism' against Asians (I put racism in quotes because there is no blatant, in the face racism in USA. It's more about subtle racism against Asians). In a place like NY, it's practically non-existent.

Re: 50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

#7

50 years ago in Afghanistan it was 1962. Today it is 1262. Sort of makes you realize that peace, freedom and technological advancement aren't defaults, but aberrations. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be an Afghan citizen who was born in Kabul in the 1940s... It must feel like being stuck in a time machine.

Some good photos of Afghanistan this year: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/05/afghanistan_may_201...

Re: 50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

#8

50 years ago in Afghanistan it was 1962. Today it is 1262. Sort of makes you realize that peace, freedom and technological advancement aren't defaults, but aberrations. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be an Afghan citizen who was born in Kabul in the 1940s... It must feel like being stuck in a time machine.

Here's another photo album on that topic: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/27/once_upon_a...

Re: 50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

#9

50 years ago in Afghanistan it was 1962. Today it is 1262. Sort of makes you realize that peace, freedom and technological advancement aren't defaults, but aberrations. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be an Afghan citizen who was born in Kabul in the 1940s... It must feel like being stuck in a time machine.

Interesting photos of life in Kabul in the sixties.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/27/once_upon_a...

Quote: "A half-century ago, Afghan women pursued careers in medicine; men and women mingled casually at movie theaters and university campuses in Kabul; factories in the suburbs churned out textiles and other goods. There was a tradition of law and order, and a government capable of undertaking large national infrastructure projects, like building hydropower stations and roads, albeit with outside help. Ordinary people had a sense of hope, a belief that education could open opportunities for all, a conviction that a bright future lay ahead. All that has been destroyed by three decades of war, but it was real."

Re: 50 Years Ago: The World in 1962

#10

I am from India (currently living in NY) and I find it really surprising that it was only 50 years ago that there was race discrimination in US. My college friends are all over the world (UK, rest of the Europe, Germany, Australia etc.) and based on my conversation with them, USA is the place with least amount of 'racism' against Asians (I put racism in quotes because there is no blatant, in the face racism in USA. I…

The photos of overt discrimination against African-Americans in 1962 remind me of the overt discrimination we are seeing against gay people today. I hope a similar retrospective in 50 years will see people saying "I find it surprising that there was discrimination against gay people at one time."
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