Afghanistan: Peace Through Accordions

I loved this video produced in Afghanistan by Globalpost contributor Gregory Warner. For Which It Stands: Afghanistan, an accordion journey (Globalpost, via Bigthink, thanks Sepideh Saremi!)

[#1 posted by V , January 14, 2009 12:28 PM]

Back off! I have an accordion, and I'm not afraid to use it!

[#2 posted by dbarak , January 14, 2009 12:29 PM]

Sounds like a job for StupidPunMan!

Everyone involved should get together and hammer out a set of Camp David Peace Accordions.

[#3 posted by aelfscine , January 14, 2009 12:39 PM]

Who wants peace in Afghanistan? Not us, that's for sure.

[#4 posted by arkizzle , January 14, 2009 12:50 PM]

Aelfscine, who's "us"?

[#5 posted by dbarak , January 14, 2009 1:04 PM]

@ ARKIZZLE:

Opium farmers?

[#6 posted by arkizzle , January 14, 2009 1:10 PM]

DBarak: Oh, I didn't get the memo.. I guess I should be out tending my crop :)

[#7 posted by Takuan , January 14, 2009 1:22 PM]

All you have to do is buy their crops and burn them. Then their families don't starve, 90% of the world's heroin supply vanishes and the WaronSomeDrugs Industry takes a huge hit in profitability.

[#8 posted by dbarak , January 14, 2009 1:25 PM]

@ ARKIZZLE:

At least you're a productive member of society. ;)

[#9 posted by Mycroft , January 14, 2009 1:26 PM]

That was great.

[#10 posted by arkizzle , January 14, 2009 1:28 PM]

Takuan, burn them in pipes?

[#11 posted by daemonsquire , January 14, 2009 1:50 PM]

This journaccordianalist tells the story of Ahmad Zahir in last season's Pop Music episode of Radio Lab, worth a listen.

[#12 posted by Anonymous , January 14, 2009 1:54 PM]

Not surprising, really. The harmonium is a very popular — might even say traditional, by now — instrument in those parts.

And an accordian is really just a marching harmonium.

[#13 posted by Takuan , January 14, 2009 2:08 PM]

hey, when you've got that much you just stand downwind of the bonfire.

[#14 posted by pinehead , January 14, 2009 2:18 PM]

That was a cool little video. I don't think Gregory Warner's singing is going to overshadow Johnny Cash anytime soon, but it looks like he had a fun adventure in Afghanistan.

[#15 posted by Agent 86 , January 14, 2009 2:37 PM]

Learning the accordion should be a travel tip for Americans, right next to claiming they are Canadian.

[#16 posted by randee , January 14, 2009 5:55 PM]

A perfect example of a wonderful thing. Thank you for posting!

If "This American Life" doesn't snap it up and expand it into a piece for a future episode, I'll be very surprised.

[#17 posted by Takuan , January 14, 2009 6:19 PM]

the amazing thing about the Afghans is that they will probably still tolerate if not welcome visitors from the lands of their invaders. Just as they will never, never, never stop trying to kill anyone in their land by force. The only way to defeat the Afghans is to kill them all. Although I have never been there, I am quite sure of this.
One day I hope to see them left in peace to make their own destiny. I suppose anyone working on alternate energy is an agent towards this.

[#18 posted by Beanolini , January 15, 2009 1:57 AM]

Anyone who thinks that an accordion is too bulky for travel might like to consider a miniature child's accordion. Some musician friends of mine keep one in the glovebox of their car so they can entertain each other on long journeys.

English concertinas are also ideal travel instruments (apart from being rather expensive); they're similarly small.

[#19 posted by Agent 86 , January 15, 2009 3:56 AM]

Spring for a full sized, the kid's accordion is a toy, and about as musical as a kazoo. I have one and it's fun, but I wouldn't bring it out to play Rhapsody in Blue.