FAULT LINES- LEFT BEHIND:

AMERICA’S AFGHAN
TRANSLATORS
(A SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE)

NAINA AGARWAL
1823668
3FIB B
FAULT LINES- LEFT BEHIND: AMERICA’S AFGHAN TRANSLATORS
Sociology is the systematic study of the human society and this study of two different societies
the US and Afghanistan can be useful in finding the ways and means to overcome the problems
in the Afghanistan. This documentary created by Fault Lines and Aljazeera world news narrates
an incident of Sakhidad Afghan, a US interpreter, who resided in Afghanistan. This was the time
of the US control of Afghanistan wherein a large number of regular Afghan citizens joined the
US military as interpreters. In the same way, Sakhidad Afghan had joined the US military as an
interpreter. If we look at it from a sociological perspective, we would be asking the question,”
why did he do so? “This question generally helps us understand the hidden meaning behi8nd
human actions and in this case as well it would serve the same purpose. He had considered being
an interpreter because his father was sick and he wanted to help support their extended family of
18. Thus, sociological perspective, as it serves the purpose of looking at familiar things in a fresh
way, has served its purpose and if we look at Sakhidad’s actions from a social perspective, we
would be able to understand them better. Social imagination is the awareness of relationship
between personal experiences and wider society. In this case, Sakhidad’s family is able to relate
to the families of other interpreters who have been deserted. In this documentary, we come to
terms with the difference in the idea and concept of living and culture in both the countries. The
concept of individualism and collectivism is also highlighted, wherein US has individualism
prevalent, whereas, Afghanistan has collectivism prevalent. This factor is the major reason why
people who are successful in moving to USA are unable to sustain there for long. This is a kind
of cultural shock. Constructing another life is not as simple as it is thought to be and many
Afghans have gone up against with an alternate kind of battle to endure. Government support
past the visa is frequently distressfully inadequate with regards to, making access to work,
lodging, and restorative administration in the US is troublesome or difficult to achieve.
Frequently, there is nobody to try and respect the interpreters upon landing in the airplane
terminal. Subsequently, a few interpreters who made it to the US end up coming back to
Afghanistan, in spite of the security concerns they may confront. Sakhidad was kidnapped,
tortured and killed due to the prevailing non material culture of Islamic Shariah among the
Talibans. According to this culture, he would be legible for death if he disobeys them or denies
doing something. The documentary also puts light on the living conditions in Afghanistan which
is full of fear due to terrorist activities and also the problem of lack of basic human rights in
place.