The Friendship of Enemies

Jennifer Heckman
International Studies 100
Fall 2014

Abstract
For my end of semester project, I have chosen to write a
narrative based on the relationship between two very different modern
day heroes. The first is Marcus Luttrell, an American navy SEAL who
was the only survivor of Operation Red Wings in 2005. While stationed
in Afghanistan, he, along with three of his fellow SEALs were
commissioned to capture or kill Islamic terrorist Ahmad Shah, who was
supposedly working in connection with Al-Qaeda. The tragic outcome
of the mission is what brings my second figure into the picture. With
Shahs militant army having killed three of the four SEALs, Luttrell was
faced with an opportunity where he had choose quickly when local
Afghan villagers surrounded him at a waterfall as Luttrell gained some
much needed hydration. Little did he know, Mohammad Gulab was
among the Afghani men and his only true intention was to aid the
troubled soldier in his time of need.
This strange relationship of kindness and understanding between
an American soldier and an Islamic villager is what I want to focus on in
my narrative. I chose to write in the style of a novel such as that of
Himmich, solely centering the story on the relationship between the
two individuals and focusing less on the events before they met one
another at that waterfall. Writing in a first-person narrative style, I will
switch between the thoughts of both individuals showing how each of

them feels, demonstrating both the clash of civilizations and the

hybridity of cultures that lies at the basis of their connection.

Narrative
Ourvoiceswerehushedaswestoodstillinthetrees,observingthemaninfront
ofus.Bloodied,broken,anddistracted,thesoldiernearedthewaterfallandsunkdeep
intothepoolbelow.Thiswasourtime;wehadtodecidenow,forwehadnowayof
knowingthedangersthismanpossessedandouronlychoicewastosurroundhim.
NO!mybrotherhissedfromafewfeetaway.Thisisnotourjob.Thinkofour
families.Thinkofthechildren,whatchaoswillthisstrangerbringtoourvillage,
Mohammad?!
Ishookmyhead,neverremovingmyeyesfromthedesperatemanonlyafew
measlyfeetfrommyownbody,hiddenbehindthethickesttreeIcouldfindinsuchshort
notice.Pashtunwali,brother!wasmyonlyresponse.Thinkofourfather.Andwith
that,Iremovedmyselffrombehindthetreeandbeckonedtheotherstodothesame.

ItfeltbetterthanIcouldhaveimaginedwhenthefirstdropletstouchedmy
tongue.ItwastheclosestthingtohappinessthatIhadfeltinthetirelesshoursofdeath
andviolencethathadceasedonlymomentsbeforeandIknewtherewassuretobemore
tocome.Ihadonlyamomenttomyself,asthecoldstreamofliquidrandownmy
parchedthroat.Ihadforgottenmywounds,forgottenmytroubles,andforgotten

everythingexceptforGodspreciousgiftofwaterandwhatitcangivetoamaninneed.
Theheavystreampouredovermybloodylimbsandachingnecksointenselythatmy
tiredkneesfounditdifficulttostandandIcollapsedintothepoolofreliefinwhichI
stoodthighdeep.ButasIemergedmyfacefromthewaterfallasecondtime,my
peacefulnesscametoanabruptstop.
10men.Orwasthere20?Icouldntbesureanddidnthavethetimetofigureit
out.ThemenwereAfghaniswithgunsfaroutnumberingmyown,shoutinginalanguage
thatwasforeigntome.Shit.Ihadnochoicebuttoactimmediately.Ireachedformy
grenade,servingasbothmylifelineandalsomyowndeathallinonebundleofmilitary
joy.
Illkillus!Iscreamed,Illkillusall!
Suddenlyamanwasrunningtowardme.American!American!Heshouted
overandoveragain,followedbyremarksofOK!OK!andliftinghisshirt.Whatwas
hedoing?Isthissupposedtobecomforting?Atrick?Anambush?!AndthenI
understood;hewashetryingtoshowmehislackofweaponry.Ifeltmomentarily
relieved,butthereweresomanyothersinthesurroundingtreeswhoinfactdidhold
objectsofdestruction.Iwasoutnumbered,confused,willingtodiebutwantinglive,and
frightenedbeyondwords.Ilookedintotheapproachingmanseyesandhadtomakethe
choiceonceagain:washewithmeorwasheagainstme?
Mybreathingwasheavyandtiresome,andIwascarefultoneverletmythumb
falterfromthesecurityofthegrenade,nowcoveredinheavysweatfrommypalm.But
whenItookthatmomenttolookcloser,Isawsomethinginsideofthisstrangerthat

wasntintheeyesofthegoatherders.Therewasnohatred,noschemingglances,but
rathertherewasemotion,andIprayeditwasthegoodkind.Icouldntbesureifmy
decisionwouldleadmetomydeath,butifIdidnttakethechance,deathwouldmeetme
soonanyways.Andwiththat,Isubmittedtoamanwho,tomypresentknowledge,could
havebeenthebrotherofthosewhohadkilledmyfriendsonlyhoursbefore.

MohammadIrepeatedoverandover.Mohammad!
Ipointedmyshakingfingeratmyownchest.Mohammad,Ispokeagain,thistimewith
morecertaintyinmyvoice,tryingtoignorethemansgriponsuchadestructiveobject.
Idseenversionsofthembefore,throwninthedirectionsofourhomesandourland,
destroyingeverythingintheirwake.Icouldnottakethatrisk.Inoticedthemans
desperation,asheglancedbetweeneachofusstandingbeforehim,searchingforan
answeronhowtoreacttotherecentevents.Hewasbadlyinjuredwithblooddripping
fromtheinsideofhislegsandhisposturecrookedfromsustainedboneinjuries.Hishead
turnedjerkily,noticinghissurroundings,noticinghecouldntescape,andnoticinghehad
virtuallytwooptions:neitherofwhichwerehisprimarychoice,ofthatIwassure.
MohammadIechoedoncemore.
Withthatfinalmurmur,hisgazeshifteddirectlytomyownandittookevery
ounceofmybeingtokeepmyexpressionemotionlessandconcerned.Iwatchedhislips
openandcloseslightlylikehelongedtosaysomethingback,butinsteadhestoodsilent
oncemore.KnowingtheTalibanleaderswerentfarbehind,Ibeckonedhimonwardwith

aswiftmotionofmyhandthatIwassurehewouldunderstanddespiteourlanguage
barrier.Wemovedswiftlythroughthetrees,withtwoothervillagemenstabilizingthe
injuredsoldierashegrimacedwitheverystephetook.Hetrekkedonwardwithout
words,actingonpuretrustandhopelessdesperationthattheoutcomeofhisdecision
wouldbebetterthanthedeathhehadlongawaitedthenightbefore.
Thegunshotsoftheirnearbybattlehadbeenheardallthroughouttheprevious
evening,onlywhatseemedlikehoursbefore.Theykeptusawakelateintothenight,
fearingthepossibilityofwhatwehadevadedforsolonginchoosingtoliveintherural
mountains.Wehadsatinsidemyownhomeforalargeportionofthenight,probably10
ofusmen,drinkinglittleandeatingnothing,justlisteningtothefaroffboomsofthe
fight.Someofthemenclutchedguns,weaponry,anddefensivematerials,infearthatin
justafewmomentsthegunfirewouldbeuponourownvillageandwewouldhaveno
choicebuttoactinordertosavethewomenandchildrenthatcomprisedthefamiliesof
oursmallcommunity.
Afterwalkingforatensionfilledlengthyamountoftime,thesightofhomecame
intoviewthroughanopeninginthedensetrees.Theclaytopsofourhouseswarmedmy
insidesasIimaginedthesightofourfamilies,wivessmilinginutterjoy,children
graspingatthelegsoftheirfathers,allbecausewewereabletoreturnbacktoSalarBan
safely.Weallstoppedforjustamoment,relishinginthecomfortthatwasthesightin
frontofoureyesandthenultimatelynotingthatthecomfortwouldbelostthemoment
wechoosetowelcometheendangeredmanintooursafehaven.Imotionedtherestofthe
groupforward,noddingmyheadinthemostrelaxedwaythatIpossiblycouldinorderto

offerthemasignofthepeacetheysolongedfor.Astheypushedonward,Igrabbedmy
brothersforearmquicklyandpulledhimclose.Puthiminmyhome,Istated
decidedly.Thesepeoplehavesacrificedenoughinaidingourmission.Icantakeonthe
restoftheburdenfromhere.Mybrotherlookeddeepintomyeyes,lookingforany
senseofdoubtorindignationtowardthestranger,butfindingnonehesimplynodded
firmlyandproceededdownthehillwiththerest.
Istoodstillforafewmoments,takinginthebeautyofthemountainsthatIloved
sodearly.Ilovedthewaytheyslopedjustoverthehorizon,bendingthelightsoitlanded
rightonourownvillage.Ilovedthepointwherethetreesstopped,andthedirtbegan,the
apexatwhichmyhouserested.AndfinallyIlovedthesecurityblanketthatthe
mountainsdistinctlyprovided,keepingouttheunwanted,andwelcominginthosewho
finditaplacetocallhome.Theairwaswarminguptoitsusualtoastytemperatureasthe
sunreachedthecenteroftheskyandbeatdownuponmycoveredshoulders,thawingme
tothecore.Silently,Ireflectedonmydecision.ItwasachoicethatI,myself,madeto
bringthismanintoourcommunity,toshelterhimfromtheviolencethatmethimonthe
mountainside.Atfirstglance,inhisdustcoloredattire,heappearedsavage,likethe
storiesIhadheardfromtravellingvisitorstoourvillagethatspokeofthefearsome
Americanpeople.TheytoldstoriesofhowAmericansdestroyedtowns,murderedthe
religious,andshunnedourhomenation.Butthismolddidntfitwithourstranger;his
complexionwaskind,hisbodywasinjured,andhismoralwaseversinking.Heneeded
usmorethanever.

Ithoughtbacktomyfather,intheyearswhenIwasasmallchild.Livinginthe
samelocationaswearenow,heraisedmeunderthePashtunwaliprinciplesthatIcould
notignoreifItried.Irecalltheteachingsmyfatherspenttirelesshoursnotonly
instructingmeon,butalsoshowingmehowtolivemylifeintentionallytoembrace.Did
thisstrangemandeservethecodeofmelmastia?Itcouldmeanthesacrificeofnotonly
myownlife,butalsothelivesofmylovingneighbors.ShouldIgranthimnanawatay
despitethehistoryofviolencethatfollowshisunspokenpast?Averagenomadsmaybe
perceivedasuninformedandunintelligent,butIamneithertheformer,northelatter.I
knowtheviolencethatcomeswithwarandtheactionsthatasoldiermustdotodefend
himselfandthecountryherepresents;ourguestisnoforeignertothefieldoffighting.
ButthisismydutyasaPashtunandheismyresponsibility.Allahgivemestrength,I
mumbledtotheheavens.
Withthat,Iwipedtheremainingdustanddirtfromthedaystravelthroughthe
hillyforestsfromthelegsofmyshalwarbeforefollowingbehindtheothers,havingjust
reachedthegatestothevillage.

Isatinthesmall,clayroomforwhatseemedlikedays,aloneandaching.They
hadleftmeontheflooruponasmallbedmadeofdecorativepillowsofvarying
materials.ItwasthecertainlytheclosestIhadbeentocomfortableinalongtime,andyet
thepillowshadbeensoakedthroughwithmyownbloodandtheroomwassohotthata
constantstreamofsweatdrippedfrommynose.Itremindedmeofmychildhoodhome

backintheLonestarState.Theheatdidnotbothermethere,infact,MorganandIused
tospendalldayoutinthesummersun,running,hunting,fishing,andraisinghell.Damn,
Imissedthosesimplerdays.Havingfalleninandoutofconsciousnessformultiplenights
anddays,Ifinallystretchedagainforthebowlofcoolwaterrestingonlyinchesoutof
myreach,andgaspedatthepangsofresistancethateruptedfrommyspine.Broken.
ThatsallIcouldthinkofmyselfinthatmoment.Asupposedheroofthe
AmericanNavySEALsleftinthehomeofapotentialenemy,brokenandbleeding.Iwas
pathetic;howcouldIhaveletmyselfgettothispoint?Wedalltrainedforthisforso
manyyearsandwhenthetimecame,noneofuscouldpullthrough.Weshouldvekilled
thosedamngoatherderswhenwehadthechance.IdbesuretoletMikeknowthat
when
Istoppedmyselfthere.Mikewasnolongeralive;noneofthemwere.Myfriends,
myteammates,myheroes,andnotasingleonewasgoinghometoreceivetheaward
theysogreatlydeserved.Isippedonthewater,rinsingthebloodanddirtfrommyinner
cheekstofillmymindwithphysicaltypeofpaininsteadofthemental.Allthatwasleft
formeintheworldrightnowwasprayer.Foldingmyhandsinutterpraiseand
submission,IclosedmyeyesbutdidnotclosemymindasIspoketotheLordwhoI
knewwaswithmenowashehadbeendaysbeforeintheforest.Itoldhimofmy
gratefulnessforthischanceatlife,forthischancetodiscoveranewperspective,andfor
thischancetospeakwithhimasIlayherenow.AndthenItoldhimofmyanger,ofhow
Iwishhehadjustletmedieoutthereinsteadofthoseothermen,someofthestrongest
soldiersIknew.ThosemenhadfamiliesthatIcouldneverdreamofandaworldof

opportunitieswaitingtogreetthemonAmericansoil.Andfinally,allthatwaslefttoask
forwereanswerstoquestions;questionsofsurvival,andfaith,andwheretostepnexton
thelongroadleadingtoHimthatishumanexistence.Isqueezedmyeyesshutoncemore
andwhisperedahushedAmenbeforeopeningmyeyestotheharshlightofmidday
burstingthroughtheadjacentwindow.
Justthen,thedooropenedandthemanIhadcometoknowasMohammad
entered,followedbyagroupofindividualsdressedinallwhiterobes.AsMohammad
rushedtokneelbymyside,theothersbeganrearrangingtheroom.Theylaidoutalong,
thickclothabout6feetinlengthontopofatablethatwasagainsttheoppositewall.I
triednottobedistractedfromMohammadswordsastheyremovedsharpsilvertoolsand
largeclothsfromaburlapsatchelthathungfromtheshouldersofashort,stockyman
grantingcommandsfromhisplacementinthedoorway.
Mohammadheldmyfaceinhistworoughhandsandaskedloudly,OK?I
switchedmyglacebacktohiscomfortingeyesandrelaxedmybodyslightly.Thiswasa
question.HeneededtoknowifIwasallright.Inoddedslowly,beingcarefulnottotake
myeyesfromthestrangemeninthecorneroftheroom.Mohammadnoticedmy
distractedness,shiftinghisowngazeonlyoncetotheothersandthenbacktomine.He,
andtheshort,stockymanhoistedmeupasmybodysilentlyprotestedwithsurgingpain.
Theywalkedmeovertothecoveredtableandlaidmedownnexttothesharp
instruments.Itwasnotuntilthefirstwettowelswereplaceduponmygushingwounds
thatIunderstoodtheseweremedicalassistants,readytohelpinanywaytheycould.

Mohammadstayedbesidemethroughoutthepainfulordealandstrokedmycheekgently
astoshowthateverythingwouldbejustfine.AndItrustedhim.
Ofcoursethisfeelingbegsacertainquestion.HowcouldIpossiblytrusthim?
HowcouldItrustamanIdjustmet,whodressedintheclothesofmyenemies,spokea
languageIcouldnotunderstandawordof,andlivedonlymilesfromthelocationof
AhmadShah,aknownterrorist.ButIhadtorememberwhatMohammadhaddonefor
meinspiteofmyinitialthoughtsagainsthim.Sure,therewasalotthatwasdifferent
betweenthetwoofus,buttherewasalsosomuchthatwasthesame:helivessimplyasI
do,withastrongsenseofcommunity,andalovingfamilythatIcouldtellhe,toom
missedwhenhewasawayfromhomeasIdoonmytoursoverseas;hehasacompassion
forindividualsthatistobeadmiredbyAmericansandAfghanisalike,forwhatelse
wouldinspirehimtorescuemewhenIseemedlikesuchadangertohimandhis
comrades;andbeyondthesesimplegifts,heandIunderstoodeachotherinspiteofour
culturaldifferencesandthelanguagebarrierbetweenus,inawaythatwasmuchmore
intenseandcomplicatedthantwoaveragehumanshavinganormalcolloquial
conversation.
Inthatmomentthere,lyingonamakeshiftoperatingtable,Ivowedneverto
desertmynewfriend.Iunderstoodthedangerthatheundertookbybringingmeintohis
home,andIcouldnotallowhimtomaketheultimatesacrificebecauseIwassohelpless
whenhestumbleduponme.Asthedoctorsdugintomyfleshandrebrokemyfractured
bones,Ifocusedonsomethingotherthanthepain.IfocusedonMohammad,howIwould
bringmyherointomyowncultureashesowillinglyacceptedmeintohis.Icouldfly

himtoAmerica,lethimescapethepresentdaychaosofAfghanistantothefreedomof
theUnitedStatesthatIfighttodefend,andhelphimfleefromthosewhowillseekhim
outaftertheyfindoutfromwhereIhavebeenrescued.Hecantastetheplumpmeatofa
handgrilledhamburgerasthejuicerunsdownhislipsratherthanthedry,lengthypieces
ofunknownmeatshegivesmetofeastoneachevening.Hecouldmeetmyownfamily,
andrecognizethesimilaritiesofloveandcompassionthatrestinsidebothofourhomes;
wecouldaccepthimasoneofourown.Itwasabeautifulthought,twocultures,typically
dividedbyhatred,unifiedinsteadbyanunlikelyfriendshipbetweenamanandhissavior
fromtheforest.

Thedayspassedoneaftertheother,andtheTalibanforcesonlyenteredour
communitysboundariesonce.Thevillagerswatchedinhorrorastheycameintomy
homeandmercilesslybeatmynewfriend.Theykickedandhescreamed,butneveronce
didhegiveuphope.HisdeterminationinspiredmyownandI,myself,asimplePashtun
manofthemountains,hadthecouragetoengageinargumentativedialoguewiththe
Talibanforcesforoversixhoursuntiltheyleftmyhome.TheymaydressasIdoand
speakasIdo,buttheyarecertainlynotwithwhomIwillbeassociated,norarethey
welcomeinmyhouse.
Soonthetimecameformynewfriendtoleaveme,andyet,Iwasgladforthe
newworldperspectivehehadshownmeinsuchashorttime.Hedemonstratedtomethe
relationshipIcouldhavewithamanofadifferentculture,evenonethatremainedin

conflictwiththemajorityofmyhomelandandmygovernmentasawhole.Whenthe
helicopterarrived,eightmenjumpedtohisrescue,usheringhimoutfromhissafehaven
ofpillowsandintothearmsofhistruerescuers.IsawwhatarealAmericanmilitary
uniformlookedlike,withoutthecuts,dirtandbloodthatcoveredmyfriends.Iwas
preparedtoissueasoftgoodbyetomycompanion,butwasgreetedwiththatsamelong
gazehegavemedaysagowhenIfoundhimhelplessandalone.Extendinghisrighthand
intomyown,hesmiledforthefirsttimeanditprovedjusthoweffectivemyeffortsto
savethismanhadbeen.Despiteeverythinghehasseen,hecanstillcrackasmile.
Marcushesaid,pointingtohimself.
InoddedtoshowIunderstoodandrepeatedhisnametomyselfsoIcouldcommit
ittomemory.Asthesoldiersusheredhimawayfrommygraspandintothehelicopter,he
pulledoneofthemtothesideandspoketohimprivately.Astheirconversationfinished,
Inoticedthemanlookinmydirection,nodtoMarcus,andrushtobebymyside.
Marcuswantsyoutocomewithuswerethewordshespoke.
Andthoughmybraindidnotquiteunderstandthelanguage,hegraspedmyarm
andledmetobebesideMarcusoncemore,thistimeinsideofthehelicopter.Iknewhe
wantedmetobesafe,andwantedtoensuremysurvival.Injustafewshorthours,I
wouldbeinthearmsofmyownfamilyagainbackhereinthemountains,justasMarcus
longedtobeforsomanydaysandnights.

IthasbeeneightyearssincethedayMohammadGulabfoundmeinthatforestin
Afghanistan.Eightyearsofunwantedfame,dutyfilleddeployments,tragicfunerals,my
ownwedding,andthebirthofmychildren,andyetstillthevisionsoftherepressed
memoriesofwhathappenedsomanyyearsinbeforeinAfghanistanvisitmeasIsleep.
Thescarsstillrestonmybodyandtheimagesofthelostmenandthegainedexperiences
willneverfade.AsIsitherenowinDallasInternationalAirport,awaitingthearrivalof
myoldfriend,amixofemotionssurgethroughmystomach.Ihopeourembracewillbe
asIrememberedourlast,fullofcompassionandgratitudeforoneanother.Ihopehewill
findcomfortinmyhomehereinAmericaasIfoundcomfortinhisoverseas.Andmost
ofall,Ihopethatanoldrelationshipisnotlostduetodistanceandtimeassomanytimes
theyhavebeenbefore.Iamgladforonethingforcertain,despitethesethoughts.Iam
gladthatthevisionofamixingofculturesthatIhadonthatoperatingtablesomany
yearsagohasfinallycometobereality.Withthehelpofmoderndaytechnologiessuch
astranslatorsandairplanes,anoldfriendcanbegreetedwithaculturethatissogladto
meethim.Despitetheconflictofourdifferentnations,MohammadGulabisatruehero,
andAmericaissoluckytohavehim.

EndNotes

PashtunwalithewayofthePashtuns.ThePashtunareanethnicgrouplivingin
AfghanistanandPakistan.Theyaretraditionallyknownaspastoralnomadsandlivein

verycommunityorientedgroupsknownastribes.Theyfollowverydistinctreligiousand
socialprinciplesandoftenliveinpatriarchalfamilies.

Grenadeagrenadeorexplosiveshellthatonelaunchesbyhand.Thiscanexplode
eitheronimpactorafterthepullingofafuze.Thesewereverypopularin20thcentury
warssuchasWorldWarI,WorldWarII,andVietnam.

MohammadreferringtoMohammadGulab,anAfghanvillagerandSunniMuslim
livingintheruralmountains.HeandhisfellowvillagersrescuedMarcusLuttrellfroma
nearbyforestandofferedhimprotectionfromhisenemies.

SalarBanaruralmountainvillageintheKunarProvinceofAfghanistan.Itis
inhabitedbyPashtunpeoples.

TravellingvisitorsthevillageofSalarBanremainsveryisolatedfromtherestof
Afghansocietyandoftenonlyreceivesnewsfromtravellingvisitors

MelmastiaaPashtuntribalhonorcodeofhospitality.Itrequiresthatanypersongain
protectionfromthehost,ensuringthattheyarenotharmedorsurrenderedtoanenemy
whileundertheircare.Thismustbeofferedwithoutexpectationoffuturefavors.

NanawatayaPashtuntribalhonorcodeofasylumandmercy.Thisgivesprotectionto
apersonrequestingprotectionagainstenemies.Thepersonaskingformercymustthen
participateinaritualactofselfhumiliationtoensureprotectionatallcosts

Shalwarfullsetofpantstypicallytiedatthewaistwithastring,atypicaldressofthe
Pashtunpeople

LonestarStatenicknamefortheAmericanstateofTexas,locatedatthecentral
southerntipoftheUnitedStates

MorganMorganLuttrell(bornin1975),MarcusLuttrellstwinbrother.Thetwo
informallytrainedtogetherasteenagersinTexaswiththeirformerUSArmysoldier
friendBillySheldon.MorganLuttrellisalsoaNavySEAL,currentlystillservingactive
duty.

GoatherdersinreferencetotheAfghangoatherdersthatthesoldiersofOperation
RedWingscapturedintheruralmountains.TheSEALteamoffourhadtodecide
whethertocapture,killorreleasetheherdersandtheirchoicetoreleasethemresultedin
compromisingtheirhiddenlocationtotheenemy.

AhmadShahaTalibanleaderwhocommandedagroupknownastheMountain
TigersintheKunarProvinceofAfghanistan.HewasthetargetoftheOperationRed
Wingsmissionin2005,knowingthathewasaleaderinrecentalQaedaundertakings.

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Analysis
Theexactdefinitionofwhatmakessomethingglobalornotglobalisratherarbitrary.As
awhole,theworditselfrelatestosomethinginvolvingthewholeworldortheglobal
spectrum,butonanotherleveltherearecertaineventsthatcanbeknownas
globalizationwithoutinvolvingeveryculturethatexistsinthisworld.Takingthisidea
intoconsideration,Iwantedtowriteabouttwoverydistinctculturesthatarepresentin
ourmoderndaysociety.ThefirstisAmericanculture,representedbytheUnitedStates

NavySEALMarcusLuttrell.ThesecondinMiddleEastern,Islamicculturerepresented
bymostlyMohammedGulab,anAfghanvillager,butalsothenotoriousTalibanforces.
Inmynarrative,Iwantedtofocuspredominantlyonthepositiverelationship
betweenMohammedGulabandMarcusLuttrell,howeveritwasimpossibletodoso
withoutmentioningthemorenegativestoryofhowexactlythesetwounlikelyfriends
cameintocontactwithoneanother.Whenlearningaboutglobalization,wefocused
significantlyinourcourseonthethreemodelsofthetopic:ClashofCivilization,
Mcdonaldization,andHybridity.IbelievethenarrativeIhavewrittenintheprevious
pagesexpressestwooftheabove.Thefirstiscertainlytheclashofcivilizationsmodel.
WithouttheconflictthatexistedbetweentheIslamicterroristorganizations,livingin
Afghanistan,andtheAmericanpeople,invadingfromoverseas,thisstorywouldhave
neverbeenapossibilitytorecreate.ThepowerstrugglebetweenAmahShahandMarcus
Luttrellreflectsthisclashingofculturesoverthebasisofreligionandauthority,and
demonstratesthewaysinwhichtheminglingoftwoculturessometimesonlyleadsto
destruction.
Onthecontrary,however,mystoryworkedtoincorporatetheconceptofglobal
hybriditythroughexaminingthelivesoftwoseparatemenofdifferentcultural
backgroundsandnotinghowoneswaysoflivingentangleswiththeothers.Forthis
exampleofthemodelofhybridity,IchosetolookattherelationshipbetweenMarcus
LuttrellandMohammadGulab.Bothasmenofsimplebackgrounds,Marcusgrowingup
inruralTexasandMohmmadintheruralAfghanmountains,theirvaluesremained
relativelysimilardespitesuchagreatdistancebetweencultures.Bothmenhadgreatcare

fortheirfamiliesaswellasotherpeople,notwishingtobeawayfromhomebutknowing
whenitwasnecessarytomakethesacrificeinordertoaidthelivesofanotherindividual.
ForMarcus,thismeantdeployment;forMohammad,itmeantPashtunwaliprinciplesof
protection.However,thesamefundamentalbasisliesbehindboth.Furthermore,the
conceptofreligionunitesthetwodissimilarparties.Atdifferenttimesthroughoutmy
narration,bothmencanbeseenprayingtoahigherpower.ThoughMohammadpraysto
AllahandMarcuspraystotheChristianGod,bothoftheirstrengthincertainmoments
comesfromaplaceofreligiousfaithandthatsignifiessimilaritiesbetweenthetwo.The
finalpieceoftheirculturalhybriditylieswithintheirwillingnesstoassimilateintoan
unknownculture.ThoughLuttrellknewlittleaboutAfghanifood,medicine,orculture,
hewaspresentedwiththesituationandlearnedhowtoadaptinordertosurvive.This
culturalmodificationinspiredanewfriendshipsostrongthatitconvincedasimple
Afghanvillager,whohadneverlefttheruralmountains,toboardaplaneandflytothe
Americas.Notonlydidhetravelfarfromhisownhome,butalsohewassoinspiredby
hisnewfriendthatMohammadGulabthathetravelledtotheveryplacethathisown
countryremainsatwarwith.HetrustedinthehybridityofcultureshefeltwhenMarcus
Luttrelltookrefugeinhisvillagebackin2005,andtookthelibertytojoinhiminhis
homelandonlyafewyearslater.
Thisstoryisaremarkableonethatsurpassesthetypicalwarmentalityofaglobal
clashofcivilizationsandoverridesthoseharshfeelingswithpositivesonesoflove,
compassionandunderstanding,comingintoadifferentareaofglobalizationknownas
hybridity.WeseetheinfluencesthatvariouscultureshavemadeonboththeAmerican

andtheIslamicculturethatmakesthetwoabletoliveinharmony.Whetheritisfood,
faith,orfriends,thisnarrativehasnoshortageofthewaysinwhichtwoculturescan
intermixwarwithpeace.