Niga Jalal March 11, 12 Reflection: Desert Lions The documentary Desert Lion by Brian Hutchinson provided an insight

into the lives of the Canadian army in Afghanistan that were mentoring and working with Afghan national army. The sixty-minute documentary mainly focused on the efforts of both Canadian and Afghan army to overcome religious and cultural differences in order to bring security to a small village. The two most interesting aspects of the documentary for me were the struggles both groups faced in overcoming differences for the sake of security. Right from the beginning it was clear that the Canadian forces had a strict mission to carry out in order to help the Afghan army rebuild their war torn country. However, it seemed that the afghan soldiers did not take the mission as serious as the Canadian soldiers. They were often ignoring dangerous protocols and were mocking the Canadian soldiers serious attitude. In one instance, one of the Canadian soldiers was demanding the Afghan soldier to carry an arm with him at all times, however the afghan soldier continuously ignored the demand. I felt as though the afghan were resentful at the fact that a foreign person was giving them orders to be able to protect their people. The relationship between the two groups was clearly not one based on friendship working towards a common goal, but rather one of leader and follower. I adamantly support our troops and appreciate the sacrifices they make to enforce national and global security, however I also felt that the method of mentorship used in the documentary was not effective. When a foreign army goes into one country, it is highly important for them to learn, respect and adapt at least some of cultural aspects of that specific region, rather than simply isolate from it. For example, one of the Canadian soldiers referred to the slaughtering of a sheep in the camp barbaric, or when the during month of Ramadan when the Afghan soldiers refused to work and the high level of frustration felt by the Canadian forces. These specific practices have enormous religious and cultural significance that should be respected and understood rather than resented. An instance of where the two groups got together was during lunch; this was a chance for the Afghans to see Canadian forces as one of them. Watching that sense brought a sense of harmony and relief to see how well the two groups can get a lot when the effort is made, because at these times it is our similarities that bring us together, and our differences that further divides us. One of the most challenging scenes to watch was when the camp was attacked and one of the Canadian soldiers was killed. That attack brought into perspective the sacrifice both groups are making to bring security and peace into a region, and the level of challenges they face to accomplish their goal. However, I remained optimistic and positive when the Canadian soldiers were commenting on the effective skills of the Afghan soldiers. These recognitions helped me see that despite the challenges faced by both groups, the soldiers knew the importance of protecting the security of their people.