Gaining Perspective
Informed Comment Global Affairs writes:
There are three main rumors about the causes of crime [in Herat]: (1) the followers of ousted governor Ismail Khan (the former commander who is now Minister of Energy and Water in Kabul), who burned the UN office (right) in September 2004 when their chief was removed, are staging crimes to show that Herat is not secure without Ismail Khan; (2) because the justice system is so corrupt and there is no rule of law, personal and family disputes frequently escalate into violence; and (3) the police, who have become part of the same criminal network as drug traffickers and smugglers (oil smugglers at Islam Qala on the right), are responsible for most of the crime. These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive.
Adding perspective to ones own world is not easy - it requires a willingness to evaluate and change foundational principals and beliefs at times. One of my daily (ok, probably more weekly) reads is Global Voices, a site that brings together blogger voices from around the world. I have a rather passionate dislike for American media (even NPR ticks me off at times 
). I guess this is my meager attempt to listen to stories from somebody elses view point. At any rate, my trips to the Global Voices site are always eye opening and insightful!