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CNN Live At Daybreak

Comparing Afghan and American Teenagers

Aired December 19, 2001 - 06:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: You probably couldn't find two more different groups than American teens and teenagers in Afghanistan. But the two groups are learning more about each other thanks to a collaboration between CNN and MTV News with help from CNN's Jason Bellini.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what I'm really curious about is exactly what your stereotype is or what your feelings are on American teenagers and American youth today.

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): What do you know about America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How well in car, (ph) everyone have a car, but we don't have a car (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't have a bicycle now.

BELLINI: What's that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just happy to have a bicycle to go. In America, all the peoples have car, but in Afghanistan, we don't have a bicycle.

BELLINI: My sense is that a lot of Afghan teenagers are a bit jealous of American teenagers. American teens, they believe, can go off and do whatever they want, they don't have as many rules imposed upon them by their parents. They're also very jealous of American teenagers, get this, because American teens get to go to school. They wish they could go to school, particularly the girls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They can go to school. They can get an education. We haven't got a situation that's comfortable enough for us to go to school. Maybe in a few months I'll also be able to go to school here in our country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you think the major difference is between the way that your society lives and the way the American society lives?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): In the United States, teenagers can say anything to their families and their family is wrong. But here in Afghanistan, girls and boys don't have a right to say anything to our families. For example, we haven't got a right to get married by ourselves. During the Taliban regime, some girls were married off to Taliban members even though they didn't like them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you open to American involvement? How do you feel about America?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want to come in our country to reserve (ph) in our country.

BELLINI: So you think America wants to help you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BELLINI: Are you angry at America for bombing your country?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, we are happy.

BELLINI: You're happy, why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it's not against Afghan people. It's against the terrorist people for Osama bin Laden and his band.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they bring peace in our country it's good. We like them. That they come in our country and bring peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That's CNN's Jason Bellini bringing that report from Afghanistan. Look more from Jason in the days and weeks to come.

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