I agree with Micca that the jingoism of Kipling is in and of it's time. Thoroughly, we cannot judge him by our standards today. That's why he's not only a great poet but also a wonderful writer, for a connection with Afgahnistan, just read "The Man Who Would be King" ( also see the fantastic movie with Sean Connery and Michael Caine, Plain Tales from the Hills and his childrens books, the most underated and most often ignored being "Puck of Pook's Hill" a delightful history lesson for children of all ages. I still have a well thumbed copy that I brought from England with me.