What Is Off Limits To Criticize Women About?

 Limit to criticize is an interesting topic shared by Rich Santos. He tries to explain the limits one should talk about and a list one should stay away. Here is an interesting list shared by Rich.

Weight

There is no friendly way for a guy to tell a girl that she's put on weight. Even if there was a friendly way, most of the women Rich Santos talked to about it said they would not want to hear it from a guy. It seems obvious, but not all guys know this. Interesting suggestion is, if someone is really desperate to make a suggestion, maybe tell one of her female friends to do it on your behalf.

Outfit

Someone thinks that he is only allowed to say someone generally looks nice, or one likes her shirt or whatever. Getting too detailed or negative may get you in trouble.

I came across an interesting fact that women dress more to impress other women anyway, and not guys. Basically, one needs to stick to "you look great" and leave it there..

Friends/Family

We've all interacted people with annoying friends. But, people consider their friends as extensions of themselves so if you criticize friends, you're criticizing your significant other indirectly. Its better to avoid criticizing friends or family.

Driving

Every guy thinks he's a better driver than his girlfriend or female friend. When it comes to driving it is good to have "no comment" policy.

Rich Santos believes that “I can't stand not to give my opinion to women, even when it's bad. I want to learn the things I should hold off from criticizing about women. Do you agree with the items above? What do you hate being criticized about by guys”

Lastly I simply apologize to my female friends I had been talking about the outfit lately. Next time I wont do it, and avoid talking about weight thing as well :P

Inspiring Sami Yusaf's Message of Love

Lately i came across an interesting multilingual song of Sami Yusaf. He is inspirational in his singing and spreading the message of love and peace.

Are We Living in the Age of Bullets & Ideas!!!!

A University Professor from Balochistan believes that we are living in the age of bullets and ideas, sharing his thoughts with a friend and it is so profound yet true. Since childhood i had been taught that ideas are powerful than bullets, as i grew up, I witnessed that bullets are powerful enough to silence brilliant minds and ideas. During 16th century, one of the philosophers ‘Machiavelli’ advised to Italian king in his book Prince, that power is reality rest doesn’t matter. Those were the dark ages in Europe but today when I look around I simply say power realism is the order of the day. I still believe that ideas have enormous power, since they form the frame of our understanding of the world, inform our beliefs and drive our behaviors. Great ideas are so profound and frame-shaking that they quickly topple many of the things we believe, and transform our worldviews, our values and hence our actions. I still believe that we need more great ideas, and a deeper understanding of how and when they transform our understanding, our culture, what we do and who we are. There are two best known cases when great ideas were not accepted like Galileo’s discovery and Darwin's model of the evolution of all life so threatened the orthodoxy of ideas that to this day, centuries later, religious fanatics remain in denial about its validity, and try to deprive it of its credibility by calling a 'theory' rather than 'truth'. Looking back socially, there are people in Pakistan come up with better ideas for making a difference in the lives of people; they share new form of relationship between state and its people. Ideas focus on State ensuring the welfare of people and acting like a father further ensuring the socio-economic and political rights of people.

 On the other hand we see ideas generated on political platform for better tomorrow are simply washed away with the power of bullets, be it Balochistan or any other part of the country. Religious minorities are silenced in the name of blasphemy; peaceful gatherings or processions are threatened with suicide bombs, hotels are attacked, mosques are bombed, even girls schools are not spared, people are forcefully kidnapped, tortured in the name of national security and at times political voice is silenced with the power of bullet. Hope emerges, when I see people coming up with better ideas for tomorrow and better future for all of us living in Pakistan.

Sub Saharan Africa Please Don’t Smile, Pakistan is a Nuclear Power!!!

Eighteen people died in a stampede in Karachi during free distribution of food item ‘AATA’, most of them were women and children. Sub Saharan Africa is one of the poorest regions in the world; people back there are smiling on events unfolding in Pakistan. They believe that they suffer food crisis and do not have basic facility such as health care, education and safe drinking water because of resource constraints but when they see Pakistan they simply give a smile and raise their eyebrows. Pakistan has one of the richest agriculture with vast Indus delta, yet we are fighting for basic needs such as food and safe drinking water. Food riots and death of hundreds due to water born diseases is a common story in Pakistan. At times I wonder what the corollaries of a failed state are. It reminds me of the story of declining Soviet Empire, on the one hand high military and space power of state was present and on the other hand people were standing in queue for hours for bread. countries buy more guns than butter, resultantly fail to face socio-economic volcano and disintegrate just like former Soviet Union.

States have choices either to buy gun or butter, unfortunately Pakistan is a nuclear power, yet an ordinary person is struggling with basic needs such as food, safe drinking water, education and basic healthcare. On the one had Pakistan challenges emerging Indian economic prowess with military muscles, intervene in Afghanistan, eyeing on building in house unmanned planes and drones. It simply reminds me of last days of declining and fragile Soviet Empire.

Pakistan has two choices either to be a National Security State or a Social Security State, but unfortunately it has opted for National Security. I usually see people in the media talking about Nuclear Weapon, gone to a level that Paksitan will eat grass but will not compromise on military muscles. Let me simplify, out of every Rs 100, around Rs 50 goes to debt repayment, Rs 25 to military, Rs 20 for salaries etc and Rs 5 is left for 180 million people. No wonder Sub Saharan Africa smiles on Nuclear Pakistan !!!! 

Bullets Sprayed on Innocent Shahnaz, A Baloch School Teacher!!! BBC Urdu Riaz Suhail (9th Sep 09)

On last Sunday FC firing wounded many; Ms Shahnaz was also one of them. Shahnaz is from a remote town of Balochistan known as MAND, it was her first ever participation in public gathering held in TUMP. She didn’t know that first ever step to be part of gathering would pose grave danger to her life. On Sunday, Frontier Constabulary opened fire in TUMP, wounded Ms Shahnaz; she was attending the Soyam “Memorial gathering on 3rd day of death” of young poet Mir Jan Meeral at TUMP High School, Meeral was killed by FC few days back. Shahnaz explains, men, women and children were attending peaceful gathering and listening to Balochi poetry, all of sudden peaceful gathering turned into blood bath. FC surrounded the High School building and entered, neither they asked people to leave or end the gathering instead they baton charged indiscriminatingly and sprayed bullets.

Shahnaz further shared, that her 20 year old cousin received bullets and fell down, she ran away towards him but ended up receiving bullet on her neck. Women took her to TUMP hospital, doctors gave her initial treatment then she was taken to Turbat Hospital and then to Karachi. During this indiscriminate firing, Shahnaz’s cousin a 10th grade student Mukhtar Baloch was killed and her father Abdul Rehman was injured. Shahnaz is a primary school teacher at Former Federal Education Minister Ms Zubeda Jalal’s school, received bullet on her neck, she tells that she can not move her right hand and arm, using oxygen mask and going through extreme pain.

When I asked her, what made her to participate in socio-political gathering, she said, Baloch are not getting their economic rights for example Balochistan provide gas to rest of the country but people in Balochistan are still using Iranian LPG gas cylinders, at times it costs them Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Shahnaz’s father Abdul Rehman Rind believes that his life has turned bleak, young daughter is on death bed, his nephew; he raised him like his own son was killed. But I feel satisfied that my nephew died for the country, his crime was that he was part of peaceful gathering. Abdul Rehman shows his wounded back, he said, FC attacked them as if they were attacking the enemy forces. Abdul Rehman owns a Dumper Truck, for Shahnaz, he sold his land, he explains that in Turbat Hospital, even they are not equipped to treat Malaria so he had to bring Shahnaz to Karachi. Rehman protests that peaceful gathering is our democratic right; even after this brutal attack he will never stop his kids to attend any sociopolitical gathering.

“This report was published on 9th Sept 09 on BBC URDU Web by Riaz Suhail”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2009/09/090909_shehnaz_sen.shtml

9/11 Still Haunts!!!! US Can Buy Peace But Road Goes Through Pakistan!!!

Today is September 11, every year, this day haunt us, and reminds us the brutal damage inflicted by cruel terrorists. It was 2001 when there were a series of coordinated attack by so called Al Qaeda on US. Hijacking two commercial passenger jet airliners and crashing them into twin towers of WTC in New York City and third one was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. There were no survivors from any of the flight. In total 2,993 including hijackers died in the attacks. NYC ‘The Big Apple’, I love the city, it has its own aura, one of the busiest cities in the US. Arlington in Virginia reminds me of beautiful Pentagon Mall in Pentagon City, right across DC. Terrorist inflicted the damage to the symbols of the success of US economic as well as military power. Every sane person condemns the killing of innocent people but deep down one thought haunts me. Why did they choose to attack US? To find out the answer, I had to refresh the cold memories through various text books. Soviet communism was confronted by US and allies every where, be it Latin America, Asia or Africa. Muslim Jehadi’s were developed by US, Saudi and Pakistan nexus to fight the bad guy “communism”. Well, a monster was created, without realizing that snakes do not differentiate between masters and others, they are born to bite, so are religious extremists. Once the Afghan war theater ended, the Jihad & Company recruits were left behind on the barren land of Afghanistan. Drug money and proxy government support was available. After the demise of Soviet Union, a new enemy was found in the form of West and US. They were bound to attack US, the creator of Jihadi’s during cold war. Well, it was imperative for the strategic interests of US to fight the Soviet expansionism in the region through aligning with a lesser evil but major mistake was leaving the mess after the Soviet withdrawal of Afghanistan.

Well, the mess is getting so out of control that now has its reach to cosmopolitan Europe to America; it is the responsibility of International Community to clean up the cold war mess, affecting everyone. Everyone knows that Pakistani state is fragile and unstable, presence of Taliban in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, pose a great threat and one should not forget that Pakistan is a nuclear power. In general Pakistani society is moderate, simply against any form of extremism. It is also imperative for US to address the root cause of extremism in Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan. Poverty and state negligence at grass level is helping extremists to recruit suicide attackers to fighters. US should spend on infrastructure development and poverty alleviation to buy peace and progress for the region as well as for US and world at large. Enlightened Pakistanis do not forget that in the past 'in post 9/11' over USD 7 billion support was provided to army; extremism has increased instead of decreasing. It is imperative for US to focus on people, avoid corrupt Government in spending the development funds or aid. US-AID along with NGOs, District Government and partly with Government 'with strong cehcks' can effectively spend the money for long lasting social implications. Let us make people interested in living than dyeing !!.

Don't Tell My Mother That I am in Pakistan !!

Don't Tell My Mother That I am in Pakistan is the title of revealing National Geographic documentary on Pakistan. It is about the hidden, unseen and unheard aspect of Pakistani society, i would rather say a journey to under-ground Pakistan. Whenever I travel abroad and interact with people, when they hear about Pakistan, only terror and Taliban related thoughts come in mind. It is not their fault because media only reports the negative aspect of Pakistani society. National Geographic team visits the sex toy product manufacturing factory in Pakistan, it was surprising to see sex products manufacturing facility in conservative and deeply religious Pakistani society. There are few people who may object but liberal and educated Pakistanis do not have problem as long as these products are not publicly marketed in Pakistan. Overall attitude is tolerant and it may surprise those who believe that Pakistan is a stone age society fueled with extremism.  

Next story shows a dance party where girls and guy dancing and drinking freely on the beach. National Geographic guy interviews dancing and drinking couples and was surprised to see the hidden parts of Pakistan, where people live life, have fun and free to choose whatever is acceptable to their value system. In general Pakistani masses are touchy about sex, dancing and drinking and it is considered taboo, if any girl indulges into dancing, smoking or drinking , she would end up carrying social stigma. I always question, to me, in general, our society has double standards, people lie, evade taxes, back bite, corruption, electricity theft, you name it, most of the nerve wrecking practices one could imagine are part of our society. If we get a traffic ticket, we wont mind bribing and do all above without feeling shame. Civilized societies prosper on the basis of ethical behavior, however morality is debatable subject. In our society, we put ethics aside and focus on morality mainly revolves around controlling women and socio-sexual behavior. Instead of social policing, it is the need of the hour to debate and discuss ethics and morality with rationale mindset for social progress.

Hope sanity prevails !!!