America We Hate –Love You!!!!!

It was early November last year; I was on my way to Islamabad’s diplomatic enclave for my US Visa interview. I came across a long queue, full of religious men and women, long beards and Hijab to rock stars and aspiring youth. Women reciting Holy Quranic verses and I could hear ‘good luck in Urdu, i.e., Inshallah Hojaega”.

But ironically, I read range of papers writing that majority of Pakistanis hate America!!! For me it is difficult to see, who hates and why, all my friends who hate America, they love to be in America. When I see McDonalds, American lifestyle, jeans, music, movies, Pakistani are deeply hooked. Deeply religious people along with their families are usually found at McDonalds; even KFCs Iftar meal was deeply supported by religious consumers. Anyways, coming back from Islamabad, I got my visa, selected to represent Pakistan in US- Department of State International Visitors Leadership Program ‘IVLP’, I am glad I was one of the few lucky ones to be offered. This was a complete exposure trip and I got to see East Coast to Southern Biblical belt to Mormon Land in Utah to all the way to Seattle North West of US. Trip enlightened me to experience US first hand; there are so many positives beside American foreign policy. I found Americans friendly, hard working, diverse yet united, amazingly autonomous at grass root level, a place where non governmental organizations and charity play an important role. On the one side, one may finds wealth but on the other side capitalistic foul plays and systematic oppression is also evident. I came across an interesting interview on New York Times web, Pakistani rock star Ali Azmat to Noori showing hatred for America, but singing in American style. Blaming everything on US, fueled with conservative apologetics rhetoric and they deny condemning Taliban. Even one of the largest religious party’s leader's grand daughter lives in US and grandpa is running Anti American campaign.

Only one word comes in my mind “Hypocrite”. Most of the rich families, running hate America campaign, but their kids are at US universities, most of them speak English and their vacation destination is again US. I came across an interesting article in Washington Post and Daily Dawn, it argues that elites are mainly running the Anti American campaign in Pakistan, their survival is in Pakistan, most of them mint money through corruption, tax evasion etc. Poor struggles for piece of bread and only the middle class struggles hard and looks for safer avenues to continue life.Everyone urges US to woo middle class for serious change in the country, largely affecting the reigon. Within Pakistan, unless we have common goals benefiting all, the country will always teeter at the brink of disaster.

Confused Pakistanis Need Mullah Omar; Down With America !!!! Talibans aren't Monsters !!!!

Pakistani musicians believe, Taliban are not bad, they are non issue, it is infidel West and America 'Neo Cons' want to de-islamize the Pakistani society. I was shocked to hear, musicians represent the youth of Pakistan, influence them, coming up with the most cliched rhetorical crap along with lyrics based on conspiracy theory .To me, if someone says Gosh, Pakistanis do not deserve Taliban, i would rather say, no we deserve them. They destroy schools, kill civilians but our confused nation lines up with range of conspiracy theories all the way starting from CIA to Mosad and Raaw. Well, if India can find Pakistani hands behind Mumbai attack, they simply take it to international court and convince international forces with evidence. Our Commandos 'Sipah e Salar' in media make so much hue and cry but no evidence of xyz involvement has ever been shared . On the same issue, i came across an interesting New york Times article, it writes, "While Pakistani journalists, playwrights and even moderate Islamic clerics have boldly condemned the Taliban, the nation’s pop music stars have yet to sing out against the group, which continues to claim responsibility for daily bombings. The violence has no shortage of victims in addition to the dead: more than three million people have become refugees, and more than 200 schools for girls have been destroyed. And the musicians I spoke to have suffered as well, which makes it all the more surprising that they are reluctant to criticize the militants". Balochistan is the example of gross human rights violation, as per Human Rights reports, hundreds have been kept in jails without trial, disappearance of innocent is the order of the day. Political struggle is all about poor people living on the richest land asking for their due economic share as per constitution. Well, National Security State and its media simply sweeps it under rug through blaming India. Media, educated middle class, pop singers and corporate zombies have merely become patriotic conservative Islamic apologist just blaming everything on America !!!! I guess, our nation deserves Mullah Omar!!!!! "Watch Ali Azmat and Noori with their Patriotic Crap" http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/an-american-accent-to-pakistani-rock/

Meera & English Speaking Pakistani Class!!!

Meera has lately been talk of the media, recent video on facebook made me laugh on our English speaking proud Pakistanis. Once the video was made public, it was loaded by every other person on the facebook. Meera was on a show with ‘I guess’ Tappu Javeri, she was struggling with English sentence and constantly pronounced it wrong. Uff Meera’s struggle with English made every other person on the internet to have laughing strokes but most of them survived. Anyways, I am sure most of our so called partially educated English speaking class thanked God that they speak English and some of speakers with accent must had felt proud. In no other country language skills considered superior than the substance or the thoughts of an educated person. Unfortunately, so called educated English speaking class lack social consciousness and substance, focus more on linguistics skills than the actual knowledge base. No one denies the importance of English in today’s world but it is not the only criteria to judge a persons skill or depth. All of them who shared the video, must had been to colleges or universities and their comments made me laugh and depicted the depth of their academic profile. I am sad to see this in Pakistan, in entire globe, for instance during my last trip to Japan, I saw people giving a lot of importance to education not English or the language. In Pakistan, most of the elite make it to English medium schools to learn the language, when it comes to substance; unfortunately hollow generation is being developed. If English is the criteria than lets laugh out loud on majority of Pakistanis, I am sure they can not speak English.

Pakistan Fashion Week Goes Bolder!! We are Not Extremists!!

Whenever I talk to any of my friends in US, they think Pakistan is a place dominated by Taliban & their supporters. General perception is that women are forced to stay back home and streets are full of extremists with long beards and weapons. No way, it is not our Pakistan, there may be small tribal areas one may find such pictures but when it comes to Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad, we are moderate as well as modern in our outlook towards life. Lately Pakistan Fashion Week kick starts in my city Karachi, it was postponed, venue was changed, amidst threats from minority extremists but the show goes on. Karachi defies extremism and says no to barbaric minority " unfortunately its known fact that some elements in Pak security institutions do back such elements to maximize so called strategic gains, but Pakistani majority does not support all." Karachi shows the true image of the people of Pakistan. Hope western media depicts the other side of the coin where majority belong i.e., moderate and modern Pakistani society

 

Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan !!

I came across an interesting poetry, just wanted to share;

سوچ رہا ہے پاکستان نہ کوئی دھندا نہ کوئی کام

بم دھماکے، ٹریفک جام

جیتا مرتا ہے گمنام

ہو سکے نہ دونوں رام

طالبان، القاعدہ ادغام

مدرسے بند، تعلیم ابہام

این آر او صیاد کا دام

ساری تدبیریں ناکام

دنیا بھر میں پھر بدنام

ہوگا اس کا کیا انجام؟ سوچ رہا ہے پاکستان

My Love For Omar Khayyam !!

I came across Persian Poet Omar Khayyams Rubaiyat, preaching about living each day instead of worrying for future. His writings remind me the words STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING. His message is very powerful message and is still valid. Omar Khayyam, Iranian poet, philosopher, mathematicians, astronomer born in 1048 AD. His work translated by Fitz Gerald in English, making his work available for rest of the world. Here is his powerful Rubai, living life in Today instead of worrying for tomorrows reward. Alike for those who for TO-DAY prepare, And those that after a TO-MORROW stare, A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries "Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There." Ah, fill the Cup:—what boots it to repeat How Time is slipping underneath our Feet: Unborn TO-MORROW and dead YESTERDAY, Why fret about them if TO-DAY be sweet! One Moment in Annihilation's Waste, One moment, of the Well of Life to taste— The Stars are setting, and the Caravan Starts for the dawn of Nothing—Oh, make haste! How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit Of This and That endeavour and dispute? Better be merry with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit. To celebrate his writing there are various active Omar Khayyam Fan Clubs, they meet and share his writings.

Hillary’s Hijab & Nilofar’s Parachute Jump!!

Hillary Clinton wore Hijab in her recent Pakistan visit, showing deep respect and understanding for Pakistani culture. Americans involved in foreign affairs do go through rigorous process of learning about their area of interests’ culture, language and values etc. On the one hand when I saw Hillary in Hijab, a question came in my mind, will any in US start calling Hillary a lady influenced by Islam, Pro Taliban or Pro Islam etc. On the other hand another question came in mind, if any Pakistani woman visits US, shakes hands, wear western dresses, will all of us ignore it, and accept it as if one was showing respect to US culture or brand her pro west and make hue and cry. I still remember the hue and cry, once Nilofar Bakhtiar, former Pakistani Minister for Tourism, opted for charity parachute jump in France. I remember the clerics stated that it was "an illegitimate and forbidden act, and that without any doubt, she has committed a great sin, and that Muslim women must stay at home and must not venture out uncovered”. We are so biased in our approach when it comes to women, we love regulating social behavior, and impose code of dressing etc, why don’t we let women to decide what to wear and what not !!!!!

Pakistan's Drift into Extremism, Allah, the Army, and America's War on Terror !!

War on Terror is getting bloodier, resulting into bleeding Pakistan, dying civilians, bomb blasts, insecurity and killing of innocent civilians. Pakistanis generally believe that war on terror is imposed by Bush on Pakistan; invasion of Afghanistan is a scheme of US, India and Israel to destabilize Pakistan resulting in the break up and ultimate capture of nuclear weapons. It is well known that Islamists have always been used to extend Pakistani influence in Afghanistan, it has always been considered Pakistani backyard that provides strategic depth. It is also believed that in an environment of distrust and insecurity, it is imperative for Pakistani security agencies to find proxies to minimize insecurity posed by regional powers. To buy security various groups were recruited as proxies “Sept 09 Newsline Magazine writes”, Madrassas nurturing armies of young Islamic militants ready to embrace martyrdom have been on the rise for years in the Punjab. In fact, South Punjab has become the hub of jihadism. Yet, some how, there are still many people in Pakistan who refuse to acknowledge this threat. Four major militant outfits, the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), are all comfortably ensconced in South Punjab (see article “Brothers in Arms” in Newsline). Sources claim that there are about 5,000 to 9,000 youth from South Punjab fighting in Afghanistan and Waziristan. A renowned Pakistani researcher, Hassan Abbas cites a figure of 2,000 youth engaged in Waziristan”. To me, it is logical that actions should be the by products of strategy, it is well known that strategically the extremist outfits have never been considered a threat by Pakistani security thinkers. US so far failed to address the security mindset, failed to remove their insecurities. Instead of addressing the issue at strategic level, US focus is too narrow, pushing reluctant Pakistan to act, forced to cooperate at tactical level. In short US failed to buy security for Pakistan and it seems two allies are pursuing different goals, relationship lacks goal alignment. Recent Hillary Clinton visit to Pakistan demonstrate that instead of focusing on changing the mindset , Ms Clinton again pushes reluctant Pakistan, New York Times writes, “ Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on a visit meant to improve relations with Pakistan, strongly suggested Thursday that some Pakistani officials bore responsibility for allowing terrorists from Al Qaeda to operate from safe havens along this country’s frontier. “I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are, and couldn’t get to them if they really wanted to,” she said to a group of Pakistani journalists on her second day here. “Maybe that’s the case; maybe they’re not gettable. I don’t know.” US actions requires two pronged approach, alter the mindset that finds security for Pakistan in nurturing the extremists. US should work on convincing Pakistan that it is not in their benefit to use extremists, -help in buying them security esp. Indo-Pak ties and Afghanistan. On the other hand, problem is so deep; Can Pakistan affords to detach itself from religious ideology, security mindset visualizes the world through religious glasses, it means choosing friends and foes on the basis of religion?? Can it survive as democratic secular, non interfering welfare state, having peaceful relations with neighboring countries or national security state is the answer??? It is complex, only a win-win approach is going to be fruitful, US strategy must buy Pakistan security, otherwise any action imposed, may have random results. Extremist monster will haunt Pakistani society, region and result in an insecure world. It is time to act before it is too late.

More I Think More I Hate!!!

More I Think More I Hate!!! People lost conscious People have no civic sense They defy human sanctity They say no to civilization People love Lying It is a national character Backbiting is entertaining It is a national sport We love talking in the back Joy, fun, frolic is kick ass We love our religion Moral policing is second nature Ohh Women Stay away from women An object of sin So keep her away Save pious men She is to be beaten She is born slave Man is superior Women is naïve Keep her as sex slave Produce babies And keep her in the cave Kill her in the name of honor Kill her in the name of morality Make her parade naked Bury her alive, she brings shame More I think more I hate More I think more I hate It is an ugly society I can not relate I feel alien I feel odd More I think more I hate More I think more I hate You screw around You are a macho You are a Man She enjoys freedom She is fast She is slut She is whore She is to be beaten She is born slave More I think more I hate More I think more I hate It is not the place i relate It is not the place i relate

The Kite Runner; Stealing is the only Sin????

 I came across an interesting movie/novel, following words made me think about the whole concept of morality. Conversation between child and father conveys a universal message; "Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that? "When you kill a man, you steal a life," Baba said. "You steal his wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?" Think about it.

No Public Display of Affection- LUMS!

As LUMS student, I am sad to hear that premier institute has taken away the personal rights of students, when they announced ban on KISSING on campus. I had been following the email threads and discussions on pros and cons on Public Display of Affection, but I tend no to agree with argument that anything against the social norms should be banned.

Issue was raised when a student peck her boyfriend on the cheek during Ramadan. It was not a French Kiss rather a simple PECK.

Public display of affection is a debatable issue; everyone has his or her limits regarding how much is too much!! Socially if I look at, on the one hand there are many of my friends who do not shake hands on the other hand there are female friends who shake hands as well as kiss on the cheek. To me it is one’s personal choice and matter of comfort, no one should have right to dictate someone what is right or wrong.

Behind the doors as hypocrite society everything is acceptable but in public, majority wears a social mask and looks pious and expects others to behave as per THEIR defined framework. Was Peck on the cheek alarming or during Ramadan, well its personal choice if someone doesn’t follow religion, it is his or her choice. It doesn’t mean that if someone doesn’t follow the defined code of behavior, he or she is being disrespectful to religion or society. Come on, peck on the cheeks is simply a sweet natural human behavior, what is harm in it.

I have seen LUMS in harmony, students working under the umbrella of LUMS religious society, whatever they do they have liberty, similarly music society , Arts and Drama society, girls and guys attending prayers in the central mosque or students dancing in campus concerts, girls in Hejab and girls in Capri’s or Jeans with low neck are not frowned upon. To me, as long as if anything doesn’t affect others people should not have any issue.

I have seen female students sitting on the lap of fellow male students, why one should raise eyebrows, it is such a simple and natural human behavior.

Universities are places, students do not follow conventional wisdom and norms, Hippie culture was the by product of campuses, students defied the prevailing culture. LUMS is a place I came across students questioning the existence of God and relevance of religion, it is positive thing that one must question everything under the sun but at the same time one should not have any right to disrespect or hurt anyone’s feelings.

I guess to regulate student behavior is not going to help; if someone wants to get intimate I hardly think anything would stop him or her.

Its better to discuss the pros and cons of socially acceptable behavior and let students decide out of choice to practice socially acceptable norms or go their own away.

I expect LUMS would relook this; else Student bodies should challenge the behavior regulation.

This blog excerpts published in prestigious Indian media;

Zee News

(http://www.zeenews.com/news571784.html)

Deccan Herald

(http://www.deccanherald.com/content/31284/to-kiss-not-kiss-keeps.html)

Times of India

(http://iplextra.indiatimes.com/quote/0gqK9Zcdv27Ei?q=Pink)

The Statesman

(http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php

PIA’s in-flight Etiquettes and Manners Lecture!!!

It was six thirty I was inside PIAs flight heading from Lahore to Karachi. After tiring trip I thought of a good read and then go for nap. As usual airhostess continues with announcement, its routine and no one pays attention. Well, after a while, again a series of announcement continued, this time it simply made me attentive, it was an in flight etiquettes and manner lecture in the sky. I have been through one of the most boring flights of JAL from Tokyo to Osaka and one of the most interesting Delta flight North Carolina to Utah. PIA flight was weird, announcement sort of surprised me, it goes on; We request all passengers to use toilet properly, make sure It doesn’t choke, please avoid throwing spoons, knives, glass, plates, tissue paper, sanitary napkin. Please make sure you open the camode lid and remove tissue, when you are done, make sure you clean it. Do not throw water and offer ablution “Wadu for prayer”, this would flood the toilet. Flight is non smoking; please do not smoke in toilet. Do not throw tissue or water while seated. After the detailed lecture, for a while I thought as if I am taking flight from a jungle somewhere in Africa, Amazon or remote aborigines village in Australia, one may wonder, only a tribal or the most backward society living in medieval age may require above code of basic manners. Later I realized, well, we as a nation may have modern attire, money to fly but still lack very basic manners. When one sees a well dressed guy with expensive vehicle, it is not surprising if that person lacks the basic road behaviors. On the one hand I got backwardness and civilizational reality check, on the other hand I started thinking about etiquettes and manners police in Japan. Japanese nation is already polite, yet wants to make sure it is enforced so that they would be able to sustain unique socio-cultural value of courteousness. I am afraid, nations learn and move on but we on the other hand are in the regressive mode, when it comes to basic etiquettes. I guess 60 years are enough to have basic civic etiquettes and manners !!!!

Kerry Lugar Bill “If You don’t Like us & Want us”- Solution is Simple, don’t Take the aid!

Recently, Kerry Lugar bill has been introduced, it plans to grant Pakistan, USD 1.5 billion in five years time, it is termed an Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act. Bill promises the grant to extremism stricken Pakistan, poised with economic problems. Lately I came across interesting media debate in Pakistan; most of the sensational TV stations are condemning the strings attached to the bill. I am sure most of the participants in talk shows have not read the bill, yet opposing it. Instead of Pakistan’s worrying about grant, US should be worried whether billions would buy them peace or not, what if funding falls through or if Pakistan fails against the benchmark or conditions. Kerry Lugar bill discussion always reminds me of recent BBC blog written by Wusatullah Khan, he simply asks “Why would Pakistan not approach Saudi to grant Oil for three months, Why would Pakistan not ask China for just USD 100 million grant” at least US is buying peace for the region, extending a grant of over USD 1.5 billion, shouldn’t they have right to put conditions. Recent Musharraf revelation on the misuse of USD Billions grant in last 8 years i.e., buying weapons to position Pakistan vis a vis India is not yet forgotten. As usual Jihadi supporters, parties like “Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan” have decided to intensify its campaign against the alleged US interference in the country’s internal matters and the Kerry-Lugar bill. To me, they are the immediate losers, because empowering people would close the Jihadi factory. To understand the bill passed by US Senate, I had a look at the details I came across that there are limitations on assistance mainly related to security such as limitation on Arms Transfer. Pakistan is seriously committed to war on terror; it should not worry about those limitations. Pakistan is committed to Non Proliferation, grant asks for cooperation for dismantling the supplier networks related to nuclear weapons related materials. It should not worry to any peace loving citizen of Pakistan. Pakistan believes in the stability of Afghanistan, bill requires Pakistan to not to support any of the group, again there is no need for Pakistani citizens to worry about. Bill calls for dismantling any alleged terrorist bases, if there are any; I guess it is good for the stability of Pakistan and the region.  Bill says, money could be used for the construction related activities. Bill also calls for increasing Pakistan’s counter insurgency capability; again, this would help our army to meet the internal threats effectively. Bill has strong monitoring mechanism so that purposeful use of the grant could be assured. To me I do not see any clause that enslaves Pakistan rather it would help us to have peaceful Pakistan, Afghanistan and world at large. If anyone is against the grant, they also know that Pakistan is in dire need of financial support, could they ask China for just USD 100 million or Saudi for free Oil for a quarter. It seems Pakistani media is suffering from Tunnel Vision; pseudo intellectualism is the order of the day. Hope sanity prevails.

Let me share an article and discussion took place in New York Times and Daily Dawn

"Salman Masood article showed two trendy young men sitting with the plastic replica of Rodney McDonald outside a McDonald’s joint in Islamabad. According to Masood, both men vehemently opposed the bill, saying that it ‘undermines Pakistan’s sovereignty".

Where are the schools, hospitals, a welfare system, political stability, a robust democracy, a healthy economy, and a life free of sectarian and religious strife, bigotry, bloodshed and hatred? We are all prisoners of certain delusions... Read More—about ourselves and about the many countries that we believe are constantly scheming against us. We refuse to free ourselves from these paranoid, self-serving apparitions and yet we demand sovereignty from the nefarious designs of our many (largely imagined) enemies. The enemy is us.

FELLOW PAKISTANIS MUST READ PERCEPTION OF OTHERS PUBLISHED in NYTIMES

Did anyone else notice the common threads between the different Pakistani voices represented in this article (and much of elsewhere too)?

a) they are virulently anti-American while professing admiration, support, etc....

b) they want more and more and more…money. In the form of aid. Don’t ask the billions given them, just in the last few years (and a lot more earlier). No accounting for that. But…they want more money. For what? so they can play the double games they have always played: train terrorists who wage their terrorism in neighboring countries and further away.

c) Blame India, Indians, and such. Not acknowledging that that country, since they broke with Pakistan, has gone on to graduate highly competent doctors, engineers, scientists, professionals. Scratch every terrorist in the world today and you’d find they graduated from …Pakistan. Tells a story of how two countries differed in the last few decades.Are we Americans to trust these sorts with nuclear weapons? Are we to trust them as partners in bringing peace in Afghanistan? If you continue to believe that lemme know for I have a bridge to sell you…

Solution is simple.

Don’t take the aid !

1.5 billion over 5 years

300 million per year

304,059,724 US Population...

$0.9867 per year per person. It’ll eventually add up.

They don’t like us and they don’t want us.

THEN WE SHOULDN”T GIVE THEM OUR MONEY