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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (43414)	10/29/2002 5:37:16 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Zack thoughts.. latif.blogspot.com During the course of his interview with Goldman Sachs my brother Zain was asked why did have such an avid interest for the World Wars of this century. His response is as follows: "Warfare has always interested me greatly. They are perhaps the most integral part of mankind’s history as they have affected the lives of so many directly and indirectly. War defines us so perfectly as our inner psyche is exposed when we decide whether we should lay down our lives for a particular set of beliefs and principles. Yet there are no victors in wars and no sense can be made but a lesson can be learned. World War II is a prime example. In essence it reminds me of the double image of that era, the unbelievable cruelty and the courage, the callousness and the compassion- the human capacity for evil but also the reassurance of the possibility of human nobility. More than that, it’s lays upon those of us who have been fortunate enough to survive an obligation not to forget and never give up in the face of difficulties. Hmmm I'm sure I've read this somewhere before!!!

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (43414)	10/30/2002 2:59:30 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

<And yet in another part of the city, within the ancient city walls, I felt back in the Lahore of my childhood, a place where strangers are not interrogated, where, for instance, women may shop without male "minders" and without covering themselves from head to toe in the subtropical heat. A place where the real traditions of the city were still alive, its native "atmosphere", and one felt free and secure in this. > Traditions living in the city are the same and haven’t changed despite of recent events. The inner walled city is the still the hub of all activity and it bustles with every day challenges. Early morning thousands of girls go to co-education schools and although fringe elements, common to the Islamic world, are in ascendancy throughout however failed to get two seats in the Punjab in the recent elections. The festival of 'basant' where Lahorites get into kite flying mood is one sour point between traditionalists and fundamentalists, the Islamists had always considered this festival to be un-Islamic, notwithstanding that in last decade Lahorites has reverted to traditional values and adopted human traditions with honour and style they deserve, most important the city loves Donuts and KFC's despite the fact the mullahs keep calling a boycott of US companies soon after Afghan war. Eating and living within their limited means delights Lahorites, it is part of their urban culture and the screeching of mullahs are ignored! In the last Basant Mullahs wanted to put an end to this kite flying festival where saffron colour rules Lahore's skyline however the mullahs were effectiely told to shut up and the party continue. That is my first observation on the ground and it is one aspect, which is rarely ever published. Peaceful non-sensational coexistence has less commercial value and the media driven by commercial inclination rarely dwells that deep under the skin. Sensationalism requires far more abrupt reporting! Canaird College, Foreman Christian College, Atchison College spread over sprawling acres in the heart of the city are training thousand of students who believe in moderation. King Edward medical College or Sir Ganga Rama Hospital, Lady Daffrin still stand quite tall to provide badly needed medical facilities and help to millions over years. The contributions and long term impact of Christian missionaries visibly seen in every corner of the city, if one thing saved Pakistan to self destruct it was these hundreds of institutions that have helped to counter the malicious message of Saudi privately funded madarsahs. If one thing can save Islamic world from total abyss is ‘more cultural literacy’, more accommodation and more schools, one missionary school produced enough of moderates to control the fringe element bent on total annihilation through self-destruction. The ensuing post Khomieni revolution was the turning point in the contemporary history of political Islam, the Wahabis extremists of today learned the tactics of terror and decided to export terror in bulk after witnessing quietly the terror of Palestinians in 1967 and the calls of exporting revolution from Imam Khomieni, the new anti- renaissance and race to the bottom hijacked by likes of Osama- new suicide bombing lessons of Yassin has infected every strain of the Islamic thought process and polity. However, one place that has relatively escaped damage is hinterland Punjab, it may be hard for many of my country man to digest but the roots of that are basically the influence of Hinduism on our cultural norms which is quite soothing and Sufi Islam that was far more peaceful and near to concept of forgiveness. Lahorites pursue that with greatest of vigour. Lahore and many cities like Lahore are victim of self-pity and self denial that most of the Islamic world has been caught up with, the events in Moscow does help to shake them up from this slumber and Rip van winkle of a sleep.