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

To: kumar who wrote (43626)	2/22/2003 3:03:03 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Kumar I am in Karachi and I wanted to write something for SI.. I hope you will enjoy this, actually Ghostrider article prompted these thoughts.. Generally the impression is that Pakistan is a country where we cannot speak, much as it is far from truth, I am able to speak my heart out when I am here and not only that I am not violently opposed. People see a merit in my point of view ands I speak far more openly in this society than I write on SI. Last night I was with a friend of mine visiting a slum area of Karachi ( Kaharadar), we wanted to see how food has changed and how prices are affected over last few years. To my pleasant surprise the restaurant we visited was appropriately called the ‘Pride of Islam.’ Amidst hundreds of flowing beards to have lintels fried in deep butter and open discussion on how evil Brits and US has been was most informing. I came out of that 24 hour restaurant renowned to be visited by port manual workers with one strong feeling they all were very misinformed. They all thought that Osama is their friend and little did they realize how much misery he has heaped on collective Islamic states, we have been ostracize for being insensitive on his adventures and right so. . No one suffers from these wars more than innocent uneducated masses trapped in the sway of the fringe political Islam. Nothing but more education and more openness will usher them into new age of reason and logic, short term removal a cancers like Saddam is only a beginning of the end of this cancer of hatred so richly sown in the entire Islamic world. From poorest districts to richest I reach everywhere that is how I live dangerously.ggg From rich to poor my nation is trapped in a classic lock of ‘Rage of impotence’ if one has an erection but he cannot perform he is bound to have a very sad life. I see the Islamic world caught in the classic case of impotence, they are caught in this trap because the failures of their leaders to exploit the resources for betterment of their populace. The other day I saw six ladies who were very interested in my streak of argument. Three of them had halter neck blouses in the chick district of Karachi, however all of them had serious reservation about US. This rage of impotence of the Islamic societies is based on inability of the 1 billion strong nation of Islam to be meaningful in any way on the global political or economic scene. The nation collectively has squandered every opportunity, I made a blind bet with all the six ladies I challenged then that if US is such a big problem I am sure that your kids would not be there, but I am ready to take you all on that, let me suggest that if out of six of you five have siblings n USA I will take from you 100 dollars but if only four has siblings in US I will pay you 10,0000 $ , the six were desspite of their disliking of America were not prepared to accept this lop sided bet who won of course me. I also told them that I am prepared to make it sweeter if any had any kids who are going to religious maddarassas I would pay 10,000 $’s none had any offspring’s in any of religious schools. On one hand we have this lack of love for US on the other everyone emulates US from ‘Pizza Hut to McDonalds’ the entire city craves on Pizzas and big Mac. Karachi and Lahore and many other city are notorious for big balls, tonight is one in a Club, a colonial club set in century old traditions I stay their when I am in Karachi sometime. 1600 couples will celebrate belated Valentines ball and dance the night away. Lip service to cause of political Islam is one thing to do anything about it is a big no. Pakistanis want to have their cake and eat it too, not many demonstrations here, they all realize how much of their stakes economic and standard of living are associated with the USA. Badmouthing USA is fashion not USA with all its best allies could not find a better ally in the region an ally who dislikes US but likes to be in their pocket all the time. An anti USA government would not stay one day the business interest would throw them out, for business the parity with $ is more important than political Islam empty slogans those things are only after dinner talks only over some brandy or lassi. The US sphere of influence in every day life of this nation in incredible. Even the greatest of the critics send their sons to Harvard, out of top 600 officers of the armed forces every single one of them has ambitions to send their offspring for higher studies to America, nearly all of them end up like Chishti. The modern face of Pakistan, we will live with dichotomy, one day may be we come out of this self-imposed contradiction. From basant to Kharadar Karachi hustles and bustles lead me to thing how important it is for mankind to understand each other, these all are children of God. They all need equal opportunities some misguided people in name of God lead them to disasters and tragedies for which generations would have to suffer. Building bridges between man is the best game in the town I do it all the time that keeps me on the high, with love Ike

To: kumar who wrote (43626)	2/22/2003 3:04:57 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

<<Intriguingly some light has been shed upon the vehement opposition towards Valentines Day in the Islamic Crescent and neighbouring nations suhc as India nevertheless there is a discernable trend as evinced by the following articles (1 & 2):>> (Zack continues with his travails..Ike) Silent Observations Intriguingly some light has been shed upon the vehement opposition towards Valentines Day in the Islamic Crescent and neighbouring nations suhc as India nevertheless there is a discernable trend as evinced by the following articles (1 & 2): In India: In the Indian capital, Delhi, several people were reported injured when stores selling romantic cards and gifts were attacked by right-wing militants. An eyewitness told the French news agency AFP: "They came in two cars and began shouting anti-Valentine's Day slogans before entering the shop. "They smashed the glass windows, lights and other fixtures, and tore the cards." "Security has been stepped up across the country to head off violent protests that have occurred in recent years. In the Indian city of Bombay, police will be on full alert to ensure Valentine's Day passes peacefully, a senior police official, Himanshu Roy, told the BBC. "Many hotels in both nations put on Valentine's dinners and balls, while the media allow lovers radio and newspaper slots to broadcast messages. One card stockist in Bombay said couples would celebrate the day despite the protests. Last week, Bal Thackeray said anyone wanting to avoid violence on Valentine's Day should not celebrate it. On Tuesday, 20 Shiv Sena activists stole cards from a shop in central Bombay. Shouting "long live Shiv Sena", they burned the cards on the pavement outside." In Pakistan: In Pakistan, the student wing of the fundamentalist Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami also called for a ban on Valentine's Day celebrations. Khalid Waqas Chamkani, a leader of the wing in North-West Frontier Province, said: "This is a shameful day. The people in the West are just fulfilling and satisfying their sex thirst." Valentine's is increasingly popular in both nations He condemned "moderate elements" for allowing Western festivities. "They are following the West just to show that they are modern people," Mr Chamkani said in the provincial capital, Peshawar. In Iran: Authorities in Iran have shut stores selling Valentine's Day products and ordered others to remove heart-and-flower decorations. Now of course the protests against Valentine Day celebration is a natural phenomenon amongst radical hardliners who seethe at the onset of Occidental influence in the eastern lands. Nevertheless what is of particular note is the perception and reaction in the BBC press to these separate protests. In India where hardliners "stole" cards (didn't even buy them for God's sake) and burnt them on the pavements of cosmopolitan Bombay implies the growing tide of Hindu fundamentalism. Indeed Bombay (or Mumbai) at the forefront of modern India there had to be protection reserved for those celebrating the holiday of Valentine and security was stepped up. This pales in comparison to Delhi, federal capital of India, where violent protests against the celebration took place and several people were actually injured from anti-Valentine sentiment. Despite this occuring in India, no analysis of the "South Asian region" (whatever that is) would be complete without covering Pakistan. Thus BBC reporters quoted the views of the student leader of the fanatical Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, in the most backward region of Pakistan and propounded as the "anti-Valentine sentiment growing in Pakistan". Indeed the foolish words of Khalid Waqas Chamkani, "Pakistani student leader" (which in itself is a misleading phrase since it amplifies his position), "This is a shameful day. The people in the West are just fulfilling and satisfying their sex thirst", were the accompanying text to the article. Of course one of the articles began with "Religious activists in India and Pakistan have begun separate protests against Valentine's Day celebrations, saying they are an insult to Hinduism and Islam." Now I'm deeply perplexed here dear readers and I do require clarification. How on earth can violent protests and attacks in the sophisticated heart of India equivocate to the words of a forlorn radical in Pakistan's outskirts. These articles indicate the inherent bias against Pakistan and how our good name is sullied by comparison with our rudimentary neighbours. Indeed to go to the trouble of quoting an inhabitant of NWFP is akin to asking a Southerner from the Bible Belt his views on abortion (or Valentine's day for that matter). There is talk of an "I3" alliance, whereby India, Iran and Israel will extend ties to develop the region and thwart rivals (namely Pakistan). To that I can safely say that India, Iran & Israel deserve each other for where else do religious radicals monopolises government institutions as to the extent in these three countries. Pakistan may be ridden with faults nevertheless it is clear that the derogration suffered by tint of being juxtaposed between backward South Asia and fanatical Middle East, compounded by our deep affiliation with Islam, opens us to vilification from the world press. Such a blatant bias is indicative of the daily hostility endured by Pakistan and makes me rethink at times why we sacrifice so much to be the bastion of Western influence in Middle Asia and the rest of the eastern lands. It is indeed a peculiar world when the nation, host to the only thriving and flourishing society of Muslims, is continually denigrated as a "failed state". Nevertheless the BBC articles made me proud to call myself a Pakistani especially considering the extent we've outstripped our neighbours as a nation (which to be brutally frank isn't that much of an accomplishment if one were to consider our neighbours in the first place; theocratic Iran, dependent Afghanistan, peripherial India and of course totalitarian China). latif.blogspot.com Sourced via: Procrastination, "Valentine's Day and Extremists" Zachary Latif 22:40