No I aint wrong. This is exactly the term I want to use.
I was having a discussion with a friend of mine on a certain issue. The person claims himself to be an a-theist and presents himself as a very logical and sensible person when trying to discuss things. Usually he is :p
He and I always have opposite opinions and we always end up fighting. But this is our relationship and we both have no problems with that. In fact the camaraderie is more in fact due to this. Before this cyber-warfare between us... it had always been verbal. We both shouted at each other in the heat of the moment and then went ok.
Now. He has deleted my comment. On his website were we were having a discussion. He did that once before and I had asked him to which he feigned ignorance. This time there is a message saying my message has been deleted. Say! something is different in cyberspace eh? Earlier, at least, the air surrounding us absorbed our opinions and did not delete them.
But it does not matter. Opposing view points are really hard to swallow - for taliban or for secular souls.
*phew*!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
State of Affairs
Another suicide bombing today has taken 17 lives in Peshawar. I called my brother and asked everyone was ok, as is the ritual now. He replied in affirmative. I thank God that everyone 'near' to me is OK. How cruel can one be thinking of only his/ her owns and not thinking about the others who died... but I guess this is the state of affairs.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
O Peshawar!
My city is being put to smithereens. 6 suicide attacks in 5 days not to mention countless that peshawarities have to endure for quite sometime now. If there is any city in Pakistan that has sacrificed in huge terms.. its Peshawar. It hosted majority of the afghan refugees numbering around 3 million in early 80s. It had to face countless bombings when Afghan war as its peak. I still remember them because I used to go to school in bus and parents kept worried. Today the situation is the same... a bit different in the sense that schools now do not open at all due to suicide bombing fears.
For the peace of Peshawar
I dare not ask a kiss,
I dare not beg a smile;
Lest having that, or this,
I might grow proud the while.
No, no, the utmost share
Of my desire shall be,
Only to kiss that air
That lately kissed thee,
(Robert Herrick)
This is for people of Peshawar and the city. I salute you. The sacrifices are enormous. People have lost their near and dear ones in senseless bombings. Terrorism has to be eradicated. Your blood will not be forgotten! I hope so.
Rahimullah Yousafzai has written a beautiful article here.
I dare not ask a kiss,
I dare not beg a smile;
Lest having that, or this,
I might grow proud the while.
No, no, the utmost share
Of my desire shall be,
Only to kiss that air
That lately kissed thee,
(Robert Herrick)
This is for people of Peshawar and the city. I salute you. The sacrifices are enormous. People have lost their near and dear ones in senseless bombings. Terrorism has to be eradicated. Your blood will not be forgotten! I hope so.
Rahimullah Yousafzai has written a beautiful article here.
Mini 'Skirt' Islam
"ROME (Reuters) – Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, in Rome for a U.N. food summit, spent several hours in the company of 200 Italian women recruited by an agency and tried to convert them to Islam, Italian media reported on Monday.
No wonder Islam is the most ridiculed of religion in world.
I say Gaddafi missed it.. he should not have put the restriction of "well-dressed but not in mini-skirts or low cut dresses", I mean, he could have had a 'heart-to-heart' with them... no restrictions.
And whats the title of book of Gaddafi's sayings? 'Perv 101'.
Keep skirting around Islam and you'll strike right at their heart. asshole.
'any morons?! raise your hand!'
'c'est moi!'
"Seeking 500 attractive girls between 18 and 35 years old, at least 1.70 meters (5 foot, 7 inches) tall, well-dressed but not in mini-skirts or low cut dresses," read the ad by the Hostessweb agency and quoted in Italy's Corriere dell Sera newspaper in its story.
Some 200 women showed up at a Rome villa, having been told they would receive 60 euros ($90) and "some Libyan gifts. ... After around two hours the lesson, including questions and answers through an interpreter, concluded with an exhortation by Gaddafi to "convert to Islam" and with each woman given a copy of the Koran and a book of sayings by Gaddafi. "
No wonder Islam is the most ridiculed of religion in world.
I say Gaddafi missed it.. he should not have put the restriction of "well-dressed but not in mini-skirts or low cut dresses", I mean, he could have had a 'heart-to-heart' with them... no restrictions.
And whats the title of book of Gaddafi's sayings? 'Perv 101'.
Keep skirting around Islam and you'll strike right at their heart. asshole.
'any morons?! raise your hand!'
'c'est moi!'
Friday, November 13, 2009
Earth!
Click to enlarge. Courtesy Space.comThis is the latest photograph obtained from European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft.
Be in Awe!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Dad-0, Daughter-1
*scene: My daughter getting rides at the swings. There is another child sitting right next to her on another swing 'awaiting' the coin to be inserted in the machine*
My daughter: 'baba' *pointing towards him* 'bhai jhoolu' (brother wants a ride)
I: (in my heart) So what .. children keep sitting here, their parents roaming around not caring about their children. I am not responsible for him!
My Daughter: 'baba! bhai jhoolu!'
*she points to towards my hand in which I am holding coins, takes the coin from me and tries to put the coin in other machines slot*
I: (asking her) put the coin in the machine?
*She nods her head as affirmative*
As the ride gets operative she is all smiles and points towards the child and says to me 'baba bhai jhoolu!'
My daughter: 'baba' *pointing towards him* 'bhai jhoolu' (brother wants a ride)
I: (in my heart) So what .. children keep sitting here, their parents roaming around not caring about their children. I am not responsible for him!
My Daughter: 'baba! bhai jhoolu!'
*she points to towards my hand in which I am holding coins, takes the coin from me and tries to put the coin in other machines slot*
I: (asking her) put the coin in the machine?
*She nods her head as affirmative*
As the ride gets operative she is all smiles and points towards the child and says to me 'baba bhai jhoolu!'
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Gals & Blogging
Ok this is weird now. I thought it was a mere coincidence but it has happened yet again. Another female blogger has deleted her blog! I know 4 of them who have.. not many in numbers, yes I know but its very weird.
Why on earth, you ladies, do that?! Whats the big urge to delete everything you have ever written?!
Why on earth, you ladies, do that?! Whats the big urge to delete everything you have ever written?!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Pakistan - 101
Caption: No, a meal is not being prepared rather the WAPDA guys are repairing a transformer. They are removing the moisture from oil in transformer through evaporation.Credit: to the photographer who took the pic and the one who sent me in forwarding.
Monday, November 02, 2009
A Case of Religion Promoting Hatred?
*a discussion on culture, role of religion in morphing the culture, how western societies are 'missing' the positive factor of religion - it took an interesting turn*
He: When you separate religion from your life – you are deprived of many humanly attributes which God has bestowed and which one could realize only after losing them – Ultra social and moral less set ups have got nothing for ailing humanity in the longer run however they can further aggravate their plight.
look deep into the western society, they have abandoned their family values for the sake of MY Life and My World, Yes – apparently this has given them some edge over others but despite their much development and progress now they feel that they had made a real bad bargain and now desperately they are trying to turn the wheel in counter direction. So serious is their problem that when it comes to the presidential elections of USA – then candidate’s family setup and family values are also rated as of great importance. The candidate is supposed to project and talk about high family values.
I : Religion is one of the input of social norms - not the only one. What you state suggests that Americans are relinquishing their secular credentials.. which of course is not the case. Laws, regulations, environment, social framework for example - all of these contribute, alongside religion of course, to mould the norms of society. Let me give you an example. In Afghanistan and North Western Pakistan, burqa is very common - not becasue of religion but due to custom. Had it been religion then every muslim women on earth would have worn burqa.
As a law, you can not spit chewing gum in Singapore - this has resulted in Singapore being the cleanest of territories. We, the Islamic nation, are more akin to a toilet as compared to Singapore.
He : Postman- laws, regulations, social frameworks etc etc. these are not constants rather variables and being inferior in their ‘spirit’ and structure they require constant revamping for their validity and acceptability though for a short period. Where as religion – Islam - is an absolute constant in letter and spirit because of its divine nature and perfection. (since God himself has endorsed its perfection). Now the real problem is that humans have made religion as supplement, because by and large it does not entertain their ID.
Yes ‘burqa’ is a religious phenomenon but then why does not rest of the muslim world observe it? This has some thing to do with, how much one believes in his religion. Is he a muslim because accidentally he was born in a muslim family? Or he believes that bearing a muslim name and practicing few commandments of his choice are enough to entitle him for paradise.
I : It is an absolute constant, in letter and spirit due to its divine nature and perfection, only for you and me. Not for anyone else. What we tend to forget is that we are not MUSLIM only nation, they are other religions involved. For us its only Islam and god-damn the rest. And us muslims are further bifurcated in sunnis,shias, hanfi, deobandi, ahmadi etc etc. Islam is NOT an absolute constant if looked fom this perspective. Its a fine thought but reality bites.
He : I believe that ‘originally’ none of the early religions preached anything against the divine law, where as it were followers who try to deviate from divine law under one pretext or the other, they label such deviations as tradition/ custom etc.. an easy scapegoat. Later over the ages when this cunning art got perfected and was acknowledged globally as axiom it was then that people tried to differentiate between customs and religion
At present we are witnessing the worst phase where in, by and large, religion is fast losing its divine spirit and role. Contrary to that traditions and customs are being widely accepted because of globalization, embracing and practicing them do not require any rationale neither passport nor any one needs to change his clothes.
I: Why is it that you would readily accept the culture of using mobile phones but would shy away from basant? Why is Basant 'hindu' and mobile phone 'secular'?
He : Cell phone is a technology nothing to do with religion.Flying kites is Okay for me, love flying them - but since basant has got strings tied to religious sentiments relating to a specific event therefore flying kites during specific days realting to incident is ignorance and lack of knowledge of religious history of our region.
I: why do you have to attach religion with flying kites? Just as there is no link of mobile phones with religion.
He : i told you that i like flying kites rather love flying kites but if flying kites (in specific style and conditions) is associated with religious sentiments of non muslims then i will not fly kite with specific style and period. I will simply avoid that time duration and later enjoy my hobby - simple as that.
I : Why should you be even concerned with what religious association kite flying holds?
He : Kite flying and yellow color celebrations are linked with blasphemy. I being a poor believer still can not tolerate this.
I : Well then I find putting in religion as a blasphemy... had it not been due to religion, you would not have found any problem with it. certainly would not have found it blasphemous. A classic example of religion promoting hatred, I hasten to add.
He: When you separate religion from your life – you are deprived of many humanly attributes which God has bestowed and which one could realize only after losing them – Ultra social and moral less set ups have got nothing for ailing humanity in the longer run however they can further aggravate their plight.
look deep into the western society, they have abandoned their family values for the sake of MY Life and My World, Yes – apparently this has given them some edge over others but despite their much development and progress now they feel that they had made a real bad bargain and now desperately they are trying to turn the wheel in counter direction. So serious is their problem that when it comes to the presidential elections of USA – then candidate’s family setup and family values are also rated as of great importance. The candidate is supposed to project and talk about high family values.
I : Religion is one of the input of social norms - not the only one. What you state suggests that Americans are relinquishing their secular credentials.. which of course is not the case. Laws, regulations, environment, social framework for example - all of these contribute, alongside religion of course, to mould the norms of society. Let me give you an example. In Afghanistan and North Western Pakistan, burqa is very common - not becasue of religion but due to custom. Had it been religion then every muslim women on earth would have worn burqa.
As a law, you can not spit chewing gum in Singapore - this has resulted in Singapore being the cleanest of territories. We, the Islamic nation, are more akin to a toilet as compared to Singapore.
He : Postman- laws, regulations, social frameworks etc etc. these are not constants rather variables and being inferior in their ‘spirit’ and structure they require constant revamping for their validity and acceptability though for a short period. Where as religion – Islam - is an absolute constant in letter and spirit because of its divine nature and perfection. (since God himself has endorsed its perfection). Now the real problem is that humans have made religion as supplement, because by and large it does not entertain their ID.
Yes ‘burqa’ is a religious phenomenon but then why does not rest of the muslim world observe it? This has some thing to do with, how much one believes in his religion. Is he a muslim because accidentally he was born in a muslim family? Or he believes that bearing a muslim name and practicing few commandments of his choice are enough to entitle him for paradise.
I : It is an absolute constant, in letter and spirit due to its divine nature and perfection, only for you and me. Not for anyone else. What we tend to forget is that we are not MUSLIM only nation, they are other religions involved. For us its only Islam and god-damn the rest. And us muslims are further bifurcated in sunnis,shias, hanfi, deobandi, ahmadi etc etc. Islam is NOT an absolute constant if looked fom this perspective. Its a fine thought but reality bites.
He : I believe that ‘originally’ none of the early religions preached anything against the divine law, where as it were followers who try to deviate from divine law under one pretext or the other, they label such deviations as tradition/ custom etc.. an easy scapegoat. Later over the ages when this cunning art got perfected and was acknowledged globally as axiom it was then that people tried to differentiate between customs and religion
At present we are witnessing the worst phase where in, by and large, religion is fast losing its divine spirit and role. Contrary to that traditions and customs are being widely accepted because of globalization, embracing and practicing them do not require any rationale neither passport nor any one needs to change his clothes.
I: Why is it that you would readily accept the culture of using mobile phones but would shy away from basant? Why is Basant 'hindu' and mobile phone 'secular'?
He : Cell phone is a technology nothing to do with religion.Flying kites is Okay for me, love flying them - but since basant has got strings tied to religious sentiments relating to a specific event therefore flying kites during specific days realting to incident is ignorance and lack of knowledge of religious history of our region.
I: why do you have to attach religion with flying kites? Just as there is no link of mobile phones with religion.
He : i told you that i like flying kites rather love flying kites but if flying kites (in specific style and conditions) is associated with religious sentiments of non muslims then i will not fly kite with specific style and period. I will simply avoid that time duration and later enjoy my hobby - simple as that.
I : Why should you be even concerned with what religious association kite flying holds?
He : Kite flying and yellow color celebrations are linked with blasphemy. I being a poor believer still can not tolerate this.
I : Well then I find putting in religion as a blasphemy... had it not been due to religion, you would not have found any problem with it. certainly would not have found it blasphemous. A classic example of religion promoting hatred, I hasten to add.
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