Give Us this Day our Tandoori Chicken

#83 bjkumar
Exactly, this is what I was pointing out. Y#83 bjkumar
Look at you typical extremely narrowminded approach towards these cases of rape. Yes, these three ladies are Pakistani. Now , how come their rape proves that all Muslim or all Pakistani women are oppressed and they have a stereotype image?

If, you go by this , then all women of this world are OPPRESSED, who have had been raped.
B/c rape is not a crime that occurs only and exclusively in Pakistan. Rape occurs in India, USA, and all around, where ever rapists exist. Rape has got nothing to do with any particular socitey, country or culture. Then how about PHOOLAN DEVI? i FEEL SAD AND SORRY FOR ALL THOSE WOMEN WHO got raped.

You shouldn`t have used this ANALOGY. This is sad that out of your stereotypical approach or your biasedness towards Pakistan, you lower down yourself to use this Analogy to justify your Indian stereotypical approach to profile all Pakistani or Muslim women oppressed.
If, I start using such analogies, then India has 100% oppressed women population, that even is being reflected in Bollywood movies.IN Bollywood movies, all women have a typical oppressed role to be suppressed and oppressed, and mind it movies are the reflection of Indian culture.You blame rape for PATRIARCHAL PRIMITIVE EASTERN SOCIETIES or CULTURES.Well by that definition,rape should be NON EXISTANT in American culture,but, it is opposite. And, Saudi Arab has Zero rape incidence.This is a big ,big CONTRADICTION to your own mind. {{{{I think if one relies on solid facts and sound research, without bringing in personal likes and dislikes, one can get to pretty good conclusions. ]}}}}}}

Simply, what I am saying is, you analogy is INVALID/INCOHERENT/IRRELEVANT and confused,b/c I believe you are contradicting yourself by being totally BIASED AND JUDGEMENTAL ABOUT blaming RAPE with primitive eastern or Paki society. Well, rape it self is self explanatory , rapist can commit rape in any society, wether primitive or progressive. For a second if I agree with your tunnel visioned point of view from totally your own biased opinion , then why American culture is labelled as RAPE CULTURE world wide? Why majority of rapes are occuring in USA? If,we blame patriarchal society for rapes, then why rape in the most advanced American society, which is also violent culture.
We are biased in making our ideas to connect rape to any society , based on our dislikes and likes and also we are not exposed to Pakistani remote villages to understand the exact condition before attaching rape to primitive society.
our stereotypical approach.

#82 Zeena

[...I can stereotype Hindu women as being OPPRESSED, miserable and with NO say....]

Zeena, I don`t live in Pakistan - but aren`t Mukhtaran Mai and Dr. Naz and the lady doctor who was earlier molested - all Muslim? Am I mistaken?

The way Indians tend to stereotype all Muslim women as oppressed with out having a broad minded approach clearly shows their PREJUDICE for Muslims and deep rooted hatred. Let`s not forget: we hate it when Muslim women are stereotyped as oppressed.

Sameway, I can stereotype Hindu women as being OPPRESSED, miserable and with NO say. But, I won`t,b/c I am absolutely not prejudiced towards Hindus.

It seems like the writer of this article (by living in India ) is greatly influenced by this particular Hindu approach and that is the main reason she stereotyped all Muslims and Muslim women , particularly.

#79 JG
Now, who is being too istoooopid for words here?
The one with out stereotypical approach or the one with stereotypical one. No more to say.

79 JagdeeshGoldbole
(Is it necessary to abuse other interactors in your interactions by calling them stupid? Why are you personally attacking me? If, you wish to discuss about this article , fine. Go ahead.

Exactly, that is what I pointed out in my earlier posts, which this writer couldn`t understand, like you don`t either.

There is absolutely NO stereotypical Muslim Woman. Muslim women in different cultures are different according to their own culture. Yes, they are Muslims that is their persoanl identity(if, they wish to carry that identity).
On the contrary your approach is very STEREOTYPICAL (not only your`s but majority of Indians) have same stereotypical way in STEREOTYPING MUSLIM WOMEN in particular.
If, a Muslim woman lives in Pakistan, she dresses up and behaves differently than when she lives in Saudi Arab or in USA or in other parts of the world. We dress up and behave the way our cultures are. And, not only , in this day and age, we muslim women dress up and behave the way we like to be. Thank you

Re: # 5

Zeena is too istoooopid for words. Jawahara never claimed to be any of those things. Her point is exactly opposite - people assume things about her because of the way she dresses and behaves does not match with their stereotypes of a muslim woman.

Re: # 77-folly

#76 kaptain
Please, I request you to stay out of this. If, these liars falsely accuse innocent people, they should provide the evidence.

Sameway, I can say millions of false things about them. But, this is the big difference bet. us, I will never stoop to their low level. I will never accuse people falsely. Thanks

Re: # 75-nobody would accept his / her fault..better to make another ID on chowk and come back again..

have a good day..err..Miss..

#64 burpindar
I challenge you . if you have even a bit of integrity ... to prove your moronish and stupid accusation that I, Zeena was lewdly name calling involving your family females in same sex activities.

I challenge to produce ONE single post.

You can`t accuse me falsely and get away with it. Where did I involve myself in abusing any woman interactor and dragging any woman interactor here on chowk in to same sex activity?

Yes, On Un plugged, two women abusers, harrassed me for years, for no reason. Yes, I stood up against them.

Other than that, why are you lying?

Your problem is you with out even knowing me started fighting (just like the stupid writer of this article) has started to fight with out being fair on facts, sources etc.You are attacking my credibility for LYING ABOUT ME.

Again, I am asking you to produce even something close to such a thing, where I personally attack you and your family females or where I attacked any female interactor on chowk in a lewed way by calling HER names in a sexually derogatory way? If, you do provide such post from me ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FEMALES I will apologise AND NEVER RETURN ON CHOWK AGAIN IN SHAME.

But, if, you`re accusing me falsely, You owe me an apology. Thank you very much.

#73 kaptain
Excuse me, you call them critics, who take no seconds to personally attack and falsely accuse someone?? Sorry, we`re not here to discuss each other, we are here to criticise this confused article. Which I did in my first two posts. Sadly, writer of this article showed highly immatured behaviour and started personally attacked me. Why she did that? On what grounds? Is she my enemy? Naaa, Is she my friend? Naaaa. Is this article about me , my education, and my mental analysis? Naaa. Then,why this writer started fighting with me like street woman?

Now, here you`re again, discussing me with your useless ranting and yip yapping, about me. You and writer of this confused article forgot that I am not the subject of this article.
So, that is the main point, Please, DON`T DISCUSS ME. Discuss this confused article, if, you think this article is worth of your attention.

Thanks for your pointless discussion on me. Again, DON`T forget this chaotic article is absolutely NOT about me,so, stop your ranting, PLEASE.

Re: # 71-Zeena - u`ve earned more critics than some change that you intended.

i followed one of your replies and left a couple of them in between and came to last ones in the series..and they are giving the same message - DON`T DO THIS..Do that..Yap about this Yap about that..

writing good english doesn`t give meaning to pointless ranting..excuse me..

Re: # 67-as far as personal experience and opinion is concerned - the author should not justify his / her position but can consolidate on supplementary / auxiliary facts - as it suits the author, any author and the work.

For Jawahra jii, the writer of this confused article.

She took no seconds to personally attack me first by targetting me as illetrate(she sounded like a street illetrate women who are ready to fight at any cost with out even caring for what they say? Why they say? They have to attack others , no matter what? This is what her identity crisis issue came from., second this immatured , imbalanced, confused writer attacked me again by referring me for mental treatment. This writer is not only confused,but, she also is shameless with no self respect and dignity left as is the hall mark of good writers. But, again, this particular writer is NOT even a below average writer.

This particular writer is not only suffering identity crisis syndrome,but, she is also suffering from shamelessness, where she is involving herself to a low level of fighting like street fighting women with out any dignity. I have never seen any writer on FP, who has ever attacked me personally. This particular writer is absolutely NOT worth of interactions.

This writer doesn`t know what she is thinking? She is confused in between muslims and non muslim identities, in this day and age, Who cares, you`re muslim or non muslim or hindu or non hindu. For God`s sake, come in to your senses, talk sense, Jawahara. If, you`re unable to take the pressure, my advice is NOT to write for FP.

Yes, you have to calm down to be a writer. You have to have open heart, open mind and open arms to embrace the ones who don`t agree with your confusion and chaotic articles.
You with your limited scope of mind discussing about diaspora seems like you in your own lil world of confusion can`t think on a broadscope. For a writer on FP, writer should have broadminded approach, absolutely NOT a conservative like you. You enjoying lil fine glass of wine!! WoW ! How impressive! You and your non hijaab!! WoW! Unbelievable!!!!
You married to non muslim!! Wonderful, never heard about that!! You`re DAAa best!!

You making mountain out of moles, do you think we care what you drink or wear. Go wear two piece bikini, we don`t care. Go be hinud, christian, athiest, jew, muslim buddhist etc, etc. What ever, who cares?Nobody will say a thing, if, you do whatecver you wanna do.

And, haaaan, one interactor gave you heads up about me. Be careful. They are right, you must be scared of me and my psychoanalysis about you.

Next time, when you write any article, first be sure of yourself, what you are trying to say, then give us a clear idea, with NO confusion. Good, you`ll learn from this bitter experience , and next time will not discuss weeds, cottons and moles, but, will come up with something really worth it.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

#68 Axey
I hope you and the author realize that the ``advice`` was prescribed as a preventive (rather than corrective) medication.

Re: # 61

Dear Beej, I think you only focused (or focused too much) on the Muslim Identity part of her essay. It was only a small, even inconsequential, part.. she actually poked fun of her Muslimness (or lack of it) by mentioning her alcoholism, no Hijab, and listen to this – married to a non-Muslim.

Dear Jawahara. Keep writing on these experiences. In my experience, it is really hard to appreciate the challenges of multi-cultural lives, unless one is living it. In my case, every day is a new drama. You know, I was just joking about the “married to non-muslim” part.

Thanks guys for the heads up regarading a certain person. Good advice.

bjkumar, thanks for the friendly advice. However, I don`t just write about my Muslim persona, I write (or try to) about the intersection of all my different personae. And, considering this column has a specific mandate, to write of the Diaspora, I don`t think I`ll be following through on your good advice here, at any rate:-). Thanks though. It is appreciated and I say that without any sarcasm.

I find the states in-between, the clash of identities and cultures some of the most dynamic and interesting issues to examine in our world. Whether I do justice to them or not might be debatable but to say that just because something is the way it is we should just ignore it and go on, seems a shame to me. I hope there is always writing (whether I do it or not) on issues of race, gender, identity, Diaspora, etc. etc.

And, this does not mean I live my life mired in these things, wringing my hands about my diffused identity. Most of the time, in my daily life I don`t even think of it. The clash of my identities is not something I am always aware of. But there are times...when I sit back and reflect and try to make connections between some things and examine other things. And that`s what my Diasporic writing is about. It might be hit and miss but it`s what I am thinking of at one particular moment in time.

That was just a general comment, not targeted towards anyone in particular. :-)

Jawahara,
Dont waste your time on zeena, she is an arrogant person and has a limited world view.

Re: # 57

What kind of Bengali eats daal-chawal? She is a disgrace to the community!

Re: # 53

No problem. I actually enjoy conspiracy theories when they are well-written (Michael Crichton`s State of Fear, for example). Maybe you needed to develop the theme a little more lucidly. And I realise it`s tongue-in-cheek, but I kinda missed that on first read.

Advice reg. Zeena: her intelligence is self-confessedly average and she suffers from a remarkable lack of appreciation for anything remotely ironic. In short, she is not your target audience. I wouldn`t waste time interacting with her, unless you want to get something off your chest. Recommending her to a mental health practitioner will only prompt 22 more responses from her side, which sooner or later will involve female members of your family indulging in lewd, usually same-sex activities. Consider yourself warned....

#56 Jawahara
Just to give you more insight for your article and to detach your insight to help you get out of this identity crisis, here is something for you from an ordinary illetrate interactor.
An identity crisis can be defined as `a psychosocial state or condition of disorientation and role confusion occurring especially in adolescents as a result of conflicting internal and external experiences, pressures, and expectations and often producing acute anxiety. It is apparent from your article that you do indeed have an identity crisis because of your conflicting internal and external experiences and the pressures and expectations from those in the chowk website. You endure conflicting internal and external experiences to an extreme and now you avenge all challenges of discussions by your emotional out burst taking it out on readers via weakness of self. Your anxiety is caused as a result of these external pressures. All you need is insight oriented self relaxed catharsis to calm down and relax.

#56 Jawahara
Yes, I told you earlier, that you need Psych treatment for your mental confusion. Good , you realised . At least you have insitght. When mental health Patients have intact insight, it is easy to treat their confusion crisis. In the beginning you didn`t have an insight, so, it was hard for you to grasp , wht exactly was wrong with you and what were you going through, then I tried lil hard, and helped your scattered insight to gather it with you, and look what I got, a new Jawahara with completely intact INSIGHT , who is ready for a psych treatment.

Believe me dear, you`ll feel good about your identity , once you`ll have psych counselling, You will be proud of who you are and your self esteem will be really esteemed. You`ll thank your lucky stars that i gave you a good suggestion for psycho therapy.
You also need behavioural therapy as you are unable to take the stress of any discourse and you start blabbering. That is OK, I have all my sympathies with you.

Every confusion will be over, this crisis is for the time being,soon you`ll start enjoying your lil fine glass of wine, with your NON hijaab.

Take care. Love

(Note: article only.) News media always sensationalize a story to make it interesting. No need to fall for it. I have not spent time in Europe, but my understanding is there is more racism there. It is absolutely unfair to put Americans in the same league. SOME Americans are anti-immigrant - so what? There have always been SOME like that - ever since the time of Baba Adam!

Friendly advice. Take the following vow:

``I, Jawahara Saidullah, do hereby solemnly swear that for the next six months, I will not write anything which primarily relies on my Muslim identity. I will write what comes to my mind and to my heart and what feels worth writing as a decent human being, of which I am one and which I reaffirm to myself - and I am convinced that I have enough of a storehouse of those experiences and those feelings and those insights that I do not have to rely clutching to the false identity of one who can only walk using the crutches of being a Muslim and being a Muslim woman. I refuse to fall into that inextricable trap of others pinning labels on me and I having to spend my time and my energy trying to defend myself for things I have no association with rather than doing what I ought to be doing - for which I was created by the almighty! And I refuse to play victim and I refuse to kow-tow to the mindset of a victim, because I am not a victim and I shall not allow anyone to make me feel like one.``

And you can add the following, just to cover all bases:

``And thank you, O Lord, for individuals like BJ Kumar, who lighted the path again, which I already knew in my own heart!``

Thanks Kulharee. I`ll check it out.

#58

she needs to find something else to write about, how long is she going to milk this?

Here, Jawahara, I dished it out for you.

March 6, 2006 issue - I have lived in the United States for almost 37 years and anticipate growing old in this country. Therefore, with the exception of my first two years in London, ``Indian-American`` has been a constant way to describe me. Less constant is my relationship to the term. When I was growing up in Rhode Island in the 1970s I felt neither Indian nor American. Like many immigrant offspring I felt intense pressure to be two things, loyal to the old world and fluent in the new, approved of on either side of the hyphen. Looking back, I see that this was generally the case. But my perception as a young girl was that I fell short at both ends, shuttling between two dimensions that had nothing to do with one another……

Read the Rest in the Link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11571059/site/newsweek/

Jawahara, check out the article of Jhumpa Lahiri in this weeks’ Newsweek. She talks about dealing with her Two different identities, one of a “Daal-Chawal-Eating-with-Hand-Bengali” and the other of Hiding it from her friends growing up. It’s really very interesting. Do check it out.

Zeena, I take back the comment about needing reading and comprehension lessons. Sadly, I think you need intervention from a mental health professional. Please get some.

Re: # 45
Nasah
Glad to know you`ve seen it. I picked it up while doing a round of different types of folk music. Actually gypsies are our real migrant birds aren`t they. They`ve been all over.

#53 Jawahara
{{What annoys me is when someone (mis)reads my work and ascribes motives to it or totally changes it around to mean something else. But even that is part of the risk of being a writer....even though it does piss me off.}}}

No one mis reads your piece of great art or ascribes any motive to it. You see, again you and your confusion . This is exactly what I meant . You have to take a big risk of being a big writer. Afterall fame has to pay the price.

I am sorry ,but, you have proved yourself that you`re unable to take the pressure of discussing your own article with out being PERSONAL. If being writer,you`ll start personal attacks on the readers or mis readers(whatever) then, why would I blame the other interactors?

Again, cool it off, chillaxxxxx

#46 burpinder: I`m sorry I gave you the impression that I was pissed off with your comments. What I said in the first part of the interact was not meant for you, really. Feel free to not like my work. I`d like to say that just as a reader has the right not to like what I write and express that opinion, I have the right (on chowk at any rate because of the immediate interaction available) to respond to that criticism.

The part of the interact addressed directly to you I still stand by even if you still disagree with it. I do apologize for my tone if that came across as rude.

Look, I can truly understand if people don`t like/disagree/hate what I write. That comes with the territory of being a writer, of putting my work in the public domain. What annoys me is when someone (mis)reads my work and ascribes motives to it or totally changes it around to mean something else. But even that is part of the risk of being a writer....even though it does piss me off.

I apoliiiiiigiiseeee, oppolagise, upiligise,apoliisice errrrrr, god, what should I do, Me and my engllllissss, Engliss skills!!!

Very goood arrticclee , kkeeepp iitt uuppp.

Jawaraha begum jii

I wish to improve my reading, comprehension and writing skills to be able to be included in literary diaspora. Can you suggest some tips? Can you write an article on how to improve`em. Thanks
Sincerely
Zeena(Illetrate with no reading and comprehension skills)

[Sanjay and hamidm2, I`m sorry you didn`t like this one. Can`t win `em all, huh? Well, there`s always the next one. Thanks for reading this and the others. ]

Its not that we did not like your article. We liked it,definitely. But the comparison of birds and terrorists is something which is hard to accept. No.#34 is right in saying ``The bird flu vs terrorism virus comparison adds a second layer of comparison. This is where I have a problem - I dont think bird flu every time I hear a dove cooing in the morning``. Similarly, I dont think of terrorists when my children play whole day with the birds sparrows, pigeons, crows etc.

If suddenly, they are to be perceived as ``terrorists`` or as #34`s ``messengers of death``, it becomes a bit shocking.

On side note:-Just eat your Tandoori chicken,but, be sure it is HALAL. If, you won`t eat Halal chicken, they will assume you are NOT muslim, they`ll exclude you from their diaspora...........................haaaaaaaa

#42 by Jawahara on March 1, 2006 5:45am PT
{{{Zeena, can I recommend some reading and comprehension lessons? Please take some. }}

My dear writer Jawahara begum Jii
You see, you are absolutely unable to take any kind of criticism, not even positive. You are already a failed writer of FP. I have seen few of your bogus articles full of confusion, this article is at it`s height of confusion and misperception about your identity crisis. No doubt, you are unable to discuss the article with the interactors with coolness of your heated mind.

I am an illetrate Pakistani female with no identity issues, the only issue is my illetracy that is the reason my reading and comprehension sucks. Also, I joined this literal chowk society to learn reading and comprehension. Why don`t you give me lessons of your English eading and writing skills? You`re the top most literal writer of Indian literary world. You see, I am a backward Paki, with noooo englissss skills. So, bear with me.

Your highness, I apoligise for pissing you off. Please, forgive me for such rude criticism. I promise, I won`t criticise your any future article in future. I will always write for all your future articles,`` Dear writer, Well written, to the point, LOL, really funny, WoW, wonderful. I can`t agree more for our diaspora`s identity crisis issues, which are so, bleak that we make mountains out of moles. Thank you , your highness.

Dear wirter
I loved your article, wonderful. Keep on doing good work. Job welldone, and haan, do not forget to enjoy fine glass of wine, not wearing hijab. Take care

Re: # 36

Randy`s in the dogpound, wondering when a hot `un will finally turn up on chowk :)))

#20 by Jawahara on February 28, 2006 6:22am PT
You know I don`t mind criticism, especially when it`s incisive and witty and insightful. But, please, people, could you at least read the damn article before ascribing your own motivations/prejudices/motives to me? Really!

Yes, Burpinder, they are four identities. Thanks! Math was never my strong suit. As apparently not really comprehending articles (or not wanting to) is yours. If you had read the article you would have seen the links I was making between terrorism and bird flu, that they both create paranoia and fear, often unjustified. Of course, you may not agree with what I write even think the article is sub-standard. That`s your right as a reader. I would say that these days you don`t have to do any of things in-flight you desribed to have people become uncomfortable....etc. etc.

You know I read this response by the author and went back to my original post #1 and am still scratching my head why Jawahara is so pissed at me.
She`s a good writer. By chowk standards, I`d say brilliant. But apparently I am expected to agree with whatever she says, be a good boy and not point out any factual (or mathematical) errors in her articles, or if I have to, do it in a way that is ``incisive and witty and insightful``. My bad- but shouldn`t these pre-conditions be mentioned somewhere in the small print? At least Farzana uses footnotes!

#37 by Zeena on February 28, 2006 8:57pm PT
#20 Jawahara Jii
Calm down, relax, take a chill pill, sweetheart
You can`t take a constructive criticism. Haaan
From the mouths of babes and sucklings.... :))

``The documentary starts in Rajasthan and ends in Spain. It is worth a watch. `` (Swarrier)

-- indeed it is haunting to hear their lament in their songs and their untamed energy in their dances -- it is heart-breaking to see these homeless original wandering children of India -- who gave the world so much and got nothing in return except scorn suspicion and abuse.....

Loved it. Gorgeous.

LOL.

S

Re: # 34

Gypsies did contribute a bit to European music. Composers like Dvorak etc. have been influenced by them. You could enjoy your glass of wine with a DVD named ``Latcho Drom``. It is rather poignant.
There is a scene in the DVD where an old woman sings of her compatriots being taken to the concentration camp to die and the camera then show the gypsies migrating to Germany from Eastern Europe.

Where would Spain be without flamenco.....? France without Django Rheinhardt....

The documentary starts in Rajasthan and ends in Spain. It is worth a watch.

Cheers

Zeena, can I recommend some reading and comprehension lessons? Please take some.

Tahmad, thanks for the tips and thanks for re-reading the article. And yes, no hard feelings.

Sanjay and hamidm2, I`m sorry you didn`t like this one. Can`t win `em all, huh? Well, there`s always the next one. Thanks for reading this and the others.

Hamidm2, it`s a shame you don`t wear a hijab. You`d look rockin` in one, perhaps a nice, lacy black number? :-)

lovely jawahara.....i could smell the wet earth......the migratory birds are lovely ...............but they do not carry conspiracy theories around whereever they go.............if they get infected then they would anyway die..................they do not carry the suicidal streak to kill men before they are killed by the virus.......and silly men die bacause they want these birds.............the comparison is beautiful .........because it puts the suicidal men apart from these pretty birds...........it is only men who carry the suicidal virus conciously....................these pretty birds do not desire to kill men anyway..............

JAWAHARA

I am one of those who read your articles regularly or rather wait for them because they are a kind of fresh air in chowk.com

But here ,I would to agree with others that your writings ,ok if not represent ``confusion``, but they do represent a peculiar feeling of yours. And that is, whatever you are feeling is ``wrong`` or ``whether it is right or wrong``--which someone down below has called as ``confusion``. You keep on grappling with your diasporic identity as if it is wrong. Now in this article your are grappling with your religous and physical identity, your life, your tastes and temperament. Again, as if they are ``wrong``.

Look, its simple. They way you look at the world , the world may not look at you in the same way. The world will look at you in its own way. In this very article of yours , you have seen ``terrorist`` in birds--ok they are your thoughts--but the world may not like to see birds as terrorists. Because birds are afterall birds which we all like and love. Or nobody would like to see his parents as ``terrorists`` howsoever rude they are to him.

Perphaps, this is the reason, this time around you have faced so much of flak from the readers.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2023320890224991194

sorry for typo
I`ll respond to your article the way your article is written by you, NOT by me. Thanks

#20 Jawahara Jii
Calm down, relax, take a chill pill, sweetheart
You can`t take a constructive criticism. Haaan
No one is having any kind`a assumptions about you in person. I just read article in detail, I found your article a confusion of identity that you have about yourself. Why would I assume anything about you , knowing the fact that I don`t know you at all(Not only that seeing your much heated response, I don`t wish to know you at all.)

You are giving me your own presumed confused identity just by writing this confused article. Rather, I helped you to bring you out of this confusion identity crisis that you`re going through. I sympathised with your state of confusion, and here you`re brushing me up with your own confusion.
Listen, Miss Jawahara
You sound really bitter to me. If, you`re unable to respond to interactor`s criticism politely, stop writing confused articles. B/c if you`ll write articles on FP, I `ll respond to you article the way your article is written by you, Not by me.
Sorry, dear
Your article and your response #20 doesn`t depict clarity of your identity. And, mind it, just to your wish , I read this article ten(10) times, and every time I read, I come up with same conclusion:- Your article is confusion of your own identity with total misperception and mis assumption of your very own self. Thank you, take care.

Ps:- Enjoy your lil fine glass of wine, relax and congratulations for not wearing hijab. Stay that way, Don`t be regressed back to wearing hijab, not enjoying your lil glass of fine wine. Ciao

...jawahara,

....... you are my favourite writer next to fv, but this one really didn`t do much for me ............ as simon would say, `you can do much better `......... but then paula would say, `` you are just wonderful - it made my skin tingle``.......... i guess it is all up to randy ........ randy ?

Jawahara, I would also borrow T Sahib’s expression, in fact to a T. I also go to Germany quite a bit, and stay in a little ass of the world village between Heidelberg and Mannheim called Shwetzingen (famous for its Esparagus and Schloss (Castle) gardens), Steffi Graf lives in the next village over, and I have seen her at the community pool. She is ugly as hell. All German girls are potatoe face, men too. I stick out like a sore thumb when I visit there, but I have never been scrutinized because of the color of my skin (may be once or twice at Frankfurt airport, but not any more than anyone else would be). And like T Sahib, I am totally and thoroughly checked from top to bottom, inside and out at Lahore airport. My wife, who is whiter than Meryl Streep, gets frisked at every airport in the world, without a miss, even at Addis Ababa.

But I do see where you are coming from.

One last thing, unlike T Sahib, I do wear a Hijab, and I don’t drink wine. However, I love German Pilsner. I can live on German beer and Tandoori chicken.

Jawahara: I went back and read your article carefully (per your suggestion - and as opposed to the quick hi-speed read to determine if the article is worth a second, careful read before jumping into the discussion itself.). This is what I`ll say:

It is indeed a well written article, and the comparison between migratory birds and migratory third world types is an interesting one, and provides a certain depth of thinking to the article that is goes beyond what we have been seeing recently on chowk.

The bird flu vs terrorism virus comparison adds a second layer of comparison. This is where I have a problem - I dont think bird flu every time I hear a dove cooing in the morning, or see a chicken stripped off all dignity in the local grocery store. Indeed, the only place I feel anyone is paying any attention to me at airports is not in Frankfurt or New York airports, but at Islamabad!! And that attention is from poor fellows eager for the career opportunity of carrying my suitcase for me.

I am glad you dont wear the hijab, since I think women it is quite unnecessary in the west (where men tend to be far better behaved in public than any I have seen in Pakistan or other muslim countries, and keep their eyes to themselves). And, from all indications, many women wear the hijab more to draw attention to themselves in the west by standing out from the crowd - which of course is a violation of the Quranic calls for modesty in dress. But then, I think most ``muslim`` practices are a violation of decency, common sense, and the Quran itself.

So, no hard feelings. I have been to Germany many times over the past couple of decades, and it is a beautiful country. Visit some of their castles: the one at Heidelburg, with 15 foot walls is a great way to spend the afternoon. Check out their outstanding train system. Go to Stuttgart and see their fantastic mercedes car museum. And remember, it is not birds that are You will be interested to know that Germany has had an effective program for forest preservation going back to the 16th century, and for that shows in their outstanding parks and wooded areas (including the world famous black forest region). And check out their Kuchen (cakes) - best cakes in the world. Forget this self-conscious stuff part about what other people think of you - and that is all it is, self-consciousness - and have fun there.

Stay away from th ``sintis`` though (biggest thieves in europe) - (sinti is the official german politically correct term for gypsies): they are the original migratory birds, probably finding their way to europe from greece where their ancestors were recruited from the indus river area (then the eastern most province of the Achaemid empire of iran), and were among the persian empire troops who fought the greeks in the peloponnesian wars and then simply migrated to europe. I am sure are from Pakistan, since many of their words, including their counting system is similar to panjabi. and ``sinti`` is probably from sindhu, which is the ancient term (also the root for `hindu`) that people in the west used for anyone from subcontinent. That is one migratory bird that has done nothing in germany or the rest of europe other than make a mess. The original mirpurias!! Hopefully, the flood of immigrants to europe nowadays from muslim countries will prove better than the gypsies...

Jawarhara,
Empathy and fear, are indeed two sides of the same coin, you can have emphaty for a terrorist because many times the circumstances - poverty, ignorance, brainwashed by a mullah etc - has made him one, but you will also fear him.
You dont have to have an identity, based on what others think of you, be your own natural self and relax and take life as it comes.

Google `Loose Change` to see the conspiracy of 9/11.
Its absolutely amazing stuff!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2023320890224991194

after years and years of all kinds of atrocities ccommitted by the humans on these two-legged critters -- peeling them, cutting them, frying them in boiling oil, turning them on iron steakson red hot charcoal, roasting them in hellishly hot ovens -- these innocent cute little children of extinct ferocious dinasaurs - have finally turned back on the centuries old tormentors of their children`s children -- with their own WMDs carrying the viral heads H5N1 -- to destroy and decimate the tyrant race of two-legged Humanoids......

it serves us right.....where is our Mogoloid Invader -- its is time for him to do another Falluja on the Franchise city of Col. Sander`s Kentucky Fried Cheeken.........

...... look on the bright side - we don`t have to eat chicken anymore and can get back to eating red meat like real men (and some women) .......... actually there is a lot of stuff out there that ``tastes like chicken`` - frog legs, gator nuggets, rattlesnake, locust.........

........... for all i care they can commit poultrycide and kill every single chicken in the world .......... and no, i never felt any kinship with feathered fowl even though i am brown and have a muslim name .......... i do feel some kinship with jawahara because i was too was in germany last week, don`t wear the hijab and enjoy a frequent glass of wine ...........

Tahmad#28: Really? How interesting....since the article made no mention of a bird flu conspiracy...but rather was an examination (and tongue in cheek at that) of how the fear about bird flu in Europe is somewhat similar to the paranoia about brown people of the Diaspora. I can be honest....but can you read? And comprehend?

jawajara: you say you dont believe the bird flu is a US conspiracy, but that is the opposite of what your article says. so please be honest.

ASO1: please dont talk in riddles. if you have something to say, say so.

#21, 22 Tahmed
I liked your line of interaction on ``Muslims and Modern Banking: A Rejoinder`` board. Please follow that here too.

Jawahara
Nice article. Was the flitting from Germany to Boston to Germany and back meant to evoke the idea of winged migration? I mean was it deliberate or unconscious?

Jawahara,

>>>>notice there is little bird flu coverage in the US while the week I was in Germany, that seemed to the only news-worthy thing happening.<<<<

Very true, because, there have been cases of birdflu in Germany, surrounding Balkans, now in Greece, previously in Turkey. All far far away from the US. You can be sure when the Bird Flu hits Canada (and I hope that it does) CNN in the US will be covering a lot of it. Just as I don’t think that CNN international is covering a lot of Anna Nicole Smith’s case in the US Supreme Court. If it weren’t for the CNN international you will be watching Nazi dance on the Bundesberg TV. Be more grateful and less cynical.

tahmed, for the record I don`t believe bird flu is a US conspiracy. I just asked what reasons the US would have for such a strange conspiracy because others on this board said it was a conspiracy. Yes, I like examining conspiracy theories, especially the wacky ones just as I like looking at urban legends. Doesn`t mean I believe that there is really a one-armed man with a hook for a hand on the loose or that men hiding under cars are slicing women`s Achilles` tendons in mall parking lots. *shakes head*
Damn! I hate over-explaining things but these days on chowk that seems necessary.

actually i know one person who would agree with you - Thabo Mbeki. who for years claimed that Aids was a western conspiracy. that too would be funny - except he is the president of south africa, and his self-centered paranoia translates into thousands of unnecessary deaths every year!!

#20 so the bird flu is a US conpiracy!! please get serious.

You know I don`t mind criticism, especially when it`s incisive and witty and insightful. But, please, people, could you at least read the damn article before ascribing your own motivations/prejudices/motives to me? Really!

Yes, Burpinder, they are four identities. Thanks! Math was never my strong suit. As apparently not really comprehending articles (or not wanting to) is yours. If you had read the article you would have seen the links I was making between terrorism and bird flu, that they both create paranoia and fear, often unjustified. Of course, you may not agree with what I write even think the article is sub-standard. That`s your right as a reader. I would say that these days you don`t have to do any of things in-flight you desribed to have people become uncomfortable. Just having a Muslim name is enough, as is having a beard or wearing a hijab. I personally have never faced any harrasment but I do know others who have. Jurt because it doesn`t happen to me (except for the too-long looks when I present my passport at check-in and at immigration, but that`s okay) doesn`t mean it doesn`t happen to others.

Zeena, did you do more than just scan the article and look for keywords to piss yourself off? Did I say *I* considered myself a rebel because I don`t wear a hijab, drink wine and am not married to a Muslim? I was talking about the labels that others ascribe to me when they discover these things. I am secure in who I am but people do stereotype and make assumptions about others...rather in the same way you are doing to me, without even bothering to properly read the article.

About confusion....I think if one is to grow and develop and continue to learn as one grows older, confusion is a necessary by-product. Yes, there are things I am confused about and I use them as markers for learning and growing. People who are sure about everything and not confused are those who never stop to think of another point of view...that perhaps they might be wrong are the ones who scare me. To take some extreme examples....the Taliban were sure of themselves, as was Hitler, as is George Bush (God told me to bomb Iraq) and other extremists. I`ll hang on to my confusions, thank you.

About the bird flu being an American conspiracy...(and believe me I am all for conspiracy theories)...what purpose does it serve? I`d love to hear some thoughts on this.

About CNN, it is rather strange that I don`t watch CNN at all when I am in the US., only when it`s the only English-language channel in a foreign country. I don`t trust them and hold them somewhat responsible for the dumbing down of America and in instilling paranoia in the populace. So, in that respect, yes, CNN and other American media are responsible for keeping people scared and stupid but are they really conspirators in a bird flu conspiracy? I notice there is little bird flu coverage in the US while the week I was in Germany, that seemed to the only news-worthy thing happening.

``Just as my last name and the color of my skin makes some take note, feel a strange unease when they see me board a plane and sit down next to them. ``

Looks like the Muslim Bird Flu got poor Jawahara too!! Rest assured, bibi, (and trust uncle tahmed, he knows what he is talking about) - people are more concerned about being at the departure gate in time at airports than about one of the hundreds of strangers walking past them.

I am beginning to think that too many muslims actually enjoy the attention they think everyone is paying them in the west after 9/11. And that is why they refuse to get over it. So get over it, bibi. Just be glad you live in the west where you can walk around freely as a single woman, rather than in a muslim country.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8260059923762628848

i guess..i`m sick barking at a tree..
check the link out..and u`ll know..wot is wot..

big is not better.neither true..

#16 by kaptain

[Now u ask for justifications..read the column again..
there the author herself admits watching CNN..]

So somehow watching CNN means Bird Flu is a hoax? I`m sure you also believe that 4000 Jews were absent from work at the WTC on 9/11, don`t you?

Re: # 15
Now u ask for justifications..read the column again..
there the author herself admits watching CNN..

Media like these usher the whole nation for undeserving and relentless operation for toys like WMDs..

come out of the shell..or should i send Christine Amanpour to you..

#13 by kaptain

[Not even one victim has been brought to the fore..from anywhere..around the globe..wot are the symptoms to catch a bird flu..?]

So why don`t you enlighten us on how exactly America is behind it? And while at it, please don`t forget to provide the evidence. Because without that, you`d come across as yet another Mullah in the long line of impotent whiners who`ve made a career out of America-baiting.

The Indian subcontinent is blissfully unaware of the huge role the western media plays in shapingpopular perceptions. The populations here are generally old and otherwise occupied, and therefore too cowed down to question the media.

It is in this atmosphere that the media, including the likes of pro- Jew Rupert Murdoch have a free run in working up hysteria.

A well written article.

Re: # 12
Mullahs find faults with umreeka..

Not even one victim has been brought to the fore..from anywhere..around the globe..wot are the symptoms to catch a bird flu..?

wot happens..to the victims..does he get wings..(reminds me of red bull..) or starts barking..

u r the genie of the media..which turns u into a cow..gets lots of milk whenever it wants..and then claim u to be a mad cow..when ur no use..i.e. new strategy needed..to fool you perverts..

#11 by burpinder

[Bird flu is real, it is not some gimmick by the American Meat Packers Association to ward off the chicken threat. If you had a life, you`d know that.]

The way these mullahs imagine an American conspiracy beyond every misery we face is just sickening. These guys will even blame their constipation on America.

kaptain kourageous et al

You guys are %$#ing crazy. Bird flu is real, it is not some gimmick by the American Meat Packers Association to ward off the chicken threat. If you had a life, you`d know that.

Re: # 9
terrorism and bird flu are concocted.

nothing to fear. america wants you so shut up and submit urself.

BAKWAAS BAND KARO..or maan lo jo kaha jaa raha hai.baray bhai key orders hein..samjhay shaanay..??

# 1, Burpinder, the connection between bird flu and terrorism are that both are a threat to the world.

implanted notions are the profits of the multinational companies with Tamiflu which is blindly taken us the savior of the 140 million people.
the future of salvation till another contorted pandemic aka anthrax, bird flu, mad cow disease lies in the innocuous Rs.2 tablets.

Media is God with One Eye, a new religion, which has silent and unintentional followers and growing and decreasing each day.
Silently, facts of nowhere are made into truth, the truth becomes belief, the belief gets actions from th robots. Have u seen Osama..?? Neither have I, but we have developed the anticipated hatred and abhorrence for him; Wax Museum + Robots = propaganda, why do we tend to forget - there is reason for everything existing. Everything is planned.

Birds are just another way of keeping the bank balances intact, just another stone in the play yard to break the vault, to start a rebellion.
We would continue to be panicking as long as we prove to be subservient tools of the media,why is every year Colgate comes out with another packaging of its toothpaste..? Just to have the fan-following base who would support the election campaigns of some chimpanzees again.

And come-on--forget about this Muslim, Hindu, Christian , Jew, White, Black, Brown, American, German, Indian, Japanese, Chinese business.

We are we-nothing more ,nothing less. Tell the world that if you want to know me, know me as me or else dont know me.

[Migratory birds are perhaps the largest and most diverse Diaspora in the world. I identify with them even as the thought of feathers and beaks temporarily fills me with dread.]

Dont be dreadful of anything. Dont care about the world around you. Just keep on flying.

On side note:-Yup, we got to do, what we have to do. With out any fear. Calling yourself rebel? based on your wearing hijab or not ...............Naaaaaa, you can wear bikini, but, if, you wish to have your identity as muslim. You can with out labelling your self as some kind`a rebel. Rather, I call those women rebel, who wear hijabs, in this date and day. Just enjoy your wine, swim with two piece bikini, ride bike, do what you got to do. Still you`re muslim, if, your inner self has this preserved identity. take care

The author writes <<< Is that an eternal and universal dilemma in this new world of ours? Empathy and fear—two sides of one coin. >>>

Rather, it`s fear and profit, perpetually related in the capitalist world. If its not fear of terrorism, its bird flu they want you to be scared of and all along behind this fear are big contracts in the hundreds of billions while the masses are dying everyday by the tens of thousands. Fear and its implied protection always focused towards the future while people die and live miserable lives today. And how are you going to control the fallout of all this fear mongering? Like hamidm, you blame the victims, the poor, for their own misery and hook them up on drugs or prescribe prozac to children. Here people is your world, going fast to hell with the American elite being the driving force.

What are you all going to do about it? Become part of the drift towards the coming human hell or reject this BS and make a different world? Volunteer at the homeless shelter all you want as tahmed suggests but until you do something to cause structural change, the homeless will always be with you regardless of your volunteering.

Dear writer
Your article is an attempt to clear up your own self created confusions about yourself, only. Midn, it you are speaking here only for yourself. Absolutely NOT for all of us, Muslim women.

Now, this is statement in your article , shows how much confused you could be,{{{{ am also Muslim. But I am a woman. Therefore, I must be oppressed—or perhaps a rebel since I don’t wear a hijab, am married to a non-Muslim and enjoy a fine glass of wine. People search for a convenient slot.........}}}

Islam is a simple, plain and modern religion with out any complexities. Remember, I am talking about Modern Islam, not the PSEUDONEO MULLAISH Islam, which unfortuantely is hijacked by a certain group of fantaics, who are misinterpreting Islam in an extremely negative way.

So, in other words , you are accepting or surrendering your modern Islamic ideology infront of PseudoIslamic ideology by labelling yourself as ,``a rebel based on your not wearing hijab, having a fine glass of wine and marrying a non muslim?``
No , My dear, no, You have to clear up your mind and confusion about who is muslim and who is not?

To be Muslim is your personal identity, only if, you and only you wish to identify your very self with it(your inner self). Not wearing Hijab, enjoying a lil glass of fine wine and marrying a non muslim is absolutely not criteria being rebel. Sameway, I can call those rebels, who wear hijab or who doesn`t enjoy glass of wine. This has got nothing to do with your being muslim or non muslim. All you got to do is to believe in yourself for enlightened moderation, and enjoy your life. You`re absolutely NOT a rebel. You`re a perfect Indian Muslim woman with sharp IQ and modern ideology, that is exactly what Islam is!

Don`t get trapped by Mullahs weird Neo Islamic notions. We have to do, we got to do. Thanks

``Indian, Muslim, Woman, Brown. These are just three identities.``

Four actually!

What is this piece about? Doesn`t it belong in an i-log? What`s bird flu got to do with terrorism? And what`s all that paranoid babbling about people feeling uncomfortable next to you on flights? Do you have a long beard? Intense fiery eyes? Do you plop down in the aisle to do namaaz before takeoff? Or talk loudly about the wrath of Allah as people around you sip their free in-flight booze?

If, as I suspect, the answers are no to all of those, then just ignore those idiots who feel uncomfortable around you or have a problem with your name. It`s their problem, not yours.