Headache and Heartburn

Farangi-Kush 347 I believe the massas have started easing off the bottle - I read an article many years ago which gave stats on how per capita consumption of whisky (very high in alcohol), which was common in 19th century US has sharply decreased, with beer and wine (relatively low in alcohol) being taken. Furthermore, there are increasing number of events (including sports events, private parties) which are expressly non-alcoholic. And in fact alcohol is a non-massa invention (the ancient Egyptians had breweries four thousand years ago) anyway. Also, I can count on the fingers of my left hand the number of Pakistanis I have known in the years I have lived in the US who drink - the ones who drink are in fact considered low class among most Pakistanis in the West. Within Pakistan there are similarly, the only Pakistanis I can remember drinking and being proud of it were some people from low-income families who got jobs in the civil service and so forth. So, as far as I think, you are beating a dead horse here.

``Alcohol is next on line for the ``massas`` to finally admit to being a worthless liquid.``

Newsflash: The ``massas`` have known of the dangers of alcohol abuse for centuries, as have their serfs.

``Worthless``? You obviously have no idea of what it can DO for you :-)

(Yes, yes, it can kill you.. but then, so can red meat, MSG, paan and beedee)

I concur with F_K and scout, we do not need the western imported tobacco and liquor. We have our own traditional Bhang, Afghani hash, Indian charas (manali variety is excellent, I hear) to keep us in high spirits.

The impudence of the west is amazing, not only have they declared our traditional intoxicants as harmful, they have the audactiy to declare them illegal. Our slave mentality governments have taken instructions without considering the historical importance these substances have held in sub-continental village and urban life.

Peace.

tahmed321 #354
4 hrs! I commend your patience and good use of your time. I`ve made one futile attempt to see th movie but couldnot get upto where Ms AR first appears. I think you describe it really well :-).

I really really wish Hindi movies would a. go back to being directed/photographed in the normal way vs being choreographed in soft focus for the entire length b. stop using bombastic dialogues loaded with ponderous philosophical pronouncements even in the simplest of situations c. stop using those female banshees wailing in the background in any scene with even a hint of poignancy in it(which we know is every single scene) d. allow the extras to wear some Indian clothes too, at least occasionally. They look to me like they could catch cold :-).

Anyway, happy viewing :-).

Sadhana

Farangi Kush #347,

Agree with you completely on that one.

Alcohol is next on line for the ``massas`` to finally admit to being a worthless liquid.

And when they do, desi`s won`t touch it :).s

sadna you mention Aishwarya Rai, my favorite Indian actress. Self and wife saw her in the new film Mohabbatein a couple of days ago. The movie has no villains (a first for an Indian movie), no violence, and nice photography. Also it is 4 hours long, so it gives you time to take a nap, solve some office problems, and still not lose track of what`s going on. Those who are offended by illogical story lines, absurd morality lessons, one crappy actor (but several good ones, and of course Ms. AR) and so forth should of course continue to stay away from this and all other desi films.

Re: InYourFace

``This will encourage people to be clean:clean bathrooms, clean teeth and overall conciousness about cleanliness. I take any which way to stop looking at those horrid sights of public relieving.``

I couldn`t agree more...that is why South Asia was aptly termed the armpit of the world by someone here...it could even be called the sewage pool of the world.

But ogling beauties isn`t going to solve the problem...building plumbing systems, underground sewers, sources of clean water supply, and indoor toilets will do it...right now most of the population doesn`t have clean water to brush its teeth and shower with.

Sadna,

I agree with scout. Beautiful women`s bodies are not for western commercial exploitation. They are for exploitation only in private harems and bedrooms of the East. That is why he (scout) protests the former so vehemently but says nary a word about the latter.

Women`s physical beauty should be celebrated only by their husbands (exclusive or otherwise), not even by themselves, and certainly not by the general public!! Don`t believe me? Read your (actually MY) scriptures!

RSaxena #: 343:

Hey Saxena! This beauty thing may be false pride but has lot of practical benifits for India.

This will encourage people to be clean:clean bathrooms, clean teeth and overall conciousness about cleanliness. I take any which way to stop looking at those horrid sights of public relieving.

Urstruly:#348

Slave lingo for `masters``.

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Wassalaam

scout #345
First I need to ask, did you read my entire post #344? :-).

I agree with you about beauty pageants in general. When an Indian company tried to organise one of the international events in Bangalore, India, there were large-scale protests on the count of ``insult to Indian womanhood and culture``. Many other Indians retorted on that occasion, ``why don`t you protest dowry deaths with the same vehemance as insults to Indian womanhood and culture``.

Well, ultimately the company went into the red and there havenot been any international level beauty contests in India since then.

I happened to see a public service TV ad by Aishwarya Rai after winning her own title, on the subject of donation of organs in which she said she was donating her eyes. It was extremely effective, I heard..

Re your article, all I meant was one can appreciate the hard work and success of a cab driver AND the hard work and success of writers or enterpreneurs as well.

Sadhana

RE: F_K #347

What is ``Massas``?

Scout:#345

The practice would stop,as far as the Desis are concerned,when the Massas stop it.

Cigarrettes are bad now.The massaas have said so.

Sensuality(read:public sex) is goodnow.The massas have decreed.When they say it is bad,THEN we will

form our NGOs--[``Drinking is bad for the third world economy---they can`t pay off their debts``]

Drinking is ok.Drugs are bad.Paan is bad.Kaat is very bad.Massas are telling us that.These are POLICIES.Legislated features of democracies & secularism.Individual is not allowed to decide what is good & bad for his/her health.

Moral/societal pressure are bad.Debates,arguments in parliament,by those who know us better than ourselves but can`t manage their own offspring,are the arbiters.If the bible & the Quran are saying the same things:Watch OUT!Anachronisms are here!

(Nudge!Nudge.wink.wink---``we got to look after the cigarette & liquor companies too.It is our MORAL duty to see that no jobs are lost & the economy stays good.Besides,they look after us!what do the practising,honest kind do just give us a piece of paper--their vote.``)

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``Khirad kaa naam junoon rakh diya,junoon kaa khirad

jo chaahay aap kaa husn-e karishmaa saaz karey.``

tr:Now they have switched the word Sane by the word crazy & vice versa.

You,with your beauty & charisma,indeed perform miracles.

(remember the corruption of words like `gay`,`peace-offensive`,`terrorist`,`fundamentalist`--etc etc)

__________________________________________________

wassalaam

Beant Singh and Uptight Pakistani People!

It`s an excellent article,I really appreciate your concern for Beant Singh. But what I can understand from your article, u did not even look into his eyes and could`nt tell if he was ``fundamental one`` or ``broad minded one``. What kind of relationship u find appropriate between u uptight people and that poor cabbie. U also did`nt like inclusion of religion in this kind of parties, that`s fine but at the same time, u are upset at dancing of poor single guys.What else u were expecting, what would have been your response if they all have started praying together. May be u did not like their dancing style, but this is because they were not professional. They were just showing their `live`spirit and trying to bring hall`gulla to your party.

sadna #344, ``Referring also to the theme of the original article by scout, I think there is no harm in `advancing on all fronts`.``

This whole pageant thing is one front that I DONT agree on. Dropping your clothes for the scrutiny of judges who judge by Western concepts of beauty and male sexual preferences is abhorrent.

What kind of role model is this eighteen year old providing to other desi eighteen year olds?

Why isn`t such explosive media attention given to the Indian/Pakistani female scientists, doctors, lawyers, writers, etc?

This cultural prostitution to the West HAS to stop.

Rsaxena #343
Referring also to the theme of the original article by scout, I think there is no harm in `advancing on all fronts`.

Now whether inspiring a few million young women to aim for winning beauty contests constitutes `advancement` is something I too have doubts about.

Sadhana