Bahr-e-Zulmaat

saminashah 125

I agree with your clarification. America, Canada, and other such countries must not let Israel treat its minorities badly. What I find very hypocritical is

-people and countries who give no rights to their own minorities shout the loudest and cry hoarsest about why Israel is not like Canada or USA.

-people and countries who shout the loudest and cry hoarsest about how America and Canada should make Israel treat its minorities dont want America and Canada to tell *them * how they should treat their minorities.

It was only the hypocracy that I questioned. Palestinians have been badly discriminated but discrimination is a common disease. Best way to fight it is to fight it everywhere. Middle Eastern countries will be far more convincing morally when they blame Israel if they were secular democracies treating their minorities as equal people. Is there any chance of that happening? No.

re anny

Yes they do; thanks. It has been ages since I saw a woman clad in a graceful jamdaani or robed in luxurious Rajshahi silk. Aaankhen taras gayeen!

Akash # 126

sadna # 124

``What will happen to Durga Puja? aka can Bangladesh REALLY handle three more woman politicians (Mamata, Rabri and Mayawati) to add to its own begums?``

``How about adding Jaylalitha to this list when she comes out of the jail. I guess Bangladeshis would be screaming in a couple of years to take back Bengal, Bihar etc and even offering a direct access to N. East through their territory as an added incentive. So shall we call it a deal Mr Sigalph.``

The way Mamta,Rabri,Mayawati and now Jayalalitha

are being donated to Bangladesh alongwith their

states as dowry,I see Chanakya at his best.All of

these ladies and their states will convert Bangladesh into a small minority province like our

own Balochistan:))

One can never be too careful:)))

Regards.

ps.What about Laloo.

sadna 124

``What will happen to Durga Puja? aka can Bangladesh REALLY handle three more woman politicians (Mamata, Rabri and Mayawati) to add to its own begums?``

How about adding Jaylalitha to this list when she comes out of the jail. I guess Bangladeshis would be screaming in a couple of years to take back Bengal, Bihar etc and even offering a direct access to N. East through their territory as an added incentive. So shall we call it a deal Mr Sigalph.

Gowardhan,

I had written a long, long response and lost it...luckily for you I guess! I appreciate the question and I`ll try to keep it short.

Most countries on this planet, democratic or not seem to to oppress its citizens to some degree. Is it in our interests to improve the situations in these countries? My answer will always be Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

A new Chowkie named rkr 327 submitted a brilliant post on one the other message boards viz the chasm between the industrialized and poorer(let alone technologically)sectors of the developed and developing world. There are really a myriad of complicating factors in each different situation, so I`ll focus on a few themes.

Israel is focused on because it was a case in which Ashkenasi(European) Jewish people were systematically chosen and murdered in a Holocaust (among those were Gypsies, dissidents, gays, Poles)in a country that was part of the Western (lets not forget the aspect of imperialism as well) world. The West responded by displacing a ``third world``, Arab Christian and Muslim people of their land, resources and rights to create the nation of Israel. Israel`s existence is beyond question, its citizens should be allowed to be safe and to prosper. However, if Israel and the West insist that it is a democracy, it must behave like one. This means the equitable, democratic integration of all its citizens, especially the colonized, Palestinian citizenry, and the ceasing of state terrorism.

I have heard the comments of those who belong to the ``The Palestinians Lost Their Chance`` school of apologists. I don`t think that these answers facillitate any desirable solutions. It ultimately becomes a question of morality and human rights, which many democratic nations (some of which I admire; Canada, India) claim as their ideals, yet those ideals rarely make the transition to reality in those countries and abroad.

Again Gowardhan, there are many democratic and secular groups in all of Asia that try to organize to create a democratic voice in their countries. They are under siege, citizens of monarchies, dictatorships, theocracies, military states and discriminatory govts. I mean, look at RAWA in Afghanistan. They have been asking the West for help for years. And they stand to be bombed(which I know millions pray will not happen). If the democratic nations in this world are really interested in democracy and human rights, they will support those movements. They aren`t, so, you have our current messes and you have excuses for all kinds of terrible situations, that ultimately benefit the ruling classes globally.

Take care!

What will happen to Durga Puja? aka can Bangladesh REALLY handle three more woman politicians (Mamata, Rabri and Mayawati) to add to its own begums?

re zafar and eklavya

I just talked to Nawab sahib`s ghost. We will take Bihar only if all of West Bengal comes in, including the hill stations you guys kinda gave to Subhas Ghising. UP or MP? Not a chance. But could you guys like give us Goa rather? In return we let you hang on to Orissa(Nawab sahib informs me those Orriyas were pesky semi-tribals even then and that was BEFORE Biju Patnaik).

Eklavya,

Of course your ancestors are extraordinary...how else could you be such a lovely Chowkie? Being extraordinary is a something that germinates in the heart and soul...

Pankaj and Banjaara,

Hope there are no hard feelings...trying to step away from the keyboard and take a yoga class, maybe go for a run in the cold air...

regards

mr. sigalph:

your people make the loveliest saris ever

Reply Gowardhan

Re: minority treatment int he Middle East

They`re all hideous Gowardhan. The only difference is level of technology and necessity to keep public opinion in America happy. Apart from that they have the same ugly attitudes.

Send in the Red Army, I say. (What`s that? Red Army khalas? Too bad. How about the Gurkhas?)

Zafar

Reply Eklavya, Sigalph #: 116

Eklavya Maharaj

What about if we break UP in two - Eastern part goes to Bangladesh, along with Bihar and West Bengal. (And I will include all of original Bengal unless the AGP and all those pesky North Easterners don`t shape up and start behaving immediately, I`m serious!)? The thought of Bangladesh (the home of Tasleema Nasreen and the locale for her Lajja) getting Ayodhya is just too too too delicious. (Eklavya, you are an evil genius, hain? Just like Doctor Evil in the Spy Who Shagged Me, which, btw, is currently my favourite movie). And we get to keep Taj.

On second thoughts, let them have the Taj if they take Ayodhya. (titter....they`ll be back, muaaaaaahhahahahahahahahaha....)

What do you say Sigalphdada? Please say yes. Please, please, please...

Zafar

Zafar bhai,

I propose we sweeten the offer and throw in UP too. Or, is that a deal breaker, sigalphda?

re bijli

``sglphnzi,

``I have had enough of you ``bangali `` stuff.I claim ,to have Bengali ,Punjabi,Gujrati ,Urdu,& more descendents in my more glorious heritage than your so called ``grandfathers`` sepoy of British.

I dont know where you are ,but i can give you tour of Indian side of Baengal & Bangladesh ,like you have NeVER known.

YOU ARE TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH BANGALI OF 70s LEFT WITH OLD decaying BENGALI society OF CALCUTTA ,who are on the verge of DYING pitieously ,despecably ,out of touch with reality of new mellineum``

You cannot even spell ``Bengal``, let alone give me a tour of it. By the way, my compliments for calling me `70s left`. I am a conservative, libertarian, Republican: I cannot but chuckle at that:)

I suggest you fix your spelling and grammar, and then get into this preaching business. Best wishes.

saminashah 97

[Obviously there must be peaceful and democratic coexistence. Keep in mind that this democractic coexistance must be based on equal citizenry regardless of race, ethnicity, religious orientation, class and gender.]

Can I ask a question without wanting to offend anyone. It is a question of reason. In answer to sigaplph 91, a democratic coexistence of kind you suggest is without doubt desirable but why should Israel be asked for something that no other middle eastern country is asked to do? What is wrong with Israel treating its minorities the way Israel`s neighbors treat their minorities? Why a special standard for Israel? Is the answer that Israelies vacated Palestinians recently while middle easterners vacated their minorities long ago?

Zafar bhai,

I propose we sweeten the offer and throw in UP too. Or, is that a deal breaker, sigalphda?

re: saminashah # 93

(Your ancestors seem to be extraordinary people)

Samina,

I have realized, much to my horror, that I am among the very few people whose ancestors were not extraordinary people. At least now I can console myself that if I can`t write as luminous a prose as sigalph does, there is a reason for it.

re glib 109

Your characterization of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, H S Suhrawardy, and Khwaja Nazimuddin only shows your own lack of depth in history. Nothing I can say will change your mind. We will have to disagree on that. And yes, I`d have been honored to have any of them as guests. Two of them were indeed guests at the place I grew up, though way before I was born.

Your comments just go to show that Pakistani and Indian big brother mentality isn`t always that distinguishable.