Explaining it to an American Friend

Scout,

I agree that the telethon was moving; perhaps I am on emotional overload with all the worrying I have been doing...Afghanistan, Pakistan, NYC...

Was it not lovely to hear U2? I have this rock and roll heart underneath all of this...have you heard Eddie Vedder and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan`s collaboration? Also, Bruce Springsteen`s reworking and reclaiming (from the jingoistic Republicans) of Born in the USA which has a wild eastern melody in it.

Thanks for the posts-I thought I was really in the doghouse for being my cynical self...

regards

id:

``And I always thought that you could be whom ever you wanted to be in america. Wasnt it the ``land of opportunity`` with ``freedom of speech`` giving people ``a right to live without being discriminated``? Or maybe I was mistaken.``

I would like to intervene here. Just like being Muslims, all do not believe in the pagal pun of Talibaans and their supporters - and take a plea that ``all Muslims`` are ``not like that``, we have to apply the same logic on Americans(The Non-Muslim %) as well. All Americans are not racists! It`s a nation of immigrants! There is a % that has reacted badly and caused a backlash, but that`s not a significant %. That is not the majority. The tolerance of non-muslims towards muslims in the US has to be appreciated. You may bring the points of the constitution and etc etc...still there are people who don`t comply by those rules and regulations - just like there are muslims(males) who are supporting the maniacs in Afghanistan knowing that they are being brutal, cruel and discriminatory towards the Afghan masses and have a logic that deserves jootian and kicks in the shins!

Hope that gives a perspective!

I dont understand what snakes of hatred has this individual Gowardhan cultivated... UAE cut diplomatic ties .... so how is that supposed to reflect badly on Pakistan?

Pakistan has pulled out its diplomats from Afghanistan, and according to Tom Mintier and indeeed Nick Robertson, the Taliban Ambassador in Pakistan is there to facilitate a dialogue or communication between the US.

I dont understand how stupid people like Gowardhan are... do they watch the news with blinders on their eyes?

My dear dear dear Gowardhan,

Don`t you think it`s about time you got a life? I mean, there`s got to be more gratifying ways to get off than scouring every Pakistani`s posts here for something to fuel your hate? Invest in a punching bag or something.

Love, and godspeed etc.

P.

hamid,

addendum; yes you are right in that the American people have done right by America`s values. They have been extraordinary. My point is that the media presents a double view; surface text and subtext-and the subtext can be quite interesting.

Tahmed,

another note to let you know that I do take your posts seriously:

1.Jimmy Breslin, a well respected American writer and columnist questioned Pres. Bush`s use of a security badge belonging to a missing worker at the WTC site during last week`s state address. The mother of the worker gave it to Pres. Bush. Breslin recalled how Bush Sr. had used a similar tactic, during his campaign run, at that time using the badge of a killed police officer. Does pointing this out make Breslin less American or a never satisfied malcontent? Why or why not? Maybe Muslim and South Asians are a little nervous about voicing their concerns.

2. Progressive analysis, as Upman, Temporal and Drumz have been pointing out, takes into account the factors of class, race, gender, and historical context, at the very least. My freshman students are the Latino, working class Anglo and Black kids that will be sent out as their brothers, sisters and fathers were in past interventions. If they critique US foreign policy, in which they become the soldiers who fight for the US, are they perpetually dissatisfied?

regards

hamidm # 137

`` .....a muslim is still safer here than in the streets of peshawar or karachi ......``

No truer words heard here.More power to you.

Regards.

saminashah #125,

I think the American media is divided on this issue these days. There are those who are trying their best to get the Muslim perspective out into the open to promote tolerance.

Then there are those who are bent upon using the word ``terrorist`` and ``Muslim`` interchangebly.

We can only hope that people opt for the former and not the latter. At least there is a choice now whereas before, it was all negative.

As far as the telethon goes, I thought it was great. Using the power of celebrities to get messages across and to gather funds for the victims of this tragedy was a noble idea, whoever thought of it.

It was more about coming together and showing support, than it was about music.

This episode should have opened the eyes of the more passionate India lovers in Pakistan.

Read their Op-Eds, watch their channels, checkout their websites; in India, the rage fuelled by hatred is incredible. It seems like the whole nation had offered its rearside lubricated with buckets of analjell.... but there were no takers.

Out of their sheer frustration, the wobbly necks have started calling radio talk shows. Someone (soysause?) mentioned an NPR program on Pakistan with Micheal Krasny. Soysauce, remember the caller ``Dave`` from California? ``Hello, I am Dave from California`` (``Ayck-tually, Yai Yum Anil Kumar from Mudd-Russ``), and he went on with the RSS BS on Pakistan. Micheal snubbed him pretty well I think.



Pakistanis should be more proactive in my opinion if they want to frustrate the evil designs of evil Hindians (hehehe, I like this). Maleeha Lodhi should appear more often in the media and speak in plain English instead of her diplomatic-speak. Pakistan`s official line has been thoroughly discredited, time to change track me thinks.

MaheshG #135,

Yes, you guys know it all. Is that what you want to hear? Why can`t a group of people try to gain freedom in their own land? Set your political agendas aside, and answer that.

Hamidm:

And I always thought that you could be whom ever you wanted to be in america. Wasnt it the ``land of opportunity`` with ``freedom of speech`` giving people ``a right to live without being discriminated``? Or maybe I was mistaken.

Saminashah:

I am glad I live in canada where the media is though not perfect but a lot more objective then American Media. I am surprised that on the American stations there has been no discussion on foreign policies. People are blinded by the ``freedom`` speech of the President. God when are these people gonna come out of slumber.

I am glad I live in canada, where again you have people who do discriminate and beat up muslims and sikhs, but not as much as in America. I am glad this country has more tolerance.

Tahmed,

Actually, I had some additional thoughts:

Grieving is a process that takes different manifestations for different people. As witnessed on Chowk and in this country, some people get angry, others sad, some more solicitious, others intellectualize, some become depressed, others seek distractions, and some need instant gratification through retailiation, tasteless jokes, or being helpful in orer to gain some relief, or arguing with Chowkwallahs.

What I am trying to say in a loving way is, please dont tell people how they are allowed to express their feelings-trust me, everyone here is devasted by this. All our reactions are part of a process, and we dont get any closer to each other by drawing lines of propriety. This is pretty much why I have kept out of the fray during the usual Indo-Pak skirmishes on the message boards. Ultimately, what we say reflects our process-none is the better, its just our respective processes. I have faith in everyone who participates on Chowk. Mostly.

Um, the part about God deciding if I go upstairs or downstairs? Thanks for the concern...

Jay :

can you please explain to me why there have been close to 70,00 killings, taking 10,000-20,000 away for the last decade that jihadi may have been coming in. What exactly was happening in kashmir before the 90`s? Are you going to tell me that the indian army had not been commiting murder?

Please do explain.

Gowardhan:

I have two questions for you:

Q- How come you have so much time?

Have you been laid off and overstaying on your H1B?

Q- Where do you get your incredible hatred of Pakistan from?

This is a rehtorical question. Of course you share this trait with the rest of dhoti clads.

Considering the sick individual that you are, has the dept. of social services ever recommended putting your daughters in foster care? I heard Curtis Dean Anderson is looking... they will be safer with him then they are with you.

REF: # 117

[``Encourage`` and if possible ``facilitate`` the Islamists to go fight in Afghanistan. And don`t let them sneak back.]

Actually, the initial thought was to push them into India but they would have (like always) kicked the already quivering Hindoo arses to pulp and returned. And we want these idiots out for good.

REF: Reply # 136 Stuka

[``sulla katua bhenchod``]

Stuka, there is some truth in what you say, since I think of all khatri women as my sisters.

So there... be respectful now.... don`t you know the privileges of mamooN in your society?