Our Racism

Prejudice and hatred are so damaging. I am so glad I did not grow up with it. But yes, I was aware of it. This article is a sober reminder of the work ahead of us. Love, Tolerance and acceptance begin at home, like charity.

Speaking generically isnt racsim - mainly the exclusion of an `other` an innate inevitability given the constraints to tolerance, combined with bigotry. Racism - a prejudice or intolerence manifests it self not just on ethnic basis but class, colour, and conformity or the lack of.

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tahmed:

Its a pity that you`ll have to go all the way to Karachi to hear the sound of ``Ghalap Shoo``. No wonder you spend so much time at chowk.

Correction: for Gujrat, please read Gujranwalla.

#46 by friend
Thanks for the info, I was unaware of the origins of the term. The Bengal famine is definitely one of the unsung accomplishments of the British.

#45 by solitude
``You are a good human being and a bad Muslim``
I`m not fully convinced that the two are mutually exclusive.

#13 by slacker
You make a good point. How our racism adapts to new societies is a whole other topic. For some reason, ``phidda`` was in vogue (as opposed to ``chapta``) when I was in school.

#9 by kamala
``You have composed ``Our Racism`` like a true muslim[...]
Thank you! You`ve made my parents quite happy at the ``true muslim`` bit :)

#5 by Studebaker
``Rascism like all human inadequacies anger hate hunger thirst isnt confined to any country continent or group .``
Absolutely - doesn`t make it right though.

sameerJB, ali_1, tahmed32: keep `em coming.

Zia Ahmed and all,

My elders once told me that term ``Bhooka Bungaali`` originated during famine of 1940s. More people died during that famine than in world war II. My maternal grand uncle used to reside in Calcutta and my mother remembers him talking about people living on tree bark.

Zia, this was awesome! well done my friend :) may you write more and more and may you be forever happy and have as much of everything you ever wanted!

As for the people who think you are being too ``sensitive`` they won`t be saying that when you are rewarded for your good work (by woman kind, f that is your thing) and all the minorities Pakistanis in particular and Muslims in general oppress.

You are a good human being and a bad Muslim (the two are diamaterically opposite value systems therefore being good at one necessarily means being bad at the other). It is good to stand up for the weak particularly when they are so mindlessly obliterated in every Islamic country. By standing up for the weak I don`t mean Saddam`s regime or his human shields. By standing up for the weak I don`t mean Arafat and his suicide bombers. By supporting the weak I don`t mean Abu Sayyaf and his kidnapping, mall-bombing terrorists. By supporting the weak I don`t mean the Kashmiri Mujahids who shoot 14 year old girls in the legs for wearing jeans.

And after supporting the aforementioned ``weak`` Muslims often wonder why they are in so much trouble.

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Reply Kamala # 36

I did not understand your post. I think the issue was about tolerance and amity between different races; and how to promote it.

The article was not about the national morality, international relations, national interests or foreign policy of different nations.

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Ali1 #38 Heh! Heh! Very nice indeed. (And I will definitely listen for the ``ghulap shoo`` next time I am down in Karachi).

You have of course heard of how they teach sex education in madrassahs.

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A Pathan guy knocks the door. The man in the house asks: ``who are you?`` The guy replies: ``Bahadur Khan.`` The man asks second question: ``what is the name of your father?`` The guy replies: ``Sher Khan.`` The man asks again: ``what is the name of your grandfather?`` The guy replies: ``Dilawar Khan.`` The man says: ``why don`t you just step in. The foor is open.`` The guy replies: ``I am scared of the dog sitting in front of the your door.`` The man from inside shouts: ``shame on you. Look at the names of your elders? Didn`t you go for Jihad in Afghanistan and defeated Russians?``. The guy says: `` Russians were worse than dogs.``


One weekend, Ali and his wife were up in the mountains and had been out for a walk. As soon as they got in, Ali complained that his hands were cold. ``Go on,`` said his wife, ``you can put your hands between my legs to warm them up.`` A little while later, Ali went out to get some firewood,and complained of cold hands when he came back.
``You can put your hands between my legs,`` said his wife, so he did. A little later, he went to visit his buddy Miraj Din. When he
came back, he said his hand were cold. Finally, Ali`s wife exploded.
``Don`t your ears ever get cold?``


Once Ali was travelling on a train. He felt sleepy so he gave the guy sitting opposite him on the train 20 rupees to wake him up when the station arrives. This guy was a barber, and he felt that for 20 rupees , the Bhola deserved more service. So, when Ali fell asleep, the barber quietly shaved off his beard. When the station arrived, Ali woke up, and went home. Reaching home, he went to wash his face, and suddenly screamed when he saw the mirror. Said his wife `` What`s the matter?`` Replied he ``The cheat on the train has taken my 20 rupees and woke up someone else``

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tahmed, here is another one.

From the interior of Punjab, Meraj Din father of Gulzar Din goes to Afghanistan for jehad against the Soviets. Months turn to years and years to decades but he doesn`t return. Gulzar Din grows up without really knowing his father.

One fine day, Meraj Din suddenly shows up. The entire family, rather the entire village is delirious. After celebrations and festivites are over, he takes Gulzar Din aside for a man to man talk. Gulzar`s first question was, of course, what took you so long dad?

Meraj Din sighs, and responds with this Persian-Punjabi verse:

Jaan-e-Pidr, Puttar Dil Pazir-o-Benazir,
ki dassaN --

Dukhtar-e-Qandhar ast
manind-e-Anaar ast
seena sang ast
ch__t tang ast
aashiq me kunad
awaaz aanind
``Aahista, Aahista -- Aahista, Aahista``

Maadar-e-Gulzaar ast
kullahoo bay-kaar ast
seena thal thal ast
ch__t dal dal ast
aashiq me kunad
awaaz aanind
``Ghalap-shoo, Ghalap-shoo``

I can post a translation if someone is interested. Meanwhile, tahmed sahib, please don`t ask me about ``Ghalap-shoo, Ghalap-shoo``, just listen closely when you make love next time ;-)