The changing face of America

Aliya

...continues...

Walls are being built in palestine, the same is taking place in kashmir and all along india pak border. The same is going to happen in iraq, on borders with syria. You are lucky alia, you could travel outside, soon not many will have that previlage. Ultimately, in a perverse manner, the ummah will come into being, a large fenced up area.

There are nor many options out of this, one could make a beginning, how about declaring that jihad is not killing of kafirs.

Ref Joyelle #16

[I thought to myself, do I look Pakistani enough? Why is he asking me all this? Can`t he see that I am of Pakistani origin?]

You were probably mistaken for an Italian or an Israeli. It happens all the time.

That`s the price Pakistanis pay for having a lighter complexion and for having ancestors distinctly different from the horrible Hindoos.

Ref temporal #6

I was always curious about the name Virgin Atlantic Airlines. Airlines usually attach a geographic connotation (e.g., Eastern, Southern, Northwest, Transcontinental & Western, Western, etc.) so the `Atlantic` part made sense. People tend to name the companies they start after themselves or some family member; thus we had Hughes Airwest in the US. So the question is: who is the virgin in question?

It couldn`t be stewardesses because I saw wedding bands on the fingers of several. It couldn`t be Mrs. Branson because she bore two children. After pursuing this matter with my British boss (when we were both happy, having adjusted our attitudes after work), he agreed that it must be Branson himself! Notwithstanding the fact that his wife had two children!

HE #19 This article is basically a case of over-inflated expectations of an inexperienced traveller concerning the joys of air travel (free chocolates, yummm!) meeting the reality of air travel as it exists (just another mass travel industry with airlines competing to cut costs, and thus no free chocolates, as the chocolate-discriminated aaliya reports in his article). The writer`s inexperience being betrayed by his not being aware of the fact that special meals are as a standard practice served before regular meals in all airlines.

I dont think what any president of the USA can do about poor airline food (unless one thinks it is the president`s job to check the menu of each airline). Actually, it is a good idea to avoid eating too much anyway while in an airline. It all goes straight to the pious muslim butt (as maulvi fazloo can vouch).

I think this article whines when it is supposed to recount and laugh.

a) I am brown, bearded, swarthy and with a fairly universal surname (Malik) that has people from all over the world assuming I am one of their own. Fine by me, I make friends easily. I have had the complete range of airport / immigration / customs / aircrew experiences and I think that my appearance is the least of it anymore. The single point suggestion is to grin through it, and see the humour in every situation. Believe me, there always is.

b) For Ajeet/Sikh not taking his turban off, big deal, what`s the big issue? When you went for your medical test, didn`t you strip completely, or did you insist on wearingyour katcha throughout? If you get privacy, what is your problem? I have had Sikh friends being made to take their turbans off, and then subsequently getting all the security types to help with ``pauni`` and re-tying. This was at Singapore. Fine, I don`t wear a turban, but I know the religion.

re: Aliya Anjum

Thanks for a well written piece.

The biggest problem with America is that it is being led by a mediocre President. This President does not understand that he needs the enthusiastic support of moderate Muslims to fight the extremist Muslims. Without the support of moderate Islamic states like Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Yemen... America will never be able to improve the CIA`s human intelligence network and ``win the battle for hearts and minds``.

An angry approach towards all Muslims will just unite them. Racial profiling, background checks and thorough security is necessary. And most Muslims are okay with it. But the racial slurs and unnecessary hostility infuriates the Muslims.

An angry President and media have become the role models for the entire American nation. This only limits the effectiveness of war on terror. Now moderate Muslims are not prepared to stick their necks out for Bush in Afghanistan and Iraq. Frankly, I don`t see how locking up a Pakistani passenger for 16 hours without food, water or a telephone just because of an expired visa helps National Security. Why insult and manhandle a person, when you can simply deport him!

If a smarter guy had been in White House, he would have used his personal charisma (think Clinton) and political skills to keep the Muslim community satisfied without compromising national security.

At the end of the day, America cannot accomplish anything in this world unilaterally. After ignoring the UN for half a year, Bush had to finally swallow his pride and request UN for help in Iraq. No wonder this man needed a Supreme Court decision to win office. He lacks the political and diplomatic skills to lead America into the 21st century.

It was on 25th of september 14 days after 9/11 that I had to travel by air for a job interview. I wear a turban and have a beard. The security people on the air port said I have to remove my turban. I politely said no, I can`t do that. They called their airline superior and the superior called the FBI agents posted at the airport. They checked my passport and asked a few questions, about why and where I was going. After that they said I could go and were profuse in their apologies. When I entered the plane the lady supervisior also apologised. I did not mind the hassle and knew there was good reason for it. I in fact thanked the lady for being so thorough, because I was going to be on that plane and wanted to reach my destination safe and sound.

I have since seen many people randomly selected for body and baggage searches, including 10 year old girls and 70 year old white ladies. I have had my share of searches and I did not mind a bit, because they were not directed towards me.

When a bunch of muslims fly hyjacked planes in to buildings killing hundreds of people, the
people should understand the need for extra security and cooperate with it instead of complaining.

Joyelle #16 That was really funny, the ``discrimination`` faced by by you when the tables are turned: you as a Pakistani-American going to Pakistan via PIA. I wonder what whining Aliya has to say about that.

Hey! Talking about discrimination, here`s my experience:

It was friggin` freezing in the airplane and when I tried to shut the damn AC off on top of my head; I was splashed with water in my face. The flight attendant simply ignored my complaint. When the food was being served, I was served a ``special diet meal`` (as per my request due to my colon surgery). The tray had four leaves of lettuce, two tomato slices, two cucumbers, and shreds of carrot. The bread was hard and cold. So much for a diet meal! I survived on three Milky Way bars I had bought from the airport. I asked for some tea, which was colorful but tasteless, so I bugged the flight attendant again for some coffee instead, and you know what, I`d rather gulp down tar!
Wait... it doesn`t end yet.... It was then time for their feature film, Charlie`s Angels, and with my luck the recycled headset I got had earwax on it. How nasty! I again complained to the flight attendant. She gave me a nasty glare and said ``sorry`` (probably thinking in her head ``who does this wanna-be American think she is!) I asked her if she understood the words that were coming out of my mouth, to which she just said, ``please wait`` and left. I waited and waited to no return. So I just tried to sleep throughout my long PIA flight, hopeless that anyone would pay any attention to my cries.
Arriving at the airport, all of my baggage was screened, my passport was scanned, and my visa was verified. The long moustache, expressionless, bitter attitude officer questioned me ``miss this is your passport and you travel alone?`` and I said ofcourse it`s my passport and what did he mean by travelling alone? A woman in her late twenties can’t travel alone? His next question, ``what is the purpose of your trip?`` I mean jeez.... Why do American citizens (of Pakistani origin) visit Pakistan? I told him, it was to attend a cousin`s wedding, meet my relatives, friends, and to have a great summer. He then proceeded to ask me where I got the Pakistani visa on my passport from? Ofcourse from the Pakistani embassy in NY, where else. I thought to myself, do I look Pakistani enough? Why is he asking me all this? Can`t he see that I am of Pakistani origin? Anyhow, the interrogation ended with not even a ``thankyou`` or ``sorry`` or ``enjoy your stay``.
Okay, so I can`t take any action against the airport officer, the baggage checking, the passport scanning, because it was all routine work. It`s their job. BUTTT.... I did write a letter to PIA`s chief authority detailing my entire flight experience in explicit detail and I did not forget to mention the nasty flight attendant`s name. I`m still waiting for a reply. If I do get a free compensation ticket, I`ll sell it on E-bay!
So dear chowkies would you consider this discrimination? My parents don`t think so. They say that`s just how it is!

...this dude got bad customer service from bankrupt airlines just like almost any other traveller might get and he is screaming racism...

...as a brownie who takes several flights a year, this sounds like a bunch of nonsense....sometimes they`ll check the brownies twice at security, but that`s about it...and i`d rather they check me twice than end up with an armed urstruly on a flight...

Samuel Johnson, the creator of the English dictionary was once berated by a lady for including `dirty` words in his dictionary. Johnson`s simple rebuttal ``Ma`am you`ve been looking for them!``.

Aliya bibi seems to be in a similar situation.

later
-sac

less of an article, more of a crib-session

i like slacker`s comments (#4) below.
I would much rather lend a sympathetic ear to someone who has tried to change things, but has faced / is facing lots of frustrations along the way. The thing is, these ppl are likely to be looking for workarounds or different ways to make some progress - rather than look for sympathetic ears.

but, yes, things have changed. shit happens.
reset expectations, focus on stuff that is within your sphere of influence (usu. much larger than what we expect it to be), look at alternatives, and forge ahead.

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

Sounds like you had a pretty good experience at the hands of pagans, christians and atheists. I really mean that since profiling for some odd reason seems to target old white folks at US airports. I also recently came across a (white) french woman who was shaking and swearing under her breath after she had been subjected to a body cavity search at the local airport.

Stuka #7: “As far as the Uncle Tom comment is concerned, that is pretty ironic from someone who has no express problem with Maulvis coming to power in his own country.”

Interesting comment. Though I am not sure what being an Uncle Tom has to do with maulvis. But since you have made a false accusation, a reply is thus in order.

I have a hell of a lot of problem with maulvis coming into power anywhere – much less in Pakistan. I hate ideologues who think their way is the best way, and everyone else’s opinion does not matter. One sees this along the extremes in Pakistan; both amongst the secularatics and religionatics. This is also why I dislike much of US foreign policy, especially under George Bush. “My way or the highway” may create a lot of enthusiasm in the beginning, but in the long run, it is self-destructive. This is what many of the jingoistic supporters of the Iraq war are beginning to find out. Iraq is already a bigger mess than it was before, and is, in my opinion, one major attack against US forces, from completely blowing up. This is also, hopefully, what the Uncle Toms will discover soon enough, when the same Patriot Acts will come to bite them and/or their families.

I am surprised you haven’t noticed my views against religious extremism coming into power in Pakistan, or in India or anywhere else. In fact, I have been one of the first critics of BJP on this site, when others were going out of their way to defend it. I think maulvis of MMA will destroy Pakistan if they don’t moderate their views. At the same time, one needs to keep in mind that there is a huge gap between the views of the MMA and the views of BJP. Just like there is a huge gap between the views of John Ashcroft and the views of MMA. Ashcroft being less extremist than MMA, which is less extremist than BJP. But all three are ideologues, and thus need to be controlled.

At the same time, I also oppose extremists from any other direction coming into power anywhere, as well. This includes corrupt individuals like Benazir, who hide behind the facades of secularism. It also includes individuals like Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussain etc. who hid behind similar facades of secularism. This opinion of mine is different from the opinions of those who think extremism comes only from maulvis. I think it can come from any direction. This is perhaps where you and I differ.

The second point is that, in my opinion, one has to recognize the will of the people, and only try to remove it by providing a better option. Not by trying to shove people (including maulvis) into the sea. The only time individuals should be pushed into the sea is if they start carrying out massive human rights violations, like the BJP or Sapah-e-Sahaba do in Pakistan. Or massive corruption like what BB indulges in. Other than that, it is always much better to learn to live with individuals, who have differing opinions, than to attempt to destroy them. Because, if one tries to destroy them, then they will return the favor – especially if they have a power base of their own. For example, I don`t like Ashcroft, but I would not advocate his being assasinated.

So, no, I do not support maulvis of MMA in power. However, if the only other option available is the corrupt Benazir or Nawaz, then I think they would be the lesser evil, since the other two have already shown their cards. Luckily there are other options available in Pakistan - other than BB and MMA - and I happen to support those options. At the same time, I advocate the policy that if the maulvis have been elected in some area, and are not as extremist as the BJP, then it is better for Pakistanis to learn to accommodate them, and learn to live with them, then to try to annihilate them. Since, I doubt they are weak enough to be annihilated. And if they are attacked, they will become even more extremist and will start turning into a BJP-like group.

I think sooner or later, Pakistani maulvis will have to understand that they need to learn to live with the secularists. And the Pakistani secularists will have to understand that they have to learn to live with the maulvis. And both groups will have to realize that the correct way to get rid of the other is not through rhetoric, which only preaches to the choir. The correct way to get rid of the other is by proving yourself to be a better option in looking after the poor of the country.

Hopefully that makes my position clear. Now over to the idea of Uncle Tom. Or Chacha Tom – a better analogy.