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A Devastated Metropolis

Ozer Khalid October 31, 2005

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#105 Posted by rsridhar on November 4, 2005 3:28:30 am
re: Pak`s true face
People around the world are being exposed to Pak`s true face through Mukhtaran Mai. Here are people`s view points:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4626449.stm
Excerpt:
(For the first time, I`m disgusted with myself for being a Pakistani who supports President Musharraf. By barring Ms Mai from leaving the country - and now her own house - the Pakistani government has again reverted back to its old role of treating women as lower entities. The court`s ruling against Ms Mai has proven, yet again, that Pakistan has evolved only for name - and there as been no internal improvement in the country when it comes to the treatment of women. And yet, we are told that there is no oppression, there are no double standards, and the president is supporting the women of the world. If this is his support, Ms Mai was better off without it.
Benish, Washington, DC, USA)

Meanwhile, Pak dictator happily contemplates buying more war gizmos. Who is he going to defend in POI when most are homeless and many are dying. A good article from Ayaz Amir:
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/ayaz.htm
(CONFRONTED with a rising chorus of calls to cut wasteful defence expenditure — emphasis on ‘wasteful’ — the Pakistan government goes ahead and signs a billion dollar deal with Sweden for the purchase of six SAAB early warning aircraft.

It could be forgiven if this deal had been signed before calamity struck our northern mountains. But, no, it was signed in mid-October, a good seven days after the biggest quake in Pakistan’s history. Hand it to the powers that be for brilliant sense of timing.

Calls for cuts in defence spending, even when the case for doing so is rationally argued, are not calculated to amuse any military establishment. But this is a matter of balancing priorities. What’s the more pressing need at present, funds for earthquake relief or a billion dollars down the drain for an early warning system perhaps of great utility in its own right but which at the moment looks silly and unnecessary?

If we are dismayed by the tepid response of the international community to our need for relief assistance, we would sound more convincing if we had our own priorities right.)
There is the answer to author`s question why the world community did not do enough. It is probably disgusted with Pakistan.
Sridhar
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#104 Posted by mannyd on November 3, 2005 3:27:14 pm
#98: The funny use is in the positioning of two words and unstressing ng from the first. Look it up.
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#103 Posted by Salim_Chauhan on November 3, 2005 7:17:35 am
Ozer,
And a very Happy Eid to you (Kutlu Bayram) :)
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#102 Posted by Salim_Chauhan on November 3, 2005 7:14:01 am
Ozer Kardesh,
Nasilsiniz? I have been in Istanbul for less than six months now. My entire life is one long diplomatic mission to bring peace to my fellow human beings. I am not working for any government, but suffice it to say that I am involved in constructive efforts. :) My wife is very religious and our social agenda revolves around her religious group, her friends, and social work. Since I have been here I have not even tasted the wonderful Efes beer that I used to enjoy so much before. Anyway, keep up the good work. I really enjoy your powerful literary abilities. Please don`t let the envious detractors affect you. Bira istiyorum.
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#100 Posted by friend on November 3, 2005 6:11:57 am
Ozer
Apologies for misusing your board. But can`t resist Ahmed Mian`s #95

Ahmek mian #95
As you are posting it everywhere, here is one more suggestion - On this Eid, all of you should SCREAM. Louder you scream, more people you will be able to help.
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#99 Posted by kidbeegorilla on November 3, 2005 5:55:22 am
re: #88 ``as for mukhtar mai, don`t worry about her - she is doing okay now and i am sure she would be willing to donate some money to set up a home for some half-burnt brides in india .................``

tsk tsk. How very crass. ``she is doing ok now``... is she? How would you know? Money is everything for you people isn`t it?

Ever seen a half-burnt bride that you can coffee-table ping-pong so glibly? Filthy pigs.

It`s all very well to throw salt on each other`s festerings, without descending into the absolute abyss of inhumanity.




#95, are you sure $1,000 will rebuild an entire house?

There was a Sunday Times article that Gov. of Pakistan is giving $10,000 to people who lost their homes in the earthquake. Either that`s an outrageous lie or the $1,000 is a typo (?). Also, you did not specify which agency is doing the home rebuilding, so where to send donations? Incidentally, I received a flyer from a friend about earthquake relief and tried to go to the Human Development Foundation website today that sent out that flyer, but the link doesn`t work (www.hdf.com). Could someone here tell me if that is a legitimate agency? Thanks.

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#97 Posted by jay on November 2, 2005 8:16:46 pm
Polygamy and jihad

It is a waste of time to talk about a piece of skin, how about something more important which is murdering people.

Latest research has shown that jihad originally was not a central theme of islam and it was much later a kaliffa khusru whu made the concept of jihad popular as he and his friends and relatives were running short of females in harems. He sent the young to be killed to create a female surplus and that is how jihad became central to islam.

The females are kept away from teh streets and as the bombs go off, most killed are men creating a female surplus to meet the demads of polygamy.

Not many are aware of teh polygamic foundations of jihad.

If teh US and other western countries have to manage the jihadic terrorism, the focus has to be on changing the laws related to polygay in muslim countries. If polygamy is banned, then jihad will stop.
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#96 Posted by jay on November 2, 2005 7:54:24 pm
``Jaish is a relatively new terrorist outifit started by Maulana Masood Azhar in January 2000 after his release from an Indian jail in exchange for 155 hijacked Indian Airlines passengers held hostage in Kandahar``

Greeting on eid from srinagar, with Jaish mohammed claiming responsibility for the suicide attack.

It was romair and godot and tahmed worried and asked the question, why do the world and indian hate us. Why do they want pakistan iraquised.

The reson is above. The jaish mohammed, the return of Tanweer the london bomber, the crowd in afghanistan, muktar mai, samia sarwar.

That is the reason no one is giving any aid to quake victimes of pakuistan, it has been reduced to a US-nato military operation of hunting down the taliban in POK.

Pkistan has become the niger where millions are killed and no one cares, but with a difference for pakistan, there was a call for help and no one cares, sorry US and nato cares and they have military operations, a great excuse is the earth quake.
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#95 Posted by tahmed32 on November 2, 2005 7:39:38 pm
I received the following via email which had some practical advice on what to do this eid - and in the weeks, months, years afterwards. I am sure Ozer will not mind my posting it here. I also posted it on unplugged, and my apologies to people who may have already seen it on unplugged. The message is as follows:


Eid Mubarak. May Allah Bless You All.

We celebrate this Eid, with heavy hearts at a time when millions of Pakistanis are mourning the loss of their dear ones, men, women, children, infants, toddlers and innocent who perished (some are still burried in the debris), and the millions, who have become shelterless resulting from the devastating earthquake that has hit Pakistan. Our best satisfaction of Eid will be if we can do whatever possible to help them.

It is estimated that its costs about $1000 to replace a modest house in the devastated villages. I would like each one of us to save this amount in the next 2-3 months from discretionary expenses, by bringing a little bit of modestly in our lifestyle, some suggestions are


• Have and attend fewer parties this and next Eid

• Postpone your next house party

• Make one less trip to the mall

• Buy one less clothing, item, pair of shoes, etc

• Skip eating out for one month

• Take a budget size vacation

• Buy modest Christmas gifts for your employees or co-workers (let them know why)


If you put a dollar amount to the above items you will be amazed to see the total.

Each one of us either personally or through family/friend knows of a victim, please send the saved money directly to that individual.

Please do not get fatigued by the help you have already provided, lets not dwell on what has been done, focus on what has to be done. Please participate at whatever level you are comfortable with. Some other examples are

$20 can provide first aid care for a wounded person

$100 can provide a three-month supply of hygiene kits for 50 people left homeless

$150 can provide clean drinking water for 1,000 people for one week

$500 can provide temporary shelter for 40 families

Please send this email to all your friends asking them for help. I urge you to extend a helping hand, no donation is small, and every donation helps to alleviate suffering.
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#94 Posted by mannyd on November 2, 2005 6:22:48 pm
``Dot Sahib excellent powers of grammatical observation ! Seems we have another “cunning linguist” amongst the ranks. ``

LOL... very cunning indeed. Hahahahahaha.

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#98 Posted by Dash_Dot on November 3, 2005 5:08:12 am
Re: # 94 and re#91

thanks ozer for those kinds words ;-)

and many_id care to share the joke ;-()
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#92 Posted by soysauce on November 2, 2005 5:56:35 pm
#88 hamidmji,

How could you possibly compare a horrible and discriminatory law with the (lack of a uniform civil code)?
Do you explain to your daughters that daughters and sisters are permitted by law to be murdered under certain circumstances in pakistan and it`s no different than {insert your pet peeve here} in the US? What kind of logic is this?
The question is not whether some section of the society is screwed up but what is the rest of the society doing about it? I`d grant you simply passing laws without changing hearts is no solution. But it is the absolute first step - unless the majority do not think there`s a problem.
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#101 Posted by hamidm2 on November 3, 2005 6:36:30 am
Re: # 92

soysauce,

.......... pakistan has a peculiar predicament because ``the rest of the society`` is afraid to stand up to the people who speak fo god ......... why? ........that is another discussion.......

eid mubakrak !
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#93 Posted by soysauce on November 2, 2005 6:07:56 pm
Re: # 92
OK i shot off my mouth too soon. I understand honor killing is practised but illegal. In that case it`s no different than bride burning and the comparison is quite apt. My apologies, hamidmji.
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#91 Posted by OzerKhalid on November 2, 2005 5:51:53 pm
Happy Deewali and Eid Mubarak to all readers,

Salim

How long have you been living in Istanbul for? Are you there on a diplomatic mission via the Foreign Service? Which batch do you belong to? I`m originally from Galatasaray and Taksim. Are you a night owl ? If so I can advise you on the greatest clubs to go to. Anyways back to the topic at hand….

Manny D

Great to see you on this board. You raise an interesting point about Turkish genes, since Turkey has been the cradle of civilisation where Eastern and Western cultures kaleidoscopically integrate; such co-existence is a necessary by-product toward moderation. Or at least an attempt thereof.

Netizen the answer to your question is that there are stakeholders who want the situation to linger and animosity to fester on as it allows them to align their purses.

Jay it is sad to see you tarnish all Pakistanis under the brush of pretence and ill-feeling. Where are the virtues of critical objective open-mindedness ?

Scout tongue twisters can be pleasurable at times, though in your chivalrous contemplation do bear in mind the underlying message behind this discussion: namely the suffering of innocent people in Delhi, and not literary terms of phrase.

Hamid M, speaking of “candles being burnt at both ends” now coincidence along with a tweety bird whispereth into my ear that you are one of the editors at Chowk ! Well glad to witness that you have scrutinised that article as well! Your sudden interest in literary critique, with or without samina or Omar is quite startling and your ingenuity startles the best of us…sheer brilliance. Would love to see one of your articles published some day. A plea from your avid fan ?

Dot Sahib excellent powers of grammatical observation ! Seems we have another “cunning linguist” amongst the ranks.

Now Jung here is a puzzle for your ever-prodigious mind: guess where “Elegant” Elliot Offen got those clothes from in the first place ? Those skeletons are coming out of your closet now aren`t they ? You are an avid reader of Howard Stern publications ? Surely out of necessity and not choice ?
Calamitous Happy Diwali and Eid Mubarak to all readers,

Salim

Sorry I have to veer away from the topic at hand for a tad bit...How long have you been living in Istanbul for? Are you there on a diplomatic mission via the Foreign Service ? Which batch do you belong to? I`m originally from Galatasaray and Taksim. Are you a night owl ? If so I can advise you on the greatest clubs to go to visit.

Manny D

Great to see you on this board ! Don`t let self-annointed half-wits steer you away. You raise an interesting point about Turkish genes, since Turkey has been the cradle of civilisation where Eastern and Western cultures kaleidoscopically integrate; such co-existence is a necessary catalyst toward moderation. Or at least an attempt thereof.

Netizen

The answer to your question is that there are stakeholders who want the situation in Kashmir to linger and animosity to fester on as it allows them to align their purses.

Jay

It is sad to see you tarr all Pakistanis, lock stock and barrel, under the brush of pretence and ill-feeling. Where are the virtues of critical objective open-mindedness ?

Scout

Tongue twisters can be pleasurable, though language itself should never be deified. I just feel that since we are gifted with it there is no harm in granting it a poetic license. Many people find my style unsavoury but then again its not everyone`s cup of chai.

Scout in your chivalrous contemplation/sarcasm do bear in mind the underlying message behind this discussion: namely the suffering of innocent people in Delhi, and not literary terms of phrase to garner pitty.

Hamid M,

Speaking of “candles being burnt at both ends” now coincidence along with a tweety bird whispereth into my ear that you are one of the editors at Chowk ! Well glad to witness that you have scrutinised that article as well!

Your sudden interest in literary critique, with or without samina or Omar is quite startling and your ingenuity with the play of words is sheer brilliance. Elevated you are my student to the 9th grade. Would love to see one of your articles published here. What is holding you back Hamid ? Shyness is a virtue that ill-suits you. A plea from your avid fan ?

Dot Sahib

Excellent powers of grammatical observation ! Seems we have another “cunning linguist” amongst the ranks ! refreshingly a slightly more astute one this time...

Jang

Here is a puzzle for your ever-prodigious mind: guess where “Elegant” Elliot Offen got those clothes from in the first place ? Those skeletons are coming out of your closet now aren`t they ? You are an avid voyeur of Howard Stern publications ? Surely out of necessity rather than choice ?






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#90 Posted by sri on November 2, 2005 5:40:00 pm
#45 by hamidm2

`` personally, i see merit in only two of those charges : not having enough chemist shops and being butt-ugly ............ the rest, as they say, is all politics .............``

I always hated superficial things like politics and tried to escape it all the time. But the damn thing is chasing me everywhere. First I thought I should avoid superficially getting blown up during my next diwali shopping in india so I went to London. Then I realized that there is greater chance of getting blown up while riding the london subway ... so I left for Paris in the hopes of finding a nice french broad in a local bar. Little did I know that I may end up torched by the rampaging muslim mob..... damn superficial politics.

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listing 1-16   1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interact Index

    #105 rsridhar
    #104 mannyd
    #103 Salim_Chauhan
    #102 Salim_Chauhan
    #100 friend
    #99 kidbeegorilla
    #97 jay
    #96 jay
    #95 tahmed32
    #94 mannyd
    #98 Dash_Dot
    #92 soysauce
    #101 hamidm2
    #93 soysauce
    #91 OzerKhalid
    #90 sri
    #89 pmishra2
    #87 jay
    #88 hamidm2
    #86 Salim_Chauhan
    #85 mannyd
    #84 mannyd
    #83 Salim_Chauhan
    #82 mannyd
    #81 mannyd
    #80 Salim_Chauhan
    #79 kidbeegorilla
    #77 Salim_Chauhan
    #76 Salim_Chauhan
    #75 tahmed32
    #74 Salim_Chauhan
    #73 Salim_Chauhan
    #72 tahmed32
    #71 hamidm2
    #70 mannyd
    #69 mannyd
    #68 Salim_Chauhan
    #67 mannyd
    #66 mannyd
    #65 Salim_Chauhan
    #64 mannyd
    #63 Salim_Chauhan
    #62 mannyd
    #61 jang
    #60 Salim_Chauhan
    #59 Salim_Chauhan
    #58 Salim_Chauhan
    #56 Dash_Dot
    #55 Salim_Chauhan
    #54 Salim_Chauhan
    #57 Netizen
    #53 Dash_Dot
    #52 Dash_Dot
    #51 arjun_m
    #50 Dash_Dot
    #49 tahmed32
    #48 Dash_Dot
    #45 hamidm2
    #47 Dash_Dot
    #44 scout
    #43 scout
    #42 MantoLives
    #41 tahmed32
    #40 jay
    #39 jay
    #38 OzerKhalid
    #46 Netizen
    #37 jay
    #36 jay
    #35 mannyd
    #34 mannyd
    #33 jay
    #32 tahmed32
    #31 khamkhwa.
    #30 khamkhwa.
    #78 chowkstaff
    #29 hamidm2
    #27 soysauce
    #26 satyavadi
    #25 jay
    #24 Salim_Chauhan
    #28 hamidm2
    #23 jay
    #22 satyavadi
    #21 hamidm2
    #20 jang
    #19 kaurasach
    #18 satyavadi
    #17 Salim_Chauhan
    #16 kaurasach
    #15 hamidm2
    #14 Salim_Chauhan
    #13 arjun_m
    #12 mannyd
    #11 HP
    #10 MantoLives
    #9 satyamvada
    #7 MantoLives
    #8 Godot
    #6 jay
    #5 jay
    #4 Humsab
    #3 jay
    #2 jay
    #1 drlokraj

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