Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan #205 by zeemax

Arey nahin bhai! They say ‘bud namon budnam bura’ aap tau hamein nankurda gunahon ki bhi saza dey rahey hain. Khuda ka khof keejeyay.

The Dispatches On War: Part X The most interesting aspect of this period’s European history for me is its impact on the fortunes of the Ottoman Turks. Greece to attain its independence from Turkey employed a very interesting maneuver. The Greek rebels to get British support bid for a British prince as their King. They called upon Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, the widower of the heiress to the British throne, Prince Charlotte, but it was not to be Leopold opted to become King of Belgium instead, another new creation.

Unlike Muslim lands where the King represented the essence of the people unless he had attained the title through conquest. The King’s loyalty was to himself, his family and his country and that is where he drew his legitimacy, through force of arm and the ability to control territory. That was not the case in Europe, to be the ruler, the king and have legitimate authority over the people you needed to be of royal blood. Which meant that king of one country married the princess of another and before you knew it all the royal families of the various countries ended up being the same family. That did not usher in an era of peace and tranquility, countries continued to fight each other based upon their interests, but for the people what it did do was to make the loyalty of the prince or the king suspect. A king who hardly knew the language let alone the traditions of his adopted land how could he be trusted to look out for its interests. To complicate matters further, this was an era of absolute monarchy. There was only one republic in the world (that being USA) and only one constitutional monarchy (Britain) rest of Europe was ruled by Kings who believed in the divine right of Kings.

Great Powers were busy manipulating little ones, knew countries were being created and their crowns hawked out and when they ran out of princes they gave it ‘gentlemen’ even those with out title. In the end, nearly the whole of Europe was ruled by a single royal family, mostly made from the Austrian Habsbergs.

The Dispatches On War: Part X I am afraid that I have not read the previous dispatches on war, but I did go through the painstaking process of reading this whole piece. It reminds me of the time when I read a book on Balkan history (during the Bosnian crisis). My attempt was a complete failure; who was doing what to whom? I didn’t know any of the players, any of the issues nor did I know their aims. From a desi’s point of view, this is pretty obscure history with very little relevance to us. I wish Feroz sahib had connected some dots so that we could appreciate it a little better.

Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan #187 by zeemax

“he is quite ignorant of historical facts.”

I do not disagree, I wish I had your reservoir of knowledge. Hum to danishjoo hain aap jaisay danishvaroon say seekhna chahtay hain. Please don’t be stingy. Please also feel free in pointing out any inconsistencies that you find, because I definitely wasn’t there so whatever I gather is from written sources, I’d love to know yours as well.

Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan #185 by Urstruly

“only AAFFTTEERR Americans invaded those countries and/or interferred in their delicate social balance”

Delicate social balance as it exists ….……where?

Muslim lands have been tyrannized for centuries. The Ottoman Turks were hated by the Arabs from Hijaz on to Egypt and all places in between. It has always been one tyrannical regime after another, the only safety for the common man was in staying out of their paths. This was replaced by colonialists who exploited them in different ways. After colonialism we have again regressed back into the tyrannical regimes of the past. What would you say is the difference between King Hussein of Jordan who installed his son as king and Hafiz ul Assad of Syria who installed his son as President. Other Arab countries are poised to follow this example. Pakistan has become successively intolerant to the point where now every body hates everybody and we are ready to have a clash of everything. Iran exploded 30 years ago and has ended up with worse repression. Is there any end to our nightmare? Do we have a right to liberty, to justice to happiness? Or that is reserved for us in the hereafter.

The 4 point agenda – has to do with the criteria by which you judge the importance of any regime, nation or power on the world stage. Other then Britain and to some extent Khilafat lets says from Harun Rahid’s time to Tartaric invasions and Pax Romana from Augustus to about 300 years after him would fulfill this criteria of power on a world stage.

Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan #171 by Urstruly

Had it been that America’s claim to notoriety (fame) been restricted to hegemonic enterprises, it would have long been relegated to the same fate as other tyrants of history like the Soviet Union, or Attila or Chengiz Khan. America matters because it leads the world in 4 key areas of power.

1- Economically.
2- Militarily.
3- Technologically.
4- Culturally.

Believe me I feel badly for our brethren who are facing the brunt of the war on terror, but you know even without America we have already deteriorated to the point of the big explosion - that we are ready to kill each other. Tyrant against populous, Shia against Sunni, Muslim against minority whether Ahmedi, Bahai, Christian or whatever, poor against rich, feudal lord against tenant, army against civilian, ethnicity Baluch against Punjabi, Kurd against Arab – sometimes I wonder that chowkies if they could reach through their computers would kill other chowkies who they consider vajibul qutl. I think it is we who need a major overhaul.

Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan TALKING ABOUT SURVEYS:
World opinion on America goes from bad to worse.

What about world opinion of lets say China? ……….Why!
World opinion of Pakistan? …………………Where is it?
World opinion of Russia? …………………….Who cares.

First of all the validity of the surveys in all these lands is dubious, because of data manipulation. Next there is nothing worth reporting as nobody gives a damn. Only surveys are about America, because America matters. It is like that beacon of light, that town shining on the hill, that last hope of mankind. So whenever America falters, makes a mistake, everybody is on it, most of all America itself. From Washington DC to Tokyo, from Cape Town to Reykjavic – ask anybody and they will have an opinion (albeit a strong one) about George Bush, about America and about the Oscars.

Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan #62 by Urstruly

MORI KI EENT

I think you have touched upon a very important point about a society’s “ugly underbelly”. Your statement about a parent being that “mori ki eent” is also valid, mainly because the care of the young has to be considered paramount. Those who are impressionable, who are still going through the process of discerning right from wrong have to be shielded from all these influences, which look enticing and interesting but are in fact harmful for them.

But what about adults should they be shielded as well? Here I whole heartedly disagree with the concept of ‘big brother’, purdhan, maulana, field marshal, the Good Book, any body. This is a direct challenge to our liberty which God in his infinite wisdom has made the birth right of each and every individual. We as individuals have every right to go ahead and hurt ourselves if we so choose. Freedom to fail is the most cherished freedom; it is not freedom to succeed.

So how do we make individuals who are going to have such complete freedom become responsible adults? This is the challenge of any education system (home environment included) which has to be an informative nourishing environment, which gives children a solid foundation in morality and gently exposes children to greater freedoms and the ability to make their own decisions in a balanced careful manner.

Pandora Box of Television in Pakistan #39 by Urstruly

``Anyway, on one fine day our group was passing through the galli with our lowered gazes``

You see with this statement you made mama proud! Shurufa kay lurrkay bhi lurrkian hotay hain.

Why Have This Train At All? #187 by queen_cut&paste

MONEY:

I hope that you get to that stage in your existence when money is not the end all for you. Your realism is only restricted to a level of prosperity. If you happen to believe that you have the best you can eat, clothe, home, car etc. you will get to the limit of wealth very quickly. Remember! You cannot sleep in 2 beds, drive 2 cars, eat 2 steaks, shit in 2 bathrooms, or screw 2 women. Everything beyond one is ego.

But the point is what keeps those who have achieved this level of prosperity going? Is it purely ego which makes a Premji or Warren Buffet go to work every day? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to just cash in the billions when the timing is right? As far as I understand Buffet who lives an utterly Spartan existence does it just because he loves doing it. He cant think of a better thing to do then what he is doing even if he wasn’t getting paid to do it.

Feeling the pain for another human being, has everything to do with the morals that we grew up and the habits that we have formed. I often wonder why when Sunami hits, or there is drought in Somalia or genocide in Rwanda, we don’t look at or expect a country like Saudi Arabia or Libya or China to do anything about it. Of course it is the West that we look at because it is in their moral code that such help is warranted where as China or Taiwan or Libya who are equally capable would get a free pass.

The YouTube Baby #24 by Urstruly

Arey yar aysay kaisay ho sukta hai. The dialogue with Uthman comes a little later, and this is how that went.

Muawiyah wrote to Uthman, “Abu Dharr has become a problem for me, and his case has involved such and such matters”. Uthman wrote him, “Verily dissension has protruded its snout and eyes and is poised to jump. Do not scrape the scab, but rather dispatch Abu Dharr to me. Send a guide along with him, give him adequate provisions, and treat him gently. Restrain the people and yourself as far as you can, for you will keep control (of affairs) so long as you keep control of yourself.”

So Abu Dharr was sent to Medina and when he came, Uthman said, “Abu Dharr, why are the Syrians complaining about the wounds inflicted by you?” Abu Dharr informed him how it was improper to say “God’s property,” nor was it proper for the rich to grasp after wealth. Uthman responded “Abu Dharr, I must carry out my own obligations and take what is owed by the subjects. I cannot compel them to be ascetics; rather, I am required to summon them to heed God’s commandments and to follow the path of moderation.” Then Abu Dharr said, “Then permit me to leave, for Medina is no home for me.”

The YouTube Baby The importance of being bearded:

The beard is not a personal choice of form like an ear ring, it is a political statement, a legitimacy, a sanction from God and all that is righteous. The gentleman if he had asked the same questions without invoking God and bringing in the inviolable word of the Quran to which nobody (at least in that audience) could question, that makes it coercive. This has been the hallmark of how every side has exploited Islam for their own ends. I have an interesting example:

It was in the time of Hadrat Uthman, when Amir Muawiyah as the governor of Syria proclaimed that “the public moneys are God’s property”. Abu Dharr (an ascetic) came to Muawiyah and said, “what leads you to use the term ‘God’s property’ for the public moneys of the Muslims?”

“God be merciful to you, Abu Dharr,” responded Muawiyah, “are we not God’s slaves, the public moneys His property, the created world His creation and public authority His authority”.

Abu Dharr said, “Do not use this expression.” He continued, “indeed, I do not say that (the public moneys) do not belong to God, but I shall call them ‘the property of the Muslims.’”

Of course the result can be predicted Abu Dharr was expelled from Syria back to Medina for causing fitna and was questioned by Uthman upon which he self exiled himself to living outside of Medina.

Education Reform: Signs of Hope Myth Mongering:

India sonay ki chirrya – refers to the fact that the Golconda diamond mines had the reputation through out the world for their riches. This in addition to gold mines made India very wealthy according to pre-industrial standards. The wealth in India was measured in terms of hiray jawahirat and eating in gold plates and drinking out of gold goblets. But beyond this it was not so great. Muslin, cotton fabric, and a variety of other manufactured products could fetch good prices, agriculture production, double harvests (both summer and winter crops), spices was perhaps all that was produced. The British came to India for spices but ended up trading in manufactured goods from India as the spices they were looking were in the East Indies.

The first battle of Panipat was fought in 1526 and Babur was proclaimed Emperor of India establishing the Mughal empire in India. He defeated Ibrahim Lodhi a muslim ruler also of Pathan – Afghan descent. (Good, very good – establish strong Muslim rule in India) He looted pillaged, subdued whoever came in his path Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and carved out a kingdom in Northern India.

From 1499-1599 Portuguese establish trading colonies in Goa and Surat, along with other colonies through out the Indian Ocean establishing a monopoly for all trade from the East to Europe. The local rajas oblivious to the external world used their services in petty disputes with rival rajas. The Dutch supplanted the Portuguese and in turn were supplanted by the British. But this was essentially a trading venture. The Dutch East India Company was formed through common stock sale and the crown refused to partake considering the venture to be too risky, only concession made was that the company was allowed to carry the Dutch flag and employ troops to protect its property in the colonies, which of course were always in danger of being attacked by the Portuguese or local potentates. The British East India Company fashioned itself on the Dutch model and ended up being much more successful then all of the colonists.

Akbar 1556 -1605 abolished jizya, tolerated diversity and ushered in an era of unparalleled prosperity in India. Only to be supplanted by his great grand son Aurangzeb 1658 – 1707 who re-imposed the jizya, resumed destruction of Hindu temples and caused such anger and discontent that the whole empire disintegrated. The Mughal Empire never reached the southern coast of India, and other then sending pilgrim ships to Mecca did not participate in any sea trade.

The invaders from the North who came a hundred years earlier we celebrate while the traders who became rulers from the South we continue to lament.

By early 18th century India was back in its traditional shape of being ruled by local potentates always at war with their neighbors. Whereas the rulers lived in relative luxury the teaming masses (India even then was over populated) lived in abject poverty. Victorian Britain was full of poverty as well, which is so vividly portrayed in the writings of Charles Dickens. The early industrial revolution had been so rough on the working class that it prompted the theories of Marx and Engel about a workers revolution. But still John Stuart Mill was so appalled by the scenes of abject poverty that he saw in India that he wrote something to the effect that religion and custom had so destroyed the spirit of a people that there was no parallel in history. Poverty until the advent of the industrial revolution was universal, the whole world was poor it was only rare pockets where people had roti, kuprra and mukaan. Colonialism, industrialization was bringing prosperity to the British masses, this phenomena prompted Adam Smith to write his book “Wealth of Nations” in which he tried to study the reasons for the relative prosperity of some nations as compared to others.

But the real asset that India had and which elevated India’s position as the ‘jewel in the crown’ was its compliant work force. A huge mass of humanity, which was smart and willing to be trained and mobilized for any cause. The British used Indians as their surrogates all over the world and this made them a huge empire and in the process lifted Indians as well. India got its telegraph, railways, school system, universities, news papers a lot before any of its erstwhile neighbors and many European countries as well.

Did Britain help or hurt India, we will continue to debate that till kingdom come but fact remains that it was not even one percent of them and more then 99 percent of us who they had submit to their will. Could they do it without our help, I don’t think so.

Education Reform: Signs of Hope #63 by SR

I think that this is a very valid debate. It seems that there is a chance that we get a progressive basis for education in Pakistan, but there are folks who lament that the new system is alien to our society and so long as it is being imposed from the outside it would never work. This is a very valid and worthwhile point which needs to be debated extensively. What I am concerned though is that all the liberals, agnostics, atheists and apostates have crowded out the mullahs, muftis and jihadis from chowk. It serves no purpose if fear of ridicule would prevent anyone from expressing their viewpoint fully; this is not good for anyone.

Education Reform: Signs of Hope Defence housing societies:

The army claims the choicest land for its schemes, which they are able to obtain at next to nothing prices. They are able to subvert the government to provide all the services like sewer, electricity, water, telephone, internet, parks and the other myriad of infrastructure items which are essential for setting up a successful community at bargain basement prices or nothing for their scheme. More over with their dunda they can ensure that everything gets completed on time. Of course the top brass gets the plots at 2 cents on a dollar, which they cash in.

Why its wrong is that, no private entrepreneur has this ability. They have to pay through the nose for the land and all the services. Fact of the matter is that nearly all such private firms who are in the property development business nowadays employ retired colonel and brigadier sahibs as “liaison officers” to interact with the bureaucracy to facilitate getting services.

Education Reform: Signs of Hope #19 by colonel

Linguistics aside, why don’t you concentrate on answering Hamidm2’s real question?

All the General’s qualifications that you have so dutifully listed make him capable of running a Jihad in Afghanistan or Kashmir. If that is the aim of education for our new generation then God help Pakistan.