The Late Eid Present why did rozaiba need Rs.50 to buy lunch?? emphasis on ``Rs.50``.

My Beautiful Rizwan that was a powerful article..you made me cry lady!

Living Through War ``When my neighbor asked what I felt, I said something like I wanted to cry but crying wasn’t coming``. Admire the strong emotion in that sentence and the use of the crying-isn`t-coming theme in the entire article..very poignant.
Its true we are slowly becoming immune to these gruesome images because we actually see them now..
I am also very defensive and protective when it comes to Pakistan but I don`t feel responsible for the deeds of others. I am as much a member of ( the Canadian) society as the next person. wy should i be treated any different because of my nationality? Not everyone thinks Pakistan is all about extremists and for those who do, well, you can`t blame them but you can try and remedy some of their misunderstandings.
#6.huh? dare i ask how this became an india-pakistan issue?

Open Letter to Those Opposing the Iraq War some facts:
-bush is not the elected president; the election was a sham
-british raj is not the reason india is a democracy
-what about other nations that were colonies and at present are ideal examples of Undemocratic regimes?
-Christopher Columbus is honoured and glorified in the US -how do you justify Columbus` starting the slave trade and consequent genocide? thats the legacy of the americans
-why havent the americans been successful in introducing democracy in Afghanistan? they destroyed what little infastructure it had and faltered on their rebuilding commitments
-you say the anglosaxons are pioneers of development and democracy. How do you explain the extermination of native americans and aboriginal peoples that they are responsible for?

the ``wmd`` argument failed, they came up with ``regime change``, that faltered they invented ``Iraqi freedom``. The sad thing is people buy into these faulty notions.

Ich bin ein Mussulman great piece Mr.Ansari.. loved the title!

O Karachi Re:#15 ...my dear fellow karachiite , yes i pretty much relate to everything u said
````The wind in my hair in a rickshaw (Paindu but fun as hell) ````
why is travelling in a rickshaw considered paindu? maybe you have a definition of paindu...on one hand u said u wish u could change ````Women who can spend lifetimes in status symbols ````
and on the other u cannot say u relished travelling in a rickshaw without clarifying u considered it paindu.
Some of my fondest memories include rickshaws and buses...does that qualify me as a paindu?
Im sorry im not attacking u - just want to know the psyche behind this statement..

O Karachi #10:perhaps you should convey these statistics to the shias who have lost loved ones ... im sure they would appreciate it.

We should accept what has become of the karachi we all dearly love..
although Mr.Kazi`s musings seem to be of a ``prosperous`` nature , that used to be the very karachi which was not in the sorry state it is now. Although things never were perfect, no era beats the anarchy we see now. Among others, we have ZiaUlHaq and the mullahs to thank to a large extent for what karachi and infact Pakistan has become...
Nonetheless great piece ... takes one back to the good old days.

As the Bald Eagle Tries to Rule very powerful article, veeresh. Its almost like reading a memoir.Yes you have definitely lived a full life. The metaphors, and imagery is also very poignant. Couldnt stop reading till the last word and then too didnt want it to end!
I had no idea that the ruppee was ever that powerful.

My Two Pence on the W-word Great article Maryam. I think you just expressed what a large majority of us feel. The antiwar sentiment is ever growing and as others have already stated, you can still make yourself heard. The fact that rightwing newspapers are criticizing Dubya, and that Robin Cook resigned is further encouragement. I just wish the ``islamists`` see what a large number of Eurpoeons and Americans stood up to protest against the war and acknowledge that the West is not homogenous.

Pakistan The Land of the pure - A Myth or Reality its easier to criticize than to do something about Pakistan and its many evils.. yes we have alot to complain about but there is alot we can do too.
We have a large number of educated, dedicated, serious people that want to work for the betterment of their country rather than sit back , complain and bask in their apathy. Perhaps we should look to them for inspiration..
One can start anywhere; improving literacy, to me seems the most essential component towards prosperity and eradication of the evils we see.Join NGO`s - support them , volunteer...unfortunately thats all we can do being so far away from the country itself...
padfonline.com is one such organization.
Its about time we stopped complaining.

Mrs. Ashfaque Munir’s Resentment I just feel its very unfortunate that middleaged Pakistani couples(and i say Pakistani because Ive seen only Pakistani couples) give up on love,communication and affection. I dont think ``all talking is done in the first three years``...but then again marriage is more of an obligation than a quest for companionship and love...patta nahi it just depresses me how people give up trying.
Alot of these couples stay together for the sake of their children, not realizing how much that very fact affects their children..i guess its the alternative too.I mean if they get out of their relationship they face the wrath of the ``society`` , lack of money, security, custody of kids etc etc. It kind of like a catch22..To me Mr.andMrs Munir sound like one of these couples thus the reflection.

The New Jews alas we find ourselves in an India Vs. Pakistan debate again!
Pakistanis should accept that their govt. and people(and i refer to the extremists here) are seriously warped. Somethign needs to be done about these people who not only preach hatred against nonmuslims but as said before against anyone thats nonwahabi - shias, ahmadiyas,boris,agakhani`s etc ie their fellow pakistanis. And India has its share of extremists too. We are just a minority in our countries.The illiteracy of the masses has further encouraged the fundoos to brainwash them with their flawed theories of jehad etc.its about time we did something.Noone protests the shia killings or the ostrasizing of the ahmedis.we just sit apathetic and despondent

The New Jews Very thought provoking..
In the aftermath of 9/11, the phenomenon of ``moderate muslims`` and ``extremist muslims`` has surfaced. I dont think the americans are as quick to judge as we may believe they are. Most of the antiwar protestors were white americans and that may not allude to any liking of Pakistanis but it certainly shows they question. I think most people are aware that moderate muslims exist. Hell atheist, gay muslims exist. Whenever i am asked what i am , i simply say im pakistani. Yes i get
``you survived?`` and ``oh`` replies but hey my countrymen havent made me proud have they? and i accept that, but i dont feel guilt or embarassment because i have nothing to feel guilty and embarrassed about.
extremists were flourishing in Pak. before 9/11 - although the MMA has come to power consequent to that, 9/11 has affected us favourably because of the crackdown on jehadi`s.Now they arent as free to go kill in the name of jehad as they were. The shia killings havent stopped but lessened.

The Headless Chicken Returns I have to say the first headless chicken artice was more amusing..but there were nuances in this piece that left their mark...
I think we are in delusion if we believe guns dont play a major role in paksitani daytoday life.The armed bodyguards, the vaderas, the daciots -the list goes on. The fact that people need armed guards goes to show there are others out there that possess the means of harming (read killing) them ie guns. So the problem is the guns. Pakistan is no gunfree pretty country and lets accept that. Things havent improved since the coming of our saviour general..it just seemed so at the beginning...infact things are pretty much the same, if not worse. khaki power .
Jay, what documentary is this that you talk about? is it possible to get it in north america?

In Search of Peace and Flowers #10 - couldnt agree more with Saminasha(#14)Ignorance is bliss as they say..
wonder what you thought of Secretary Powell`s plagiarised document?
The ``Jihadistan`` you refer to, why the ``istan`` may i ask? that seems to be a highly biased opinion..
The fact that ``moderate`` muslims want to participate in peace rallies just irks you rightwing people because you want the world to think we all believe in killing all nonmuslims and we`re just binladen`s with masks.. well I for one have an opinion and I love the west and tolerance and marches and democracy and right to voice my opinion and if people like you want to think that its all an act - well go right ahead! The rallies will continue and I will continue to participate. You know they were effective in the vietnam war and all these ppl making noise is bound to make you and yr precious president incomfortable.So be it!

Forty Winks I totally agree with temporal..
this was exquisite! the concept of the dreamcatcher reminds me of minority report for some reason. Quite unique. You write very well, i could picture all of it which is always a good sign..