The Spirit of Pakistan is Failing Re: # 1

The spirit of Pakistan was not ``exclusivist``; it was a decision based upon FACTS as much as ideology. The creators of Pakistan did not want to create a state for Muslims because they were convinced of Muslim ``superiority`` or Hindu ``inferiority``, but because living together was NOT FEASIBLE for the two communities.
Had future generations of Pakistanis not terribly misconstrued it all, the reation of Pakistan SHOULD HAVE benefitted hindus AS MUCH AS Muslims of the sub-continent..

The Spirit of Pakistan is Failing The pakistan spirit... in my opinion, that is epitomized in Jinnah`s words:`` Justice, fair-play, impartiality.`` This messae has been most brutally manipulated; so much so,in fact, that it now exists merely in the form of words- it is absent from the hearts. Why? Maybe because now,there are no more ``Pakistanis`` as Jinnah envisioned them- there are only people leeching off whatever Pakistan has to offer, never feeling an ounce of gratitude. Why, then should there be a ``Paksiatn spirit``?

Which Islam? Re#41:
I`d disagree. Scientific evolution is FAR more important than ``social`` evolution....It wouldn`t be to cool living in a world full of saints insisting that the world is flat!! Progress in science truly portrays how far humanity as a whole has reached... That, in my opinion, is more important than ``arts and humanities``

Which Islam?
I can`t quite agree with the crux of your article. The way I see it, you seem to be saying that being a staunch Muslim inhibits one`s intellectual potential - I`d disagree...
The Quran is rife with quotations urging one to learn, to discover, to invent. During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), an entire section of the Masjid-e-Nabvi was devoted to books and knowledge upon all conceivable subjects. According to islam, an educated person is far superior to an uneducated one. Therefore, if one follows Islamic injunctions, it becomes incumbent upon them to LEARN.

Yet I agree with you when you say that we should ``accept modernity``. Being a Muslim should not mean that we shut ourselves away from the modern world- rather, it should be embraced, as only this will ensure that we MOVE FORWARD.Again, being Muslims should not act as a barrier in this regard...


Oh, and as for the ``Which Islam?`` question- I believe that one should practice Islam- or any other religion, for that matter- in accordance with ONE`S OWN views. Following schools of thoughts which have been made by others only creates problems, confusion, misconceptions...

India-Pakistan talks: the endless cycle Re: # 56

``So in your opinion it is a good thing that minorities i.e non Muslims are NOT ALLOWED to have an organisation of their own.``

Misunderstood. What I meant was there is no ANTI non-Muslim organization in Pakistan. Such as Hindtva in India...

Confessions of a She-Driver Re: # 18
Rationalize all you like, the fact remains that you twisted, manipulated yet another article to yuor purpose... dubbing Pakistan as a ``Jihadi roost``.

India-Pakistan talks: the endless cycle Re: # 47
Touche!!!
Now THAT would be a good idea... maybe when we`ve progressed in more important matters, we can settle this increasingly-frustrating dispute...

India-Pakistan talks: the endless cycle Re: # 37

1937-1939... the state of affairs during those wo years is BY NO MEANS the only exapmle of Hindu-Muslims tussles. What makes it worth mentioning is the fact that this was the time when Congress-a major political party- actually lent its support to Muslim-baiting.

And despite the statistics, you haven`t really mentioned Hindutva, have you?
In pakistan, at least, there is no official non-Muslims organization...

India-Pakistan talks: the endless cycle To a number of people yakking away here...

The two nation theory was anything BUT a flawed idea. The situation in India had reached a dead-lock, a complete stand-still. Communal riots were rampamnt, almost a day-to-day affair.The differences between the Hindus and the Muslims were simply far too great for any sort of compromise to be reached bwteen the two.. by any stanndrad of international law, the two were different naions with separate rights.

But arguing the two nation theory now is analogous to a dog chasing its tail... Pakistan has been created, and there`s not much India can do about it. Our respctive countries are stuck with each other as neighbours... all we CAN change is how we treat each other. Mired down by an ancient hate, we may very well go around spawning war and carnage. OR we may finaly join the 21st century and accept each other.

The first step would be to REFRAIN FROM GENERLAIZATIONS!! All pakistanis are not wacko terrorists... all Indians are not Muslims-haters.

Then, and only then, can peace be attained.

India-Pakistan talks: the endless cycle Re: # 23
``...the whole rationale of creating Pakistan was that it is impossible for one Muslim to be equal to one “non Muslim” (a term whose definition is constantly being loosened now as those proverbial creatures become extinct in that land)..``

Oh come on now! You could at least be factually correct before shooting your mouth off!
Just so you know, Pakisan was created to protect Muslims from the cast-ridden, houlier-thdn-thou Hindus of the time. It was a result of years of persecution at the hands of the Hindus... remember Congress rule of 1937?
Even then, Pakistan was the las resort- up till 1940, Jinnah and a number of other Muslim leaders were demanding constitutional safeguards WITHIN A UNTIED INDIA. When the bigotry of the Hindus refused even this- then and only then- was the creation of Pakistan seen as a viabe option. It was not Muslim superirority which led to paksitan- it was the Hindus` lust for power and domination.
And as for non-Muslims becoming ``extinct``... with perfect confidence, I can claim that their lot is FAR better than that of Muslims in India. I need only say ``Hindutva``- and everything becomes clear as day!

That said, I still belive that peace-talks are the only way to... well, peace. Contrary to what a number of Indians here on Chowk believe, Pakistanis DO want peace! And I believe Indians ( not the ones on Chowk, but those who suffer becouse of them) want it too.

Of course,if you`d much rather blast a few bombs, kill a few Pakistanis- whom you insist on calling pakis- I wouldnt` be surprised...

India-Pakistan talks: the endless cycle Re: # 1
There you have it! A walking, talking example of why these peace-talks fail! It`s pretty darn easy to close your eyes, block your ears and point the finger, isn`t it? Why bother with rationality when you can be stubborn?

This article is both reasonable and articulate... which probably explains why you refuse to read it. If Pakistan and India are to ever grow up and shrug off their ageless hate, people such as the author must be brought forward while those of the bjkumar type should shut their traps and get out of the way...

Confessions of a She-Driver Re: # 6
``... it is pak city, it where the jihadis come roost.``

OH PUR-LEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!! Enough of this ``evil Paki``, ``evil Muslim`` s**t! If you have an issue with Pakistan, I don`t mind you saying whatever you want about it... but keep it to relevant topics, ok? This article, if you bothered to read beyond the fact it was based on Karachi, is about DRIVING!!!
JUST WHERE did Jihad come in?

Confessions of a She-Driver It`s not just karachi- female drivers in Lahore could do with a couple of lessons in self-confidence too!!!!
A moron I once knew said that the most hillarious thing in the world was slamming into a female`s car. His explanation- `` they look like scared babies, step out and actually hand over the keys!``

C`mon women- GET A LIFE.

Educate Because You Can Re: # 7

Unfortunately, the answer would have to be yes.
And I can understand why you might call it child labour... but if the parents don`t get money, they`ll take her somewhere else anyway... and, unfortunately, it is not economically feasible to hire another one for the work while paying Tahira too.

Educate Because You Can Zeena and Okhla99:
thanks!!

The only reason illiteracy is so rampant in Pakistan and other Third World countries is that PEOPLE SHIRK THEIR RESPONSIBILTY! If all of us taught a single child in our lives, it WOULD make a difference.

Religious Conservatism and Science Very, very intelligent article. It shows how, despite everything we may say about this being a technologically-advanced age, the average individual still finds the idea of futher advancements in science nothing short of intimdiaing.
On my own behalf, I would like to say that science must not be hamepred. That is what makes us human... the quest for knowledge, the use of reasoning and logic to cross all boundaries. Where is this better exemplified than in research?

And as for the ``morality`` argument- it is simply outmoded. Had Galileo been such a myopic person...where would we be now? If Einstein had stopped to fret over how he might lead to the creation of an atomic bomb, where would science have been?
It is the job of the scientist to explore...how their discoveries are put to use is the forte of the public. It is there that the narrow-minded may preach.