Intellectually Stimulated

2006-12-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

ONE DOUBLE DOUBLE WITH A CREAM CHEESE BAGEL:

I work in the middle of Downtown Toronto amidst the hustle and bustle of the economics of this metropolitan city. Taking the public transportation everyday makes me realize how different of a lifestyle exists in a giant city such as Toronto compared to Edmonton. Running to the bus stop every morning. Fumbling with the change in my wallet to find enough money for a trip on the subway to work.
The clickitty clack of heels walking to the counters at the subway, the smell of coffee, the "metro" stacked for those who want to know the latest gossip of the city and the running to the train door. People listening to music on their IPods and watching movies on their cell phones. Getting out of the subway and running to Timmy's for a quick bite.
This is the start to the common man's day in Toronto. As is it mine.
Just wantd to write about this...

2006-11-30T17:15:00.000-08:00

The IPod Generation? Why the Obsession?

Having a degree in Information Technology and having taken courses in the sociological impact of technology on humans, i have started to pay close attention to the emerging trends in technology. The sales of one new "technology" based toy is the ipod. I call it a toy because it reminds me of a remote control i had when i was a kid which came with my children's boombox. The sleek exterior and the various colors that it is available in as well as the amount of memory that each one comes in make it such an 'in thing' these days. Not only the so-called tech savvy generation is motivated by the sellers to keep an ipod, the number of extensions and formats of files that it can play make it easier for everyone to save their important files in it. Also, there are courses being offered where the lectures are available in a format used only by the ipod. Whether it is the nano or the regular ipod it is catering to the needs of everyone. As once the laptop had replaced the desktop to emerge as the new way to communicate which provided you with portability. The same goes for the IPod and instead of having to carry a case for all the cds that you have, the ipod replaces them all to fit a maximum of 40000 songs. I look around myself on the subway everyday and i realize that people have become dependent on the music and the videos to keep themselves busy. The rest will come soon...

2006-11-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

"In the Line of Fire" - Fact or Fantasy?

I have not been good at keeping up with the blogging for the past 6 months or so. However, i will try and update this more frequently now. It so happens that I got engaged and also got a new job which take up most, if not all, of my time.
Recently i read a book...a biography of sorts. The author incidently is the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Out of all the biographies that i have read in my life, i must say this was one of the worst ones written. The language is child-like. The sentences often times dont even make sense. It appears to have been dictated to someone sitting with a thesauras in their hands who kept on searching for the synonyms of the words that the President wanted to use. The book also tries to justify every wrong that the man has done. Everything that he let others do in his country.
Things that really bothered me about the book or the incidents that i believe to have been falsely represented or merely 'misrepresented' would be the operation in WANA, the defaming of AQ, the education system, the Mukhtaran Mai incident and the ignoring of the comments he made in the US about rape victims in Pakistan and the job market. Although i must admit that Pakistan under the regime of Pervez Musharraf has become liberal, albeit too liberal at times. Even though i have witnessed the lifestyle of the so called upper class society, yet even the people i have been brought up with cannot think of watching Pakistani television with their families.
The President was all praise for himself and the people around him. He kept on drilling the point that he was attacked by terrorists and suicide bombers. However, did he realize how many he has killed with the inflation and the prices for houses which have gone up manyfolds. I have been told in the past few years that the bubble is about to burst and that the prices will come down however i have not witnessed any such trend yet.
Now coming back to the style of writing that he has chosen. It has been written in the first person as almost all autobiographies are, i have read some which werent and which let the person form an opinion by themselves. This autobiography leaves no room for interpretation. It reads like a lecture which tries to encourage you to sing praises in the name of the President. It is like a fairytale which might be read as a magical tale, however, the truth remains that all is not that well in Pakistan. The nation has become divided on some very important matters of both foreign affairs as well as domestic affairs. The inflation has gone up and yet the wages of the average joe havent. The problem remains that the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep on trying to make ends meet. As for the middle class, it has been reduced to a few thousand families. It has almost been wiped out.
All in all i thought that the book read like a children's fantasy novel. Right now, i would differ with the President on quite a few matters. Inshallah i will be able to say otherwise the next time that proper elections that held in Pakistan and God only knows when that will happen.
Till then...all I can do is hope and pray for my country.

2006-04-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

A Trip

Today when we were coming home from a town an hour away from our place, the distance seemed shorter coming back then it seemed going to that place. It seemed like the journey back passed in an instance. When I voiced my opinion to everyone sitting in our car, my aunt very wisely said: " Just like life it takes 9 months to come to the world... and an instance to go back,"

2006-04-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Uncertainity

Looking from the inside out
Thinking
Wondering if things will
Ever be the same again
The things that happened
Those which were beyond your power
Who was it that did everything?
Why had things happened the way they did?
Was it possible for you to undo any of it?

Thinking and knowing
Become the two polar opposites
One aligned with the other
Never meeting

You go through life
One day at a time
Is this how it was meant to be?
Where will everything lead?
Why is everything unfolding this way?
Give it thought
But only if you
Can accept the truth
If you can't
Let it be
Either
Or
End these thoughts

You wonder
Can life be so unfair?
Can you handle life's pains?
Can you handle the frustrations
That periodically are sent your way?
Why go the way when you know
You are going to lose
Everything that you built
In years
That you know everything that you saved
And you cherished
Will be taken away from you
One day
Why go the way
That the only light at the end of this tunnel is
That of
Uncertainities!

2006-04-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Instability of A Person's mind

Some thing that i find quite fascinating remains to be the instability of a person's mind. I am not talking about some sort of mental imbalance, on the other hand i am actually talking about the instability of a sane mind. Emotions that God or Allah or which ever higher being you believe in have given to man we misuse. It seems to me that the insecurities of a person come out in an odd and bizarre manner if they are not controlled or channelled towards a higher or more significant goal. Emotions such as anger, love, sadness, pride, hatred, compassion can ruin and run a person's life if they are not kept in check. Once you lose control over the way your emotions come out, you essentially lose control over yourself. After that vital point it makes no difference whether you are of a sane mind or not. After this point, a person tends to do the most prosaic things, things that one might never in normal circumstances expect of that person.
This might explain fanaticism to some degreee. What fanaticism essentially is, is a feeling of devotion gone astray. A person who believes in a particular monotheistic religion worshipping a higher being feels that he has been given all the finer things in life because he was good in his life. Something goes wrong and people start to say that he is being punished for what ever reason, then the person feels compelled to prove to himself, those talking about him and his family but the most important being the higher power. Then the only way it seems to him that he can prove his loyalty is though extreme devotion and this is where people can take advantage of him because at this time the person is vulnerable. Although i have not taken into account the various other aspects that might have pushed the person towards fanaticism, yet for the purpose of this discussion i took a stance which was extreme and the case made painfully simple and obvious.
Another extreme emotion that honestly scares me is hatred. It might just start from a simple dislike or some prejudice that a person might hold due to what ever reason and that feeling goes so out of hand that the person commits a crime such as murder, rape or kidnapping. The fear that that instills in people's minds drives them to hold licenses to guns that keep the vicious circle going. Now for the person who commits the crimes, his life might have been messed up itself. It might be the case that the person had a disturbed childhood or that the person went through something similar. For instance: the belief that all brown people were slaves to the white folk. This is a belief that some rednecks in London, England might hold. The resentment set in the south east asians minds about this particular period of slavery leads to the fights and the murders between the gangs in London. Who will put an end to it? Neither parties are obviously proving the other one's prejudices false. Hence, in their minds theit beliefs even if they are incorrect will not falter and neither will they change.

2006-04-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

How big is your world?

Have you ever contemplated about the meaning of life? about the people you meet? about the things you do? Nature and what it means? I have read this in a lot of books and articles and even generally people believe that the world is round and that every 7th person you know is connected to you in some way. I did not maybe grasp this concept before but now that i look at my so called world at the present moment i am beginning to believe that. That and the fact that things really do happen for a reason. Some times when you least expect it things go your way or in some cases they really get messed up for you and you begin to believe that they will never work out again. Sometimes you meet someone another person is mentioned and a couple of months or years later, sure enough you meet the person. You do not realize the significance of the meeting then but later it all comes back to you.

More coming soon...am too sleepy to type :)

2006-04-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

More than Words or Mere Words?

Someone says something
You turn around and think
Why is it that the Words caught your attention?
You think to yourself
Was that about me?
Listening in on someone's conversation
Wondering
Have they been talking about you?
The things that people say
To your face
Behind your back
Do they bother you?
If they do
Why?
If they don't
Why not?
What they say about you
Is that true?
Are those
Facts
Rumors
Gossip
Perhaps?
A compliment here
A sarcastic remark there
A word of praise here
Another of contempt there
Why is it that they cannot make up their mind?
One person speaks
Others listen
Still More speak
Do they believe what they hear?
Why is it that Mere Words
Can
Haunt
Ruin
Damage
What one has built
Over years?
Why is it then that those Words
Seem to become More than Words
Why do people listen?
Those that spread these words
Will never know the
Pain
Agony
Torture
Of these Words
For those people
The question goes
Why, Those are Mere Words - Why do you take it as More than Words?
We just heard
And
Passed it on...
I pass on this message to you then
Think
Weigh
Contemplate
On the meaning of those words
You never know
When you might have to
Eat them
Or
Regret uttering them
Or
Suffer because of them
Wisen up!
Before it is too late

2006-04-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Humor and Depression

People try and hide behind their sense of humor. I have noticed that the people who are the funniest are those who are the most depressed or are suffering due to some major issue in their life. Most of the people I know have the same issues. They hide behind their humor. It is perhaps the easiest and the most convenient way of getting over your problems. A person can get over their problems without hurting anyone. I dont know why I was writing this but I enjoyed it I think...Only wish I wasn't this funny!!

2006-04-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Jealousy - Why it is a bad thing!

It seems to me that people want what they don't have or they can't have. The lack of something makes a person bitter, that might not always be the case but it seems to me that that is often times true for a person. I am definitely not one to get jealous of people but during the course of my trip I have come across so many issues brewing up within people that this topic has really become important to me. What extent can a person go to to make someone else miserable? Why is it that people seek revenge even if it is at the expense of the emotions of those close to you?
It annoys me to see that people take the help of their evil and conniving ways to get back at someone. Hate the politics that takes the lives of people over and make them take advantage of the weaknesses of other people.

2006-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Is Change Always A Good Thing?

Sometimes i wonder if things should stay the same way that they always have. Everyone complains in their life that they lead a very m0notonous life. Things are always mundane, ordinary or everyday for them. Nothing seems to excite them or their fancy anymore. However, when people and not things start to change, i sometimes question that change. I wonder if that change is the best thing for that person or for that bunch of people. Why is it that you do not notice the change in a person unless it is in your face. I think I myself have changed alot in the past couple of years, in some cases beyond recognition. Yet, no one really noticed until yesterday i realized that some people might not see me the same way that they used to. I am not certain if that is such a good thing. Okay, i seem to have drifted from my train of thought. I think i will finish this blog later when i have time. Right now i have way too many things on my plate.

2006-04-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

When you are low take a vacation - always helps :)

When ever you feel low, for what ever reason, you should take a break and go somewhere. It helps to change the envirnoment and to change your surroundings. Although I should warn you if you happen to be a desi or be travelling with a desi that they can never travel light so if this is the time you are planning on travelling light and one of the above two conditions holds true for you, forget travelling light. I am well versed in that subject matter, no matter how much i try and travel light, it never works. Then again, I have an excuse, i cannot help it if my afro hair needs a lot of taming which means taking products, weighing more than myself, everywhere. Anyways, I am not going to be blogging for a bit as you might have guessed I am going away for a bit. When I come back, i shall resume my infamous blogging. Until then, Catch up to what ever you might have missed. I am glad that after my surgery I get to have a nice change. If you are low because you did bad in your finals, didnt get a paycheck, lost a loved one, lost a job, lost your teeth, or lost your mind which actually might be the case because thats the only way you can explain being on my blog, do take a vacation and be sure to send me loads of pictures from your trip. Don't miss me too much...until we meet again asta la vista babies :)

2006-04-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

Desi people and humor - What a fascinating combination!

I find it quite fascinating to watch funny movies or shows that are made by desis (Brown people) and also to read humorous novels written by them. I just finished watching a video of the stand up comedian Russell Peters. I would love to actually attend one of his shows, the theme that fascinates me the most is the whole comparison of the so called FOBs (those Fresh Off the Boat) and the CBCDs(Canadian Born Confused Desis). Why is it that we never consider ourselves just desi? The accent, the food, the hair oil, the songs, the movies, the lack of people in normal occupations, the dramas and the drama queens of our culture always end up awe-inspiring people in the entertainment business to take these issues up. It seems like we are even stereotyped in North America. Name me one famous Brown actor in Hollywood and no i dont mean your mama's chacha's khala's neighbour's son's friend's dad whom you can see in a one second shot of time square in the background crowd. The only two i can think of, i know thats more than one, are Abu from The Simpsons and Sean Penn. First of all, Abu is not even a desi and as for Sean Penn, could you not come up with a more original name? What kind of a name is Sean Penn? As if we dont have enough Sean Penns. I am going to include a list of things produced by and made by or written by desis that i found hilarious and think that other people would enjoy as well:

MOVIES:
------------------
1. Flavors
2. American Desi
3. Where's the Party Yaar?
4. Bend It like Beckham

STAND UP COMEDY/SHOWS:
---------------------------------------
4. Anything by Russell Peters
5. Goodness Gracious Me

Books:
------------------
6. Life isn't all haha hehe by Meera Syal
7. Born Confused by Sorry i forgot the author's name

2006-04-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Theory of KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid!!

The Theory of Keeping Things Simple is the most important theory in today's day and age. Things have become so fast paced and very few people do not let the hustle bustle of their lives get to themselves or alter their personalities. Very few people are grounded in their personalities and although it is true that man is ever changing and ever evolving but the important thing is to change for the better. Most people like the finer things in life and there is no harm in that, however, what is imperative is that one should not become engrossed in making money, getting a good car, buying materialistic objects when their own lives are passing them by. One should learn to live their lives to the fullest. Enjoy each day as it comes and spend as much time with the people you love and care about and those who care about you. It is very difficult to find people who truly love you unconditionally in this day and age. Everyone eventually becomes busy with their own lives and do not have for someone else in their lives. I think i have diverged from the topic i was on but now i realize that it is important to know and learn these things before it is too late.

This post i will complete tonite :)

2006-04-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

Euphemisms

One of my pet peeves is people hiding behind their words. No matter what it is about a person would employ the most ambiguous words in the dictionary to escape from criticism and from having to deal with a situation. They would use words like "I wish things were different" which could easily mean " Thank God I don't have to deal with this anymore" or if you lose a job it is because "the level of competency was unacceptable", I don't understand what does the word competency really mean? and for that matter who determines what is being competent and what isn’t? A word that seems to bother a lot of people is the word "care". I was talking to a friend of mine today and we were discussing this exact problem. You care about the environment just like a contestant from a beauty pageant cares about "world peace". A guy cares about a girl but not in that sense, a doctor cares about his patient but maybe not as much as their bank account, a lawyer cares about the law but maybe not as much as winning. What does the word care mean? Who decides what it means? Why is it that all these words just become euphemisms for something that is difficult for a person to swallow? Following that train of thought, why would you give the name euphemism to a word which essentially means: The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. I would rather people what they mean. If you tell me I think that the entry you wrote in the blog today is not as refined as you could have made it. All you had to do was say that it was not good. When someone knows they are taking advantage of you by making you do their paper the day it is due when you have enough things to worry about yourself and tell you that you are a sweet and simple minded person, when what they really mean is that you are basically dumb and just had yourself used. I think I am taking the definition to an extreme level and maybe being a little dour and gruff about it, yet I think the topic calls for extreme measures. Now, for those of you not familiar with the euphemisms of the word harsh, dour and gruff are two of them. They sound like interesting foreign words but really hide something "harsh". I still hope though that somehow people will break the chain and start saying what they really mean because for simpletons like myself, there can be nothing more annoying then having to pick up a dictionary every single time someone decides not to break your heart by saying what ever they want to and instead resort to using euphemisms.

2006-04-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

Shattered Glass

One look at her
A fairy
The first time you see her
Made of Ice
Looking at her
Her eyes
You can see the pain within her
Her sorrow
The cries stiffled inside her
Her agony
Her fragile nature exposed to everyone around her
You walk to her
Trying to help
You hold her
Her weight rests on you
Without realizing it
Thinking that she is strong
You move away from her
As soon as you move
A scream pierces the silence
You turn around
Only to see her shattered into a million pieces
Only then do you realize
She was one who seemed made of ice
Held together
Strong and composed
When she was made from glass
Pure, unadulterated but breakable
No matter how much you try
You will never be able to put her together again
She will only remain
Broken into a million pieces

2006-03-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

Mujh ko dil se yehi shikaayat hai
Jo uss ko mil nahii sakhta woh us ke chahat hai
- From the Ghazal Shikaayat hai from the movie Jism

I think some ghazals and poetry that people sing and write so appropriately capture the feelings of a person. You can interpret it on so many levels. I had discussed one of my favorite ghazals before. I really love this one as well. I believe it captures a universal truth really well. The universal truth being that a person is never content with what they have. They always want something that they cannot have, no matter what it is. It could be anything from a person to an inanimate object. It's the heart that desires everything and no matter how much you try to convince yourself that you are better off without something the more you want it. This is exactly what leads to frustrated people and eventually leads them to mess either their own lives up or something that is important to them up. I really think that there should be a balance between what you want and what you can have.

Okay I don't know what i just blogged about :) I hope it made some sense. I feel like i m doing what kids in Pakistan are supposed to do in their Board Exams. I don't know what it is called in Urdu, but you are given a verse from a poem or a ghazal and are asked to write what you think is the meaning or the interpretation of it. I think that is exactly what some of my entries have begun looking like.

2006-03-30T20:03:00.000-08:00

Dilemma of a Brown Girl

You look at me
What is it that you see?
A girl
5'1 in stature
Her Color wheatish
(Always wondered about that!)
Correction
Choclate
Milk Choclate that is!
Sizing her up
Talking to her
Judging her intellect
Can you really tell in one meeting?
I wait impatiently
To be told to show my teeth
Jee...I brush my teeth every morning
and every night
With Close Up
Bujhay sirf pyaas baqii sab bakwaas
Oops sorry my bad
I think i got that mixed up with another ad
I hope when i am done with u u need aid
Medical that is...
And then the questions begin
Beta, Do you know how to cook?
Haan Auntie Jee, I do
Innocently thinking hey, my mom could always teach your son
Beta, Do you know how to do dholayee?
Sure, your son will get a good dulhayee
Morning and Night
Sirf Nirma soap se
Mom giving me the evil eye
Then they leave the room
The guy staring at his feet
Me checking them for a torn sock
Everything seems normal
I stare at him knowing what is coming next
Sure enough...
"What are your hobbies?"
Sighing
What was a girl expecting?
Something original...
Oh Puhlease...
Khana pakana, bartaan dhoona, silaaye karnaa, Indian Saas Bahu ke Dramas dekhnaa
If this is what he was expecting
Apparently he was pretty surprised
Ohhhhhhhhh Nooooooooo, She is normal
Reading, Travelling, Writing, Carrying on Intellectually Stimulated Conversations...
The conversation taking a better turn
Geared towards Social Problems plaguing our society
A debate starts
Until you realize...hmmm not bad
My mind wanders
Wondering:
How do normal people get stuck in such a situation?
You realize you don't know the guy's name
You ask him
It rings a bell
Uh oh!! It is you...
The same feeling dawns on you as did so many times before
Things that people hide
You ask:
So is there anything you should tell me?
What kind of a wife do you want?
The answer:
Decent, Religious, One who does not work or wish to
Instantly the conversation turns dull
You know this is not it...
You say good bye
And the next thing you know
Sorry humarey baitey ko lambi larki chahiye thee
LOL
The parents are upset
Assuming that the girl is upset
Check her room
She is probably dancing to
"It's the time to DISCO"

A debate that I periodically have with some of my friends is the pros and cons of marriage. Especially an arranged marriage. I just thought that i would write something funny about the concerns that people voice. I have never tried my hands at satire, let alone Satirical Poetry. I don't know if this will come across correctly. I hope I do not offend anyone, I hope that you enjoy the poem. I will write a blog soon about Marriages i think. Until then, this is as close as i get to the topic :)

2006-03-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

Racism - "Crash" The movie versus My blog from Wed. the 29th of March

What strikes me as amazing is that people assume things about a person without really getting to know him or her. I just watched the movie "Crash" today and quite took to the main point of the story. In the movie everyone had a story, why was each character afraid of racism or racist at one point in their life. They all had some reason for it and some explaination for what ever happened. It struck me odd that right in front of me I could see so many multicultural people being racist towards their own kind or to someone they really should have understood. It seems like everyone makes quick judgements sometimes. I have as well back in my bad days, I might be guilty of it in some way now that i am unaware of. Although I have always believed that every experience that a person goes through teaches him something, whether positive or negative. I believe that no matter what there is always some innate goodness in a person. Everyone does something in their lives that they are ashamed of and i believe there is a reason for that behaviour and also for that action. No one is horrible or mean to anyone without any rhyme or reason. It might not be for something that that person did and dont get me wrong i am not saying that someone being mean to someone who has not done anything to harm or hurt that person is acceptable. All I am saying is that it might be due to something that that person said and that might be the reason why they behave the way they do. It is only fair to give everyone a chance to explain themselves, and also to let them understand you and vice versa. Don't think about what ever has happened before because everyone can change. Also, never assume anything about someone with out first getting to know them. Things and people work in weird ways, you might not get the chance to ever really ask anyone for forgiveness about what you might have done in your life. I don't know if this entry in my blog even makes any sense, all i know is that i just wanted to say - I hope i can change, if there is any anger that i harbour towards anyone else and is being taken out on the wrong person without giving them a chance to explain themselves. I will try to change myself if i am like the people in that movie at all.

2006-03-29T15:53:00.000-08:00

Assumptions or Gut Reactions?

The first time you look at someone
Checking them out from head to toe
Assuming things about them
Without knowing them
Is it possible to be correct?
Is it possible to be just?
Are you able to assume correctly?
Or do they differ from that image significantly?
Parting ways after mutual consent

Meeting the person again after a while
Knowing that you had made a mistake
Knowing that they deserve to be heard
Understanding and accepting the mistake you made
Trying to get to know the person from scratch
Would that make an impact on your assumption about them?
Would your opinion change about them?
Is it the same as what you saw in them before?

Is it then really true that the first instant
Tells you everything you need to know about a person
Is it then possible to take the theory of "Blink"
Is is possible to apply it to everything in life?
Can you really tell everything about a person or a situation
After knowing them or being in a situation for the first
ten seconds?
Is is really possible not to underestimate the person?
I wonder...

I read a book recently called "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell. I think it is a good book and makes you think about certain things and prejudices that a person holds, that you might as well. I sure as heck know there are some assumptions that maybe i have even made in the past and yet, after my experiences I would actually beg to differ with the author of that book on some counts. I should clarify one thing though, people as individuals is not something that the book talks about and it is actually about being able to tell the outcome of a situation by looking at things the first time and also about knowing something is or isn't the first time you see it. I am just extending that train of thought and talking about and discussing and trying to figure out whether this thought process will work for an individual's character or not. Yet, his theory can be applied to a lot of situations but i wonder what is the middle ground? When can you say that it is okay to assume something without knowing the whole situation or the truth. Is it possible to take isolated instances from a person's life and not underestimate the person and the various shades of his character? Is it okay for a person to base their relationship, what ever that might be, with someone because of the first gut reaction to that person? Do read the book if you can and I would love to open up a discussion on it :)

2006-03-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

Dreamz - What is their significance?

I used to be a dreamer for the most part of my life. I would day dream and even at night, i would at least have two dreams. Often times when awake i would experience deja vu - basically defined as the feeling of having seen an event happen or a conversation or some action taken place before. According to all the psychology books I have read, it is believed that the feeling of deja vu is due to the fact that what ever you are experiencing at that moment, you have already witnessed it in a dream. Why do people interpret a single dream differently? Each person would see the same thing differently than someone else. It might be because everyone goes through life with a different perspective on things and life in general. What about the saying that one should not share their dream with anyone, otherwise it would not come true. I don't know if that is true, I certainly don't think it is. However, what are the chances that that is not true or is for that matter? Last night I had the oddest dream, as usual, and I saw people i had never seen before, holding very important positions in my life and in my surroundings, even if their names were the same their faces were different. I wonder about my dreams sometimes, some of them are really far fetched. It is said in the Holy Quran that Prophet Yusuf was given the power to interpret dreams but then is it true that every dream has an interpretation or is it just that a person might find some dreams to have interpretations and others which don't. From the literature i have read on the subject, it also became clear to me that some dreams are due to some thing that we might have been thinking that day or something that has been on our mind for a long time. It could be anything: a person, a thing, a place, anything at all. This theory would actually explain some of the more bizarre dreams that people have. Now that I have established the two main reasons for dreams: (i) somethings will happen to you and do have interpretations (ii) some dreams are only because of what ever was on your mind at that point in time. Now, what about the day dreams? Do you think they will ever come true? I wonder sometimes...There is nothing on day dreaming anywhere in psychology in any significant terms. It does not relate to any chemicals in the brain minus you day dream about what your concious wants to happen. Is it then okay for a person to spend their time day dreaming? Is it why a person is called a dreamer? I don't know...For now, i will remain content with the dreams that a person have having some chances of coming true.

2006-03-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

Education - Enlightening The Mind or Decorating The Wall?
(Random Ramblings on a subject i feel very strongly about)

Most people know the importance of getting an education because they know that without a degree or some formal training from a college a person will find it difficult to land a good job. Is this, however, the only thing that an education is good for? You can go to all the classes in the world and attend every lecture on the courses required for your degree but at the end of the day how are you different from someone who has not gone to school and still works the same job you do? An education should not mean that you learn or rote something just so that you can get a job and earn money. Education is a lot more than that. Education imparts wisdom to a person, it broadens your horizons and helps you see things in a different light. It should help you to understand the various points of views that exist on any particular subject even if you do not neccessarily agree with that point of view. This thought process is what has gone missing from the education system. People go to classes and get an education but really at the end of the day are they any smarter or wiser then they were before going to the class? If you do not treat a person as a human being with feelings, with emotions and a mind of their own, can you do justice to the education you have recieved? "Thinking outside the box" - This is, in my opinion, the true meaning of an education.

2006-03-24T21:28:00.000-08:00

Psychology and people's fear of it

One thing that baffles me is the constant denial of people, especially desi people, of psychological problems and emotions. If a person is going through a lot of stress and can't deal with the stress, he or she will ultimately become depressed. That has nothing to do with a person being sane or insane, all it has to do with is the biochemicals in a person's brain. To keep everything balanced, it becomes imperative for that person to visit a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Having a sibling who worked in that field, and myself having a keen interest in the subject matter, I have seen many cases where a person clearly needed help and was afraid of going to one because it was instilled in his mind that a person who has to seek professional help is insane. That is definitely not the case. I think it is actually due to ignorance that such cases get to the point where a person becomes beyond help. Everyone goes through something in life that lowers their self esteem, their self confidence and their drive to succeed and achieve. A person has to bounce back from this set back, which is exactly how it should be viewed. It can be anything: from a death in a family, to losing a job, to losing someone you love. What ever the problem may be. It is first of all important to accept that you have a problem and then to deal with it accordingly.

2006-03-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

The Naked Eye

Closing my eyes so tightly
I see lights, halos, visions
I see visions of things that have been
That might be
Things that man fears
Hunger, poverty, hatred
Things that coexist in harmony with
Happiness, Joy, Love
All in the same body
All in the same mind
I see things that i wish were
I see things that i wish weren't
I see man naked and ugly
I see through a person
Seeing the man inside
The evil and the insanity in every single one of us
The little person in our hearts
Who knows the real us
The only person who knows the real us
The real man whom you hide
Whom i hide
Fear of redemption, fear of isolation
Fear of being hated, fear of being repelled
That which makes our insides invisible
To the naked eye
Even of the person closest to us
Ourselves

2006-03-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

Tum se ulfat ke taqazey na nibahey jatey
Warna hum ko bhi tamana thee ke chahey jatey

- Sung by Naheed Akhtar

This happens to be one of my favorite ghazals. Every single time I listen to this ghazal these days I realize that when you read a book or listen to a song or look at a painting, you may not interpret it the same way as someone else might. What seems beautiful to me might not be for another person, what might mean the world to me might mean absolutely nothing to someone else. For someone who has gone through a similar situation, if I hear a story like mine I feel moved and that I find happens with everyone. I think the creative art is so subjective, it all depends on a person's characteristics, their personalities and their outlook on life. Is it then correct to claim that someone has done something blasphemous because you may not agree with what is being said by that person? I don't know. I believe in the saying live and let live. I think that everyone has the right to believe in what ever it is that they believe in, as long as their beliefs are not imposed on other people and as long as they do not hurt someone else intentionally by what ever they are doing.

Now back to the reason why I found myself thinking about everything after listening to this ghazal. I have found myself listening to ghazals alot lately. For those people unfamiliar with the concept of a ghazal, i will have to admit i tried to come up with an appropriate definition but was unable to. If you are interested do check out the meaning by searching on the net. Now back to my discussion of this particular ghazal. The verse I quoted above loosely translates into this:

You are scared of the responsibilities that come with love and intimacy

Otherwise I had also wished to be loved

I think this is true for everything a person takes up. It is not just about a romance, it is also about the love you have for God or anything else that a person is passionate about. You might take it up with such passion and think about it with so much love but at the end of the day unless you are willing to take things up and stay true to what ever cause you take up. You will end up giving up on it. I have been there a lot of times, I would take up a hobby or a passion but eventually falter in my commitment. Also, alot of people would agree with the romantic interpretation of the ghazal as well. I think every person normally goes through one of the aches and pains of unrequited love. Try listening to the ghazal if you can. I am sure you will be able to find it on www.muziq.net.

At the end of this, I want to write two of my favorite sayings:

(i) Don't be decieved by appearences for beauty is found within

(ii) Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

2006-03-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

Obsession – A Drive To Insanity

I was trying to write a long and elaborate account of what obsession and passion is and how it can control a person’s life but I think that the best account for it can be only in the form of poetry. I don’t think my prose writing skills will be able to capture what I want to say and convey.

A glance, A stare, A glimpse, A taste, A touch, A sensation
A book you read, A person you met, A thought you had, A belief you hold
Starting off as an interest…
You read about it…
You read up on it…
You try and get to know about it…
You feel for it…
You think about it…
You think about it a little more…
You spend your time thinking about what it means to you…
The more you think the more attached you get…
The firmer your feelings become…
The harder it is to let go…
The harder it is to not become passionate about…
As much as you want…
That person, That mission, That love, That religion, That friendship, That food, That fear
What ever it may be…
Becomes a part of you…
A part which always stays with you…
A part you cannot let go of…
A part which follows you everywhere…
Your mind starts to only think about it…
Every other thought, Every other prayer, Every other feeling, Every other person, Every other emotion
Takes a backseat
You decide you will do something about it…
You talk to the person more, you talk about your religion more, you eat the food you want, you work on the mission you have, you think about your friend all the time…
That is when…everything can change…
The person can break your heart, The religion can take over your mind, The food you consume can take over your body, The mission you have can take over your heart…
That feeling of ecstasy, That feeling of love, That feeling of self-fulfillment, That feeling of Self-satisfaction…
It overcomes you…
You become dependent on it…
You live to relive that emotion…
You live to relive that moment…
You live for it…
It becomes your life…
It takes over your senses…
Your mind, Your heart, Your thoughts…
Becoming a vicious circle…
Driving you…
Until it starts to consume you…
To eat at your roots…
To drain you of the positive attitude you have…
Leaving you with nothing…
No hopes, no dreams, no aspirations…
Let go, indulge yourself in other things…
Dare to dream a new dream…
Before the Obsession drives you –
To nothingness
To insanity
To your downfall…

2006-03-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

Is there a safe haven anywhere for the children of the world?

I remember back when I was in grade 7th I think I made my first trip to a special school for special kids called "Dar-ul-Sukun" in Karachi, Pakistan. That day changed my life in ways that I understand now. I have never seen so much compassion in one place. I have always been a sensitive person but I was shocked by the tragedy that I witnessed in that confined place. Inspite of all the pain and the suffering almost all of the people in that place were still smiling. One child I remember in particular, strapped to a vertical board and being given shock therapy. I distinctly remember the screams coming from the other children. As tears streamed my face, I realized that I wanted to do something for them. I always considered myself weak but I actually sat and fed one child with my own hands. That one memory has become etched on my mind. I cannot let go of that time and that day still comes back to haunt me. What if I had been a child like that would I want to be separated from my family like that? How did all the special kids and adults get to that institution? As I went on with my life pondering over my stupid problems. Solving and creating problems which have never had any real impact on anyone's lives. I moved on to a new world and a new place, became so involved in trying to fit in that I forgot what is important to me in my life. Recently, I was able to visit Pakistan again after four years and by then I had become so involved in my sorry and pathetic life that I forgot the promise that I had made to myself once upon a time. A promise that if I can I will at least try and bring change into at least one person's life. If I can improve one person's life in any way possible, I will be able to live my life contently. I had been trying to help people only to make myself miserable and I wondered why it was not possible to make anyone happy. That is because I was trying to make people think highly of myself and because I wanted everyone to have this perfect image of me. Anyways, to cut a long story short...when I went to Pakistan I stayed at this family friend of our's and even when we left their house to move to another place, we would visit their house every night to have paan and green tea. Every single night we would stop at the schon circle set of lights and every single day I would see the same three children. Only one of them was wearing a pair of slippers, none of them were properly dressed for the chilly weather of February. Oddly enough, I had never felt that cold in Pakistan before, yet this time around even I was surprised by the cold weather. Seeing those kids beginning for money at 3 am made me wonder what if I was in their place. What if I were forced to earn for my family and not allowed to go to school and get myself an education? How would I feel? The painful truth was that the place where I had just had dinner and come back from, had still got tons of leftovers which will be thrown out into the trash while these kids go hungry. It is this discrepancy between the "rich" and the "poor", the masses and the classes, and between the haves and the have nots that decides what kind of a lifestyle a person in a "so called developing country" lives. To change the system we need to get together and start on the micro level and then only will we be able to bring about a greater change. Now my resolution is to try and help the children of our country who are the future of our nation. A nation that needs to change its social build up a nation which was built on the principles of equality and where just the opposite of the principle prevails. Hence, today I promise myself that I will do everything possible to bring about a change even if it is on a more personal level to help some one close to me.

2006-03-17T19:52:00.000-08:00

Canadian Healthcare desperately in need of reform!

Having moved to Ontario from Alberta, one of the first things that fascinated me about this province was that unlike Alberta the locals did not have to pay a monthly premium for their health care. That seemed to be a very good thing, however, when I started to consume energy, gas, water and the needs of daily life, i realized that on top of the GST here you also need to pay PST. This was not the case in Alberta, there residents did not have to pay PST. I used to think that was a good thing. Yet, i realized that if you take the PST here in Ontario and compare it to the monthly premiums that the Albertans have to pay for their healthcare, the amount seems to be equal. My point in mentioning the above fact is that whether a Canadian is paying for their healthcare or not, if God forbid someone gets sick or needs a surgery or immediate medical assistance one should be prepared to expect the worst. I speak from experience, recently having had to wait in the emergency for six hours before someone attended to me inspite of having had a recent surgery and having gone to the emergency in my father's car instead of having called an ambulance. When we got there I was shocked to see the type of cases waiting in the waiting room. I was probably one of the less serious cases, most people had to wait an hour just to register even those who were being carried into the emergency by volunteers at the hospital because those people could not even walk into the hospital themselves.
One of the patients who had been sent to a department of the hospital falsely named fast-track since there was nothing fast about the track we were told to take. That patient had had to wait for three hours after registering, like myself, before being sent to fast track only to wait for another couple of hours. Having lived with doctors all my life, including my father, as I was talking to the man and his wife I realized that even they, themselves, did not realize the graveness of the situation because he had a bad case of gangarine in his foot which had been operated on the same day that i had had my surgery. Both him and his wife were very sweet people and extremely patient. I was in pain but my case was not even a quarter as severe as that man and I can only imagine what he must have been going through. When I went inside and was told that there was no surgeon available to look at the problem and all they could do is make do with what ever medicines they had. I was then told that the department i was supposed to go to is closed for the week, mind you not because of march break. The department was closed because of a rotating closure due to which each week a department is kept closed so as to save the government and the hospital's money.
In the past couple of months, I have gone through a very rough time and I hope no one has to face the same problems that I had to. From getting MRIs done to Ultrasounds done, if i did not know people in the business who got me appointments faster than one normally would get, read faster than normal and yet still taking a few months. I would have had to suffer the same fate that most people have to suffer. An appointment to get an MRI done can take anywhere between 3 to 4 months. Yes, that is not a typo, i did say MONTHS. As for surgery, a person typically has to be close to death or close to having a limb or two cut off or very rich to afford private surgery.

Sorry, my story and complains will have to wait another day...my sedative pain killer is kicking in now. I shall finish my story tommorow.

2006-03-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

Is Iran next on Bush's List? (Just a thought)

Bush has attacked Iraq again. I wonder what his excuse is now. He claims that there is an insurgency again in Iraq. The PM there is about to step down. Well, why is it that this is going on? I wonder! Aren't these the people that America had helped to bring to power to begin with? Just as they had very conveniently forgotten that they had trained Osama to fight against the Soviets and then Saddam to fight against Iran. Now, if he does decide to attack Iran, will he succeed in it. Already there is a cry out over Iran's probable possession of nuclear bombs. Doesn't it all seem familiar to the outcries over weapons of mass destruction?

Note: This blog is just one of those blogs of mine which include all my creative or intellectually stimulated pieces of writing. Everything that i will put on here, minus some references to books or articles, has been written by me over the course of the past year. Some of you might have come across my other blog, which i would like to keep seperate from this since that one is just my personal diary. Hence, do not think that this stuff has been stolen from anywhere. It is all my writing and do come again to read more if you are bored to death and have nothing better to do with your time.

2006-03-16T13:50:00.000-08:00

Will the Educational System ever change in Pakistan?

Was just reading a friend's blog and according to him and his sources, the Board of Education in Pakistan are planning on implementing a comprehensive Educational system in Pakistan. For those of you not familiar with the Education System of Pakistan, grades 1 through to 5 is the elementary school, grade 6th to 8th is Junior High and High School is grades 9th and 10th. At the moment the finals for grades 9th and 10th are known as the Board Exams, a student has to give five finals in one year and five the next. The marks are added and a percentage calculated, based on which they will get admission to different colleges, which are grades 11th to 12th. These Board Exams are worth 100% of the year's work, minus the science courses in which you also have written exams for the lab work you do through out the year. Inspite of everything, these exams are far from being flawless, both in the way they are administered and also the makeup of the exams. A person might know everything there is to know about a particular subject, however, you are not tested on your knowledge of a subject but on your ability to regurgitate the material given to you. Also, the exam questions are rolled over and repeated every so often, hence, the availability of the so called five years exams. These are questions that have been coming in the finals for the past five years and often the questions are repeated or the pattern is repeated. I have had the oppurtunity of attending high school in Pakistan. Inspite of the fact that I have studied in one of the best Convent schools of Pakistan unfortunately the standard of the school was exceptional only till grade 8th. After which, the educational system falls apart. I have finished my high schooling in North America and have thus been exposed to the flaws and the drawbacks of our system. First of all, i believe students should be tested on the work they do all year round and not on their ability to rote what ever subject matter is thrown at them. They should be made to think for themselves, question things, be able to write what ever it is they want as long as they can prove it with enough evidence. This would however mean giving people complete freedom of speech. Speech is controlled in Pakistan, although in the past few years the hold of government on the creative arts has loosened quite a bit. I still believe Pakistan has a long way to go when it comes to freedom of Speech. Now, going back to my initial argument: I propose that the subject matter be changed in our schools and that the way the exams are made be changed as well. People should be tested through out their school year and based on the assignment and project marks, the person will get their percentages which will probably be more reflective of how much you know instead of how much you can precariously balance in your brains till you spit it out on paper. I think that this change will take a long time. My parents studied the same books in their high schools which i did. Not only that, my siblings who studied in another country but in a Pakistan based school studied the same subjects and books as well. That is how old the books being taught are. That is what these people know - history. Not what to do with the present situations and what is going on in the world today and why? Just the ability to rote and regurgitate. I hope i can see some change in my life time, although i ain't going to hold my breathe on that.

2006-03-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

Milosevic's death...I suspect tampering with his medicines. Alot of people are speculating that he might have been slow poisoned. He had carried out a lot of atrocities, no doubt. However, does the end justify the means? In this case, his death? If he was indeed slow poisoned then either way his death was the end and I am sure had he been tried, the end would have been the same. Yet, either someone chose to poison him or he chose to poison himself. He did get sympathies around the world of people who believe in a fair trial and due to which now people think that who ever is responsible for his death had something to hide. I wonder what it could have been and all we can do is to wait as the story unfolds.

2006-03-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

The demise of a child's dream (Dedicated to the children begging on the streets trying to support their families)

A girl just standing in the corner of the lane
Innocent eyes peering...
Glancing at the child having a popsicle
Sitting on her father's lap giggling...
She remembers the days when she would laugh
Run onto the streets of Karachi with her siblings
The classes she would attend with her friends
Everything seems like a dream to her
Her father's drug addiction...
The constant fights in the house...
The cries of her brother's...
White everywhere...White for purity, for sorrow, for death...
Her sacrifice for her brother's educations...
Now her running bare foot on the streets of Karachi
Cars whizzing by as she runs after them
Just as her dreams did...

2006-03-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

Dove Ads...

I was just reading an article about a new campaign that Dove started for its "Beauty for real women" products. In these ads, instead of having anorexic women try and sell the products, they got real women with real jobs and real debt to sell their products. These "real women" have big bones, big asses and paunches. They all might have insecurities and that is exactly what will make the products sell. I appreciate the campaign because for once people might stop trying to get the perfect body like so and so model in so and so ad. Hats off to the brain behind this ad campaign and the slogan.

2006-03-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

The strength in Me

I feel strong...So strong I can move mountains
I feel anger...So much anger I can destroy everything close to me
I feel pain...So much pain I can break a glass with my screams
I feel hatred...So much hatred I can change into a sadist
I feel love...So much love I can drown in it
I feel confused...So much confusion can destroy my senses
I feel restless...So much agitation I cannot seem to break the chain
I feel lonely...The loneliness empowers me
In all my feelings i bask - glorious
I feel a strength in Me so evil it will burn everything in an instant

2006-03-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

Is Pakistan more of an Islamic state than Canada?

There has been a debate in my household and in most of the households I know of at least once about the merits and demerits of leaving your homeland and coming to a place where you are expected to start from scratch. Sure enough every family has gone through a rough time when it comes to moving here and getting jobs and the whole economic struggle that comes along with uprooting yourselves. However, this is certainly not the issue I want to talk about at this moment. The topic that I want to discuss is the social and cultural setup of the Canadian society as opposed to the Pakistani lifestyle. I had been all praises for my country until I went to Pakistan this time around. Don’t get me wrong, Pakistan is my homeland and I am madly in love with it. However, I am afraid I will not be able to love it as blindly as I used to especially since my return from my last trip to Pakistan. When I first came here and noticed that children, especially teenagers, of the Pakistani Diaspora were confused about where they belonged. They did not fit into the Canadian society completely because they were not like them; however, they did not fit into our culture either since they were different from us. No matter which way they turned they were scorned. They were left outsiders in a land which they believed to be their own. I used to try and understand them but my closed mindedness stopped me from understanding how and why they were the way they were. By the time I got over my close-mindedness, unfortunately, people had just assumed that if they told me what their personal lives were like then I would judge them. They would go clubbing, they would smoke and believed that I did not know about their lifestyles. Now, after being here for seven years I have blended in. Even if I am not one of the people who fit in readily with the majority, I am not an outcast anymore either. Now, I feel like a better advocate and a better judge of what is right and what is wrong. I realized that the main flaws in these people that the elder generation is concerned about is that if exposed to or educated about drug addiction, sex and booze available in this society kids would indulge in these activities. Little do they realize that these things are available in Pakistan as well. The worst part is that, unlike North America, drug addiction, sex and alcohol consumption is not a matter of personal choice in Pakistan but a symbol of the "in crowd" and depicts to people "the high class society". If you want to be modern, you are to dress a certain way, speak such that your Urdu sounds more like English than your English does. Kids there indulge in these activities excessively and if they don’t then they are laughed at. The criterion for popularity is not education or a sound mind but a mind befogged. In North America, if you want to smoke up no one will stop you because that is your personal choice but no one will degrade you or cut off all ties with you because you don’t. These things are personal choices and in this society people believe in "live and let live". Another aspect of the Pakistani society that bothers me a lot is the fact the superficiality and the fakeness in people's lives. They measure you not by your character and your personality but by your bank balance, by your looks and by your relative's or your own position. They would talk to you if and only if you can benefit them in some way possible but if u are not a person able to help them in improving their social status they will not even bother being courteous to you let alone befriending you. Rich people do not sit with poor people. You cannot talk to your maids or servants the same way as you would with people from your own "class". As opposed to that even the ministers here would mow their own front and backyards and shovel the snow. They will drive from one place to another without a chauffer. Hence, I learnt a valuable lesson on this trip - do not judge a book by its cover. Do learn to accept that you are wrong and build confidence in your self, and never be ashamed of who you are.

2006-03-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Why does the discrepancy between Hum and Tum exist? PART I

Disclaimer: Do not take this article out of context. This is a generalization, however, does pinpoint some of the existing problems that South Asian women and men are facing and the expectations from them. I want to write a lot about this subject and this is just the first part of the article in which I am just raising questions and concerns.

I have noticed recently that inspite of living in Canada where the equality of sexes is advocated. We are still slaves to the long existing captivation of women. Even if a woman is well educated and well versed, she is not given the same scope and the same freedom as men. No matter how strong a woman is she is treated as a second class citizen. Even though there are many aspects which could be discussed in this long discussion. I am going to stick to one aspect of this projected difference between men and women in general and East Indian men and women in particular. In our culture, men are considered to be the primary bread winners. They are expected to earn for the house and to so called protect the woman in the house. Generally speaking, although times are changing at least in the major cities, women working there are still looked down upon. The social and political buildup does not allow the women to break the chains of this slavery. Women in North America have, although become free in some senses, yet are still bound by their values which the men in the house seem to have let go off. People our age (between 19-29) are probably the most confused generation at this time. No matter what a guy does in his life, he is forgiven everything. People will remember that such and such guy's character is not the best for a while and then give it a couple of years and every one forgets about it. However, for women it takes forever to build a good reputation and one wrong move and it turns into dust. Why is it that this pressure exists for women and not for men? Why is it that if a guy smokes he is not looked down upon by our communities but if a girl smokes she is almost immediately considered an outcast? That instantly becomes a sign of: "fast women". Even if a guy has had multiple relationships, he is not looked down upon yet as soon as a girl is seen with a guy (Even if he really is just a friend); she is automatically linked to that person romantically? I do understand that for men it is more difficult to withstand the pressures that exist in the society for them it is a matter of proving their masculinity amongst their peers and that is one of the reasons why men try smoking, drinking, drugs and even sex. Why does this pressure not exist for women? Why is it that when men are looking for a good time, they want to date women who would give them what they want - physical relationships. However, when it is time for them to marry they want their mothers to pick some decent girl for them? Don't they realize that upon being investigated by the girl's family they might be rejected because of their pasts? Why is it that men are allowed to do everything and a simple sentence is given as the excuse for their behavior? A line I have truly learnt to hate - "BOYS WILL BE BOYS"

2006-03-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

The honour of a woman crushed under society's weight (Part I)

In this male dominated world, it is difficult for a single woman to survive with out the support of a man. In the western society, women are given a lot of rights and they are taught to stand up for themselves. A woman is given the custody of her child instead of the father of the child, at least in most cases. She is to be protected by law in most cases, inspite of enjoying such rights it is surprising that quite a few women do not report incidents of domestic violence as well as sexual harassment. Why it this the case? What prevents women from speaking up against such atrocities? The first thing that comes to mind is the fear of being reprimanded. No matter what happens, in most cases of sexual harassment women are the ones who are blamed. Sexual harassment and its impact go beyond just the single act of harassment. It is linked to the centuries of male domination and the belief about male superiority that has been instilled in people’s minds starting from early childhood.
The main interest, however, is not how sexual harassment is viewed in the western world, but how it is viewed in the East. We shall also look at the reasoning behind it. The East has been called the land of love, the land where most of the legends of eternal love were born, the land of the Taj Mahal and of the Kama Sutra. However, it is also the land of male domination, the same place where women have been fought over. In this society women are also viewed as a means to keep the family name and the heritage alive. This has led to women being considered a commodity and the ultimate way to degrade a tribe or a family is to rape its women. This act is not new and as horrendous as it is, it dates back to the time of the Prophet (if you look at the history of the Muslims) and the time of … if you look at the Hindu religion. Why is it that women are the people who have to suffer this inhumane act?
Recently, a gang rape case that took place in Balouchistan, Pakistan of a woman named Mukhtar Mai has brought the flaws in the legal system of Pakistan into the limelight. There have been questionable practices in place in Pakistan since the time it came into being, two of the most disturbing problems have been the “punchait system” of justice and the second being the practice of “Karo-Kari”. Although every country has some set principles of law and justice and these are applied in the judicial system of that country. However, the judicial system of Pakistan has a formal system in place of the larger cities and the urban areas. However, the rural areas of the country have an informal court which is composed of the elders of the village and those people make the decisions based on their so called knowledge of religion and also of their wisdom. Is it really the knowledge of religion and wisdom that these “elders” base their judgment and punishments on? Or is there some other under lying principle that drives these people. This leads us to the examining of the other problem plaguing our society. That is the principle of Karo-Kari. Karo-Kari is the stoning of an adulterer on the suspicion that he or she has committed adultery. In most cases, the victim is a female being accused of being an adulterer. Some cases are quite astonishing because they are accused by their own relatives, in some cases even their sons and fathers. The stoning takes place in public so that people refrain from committing adultery.
TO BE CONT...

2006-03-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

Silence (Dedicated to the victims of the Earthquake)

One moment laughs echoing everywhere
the next - screams piercing the silence
The silence that had built the beauty of the valley
the vale of the chikaras, the sanctuary of the brave
The killers get killed, the murderers brutally murdered
Death - becomes the silence of their sorrow
of their dreams
of their hopes
of their ambitions
and their love
The love that died in his hands today
the love of his child
the love of his own semen - made into a body
made into flesh and blood
his blood - that has drained from the very veins his love flew into
The love that is lost now and yet will always exist in the silence surrounding him.

A moment of silence for the lost souls in the recent earthquake killing more than 20000 people. May the departed souls rest in peace.