Reflections on the Virginia Tech School Tragedy

Re: # 142
dear ritaveda....i am not clear who are you referring to when you say...`on the orders of

somebody sitting in a foreign country`...

i can just share my impressions

for me human life is precious whether of an easterner or westerner, northerner or

southerner...we are all part of a human family

so when human beings are killed we reflect

....were they killed for personal motives

...were they killed for religious motives

....were they killed for political motives

is the person killing

a schizophrenic

a psychoth

a dictator

a part of a religious or political organization?

i would like to hear your views about the killings in karachi...thanks for your

interest...sincerely sohail

A single person responsible for killing of innocent persons in any Western country attracts our attention like this and we come up with our diagnosis of mental illnesses of Western societies. But, in front of us, multitudes of persons are killed by their fellow countrymen in Karachi on Saturday for a whole day in front of army, police, rangers and entire world watching through television sets, on the orders of somebody sitting in a foreign country but nobody dares to analysis his mental health!

Re: # 138

``OBL--who Pardesi has already decided is just after oil money and nearly the same thing that America Is``

I do not know whether OBL is after oil money or not. But western view is that if people like him do control the Middle East, they will have the power to disrupt our economic machine and therefore can not be allowed to have this capability. USA is not after this oil money. We gladly pay the fair market price to oil producers whether they are from Venezuela or Saudi Arabia.

Capitalism has flaws, because it was not invented by some prophets. It was developed by humans, for humans and is governed by humans without any divine guidance. The output rewards people in this life and does not promise anything after life. Its flaws are constantly discussed openly and corrected as much as possible. Variations of this capitalist system are practiced in various western societies and they do resolve their differences peacefully most of the times and do not fight for what happened thousand years back.

Everyone starting from Buffett to a clerk is a cog in the machine and people respect each other`s contribution. The richest people some times donate 90-95% of their net worth for the benefit of other folks living even in other continents. I wish so called elitists donate their 90% net worth in their own countries where there is no shortage of poor folks. In this system, self worth does not come from titles in corporations but financial independence and what you contribute to society and how society in turn treats you.

I wish people who are critical of this system, truly work as productive members here for 15-20 years to see how the system continuously upgrades itself through creative destruction of old and its replacement with new and how nice folks here accept it graciously for the greater good of their next generations. In any other rotten system created on ``higher principles`` people will be at each other`s throats if their own interests are at risk.

People should treat the capitalist system with respect and then try to make improvements gradually. If you want to make changes to your nice home, you do section at a time. You do not constantly curse it and cooperate with your enemies whose sole purpose in life is to see its destruction.

Re: # 138

[However, to be very frank with you, I do not hate America.]

Obviously, you seem to be benefitting from the system in some way or the other otherwise you would have decided to take your valuable theories and applied them to the land of milk and honey :). In your case, you should replace America with Canada and start the worshipping process.

Re: # 138
dear saimashah...i am impressed how you articulated your thoughts about a topic that

stirred up so many strong feelings. thanks for sharing....sohail

Re: # 135

Dear masadi:

Everything that you say is true about American liberation, emancipation and freedom. Equally true is the fact that some people value the sense of power and liberty that a corporate title bestows upon them. They are the ones for whom the system `works`. It feels goooood and that is all that matters to the individual. The individual who `performs` in this economy, feels immense self-respect and confidence. This is a bubble that works as long as it can. When it stops working the individual can do the following:
1. Reinvent other sources of `self-esteem` and align with different causes.
2. Accept the sense of `mediocrity` that not `performing` in the system causes.
3. Move to a different country

The arguments that you present are not at the level of the individual. In other words you are asking the individual whose livelihood and sense of self is dependent on the system to critique the system. It is a hard sell (in the corporate lingo), which is why Dr Chomsky, perhaps the greatest intellectual finds few purchasers of his ideas. Which brings me back to the idea of buy and sell. Some people actually love to do that, and they`d be doing this regardless of what impact it had on justice. I also find the argument about the greatness of America very fun. It is a logical conundrum. When all arguments fail, the defenders of America will say, `O but see, it is only in America that people can criticize America, that look our liberty is working because so many criticize it openly, and the world`s smartest people are STILL IN America.` This is but natural, because such is the nature of power and always has been. IT does not mean that the power or its source has no ethical flaws. It is interesting to see that `Jihadi` and `OBL` are accepted as the competitors for this power and if you don`t like America, you must be OBL--who Pardesi has already decided is just after oil money and nearly the same thing that America Is. In the two dimensional world of America, you are either with us or you want we got or you are either with us or against us.

However, to be very frank with you, I do not hate America. I see it as based on a system that is in a terrible crisis. I believe that capitalism as we know it is changing very rapidly to become the most repressive system ever seen unlike what it was for many people. The world`s economic theories and systems need a complete rethink. I am appalled that our Universities are ill equipped with ideas to deal with the crisis. We are hitting a great big wall. There are some who think we will never hit the wall. Some who think that the wall does not exist. Some who think we can jump over the wall. Some who think that if they eliminate the other contenders, they won`t hit the wall and still others who believe that the wall should not be allowed to get this huge and try to change the paradigm.

Utterly and completely respected Masadi Sahib,

It is amazing how you continue to spew venom at any one who dares disagree with you.
It is also evident that you will continue to infest Chowk and cause a stink and have not accepted the ``making worthwhile contribution to Pakistan by joining a construction crew. ``
Let me once again reiterate the following :

The BS that you call ``research``, your lunatic ``theories`` , your insane ``dimwit`` arguments, do not deserve to get published anywhere (except lulu.com).

Kindly wake up to the facts that :

1. You were kicked out of the US college by your Gora masters and sent back to Pakistan inspite of your pleadings and wailings.

2. The Pakistani college which offered you a position based on your fake ``credentials`` wasted no time in booting you out as soon as the discovered the real you.This second rejection by the Brown masters has completely unhinged you.

3. Rejection of your ``articles`` by Chowk editors is just a simple continuation of the trend.

Accept reality. Go see a shrink. Take a break. Before you get hysterical and suffer a nervous breakdown. Try to make a positive contribution to Pakistan. Cut the crap. Do some manual labour. Stop ranting. Stop typing.Stay away from computers. Roll up your sleeves and join the gang on that construction project.

Wishing you well, Masadi.

drsohail:

Same here!

Pardesi writes <<< I do not have inclination to continue with these meaningless debates especially when people unnecessarily criticize USA, the best thing that ever happened to humanity :). >>>

They are meaningless to you because unlike the facts that I write about, busting the mythology of the ``best thing that ever happened to humanity``, based on the aggregate picture of its society, you on the other hand have only platitudes that are unoriginal, have been borrowed from the corporate media and are quite unscientific, you and the experience of your friends do not constitute either a critical mass or a scientific sample to make any of the conlcusions you are making in an ignorantly authoritative manner. The US did indeed enslave people and destroy entire races in its bloody history and continues to do so by the policies of its elite...

Re: # 132

dear dost-mittar...i enjoyed exchanging ideas with you. keep in touch...sincerely sohail

Re: # 126

Dear Masadi,

Clearly your impressions about USA are based upon your experiences here and mine are based upon my own and countless others that I associate with. We, and our children, have achieved more success than we dreamed of when we landed here. And there are many more that have succeeded even more – CEOs, CFOs of major corporations.

You come across as a very bright and hard working person. I wish you had marketable skills for this economic engine. With right attitude you could have leveraged your intelligence and tenacity by acquiring other skills useful for this country. However, some folks have very high degree of pride/arrogance compared to their societal worth and can not take any useful feedback from well meaning friends and therefore never amount to anything. This results in their perpetual anger. Hopefully in Peshawar, or other appropriate Jihad friendly university, you will be able to find recognition for your obvious high talents in your field of specialization.

Now about America, these guys did not enslave anybody. They are just enablers of free economy and social development. Economic progress and opportunities overcome prejudices based upon religion, caste etc. Ask Japanese, Koreans, Chinese or Indians why they are welcoming the new environment and Americans with open arms. I just read an article about Chile. The new socialist president, while still angry at the old dictator about putting her in jail, wants to continue his economic policies that have put Chile ahead of all South American countries. People come to USA to learn and emulate our system rather than us forcing anything.

The only reason we play hardball with Middle East is OIL. We need it and or dependent upon it. OBL and USA both know it. OBL and his buddies know that they do not have industrial base, developed scientific infrastructure/manpwer and do not stand a chance against western world. But using oil weapon they think they can bring these countries to knees and once again bring back their glorious days. Westerns believe that they found the oil and they are generous in paying the right price for oil and these camel jockeys should be grateful and “live and let live”. Let’s hope the more enlightened ones win.

You can have the last word if you wish. I do not have inclination to continue with these meaningless debates especially when people unnecessarily criticize USA, the best thing that ever happened to humanity :).

Regards.

Dr Sohail:

I have no reason to doubt your stats.; it was only my impression (plus common sense) that people who are too busy trying to meet the basic primary physical needs have their minds too preoccupied with those problems. But yes, I have read about theories that many of the problems associated with chemical imbalances are genetic and/or develop during pregnancy.

Re: # 130
dear dost-mittar...as far as emotional problems and mental illnesses are concerned they

are universal.
1 in 100 people all over the world suffer from schizophrenia....and it is more prevalent in

lower socio-economic classes than the affluent

1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men suffer from depression

women have more depression while men experience it as addictions and are more violent

than women

it seems as if men explode and women implode when under stress.

the difference is that different cultures cope with their problems differently.

the cultures that are more formally educated and more aware of mental health problems

see doctors and psychiatrists while more traditional cultures go to spiritual healers or

silently suffer...not seeing a psychiatrist does not mean people do not have emotional

problems or do not suffer. did you ever go to a psychiatric hospital/mental sylum in asia?

it is painful to see how these patients are treated.

sincerely sohail

I agree with almost everything you say. Yes, our societies -including those of south asian backgrounds living in North America, do have their hang-ups. But I think that, other than extreme depression, most of Psychiatric patients back home are from affluent classes. The case of the Pakistani serial murderer that you mentioned was also, if I remember correctly, of an extremely depressed person who was willing to go to the extreme and take blame for something that he hadn`t done.

Re: # 128
dear dost-mittar

thank you for your thoughtful comments. i agree with you that in close knit families and

communities there is a lot of support network but many of those families are also

traditional and conservative and not very tolerant of non-traditional and creative people

who feel suffocated by those families and communities and have emotional problems.

the other factor is that for people to say

i am anxious

i am depressed

i have emotional problems

people need to be psychologically tuned in with their emotions. many people who go to holy

shrines in pakistan has emotional problems and many who go to see family doctors with

physical problems also have psychological problems.

i think individuals and families and communities and cultures can define emotional

problems as

physical problems

religious problems

social problems

spiritual problems

or

psychological problems

you are quite aware that these problems are complex. human suffering is neither eastern

nor western and we all deal with it the unique way we have learnt. is one way better than

the other? is a matter of judgment.

sincerely... sohail

Sohail Sahib:

``In Canada a psychiatrist can sign a Form One for involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital if the person``

Actually, any physician -not just psychiatrist- can sign Form One, but it is valid only for 2-3 days for assessment. On the basis of that assessment, the hospital may decide to keep the patient for longer period but the patient in many cases has the right to challenge that decision, with the help of a lawyer if necessary, provided by the government.

``I reviewed the literature on serial killers and mass murderers and was shocked to find that America had the highest rate of serial killers in the world. ``

Why were you shocked? People in poor countries are too concerned about satisfying the basic needs of life to have psychiatric problems. Exceptions notwithstanding, rich people have more psychiatric needs than poor people. Moreover, in a society like North American where people are discouraged to talk about personal problems with each other, shrinks become a necessity. Back home, your friends, neighbours and even the local barbers act as shrinks.