Mahboba Andyar: A Poem

Quinn, as I see here once again, the 'disgrace' is that poetry is not as appealing and thought-ful an avenue at Chowk, its not being given its place, nor its proper venue.....I meant that for Chowk, not for you.
I hope the message-dialogue has cleared out our other misunderstandings. All the best!
In the nearest language, it always works.

# 56: MeiraJ08, This is Chowk. The discussions on interacts tends to go in every direction. This was shock to me too initially. But then I realized it is not my living room but a Chowk. Moreover, comments on content are as valid as on form. Everyone has right to their opinion.
Having said that, critical review of some literary standard in response to our postings is what I came to seek here.
So obviously when I started reading your comments my hopes were high. But soon your narrow focus on form and limiting notions on method made my hopes come crashing. Close-mindedness of your approach and lack of understanding of variety in expression was obvious.
Yes, satire could extend to poetry – why not, but it does not have to. Why?
For me poetry is a personal response to events, internal or external. And personal it is. For me form is determined by content, not the other way round. If someone write differently from me then that does not mean that I go and start throwing insults on them. It becomes particularly shocking coming from someone who claims to be indulged in artistic pursuits. How you cannot see that it is not just a moral issue but issue of one human's tragedy. It truly is beyond ‘good and evil’. Quoting Nietzsche inappropriately just indicates your insensibility to the real issue.
In history of literature there is such a variety of form and content in poetry that a person looking at it from an ivory tower of criticism cannot even imagine to comprehend it all. Expecting it to be in a certain way of one person’s liking is like pronouncing a death sentence to the noble pursuit of art. But thank the infinite power of creativity that is has never been curtailed by the non-sense of such critics. (btw, hallmark of Nietzsche’s work is variety)
The art flourishes with experimentation, but most of all it thrives when it is coming from the depth of heart- not from the top of your head merely mechanically manipulating useless forms- the empty forms no one can make even a fleeting contact. Who can make contact with a lifeless 'flaunt'?
When my heart is pained deeply or I am elated with joy or some reflections make me ecstatic, all will find expression in one way or other. The content will take care of the form. I brood not like pseudo-artists on the form.
Lastly, on what basis you say Chowk is more discriminating in its choice for essays, reviews, stories. I don't think you have read them all. I have been published elsewhere too and I know what I am talking about. You must substantiate your claims, instead of puffing judgment calls and empty rhetoric.

I am trying to look for comments pertaining to the poem, but I think after the wrestling-matches at Chowk, one's sense of humour is really all that's left.

A note to the Editors,
About this 'poem,' it is really strange to me that you give essay-writing, story-writing, reviews and other such 'decent' activity, their merit due to correct usage of form.
This is a disgrace to poetic sensibilities. Surely, our poetry is no less, than the very best as well?
Politics, "NEWS" are very high and noble aims, but writing a poem on these themes, requires a very witty and keen hand -- Satire could possibly extend itself to "Poetry" as well.

This poem, with expressions like "pride of a nation" are all very well for an emotional appeal, as well as ethical, I assure you, but poetry is usually 'beyond good and evil' to quote Nietzche. I would love for you to harness as astutely as you do with your Satirists, and Essayists -- your Poets.

They too, are part of your community, and deserve recognition.

In the nearest language, it always works.

Re: # 54: Zeemax, this is no news. You have heard the proverb: news is made not when a dog bite a man, but when a man bites a dog. I have alluded to this possiblity even in my poem, if you read it carefully.
But thanks for the post.

quin,

Latest news re our mutual Mahbooba:

"In July, the only woman on Afghanistan's four-member Olympic team, 800-meter runner Mahbooba Ahadgar, disappeared from the team's training camp in Italy and reappeared in Norway, asking for political asylum.

Newsweek - 4 August 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/148985/page/3

Re: # 49 Well said - no, very well said.

#50 Posted by TNI-masadi Sahib,

Yes unfortunately tahir sahib is debarred for some innocuous comment. I suggested the reserve nick 'bahir' but he had a better suggestion :)

#48 Posted by quin,

LoL sorry to disappoint you. But really, I thought that was a good enough aspiration to have ... wow ... I mean like flipping a campari with one hand behind your back without spilling a drop and juggling a highball glass in the other!

Chowk Staff sahibs and sahibas,

It has recently come to my attention that you have detained Tahir sahib. Since no charges have been delivered or brought forth, this detention is illegal. Please do the correct thing and refrain from a US-like misuse of power, and release Tahir sahib back into the chowk community.

Thank you for your kind attention,

TNI masadi.

It appears that "Chowk" is now invaded by a swamp of locust, of the Pakistani kind, that thrive on eating living organisms. The same familiar names and the same knee-jerk opinion mongering.
Wait till it all becomes..."ka-asf-im-maqool". These guys are living in their own pit.

# 47: No, that doesn't do. You guy's are ridiculously hopeless. Juvenile brats stuck in arrested growth. I had much higher expectations from you. No wonder the causes you guys are propounding are in such shambles.

#46 Posted by quin,

... if you tell me more about you, your struggles, your aspirations, your views on life, your experiences, if you provide me some insight, or say something or write something which may become an inspiration for me, may be a poem will happen.

Err ... actually I always wanted to be a bartender and to be able to flip glasses like Bryan Brown and Tom Cruise in the film 'Cocktail'! Would that do?

Re: # 44 Zeemax, you have no idea how much I appreciated you posting the movie and the later clip. I am being totally honest. I commend you highly for that. We all have errors in our persons. No one is perfect. And as it is said in Quran, variety is to make us learn. So in our variety we learn from each other. But we must show respect to each other's way of learning, expression and ideas. We cannot expect every one to conform to one way of thinking. I respect difference of opinion and for every one to have the right to their opinion. I only object when people start crossing the lines of decency. I agree what Tahir implied by saying that we need to be firm too, but firm we must with integrity and grace. I think Tahir has gone too far in the other direction unncessarily and he is getting himself bogged down in the trifles too much. It is a malaise of new digital age.
Anyway, regarding poem about you, if you tell me more about you, your struggles, your aspirations, your views on life, your experiences, if you provide me some insight, or say something or write something which may become an inspiration for me, may be a poem will happen. As I was telling Tahir on another interact, poem happens when a combination of different elements (factors) occur in a certain way. It is a person's response to something. Often that response forms with not much intention. So provide me the inspiration and it may happen.
And again I am thankful for that clip. It reminds me of Al Asar. You see when I read Quran, it creates a response in me, and I write that response in the form of rendition in English, for my own learning and cultivation and may be of some use to others. Only time will tell. So here is such rendition of Al Asar (103):
" By the passage of fleeting time
At loss is the human kind
But only if they attain the faith
And do their deeds in the very best way
And join each other in that which is true
And patiently would endure it through"
maybe for now you can accept this sharing as a tribute to your efforts.

Re: # 27 thanks brother for correction.
Nikhat Riaz

... Ok I saw your response on the iLog. But you still need to write a poem for me :)

quin,

You haven't commented on the iLog clip I posted just for you and addressed to you, after having split the 700mb file and converted twice and extracted just a 30 second segment and posted on YouTube, only for you.

Now, are you going to write a poem for me?

#40: If you were abused badly by others, it does not mean that you have to start abusing everyone promiscuously. It is a known fact that people who are abused either themselves become abusers or pervert in seeking pleasure in kind of perversion you are showing in this interact and in some other communications. Your trauma has taken good of your sense of propriety. You need rehabilitation.
Regarding slighting of poetry, I know what you are referring to, but know that this is one of the biggest misinterpretation of Quran and how sad it makes me to think that intelligent people like you are not only of no help, rather are such a disservice, in showing Quran’s worth for the common heritage of humanity and for the benefit of the future generations. As the proverb goes, the wise enemy is better than the foolish friend. Good bye.

Re: # 33 Crazy-Ghan
Congratulations, you're 48-hours old at ChowQ!

Always keep away from that little box with a mirror on its lid.

Re: #38 Mr. Mooquin,

You're new, I've been around, and Mr. ZeeMax has been around since (now don't make me repeat myself)....

You're answering my questions with questions now! Why should #38 disappoint you? A poet without a sense of humour; is that what you are? You needn't bash me with God's Book, anti-Islam Chowqians do that very well, thank you. Its the poets who have 'imaginary solutions to imaginary problems; do check the Qur'an on THIS.

It is silly to imply that I have a baboon's heart; my articles and interacts speak for themselves. Where was this humanity when I and my family were being abused by foul-mouthed Indians AND Pakistanis all because I asked them to stop insulting the Qur'an and the Prophets of God? Why do you not take THEM to task instead of lecturing me, or protest against ChowQ policies? Afraid? Well, don't be.

The Prophet often smiled, some Caliphs were stricter than others, many apparently pious and learned men lived dead serious lives and hated many forms of artistic creativity. But I will not give up my sense of humour because you can't accommodate my round peg into your square hole.

And why should I say what I think about some movie scene; we already have someone here who does it to the satisfaction of the masses at ChowQ?

I can't worry about what made you think I was hard-hearted. We've been commanded to be 'kind to the believers and firm with the unbelievers'. That I'm being firm here need not be misconstrued as putting you in the latter category.

Good-bye until you take up another lost cause.

#37, sorry the image did not show. Try my iLog.

#37, sorry the image did not show. Try my iLog.

Re: # 27 & 20: I craved to read it in Urdu khatoot, so my novice attempt:

Tahir, your exposition disappoints me (# 29). May God help you remember that Quran teaches humbleness and not arrogance. There is a fine line between righteousness and self-righteousness. May God help you read Quran again with a human heart, with respect for what God created, and with respect for yourself. May your stiffened heart be able to see the body of the suffering humanity, and the cruel face of bigotry, suppression and chauvinism. To remove such evil is the struggle every one must strive for with patience (sabar) and prudence to which Quran refers time and again. And the Prophet’s is the exemplary conduct.
Also, may God help you understand that if you might not have fallen trap to Internet addiction, playing with words, like old people playing crossword bent over the daily newspapers, a useless occupation, a hopelessly lost cause. (No disrespect is meant to old people or to crosswords - just trying to make a point)
Also, I have a question for you, same I asked Zeemax on his video posting. If you have seen the clip of the movie earlier posted by him (I don't know if you have, as you seem to be ranting against movie reviewers too - cultivate your senses, man) anyway, the question is if you have seen that part where sheikh stops beheading of the journalist, tell me this. What you would do if you were in that situation, in the shoes of the Sheikh. What decision you will take, if you have to make a choice between saving life of that journalist in the movie or letting him die in the hands of rebels. What would you do? Just want to understand how different people think on these issues and scope of their thoughts.

Re: # 34; zeemax

nothing to do with me mate

Nice new nic akcheema sahib, but not imaginative at all!

Re: # 28
No, I am not a Khan. It's actually crazy+ghan. Crazy because my thoughts have not compatible with the society I come from, have been raised in, hence I could very well be crazy by the dominant standards. 'ghan' is a nickname for people from Afghanistan.

http://www.chowk.com/unplugged/t/56170

And with a Punjabi twist to it?!

Do you work for Ceative (computer accessory manufacturer)?

Re: # 17 ZeeMax
"Hmm ... Tahir Sahib may have a point re the name. Mahbooba And Yaar (Beloved and her paramour) lived happily ever after."

I made THIS point while asleep Iqbal-style!

May you live happily ever after.

Re: # 16 ZeeMAx
"What a masterpiece of creativity! I reproduced this on Unplugged in your appreciation without your permission!"

Well, well well! You might have inadvertantly caused me to lose a lot of money all because I did not print that little 'c inside a circle that stands for copyright ownership! Collecting all that money made many English writers rich and famous. But I have no such hopes.

"Now Mr. Tahir, shall I title you with the epitome of Literary Romanticism - Mr. Shelley?"

That is most generous but I remain unnaturally concerned about Mrs. Shelley's possible 'grave' protests against seeing me fill her husband's shoes from the year 1822. Can you think of a Muslim name please?

Regards.

PS: Consider everything copyrighted 'magar apNoN maiN kia takkalluf'?

Re: # 14 Quin
"I would be grateful if you can expound on that when you are back from your excursion with your cavalry"

No problem at all Quin; I'm good at X-Pounding too!

What I write is already out there; I do not mince words. Why mince poor words, why not those responsible for the current mess?

When I say 'lost cause' what I mean is that the 'reason' that 'caused' you to take up the pen is already missing in in-action! But don't despair, I would rank you ABOVE the movie-reviewers of ChowQ.

Anyway, there are greater causes than Miss Mahbooba! Leave the Afghans to deal with it and allow us to focus on our problems. As long as we don't require female athletes to swim wearing shalwars, its alright.

Who can live forever inside tent-like shalwars lovingly hand-stitched by the Untidy Satans? Its gettin' kinda stuffy in here pal!

Once you identify the causes, then you will write about them, to be red-flagged and despised by ChowQ and our common 'friends' (fiends?).

Make that leap NOW! It is not intellectual suicide but ACCEPTING your destiny.

Re: # 18 Crazyghan
Sorry, what's the name again? Is it actually Crazy 'under-cover' Khan?

You inadvertantly addressed the author of "Mehbooba and Yaar" concept; no need to aplogise.

THAT concept was taken to greater heights (or lows, if you insist) by everyones friend: Heeeeeeeer's Lucy!--no, Mr. ZeeMax!

Mr. Quin was upset, I offerd him a glass of 'Lassy'; Mr. Zee spoke, I let him drink whatever he drinks; and now its you!

May I offer you that THING in the little round box with a mirror on its lid?

Monsoon regards :)

Nikhat #20,

Sorry, if I sound like I am nitpicking. But in the second and third line of Faiz that you have quoted there shouldn't be any "ke":

"Aaye haath uthaein hum bhee
hum [ke] jinhein rasm-e- dua yaad naheen
Hum [ke] jinhein soaz-e-mohabbat ke siwa
koi but koi Khuda yaad naheen"

Just delete the "ke", and you will get the right rhythm.

Best
AA

#22 Posted by quin,

Shame on you doubly. Shame on you for each word you desecrated, nay for each letter. If you are a Muslim, go read Quran and learn decency from it. You who posted ‘Wolves of Valley� movie, learn something from that too. Learn from what Layla’s father told her and others.

I accept the shame Quin Bhai. Indeed I do.

But, Leyla’s father (wasn't actually her father - Leyla was in an orphanage in the film) said something else too. Perhaps you missed that.

I'll post that now on iLogs and we will talk again :)

Re: # 20 Nikhat: thanks for your bold and kind words, and the verses that capture the spirit and pathos of our connected humanity in most beautiful expression. You made good points and I repeat:
"She did not break any rules of Islam as far as what the facts gathered uptil now. She should be considered innocent until proven otherwise rule of tumb for justice....."

Re: # 19 akcheema, thanks for clarifying for crazyghan.

Re: # 18 Crazyghan, That is exactly the point I was trying to make, through my poem. Pl see akcheema's post #19.
Just to reiterate two lines from the poem:
Groomed in Kabul’s hostile streets,
Where men are killed for lesser things
Pl read my poem again where I tried to capture exactly all that what you said.

Re: # 17 Zeemax: I like when someone tries to argue on rational basis as you have done in post #17.
So you say what type of character she was when she was financed for training to represent her country and she runs away? That is exactly the point. What does that show? That shows the hell through which she was going. Of course, if she will participate and come back she still will be supported by government and all that, but for the threats and insults which she suffered by all those who cannot see a woman as a human being with aspirations and equal to them expressing her aspirations on any public platform. That is why – not because of character. Recently two Afghani women journalists are killed. What does this say to women who want to participate in public life. Do you think that was an easy decision by her? Did you not (hell, my blood pressure rising) see the video of her mother with flowing tears, do you not see how closely knit and loving her family was. How she must have made this decision. How someone cannot see all this unless his heart is stiffened like wood. How someone in face of such tragedies can think nothing else but throwing the filth like you are throwing. You call yourself Muslims? Shame on you, for desecrating name of a human being and uttering such dirty words. Shame on you doubly. Shame on you for each word you desecrated, nay for each letter. If you are a Muslim, go read Quran and learn decency from it. You who posted ‘Wolves of Valley� movie, learn something from that too. Learn from what Layla’s father told her and others.
Back to your logic. It just proves the point. She had to make that decision in spite of all government’s support. No one should presuppose that it reflects on her character because we don’t know. No decent person accuses other based on mere speculations and assumption. It is called slander. Quran has injunctions against slandering any human being. Go find those verses if you call yourself Muslim. That will be better use of your time. What is obvious from the story and available facts is that she ran away because she could face no more what she had to go through in the streets of Kabul. She ran to save her life. Remember two Afghani women journalists killed recently. They must also have been thought to be prostitutes too. This is no Islam. This is shameless bigotry and chauvinism.

The so called Afghan elite ran away to India, USA and West. Most of the ministers and administrators including president Karzais are expats. She probably will have better future and secure life if she returns as Italian/German translator, a NATO employee.

Re: # 9 "So what if she does not run in Hamburg or wherever. So what? The point is why she could not flourish in Afghanistan?"
Really why couldn't??? And who are we to judge her 'INTENTIONS'?
She will be seen always with the filter of 'Muslim woman' but she is a human being first_ with equal desires and same potentials as other gender of human species. She did not break any rules of Islam as far as what the facts gathered uptil now. She should be considered innocent until proven otherwise rule of tumb for justice.....
Like Ak cheema I also wish poor girl All the best in whatever she wants to accomplish in her life..
Right or wrong .who r we to judge....
Thank You Mooquin Sahib for tributing our sister with such wonderful words. Lets pray for her wellbeing.
"Aaye haath uthaein hum bhee
hum ke jinhein rasme dua yaad naheen
Hum ke jinhein soaz-e-mohabbat ke siwa
koi but koi Khuda yaad naheen"

Nikhat Riaz

Re: # 18; crazyghan

I think you are addressing/reprimanding the wrong person there; quin is the one who wrote this poem and had to take all this nonsense for it too!

Dear quin;
I take it that u have never been to Afghanistan and lived there for long enough to understand the hell as experienced by the people there. U r therefore justified to talk about things such as, "mulk ka naam roshan..." etc. When the mere stepping outside of women is seen as adultery, sportswomen are labeled as 'prostitutes', you have to bribe people top to bottom and have no hope in the foreseeable future ... and others, it is then that patriotism becomes a simple and hollow rhetoric like a beautiful book cover.

Furthermore, comments such as "Mehbooba and Yaar" are not only disgusting and ignorant but also reflects the mentality and backwardness of the people who say so.

#9 Posted by quin,

Look Mr. Quin, what character of a woman would be the one whose dirt-poor Government financed her preparation for the Beijing Olympics, sent her to Italy for coaching so that she could raise her country's image (mulk ka naam roshan etc you know), and she runs away from her hostel AND her country instead of running on a track? Is that what she trained for?

Hmm ... Tahir Sahib may have a point re the name. Mahbooba And Yaar (Beloved and her paramour) lived happily ever after.

#7 Posted by tahir

What a masterpiece of creativity! I reproduced this on Unplugged in your appreciation without your permission!

"The race is on: three, two, and one!
Burqa-clad our darling blindly runs
No one can ban what the Tallys can
They have a head-price on her buns."

Now Mr. Tahir, shall I title you with the epitome of Literary Romanticism - Mr. Shelley?

I write when I am inspired. I am inspired when seeing, hearing, knowing something stirs something in me. I don't delve into whether it is a lost cause or no cause or good cause. I write not with an ulterior motive in mind. If what is produced through me is of some benefit, whether it is to cultivate thought, or sense or culture, I consider I have been of some service. If someone praises that service I accept it with humbleness, if someone is aggravated by it, it is their problem.
Thanks for your thoughts anyway.
PS: btw, I DO NOT think bringing awareness about these issues (suppression and intolerance in any form existing in any society) is a lost cause. I would be grateful if you can expound on that when you are back from your excursion with your cavalry.

I write when I am inspired. I am inspired when seeing, hearing, knowing something stirs something in me. I don't delve into whether it is a lost cause or no cause or good cause. I write not with an ulterior motive in mind. If what is produced through me is of some benefit, whether it is to cultivate thought, or sense or culture, I consider I have been of some service. If someone praises that service I accept it with humbleness, if someone is irritated by it, I take it is a problem for the one who is aggravated, not mine.
Thanks for your thoughts anyway.
PS: btw, I do NOT think bringing awareness about these issues (suppression and intolerance in any form existing in any society) is a lost cause. I would be grateful if you can expound on that when you are back from your excursion with your cavalry.

Re: # 12 Quin
"i am not angry. just sad. sorry if it was misunderstood. i still don't know you all and the background stuff..."

Mr. Max (I call him '86') has been around since the days of GET SMART! There are others you will get to know too like Mr. Asadi! The shape-shifters I don't care much about. The pretenders and hopless magicians always receive from me what they deserve: a spanking. I guess, somebody's got to do the job!

ChowQ is NOT strawberry fields forever! It lives because we breathe into it some literary life. On its own it is DEAD.

Write what you really believe in as opposed to taking up already lost cases. We need more good people here who can put a permanent damper on the anti-Islam campaign.

You will win the badge of honour the day they either ban you or kill an article.

The cavalry's waiting, I must go now.

Regards.

i am not angry. just sad. sorry if it was misunderstood. i still don't know you all and the background stuff. I just saw the video posted by zeemax and i commend him for that. but the close mindedness which shows up otherwise, intentionally or not, makes me sad, thinking how this is playing havoc with our traditions or its perceptions thereof. how damaging it is for our progress. People who can contribute something, why they do not contribute postively and in more effective way, and keep picking up on trifles in negative way.

Re: # 9 Quin
Why are you angry with me? I was trying to break up this fight in a way that is far more familiar to Mr. Max than it is to you!

And if you can't understand political satire, what can I say? Why must you imagine that I fly on a carpet?

Agreed, I did not comment on your poem earlier; THAT ought to be THE reason for this outburst, and not my interacts #7 & #8. Right?

Tell me I'm wrong.

correction for my last interact # 9.
Shukriya Barakzai is one of the six MPs who were getting threatening letters (at the time of the news)

You guys are really a great source of learning. Your responses are helping me shape my ideas about my Muslim brothers. Keep writing; and showing yours ... you know what, so that all can see for what you are.

I do hope to save cattle from oncoming trains. It is a noble task to save even one life.
But Quran also tells me that cattle they are and cattle they will remain. No matter what you tell them they do not hear. Their hearts are sealed and their ears have lead in them. So like cattle they keep wandering. So I anguish not for their sake. Duty of a slave is just to do their duty.

I only pray for you. I pray that filth from your brains is washed. But I do not try to tell you what you should do or not – because I take not the position of a judge. There is only one Judge. And that Judge is best Wakeel too. So I leave the disposing of every matter in the hands of the High One. To you your way and to me mine. (lakukm denokum wa liyadeen - 109.6)

Ask yourself one thing if you want to understand a little. Are women in Afghanistan are like the women of Madina when the Prophet was at the helm of affairs. (And even until little after – till the spirit of Islam was corrupted by the Empire of Moawiyas and Abbasis)
Why the heck you cannot see?

Why the heck do you want to enslave women and stifle their striving souls by labels and slanders? So what if she does not run in Hamburg or wherever. So what? The point is why she could not flourish in Afghanistan? Why so many such souls are even not heard of and suffer and extinguished under male tyranny. Granted it happens elsewhere too to different degrees but the deadly combination of religion and male chauvinism is unparallel where hold of fanatics is tight. Have you not heard of the only Afghani woman parliamentarian Shukriya Barakzai who also have to flee the country because she was too outspoken for the liking of male dominated assembly.(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6755799.stm)
(I should have written a poem on that too – I don’t know why it would trouble anyone if something is said in poetry –a damn good point to ponder... hmmmmm)

Now Tahir sb, come up with another dirty trick for Shukriya’s name. I am sad to see something like this coming from you Tahir, You who seem to be immersed in Quranic scripture, will spend energy to split a word to metamorphose it into such filth – it is shocking. Read the verses where Quran says a good word is like a good tree and bad word is like sick one.

The core of every religion including Islam is big- heartedness towards every creature on the earth. One who does not understand this does not understand religion or corrupts it

Or do the 'Mahboba' AND 'Yaar' bits in the name bother you Mr. Max? Clarify please....

Alright, break it up Muscle-mans!

Mr. Quin wants her to run, but you, Mr. Max, only see the Urdu 'runn' in her.

Be fearful of the day Mr. Max, when Mr. Quin will publish an entire newpaper in poetry!

It might go something like this:

The race is on: three, two, and one!
Burqa-clad our darling blindly runs
No one can ban what the Tallys can
They have a head-price on her buns.

PS: Coca Cola, enjoy!

#3 Posted by quin,

I think the best path for you is to dedicate your life to saving stray cattle crossing rail tracks from oncoming trains.

Mr. Keats! Certainly she'll find asylum and do great business in Hamburg.

Exotic, you see, fetch higher fees in those parts.

However, I will take ALL my words back and apologize to you if you ever see her taking part in athletic meets in Hamburg too as she supposedly did in Kabul.

Re: # 4 akcheema,
Thanks. I appreciate Chowk editors' good sense of timing. They held on to it to publish just before Olympics. That's smart.
To me it is always important to learn from others. From their postive thoughts, and not relish in thier foibles. We have heroic figures all around us, but we do not see their soul for what it is. Wordsworth even sees a flower and is overwhelmed; how we do not see a human being in its full grace and are not moved.
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears." Wordsworth

Re: # 3; quin

It was a good poem; I read it when you published it as an ilog some weeks ago. And you are right in what you are saying here too. The human condition is that of complexity and self-contradictions .... we see it all around us. Be it some "philosopher" like Iqbal or any other figure throughout history (Islamic or otherwise), much revered by some. Same applies to other mere mortals too. At the end of the day, "it is all about survival"!

Like I said on your ilog before, Good Luck to the girl in whatever she'd want to pursue in life.

So what is your point Mr. Zeemax? Does being anti-taliban mean that he was not being a typical male-chauvinist?
In my poem I have implied clearly she might be seeking asylum. What does this show however? Does this show she might be a prostitute? If she was in another more civilized society where talents of all sorts are encouraged regardless of gender, would she still do the same?
Would she leave her family forever? Did you see the video? Did you not hear the cries of her family? Does your heart beats not with the suffering of humanity?
What you are implying by being curious sir? What you and I have to do with her personal life anyway? Do you not realize you are slandering her just like her neighbour did? In a fair world, you and like of you could be taken to court for libel. But this is not a fair world and therefore heart of Keats had bled and so does mine.
Do you not want to see her sufferings and aspirations and want only to see if she was a prostitute or not? Have you thought why she would aspire for Olympics despite all the insults thrown at her? Why? Do you not think? Do you not realize what you are saying? Like a typical chauvinist male / religionolgist fanatic, seeing a woman no more than a sex object.
If you are trying to give credibility to her accusers on the basis that they were anti-taliban; first what this says about taliban and their likes; second what does this says about you.
I am appalled, doubly.

An excerpt from the TIME link:

"... Italian police are investigating the disappearance, though there are no signs of foul play. Her bags and passport were also gone from her room, a sign that she may have left on her own ... One possible explanation is that the 19-year-old may be seeking asylum somewhere in Europe, following repeated threats and humiliation from Muslim extremists, including false rumors that she was a prostitute. Nick Davies, spokesman for the IAAF, the world track-and-field governing body, said there had been no signs that Andyar was having second thoughts about competing in Beijing. "It was quite a surprise to us," Davies told TIME. "We don't know where she is. All we know is that she and her bags are gone.""

... humiliation from Muslim extremists and false rumors she was a prostitute? Curious, because the naighbour who reported her to the police for prostitution was a Panjsheri anti-Taliban (as described in the Timesonline report link.)

She'll soon reemerge with an asylum application. So keep another bleeding heart poem handy, Mr. Keats!

hhhmmmmm need to think about this piece....