Don't Shoot the Messenger

"So, having peacefully lodged our well justified protests, and while debates about sovereignty, ground realities, the rules of engagement or lack thereof are in the capable hands and mouths of those who really excel at them i.e. analysts, politicians, academics, army officers and my mother,"
--Lol

I like what you say about, "Lets calm people down first, and stop attracting negative attention" -- perhaps show that there are other areas at which we excel? ; ) bravo.

معرآج

Very well written Shandana!

Excellent one Shandana!!

Bibi theres a logical fallacy in your argument. You ignored the basic question, were mice created in a vaacum, or was there an unprotected love session between abbo mice n ammi mice? Before you and house # 1 start bitching about the rats, you must also ponder upon the fact that the house#1 encouraged the abbo (read army) of house #7 to adopt mice as a domesticated pet. You must also not forget that house#1 not only provided cheese n klashinkofs for the rats but billions of dollars to the abboo of house #1 so they can meddle in the affairs of the entire neighborhood, rather than making sure that there own house was in order.

Mice didn’t just start growing one fine morning in a vacuum mohtarma, there is a 60 yr of systematic rape of an entire nation’s will to perpetuate the rule of ONE institution, that is responsible for the rat colonies in the basement. The disgust with rats all of a sudden from house #1 and the abbo of house #7 is rather convenient when merely 2 decades ago these same rats were invited n paraded in Washington as more precious than sliced bread, because they were doing your bidding at the time. Opportunistic people that encouraged, abetted and flourished because of mice have no business taking moral stands all of a sudden.

The problem with you elite is that you only care about the main floors; you seem to forget that you have also forced your chauffer, your maali, your khansamaan and other help to live with the rats in the basement.

There are about 10 million human beings most of whom are women and children that are living in that basement that u want to bomb the fukk out of.

This is some logic that house #1 and the abbo of house #7 have an illicit relationship, when house 7 delivers mice because of that fukk session than house #1 the john and house#7’s abboo the randi says lets kill the mice, and if the innocent gul-khan dies because of pesticide, well than that’s collateral damage.

Koi hosh kay naqun lein bibi….this is a mess of gigantic proportions and it can not be resolved by killing alone. Try to alienate the mice and find it in your heart to share your pink wallpapered bedroom with gul-bibi and maybe she can go to the same school as u do. before you start the ‘pest control’ grow a heart, otherwise if you keep insisting that living breathing millions of innocent human beings are rats as well than in due course those human beings will start to behave like rats, read my lips you cant kill your way to security here. By all means kill the rats but don’t start bombing wily nily. Have none of u heard of pide-piper? Lure the mice out some how first, isn’t there anyone who knows how to play a freaking flute?

labeling the entire basement as rat colony is quite rich from an obvious perspective as well….banda apnii shakal hi daykh layta hay aayenay mein…jab Allah nayy chooohi jaysii shakal ata kii hoo too dosroon koo chooha kehkar chiRanay say pehlayy do daffah soch layna chayayy…sehat kay liya mufeed hotta hay. Chew on this ‘metaphor’

{"That the right to hurt/oppress/kill each other should exclusively be ours. Make America Bad Guy #1 if you will, but in the race to destroy our already wounded society, I’m placing my bet on the enemy within."}

Shandana,
As usual, an excellent article with some very well-connected dots. Good job and thank you for giving us justification for having even less faith in our leaders - in both Pakistan and the US.

By the way, the story about the rats was very interesting. I got all confused with the analogy and the use of so many pound signs:

If America is indeed in House #1, then why are you against calling it the Bad Guy #1? The numbers do seem to coincide.

Also, what happened to House #s 2 through 6?

Which house # is Afghanistan occupying?

Wouldn't you say that House #7 actually contains Indians, because if I recall correctly, only certain Indians consider the rat to be divine or Bag One.

hey shandy - given your knack for writing good humored articles, i am wondering if i should just laugh off your current article or take it seriously.

If this is a serious article then here is my take away: we need to exterminate ALL those who kill, rationalize, justify, or celebrate the killing of innocent pakistanis. I trust your stats that 636 innocent pakistanis have died in 56 suicide bombings. Now trust my stats that more than 8000 innocent pakistani men, women and children have died in the last 6 years, along with half a million internally displaced as a result of the daily bombings at the hands of enlightened moderates like yourself who are hell bent on fighting a foreign war. Marriotts were not getting blown off 6 years ago. But something else was SURE going even before then: you enlightened moderates backed by the military had killed and raped 2 million innocent Pakistanis who were then known as "terrorists" and now known as Bengladeshis.

If history of bloodletting is any guide, then unfortunately this means that enlightened people like yourself, who equate certain pakistanis with "rats" and ask for their "extermination" should be exterminated as well, even if it means trapping you with well placed mousetraps that come with cheese. You, my dear miss, should be made an example out of, to warn off any future killers that civilized people dont settle their disputes by bombing their own people. Mayor of NYC does not call in airstrikes on Harlem just to confront the menace of crime in Manhattan.

Its one thing to use your lazy intellect to make money by marketing your "below average books" (as per a review of your recent book) to india. Its an entirely different, and grave matter when you use that lazy intellect to advocate "extermination" of your fellow pakistanis who have benefited the least from this country and who were not bothering you until you started bombing them.

[...but in the race to destroy our already wounded society, I’m placing my bet on the enemy within. That’s who we need to focus on fighting....]

Unfortunately, Shandana, that enemy is in the collective brain of the ummah. And it's called Islam. There is no way that one part of the ummah will fight and defeat the other part, to make the problem go away. YOUR OWN offspring might turn out to be your mortal enemy - because he studies the same manual as you, and doesn't spin it the same way you do - or doesn't spin it at all. By fighting within the ummah, the best you can achieve is a state of temporary stalemate a la Turkey, but that is very temporary, and requires constant vigilance and attention to maintain.

The solution, I'm afraid, has to be to change the water in the well that all of you in the ummah drink from. Without that, this problem will continue.

Re #7 Posted by ajeya on,

I earlier thought that this logic of Ummaha can be understood easily, but after trying it with highly educated muslims, I got to know that it is not just Jehadis but most muslims are willing to lose anything or willing to die for the sake of muslim identity. Even if they know that only a a few generations back their identity was different (so even if they were Hindus 3-4 generations back).

And that is when I gave einstein's theorem of: Islam being a collective ego with strong inferiority complex (they know that reason is a Islam killer) fuelled by a desire to overcome this inferiority complex by mainly using numbers of muslims ( or turning the whole world upside down by killing of non-muslims or converting them or whatever means available).


I have seen hard-core people of book in Christianity, but very few of them are as deceptive as muslims when it comes to defending religion. Their clergy or even their politicians may be very deceptive, but common educated people, won't defend Christianity the way a common educated muslim will, a so called moderate muslim will still talk about Kuran, refer to Kuran but when you question them which verse you want to discuss, lets check translations, they will run away. Rest of the time they will find and point to something noble in the same Kuran??

So much so that they can question rationality itself, without understanding that they have nothing else to understand anything.

Shandana, I got some advice for you...

Politics is pits.

All this gore (not the ex-veep!) is so boring! (Actually, the ex-veep is too!)

So much of the same old blood! This blood stuff is so boring.

It is always red! It always looks the same and it always gets sticky after a while! This blood stuff is no fun! It sticks and it colors our viewpoints until all we see is blood!

And the thing about writing is – if you are serious (and clearly if you are of the right mind that would be a big IF) – it’s not a good idea to solve the problems of this world. And certainly not the problems of Pakistan – a country which, as you are well aware, is out of this world!

There never was a solution. There never will be one (or more).

Perhaps it's the mindset. Perhaps it's not. Perhaps there is no mind to set.

Perhaps it can be explained. Perhaps it can not. Or perhaps it can be explained but can not be understood. Or perhaps it can be explained and understood but the effort is too taxing for us simple folks (or others not-so-simple folks).

So therefore, Shandana, my advice is as follows. (You thought I will never get around to it, didn't you?!)

Shandana, stick with humor!

Let others waste their time trying to solve the problems of Pakistan! Let (for example) this Beena Sarwar lady worry about it – since (based on her pic) she looks like the worrying type! Let her and that Pervez Hoodbhoy guy and others like those people try to rack their brains and try to solve those problems while pulling their own hairs out!

Then you and I can watch amused while they keep tugging at their hairs and – before they realize it – become absolutely hairless while the problems remain exactly as they were but -- the good news for you -- you retain all your hair (I don’t want to talk about mine!)

I know, I know. It's tough to come up with humor at times like this. It would be like Raj Kapoor laughing in "Mera Naam Joker"!

But hey, that's the true test -- can you be funny ALL the time or only when things are going well?!

Write funny – and there is no shortage of material!

Imagine the countless contemporary Pakistani characters you can draw from!

The mustachioed Mushy!

The mustachioed Zardari!

The mustachioed Gilani!

The mustachioed Sherry!

The mustachioed Gilani with the mustachioed Sherry! (Okay, strike the last one!)

So, if I were you (and who knows, I might really be you with a few superficial differences) I would stick with humor and just humor.

And if the readers don’t like it....

Then you can always stick it to them!

(PS: BTW, did you break even with your last book?!)

Hamza, Atif:

According to the article:

1) the suggestion to use pest control (to exteminate
the rats) is from House#1 (US led alliance presumably)

2) Shandana is only guilty of suggesting that the
rats (militants) are THE problem.

Which of the above two statements is NOT factual?

My one disagreement is that rats aren't the ONLY
problem. Past and present conduct of the heads of house#1
and 7 is a major culprit as well. And how about the
other residents of house#7, who are constantly bickering
among themselves about whether to cultivate or to exterminate the rats? Both parties mindelssly insist that
they have the exclusive right to decide for the entire
household.

Rats may go, or be driven to, some other house - near or far - in time. In the meantime, the house itself may be
devasted due to internal decay and excessive pest spray from outside.

Happy quarrelling, all residents (you too, Shandana). No need to mention it; you are welcome.

Dear Ms. Minhas,

I agree with the main: identify and attack the enemy within.

However, I also need to comment on improper information quoted, to the best of my research. Let me begin with a disclaimer: I am not a fan of Aalim Online, and I think GEO would do the nation a huge favour by letting its host pack bags and go home.

What the "scholar" in the programme on Ahmadis said was not that all Ahmadis were 'Wajib ul Qatal', but that any person who proclaimed himself prophet after Muhammad (pbuh) was. There is a difference here. Unfortunately, many of our Human Rights cells and intellegentsia are fond of blowing issues out of proportion, not to mention, the general public's hunger for controversy.

To end, no individual or organization has the right to take the law into his/its own hands.

Best,

Saadia

Various explanations, justifications, motives and reasons are presented for WAR FOR TERROR. US stated official motive of WAR FOR TERROR is fight against Al-Qaeada, Taliban and extremism. Many corrupt/de-facto colonial third world countries like Pakistan and Indian governments and establishment always tailor US official version WAR FOR TERROR for its own interests. These interests vary from economic aid, military hardware, legitimacy and open liberty for dealing with iron hand to any political, economic issues, crisis or rival.
Al-Qaida is the top secret code name of special covert operations of the U.S. CIA, Israeli Mossad, British SIS, Indian RAW and Pakistani ISI. Al-Qaida is a fake name, an imaginary illusion, a deceptive fraud, a fictitious hoax and a fraudulent scam of the unlawful war for terror, which is still being cunningly and clandestinely supported and promoted by the CIA, Mossad, SIS, RAW, ISI and the Corrupt Mercenary Media (CMM) to frame, blame, defame, harm and kill innocents Pakistanis, Kashmiris, Indians, Afghans, Arabs, Muslims/Hindus and other innocent humans by falsely and maliciously labeling them as the Al-Qaida militants, extremists, or terrorists. Actually, Al-Qaida or Al-CIA-da is the CIA. Al-Qaida is the Mossad. Al-Qaida is the SIS. Al-Qaida is the RAW. Al-Qaida is the ISI. Al-Qaida is the CMM. The CIA, Mossad, SIS, RAW, ISI and the CMM are the real Al-Qaida or 'the Evil 6'. For the sake of international peace, reform or abolish the CIA, Mossad, SIS, RAW and the ISI; oppose and expose the CMM; and end the illegal war of terror now to reduce global terrorism. Indeed, imperialistic military occupation of any country, state, or nation is state terrorism. Civil terror is a natural reaction to government terror."
Al Qaeda and Taliban is an “imaginary force� created by CIA, through which third world countries like Pakistan and Indian governments, ruling elite and establishment interest converge with USA. Pakistan state, military/political ruling elite and establishment have been trapped and addicted to US dollars/support for last fifty seven years. These dollars are shifted to safe havens of same Western Banks, from where these dollars started journey. Hence it’s a zero sum game for Western economic system. It is for the same reason various crises in third world countries are created for commissions and omissions. Third world countries like Pakistan and Indian ruling establishment and state composes of various political, army, economic, business feudal, bureaucratic, metropolis cartels controlling/manipulating various financial and power hubs in like Bombay, Karachi, Lahore and Delhi (all British era colonial metropolis). Rest all masses (99 %) are non state agent and actors. These masses are typical mouse from Mumbai and Karachi. In the local train compartment which has capacity of 100 persons, these mouse travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at least squeak but they don't even do that.

Pakistani and Indian ruling establishment have been using wild cards like Al Qaeda, Taliban, Sectarian, Ethnic Violence to their advantage. Whenever CIA or Pakistani or Indian ruling establishment wants to kill people or target someone, they send in an Al Qaeda or Taliban cut-out to start the cycle of violence. Disinformation/disorientation campaigns for local/international establishment agenda has increased exponentially during recent times. Such disinformation/disorientation campaigns are paid, sponsored and engineered by local/international establishment for creating justification for military actions, extreme brute measure and corrupt practices. the Corrupt Mercenary Media (CMM) present themselves as CHAMPIONS OF TRUTH, DEMOCRASY, and JUSTICE. Various writers and anchors pretend asking tough/hard questions and saving world from war, extremism. However media at best are manipulating and comprising the truth by showing half picture of crisis. Most of the time media avoid context and conceal motives of the ongoing crisis and chaos in India, Pakistan and whole Muslim world. Media will never tip-toe out of the false perception minefield that they have allowed themselves to be lured into by the CIA, various ruling establishment and architects of WAR FOR TERROR. TV Anchors most of the times are bounded by policy, life threats, job fears, temptations, easy going attitude, incompetence and lack of quality research on social science. Any TV channel prime motivation is money, revenue, coverage, ads and sponsors not truth.


Al-Qaeda is a front organization of CIA and MOSSAD : Mumbai based group of intellectuals and human rights activists
India Daily-Jun. 13, 2007

The Mumbai based group alleged that Al-Qaeda is a front organization of CIA and MOSSAD. "There is enough evidence that the Al-Qaeda is a front organization of the CIA and MOSSAD. The Bush junta has used the bogey of terror and of Al Qaeda to justify his unending and ever expanding Global War on Terror, which is only a means of capturing the resources of the world and of establishing the sole hegemony of Israel in West Asia," said the group of activists and intellectuals. The group is holding a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday to "expose the links between Al-Qaeda and the CIA-MOSSAD".
Holding American-Israeli operation accomplices of the 9/11 attack on the WTC, the spokesman of the group said that this has been widely written about in USA and Europe itself and more than 50% of the American people and far more Europeans, now believe and are convinced about this fact. He said that sections of the Indian ruling political and military elite are importing the same Bush-Olmert formula into India. "The increasing terror attacks only serve the cause of the Indian elite and divide the masses along communal lines. It is only the ordinary Indians who are the victims of terror either in temples, mosques, buses or trains," he said adding that practically no political leader suffers a similar fate, where the terrorists are apprehended and killed in "encounters".
"Every terror attack is meant to push and drag the Indian masses further into the waiting arms of Uncle Sam and the Israeli Goliath. Every terror attack spreads further hatred for Muslims and Islam and weakens the Indian Muslim community," he said.