Collision of Cultures

Can Pakis have guts to openly defy their mullahs and start a "Pink-chaddi" campaign???

I doubt!!

we don't have such women to do that. Can you send a few over here?

We will pay if you want! :D
-E

A sign of cultural slavery: Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries.

So there, the mullahs do sometimes hit on the right nail!

Finally, we ought to remember our regional loverboys if need be; who cares what Emperor Claudius II and Valentine started in Rome.

Faris,

Since you are 'working at grass roots level in Sindh', what love stories have you discovered in that ancient land, the place that gave our violent ChowQ Islam-bashers their identity?

The poor Faris, no idea about what pakistan is about. Take it from me Faris, pakiland is created for islam, it recognizes no culture, even flying of kites is not allowed, because it is not in the book.

There is no way that pakis could celebrate valentines day. They dare not even mention abdus salam. In any country, winner of a nobel prize will have roads and schools named after him, not in pakistan because abdus was an ahmadia.

If that is the prevailing norm, you guys are stupid to have valentines day, and next time what greets you will be some frustrated yougster in suicide belt.

Take it from me Faris, this time you all had an easy time.

Re: # 3

Tahir

Cultural slavery? Tawaf or what is now known as Hajj was practiced b4 the arrival of Islam. Haqiqa or the shaving of new born children was practiced in Hijaz territory well b4 Islam arrived.

Faris

Nice article, balanced, objective and well written. Thanks

@Tahir- "Since you are 'working at grass roots level in Sindh', what love stories have you discovered in that ancient land, the place that gave our violent ChowQ Islam-bashers their identity?"

Firstly, I have discovered plenty of love stories in interior Sindh and Balochistan, since falling in love is not haraam and is not confined to urban areas or populations of Pakistan.
That's not why I work in the grassroots level and there is no romanticism in rural, backward areas of Sindh, you will not find that in my writing. Your silly sarcasm is duly noted, try harder next time...

Secondly, there is no Islam-bashing on Chowk, I haven't read it, except in the interacts of some inexperienced, four-walled minded fools who have nothing better than to do. If you think I'm wrong, send me the link of one anti-Islamic article on Chowk.

Lastly, to understand cultural dynamics and the role of religion is every thinking person's responsibility, especially one who is actively participating in the current, confused social environment of Pakistan.

Re: # 6
786 (hexagram),

"Tawaf or what is now known as Hajj was practiced b4 the arrival of Islam."

Didn't it occur to you that you're comparing sunnah-e-Ibraheemi with Valentine's Day! Can't you differentiate between silly pop culture and religious injunctions?

Have some black coffee.

Re: # 8
Farigh (as in 'free') man,

With a little less than two years out here, what do you know about interactors?

I guess you'll have to start with reading all my articles, i-logs, galleries--and if you haven't hit your teens by then-- all of my interacts. You'll see the real face of the Islam-bashers!

Haven't you been reading? Satire comes easily to me; you really don't have to push me to do it. Rest assured, it will flow in your direction if and when I deem it fit.

Muslims suffer because they sleep too much. Don't forget to blow out the 'laaltain' before you lie down.

Re: # 9

Tahir

With all due respect, religious connotations may be important from a emotional point of view but that does not alter the reality that Muslims have adopted traditions practiced by Arabs of that time in the name of religion. Sunnah-e-Ibrahimi is important to us because we are convinced by our belief systems that this is the way of God, but what about the remaining 4.5 billion people? To them, we are simply aping arab values and they maybe correct in their assumption for we have by our actions and words made God an arab who rejects all other values.

Tahir,

if you have been "here" (as in the online world of Chowk) for little more than 4 - 5 years, I think I know as much as you do about interactors.

I browsed through your i-logs which are 20 something of your 'ideas', not even proper writing, 6 galleries and no articles (again, send me links if i'm wrong) and even an hour hasn't passed...

I have been reading and your satire is still pretty lame, again, try harder...

Its true that muslims suffer from too much sleep, especially those spending their lives working in a corporate entity and fighting out their ideas online. I'll lie down in my good time but let's find out how active and aware you are? What kind of work do you do? which profession are you emmployed in? and how are you helping muslim communities other than arguing with people online? (Clear answers please)

Re: # 11
786 (why 786?),

You're confusing three things now:

1) Purely tribal customs (e.g. of pagan Arabia)
2) Culture (enlightenment and sophistication acquired through education and exposure to the arts)
3) Values (the accepted principles or standards of a person or a group).

Values when preached by a wayward guru lead one to a moral disaster, but when revealed by the Creator, leads to peace and salvation.

Don't kill, don't steal, don't worship false gods, THESE are values.

Anyway, I've made my point regarding the V-Day. I condemn globalization, this McDonaldization of cultures.

Peace.

Re: # 12
"I browsed through your i-logs which are 20 something of your 'ideas', not even proper writing"

47 as of today. When readable satire or truthful articles are banned by ChowQ, simple i-logs are more convenient to write (which are mostly edited work).

"6 galleries"

Eight!

"..and no articles (again, send me links if i'm wrong)"

Keep looking in the WRITERS section and you will get there.

Time up now.

Peace.

Re: # 12
"little more than 4 - 5 years"

Nearly seven years of interacting!

I've never seen you around here before. Perhaps a differnt nickname? Not knowing who I've faced and how, shows you don't know me at all. But don't let it bother you.

I wrote my first article way back in 2000. Still not impressed?

Peace.

Yes, still unimpressed, no one should write or share their thoughts simply to impress people, but I guess not everyone's interested in logical discussion and sharing of views here....

Its obvious why you've avoided my main question in post #12, which was about your professional life. I really don't care about what people say about my writing or ideas and I do not mind criticism of any sorts, but when you are becoming personal (post #4), at least have the courtesy to explain yourself.