At the Inauguration of Hard Rock Café: Kabul
Nadeem F Paracha March 14, 2005
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#37 Posted by CoolHandLuke on March 18, 2005 9:55:47 am
Blasted. Are you laughing at poor Afghans or at us poor corporate yuppies? Both ways keep laughing and no need to get so agitated. But then that wont be you.
#36 Posted by baaghiraja on March 16, 2005 9:18:19 am
AboutMoods,
Okay.
Viqar,
And then some...
Zara Hamid,
Thank you.
Ana,
Love that song.
Nass,
Piss off!
And, of course, echobum,
Care for some tea?
Okay.
Viqar,
And then some...
Zara Hamid,
Thank you.
Ana,
Love that song.
Nass,
Piss off!
And, of course, echobum,
Care for some tea?
#35 Posted by echoboom on March 16, 2005 8:02:56 am
34:
Your Zannattay-daar ThhappaRR on the kalloo-goraa trash punk might, just might, cure him of his anglicised schooling.
Tiktikees and Lashings must be brought back in Pakistan to get rid of such chUrsees, BhUnGees, zanees and sharaabees.
Your Zannattay-daar ThhappaRR on the kalloo-goraa trash punk might, just might, cure him of his anglicised schooling.
Tiktikees and Lashings must be brought back in Pakistan to get rid of such chUrsees, BhUnGees, zanees and sharaabees.
#34 Posted by AboutMoods on March 16, 2005 7:11:08 am
Re: # 23
``I see you are pretty active(?) Are you sure you would like to go through a list of things I am involved in? Wont sound as entertaining, though. I grieve therefore I write. This is one. For the rest you can e-mail me``
Yes please, send in the list of things you are involved in, with time sheets and applicable rates. And no, I am not very active, I work for an exploitive company and prostitute my skills for worldly comforts. Make you feel any better about yourself? ``I grieve therefore I write``, interesting way to put it. Almost makes you sound like someone important.
``You’re being extremely presumptuous here. That too doesn’t require much of an effort, now does it?``
I am. And it doesnt. I never thought I`d be trading a list of personal accomplishments here but since we`re at it, I didn`t write that piece up there with all those angry old man routines. I`m just the ordinary non-sociopoliticopsuedophilomarxist voice of reason here. The critic. I`m not the intellectual `celebrity` here dude.
``And what can the writer possibly be preaching here? And even if I WAS preaching, how can you presume so surely that I am not practicing it? But I would like to know what was it that you so unquestionably thought I was preaching? I would like to know. Here. Punk.``
What you are preaching. I`ll be so bold as to quote from your own response:
1. ``...bringing in a social and cultural change in a society...``
2. ``Mental and social evolution is a valid solution..`` and the conditions these require and how you are trying to set these up.
3. Add any number of anti establishment, anti capitalism, cola, fundamentalism, chauvinism, feminism, blahism to the above two.
The first is the role of a reformist writer or agitator. The second, the role of an educator. Dude you couldn`t have selected more lofty goals to try your rusty skills on. Anyway, here it is, what now? Punk.
``As the fads and fashions, sociology and politics of generations keep changing, some things about modern life remain constant, such as certain social, political and economic issues which keep bothering and confusing certain “self-absorbed” minds like me and which, by nature, are emotional and unforgiving.``
Couldn`t agree more. 8 million people die each year of extreme poverty, that`s about 20000 per day. One of every four in Zimbabwe is infected with HIV.
``Youth today all over the world are still involved in radical movements and causes, ranging from poverty elevation, to environmental and human rights issues. Revolutions are not always about overthrowing governments (although sometimes they do become a raging necessity). My interest is in young men and women with a mind and passion to do whatever they can (as writers, singers, architects, journalists, students, whatever), to work (preferably collectively) towards bringing in a social and cultural change in a society suffering from cultural myopia, political decline and social apathy. Thus, bad news, sir/madam. I plan to continue ‘repeating’ myself.``
Its a pity. If a person has opinions, those opinions should be heard. Some people never learn to express themselves. Take for example Uncle Rushdie. Guy came in, saw a lot of injustice, went mad. Said f**k everybody and their dear mom. Antagonized everybody and their dear mom. Cashed out and now lives happily ever after. He, however, made some difference since he wrote well enough to get some readers.
``Mental and social evolution is a valid solution. But even for that certain situations have to be created and set up. I as a thirtysomething journalist have been trying to set up these very situations, though not always successfully and maybe not as diplomatically. Well, that’s my way, and this way has done some good as well. Not that I give a flying f**k that whether it bothers certain refined sensibilities and experts on satire and what was that, yes, “Marxist Fatwas!!” Lol. Now I`ll raise a glass of Pepsi for that.``
When you want to make a difference you learn to give a f**k. On one hand you say you`re trying to set up these situations to facilitate social and mental evolution, then you tell me you`re not very diplomatic or very successful. Then you tell me you don`t really give damn if someone is bothered by your style or sinsibility. Surely you can see your approach may not be as effective as it can be? When you say ``that`s my way`` you sound curiously like Sinatra singing in praise of the American (read overbearing capitalist) way of life.
``Let me tell you about my greatest fear. Early 20th Century Russia and mid-20th Century China (or for that matter, 19th Century France), were the killing fields of some of the worst kinds of material and spiritual poverty. And yet all three societies bore three of the greatest and most powerful revolutions. Everything has a threshold. And some finally break. My worry is that this breaking will be hijacked by violent right-wing and myopic forces, while the more liberal and educated lot shall be left counting their credit cards, dig?``
Or mid 19th century America or the Rise of Japan (20th century) after the bomb. Or basically any transition in history. Dude, give up. Not every revolution is accompanied by the blood and gore most revolutionaries would rather have. Some powerful event happens which sometimes creates a vacuum and people die needlessly. You can`t foresee or stop that, most revolutions happen with persistence, perseverense, a sense of commitment to your cause and of course because people gradually learn to do the right thing if you give them a chance. Is it possible that we can and will be able to have a big fat revolution albiet without the usual hollywood special effects. It will be good enough for me. So what if I don`t get to sharpen my axe and lope off a couple of fascist or fundamentalist heads? We got video games for that now.
``You seem to long for literature (etc.) to make that change and YET sound so awfully cynical. Why do I repeat myself? The same reasons YOU did. Here.``
I long for things that make a difference. Pick up any list of the best writers and you see people from Asia and Africa. Most with real things to say and problems to solve and things to achieve and all of this remarkably conveyed in a way that makes you want to pitch in and make things better. Not that they are talking about less serious or less important things. Not that they live in a world with fewer things to be bitter about. No, they take advantage of the medium they have been gifted with.
Then pick up a Muslim writer from my beloved Pakistan and you get an instantly antagonizing list of complaints with little to suggest for improvement and even less to redeem an absolute lack of style. Why would the reader want to listen to you? As long as you sit up there on your psychophilosophically high horse and refuse to come down to your reader, you can`t seriously expect to change opinions or set the conditions for people`s mentality to evolve. You`re not better than your reader dude, stop trying to prove yourself. You`re only as good as your ability to communicate and persuade. And I don`t feel your present style helps.
``I see you are pretty active(?) Are you sure you would like to go through a list of things I am involved in? Wont sound as entertaining, though. I grieve therefore I write. This is one. For the rest you can e-mail me``
Yes please, send in the list of things you are involved in, with time sheets and applicable rates. And no, I am not very active, I work for an exploitive company and prostitute my skills for worldly comforts. Make you feel any better about yourself? ``I grieve therefore I write``, interesting way to put it. Almost makes you sound like someone important.
``You’re being extremely presumptuous here. That too doesn’t require much of an effort, now does it?``
I am. And it doesnt. I never thought I`d be trading a list of personal accomplishments here but since we`re at it, I didn`t write that piece up there with all those angry old man routines. I`m just the ordinary non-sociopoliticopsuedophilomarxist voice of reason here. The critic. I`m not the intellectual `celebrity` here dude.
``And what can the writer possibly be preaching here? And even if I WAS preaching, how can you presume so surely that I am not practicing it? But I would like to know what was it that you so unquestionably thought I was preaching? I would like to know. Here. Punk.``
What you are preaching. I`ll be so bold as to quote from your own response:
1. ``...bringing in a social and cultural change in a society...``
2. ``Mental and social evolution is a valid solution..`` and the conditions these require and how you are trying to set these up.
3. Add any number of anti establishment, anti capitalism, cola, fundamentalism, chauvinism, feminism, blahism to the above two.
The first is the role of a reformist writer or agitator. The second, the role of an educator. Dude you couldn`t have selected more lofty goals to try your rusty skills on. Anyway, here it is, what now? Punk.
``As the fads and fashions, sociology and politics of generations keep changing, some things about modern life remain constant, such as certain social, political and economic issues which keep bothering and confusing certain “self-absorbed” minds like me and which, by nature, are emotional and unforgiving.``
Couldn`t agree more. 8 million people die each year of extreme poverty, that`s about 20000 per day. One of every four in Zimbabwe is infected with HIV.
``Youth today all over the world are still involved in radical movements and causes, ranging from poverty elevation, to environmental and human rights issues. Revolutions are not always about overthrowing governments (although sometimes they do become a raging necessity). My interest is in young men and women with a mind and passion to do whatever they can (as writers, singers, architects, journalists, students, whatever), to work (preferably collectively) towards bringing in a social and cultural change in a society suffering from cultural myopia, political decline and social apathy. Thus, bad news, sir/madam. I plan to continue ‘repeating’ myself.``
Its a pity. If a person has opinions, those opinions should be heard. Some people never learn to express themselves. Take for example Uncle Rushdie. Guy came in, saw a lot of injustice, went mad. Said f**k everybody and their dear mom. Antagonized everybody and their dear mom. Cashed out and now lives happily ever after. He, however, made some difference since he wrote well enough to get some readers.
``Mental and social evolution is a valid solution. But even for that certain situations have to be created and set up. I as a thirtysomething journalist have been trying to set up these very situations, though not always successfully and maybe not as diplomatically. Well, that’s my way, and this way has done some good as well. Not that I give a flying f**k that whether it bothers certain refined sensibilities and experts on satire and what was that, yes, “Marxist Fatwas!!” Lol. Now I`ll raise a glass of Pepsi for that.``
When you want to make a difference you learn to give a f**k. On one hand you say you`re trying to set up these situations to facilitate social and mental evolution, then you tell me you`re not very diplomatic or very successful. Then you tell me you don`t really give damn if someone is bothered by your style or sinsibility. Surely you can see your approach may not be as effective as it can be? When you say ``that`s my way`` you sound curiously like Sinatra singing in praise of the American (read overbearing capitalist) way of life.
``Let me tell you about my greatest fear. Early 20th Century Russia and mid-20th Century China (or for that matter, 19th Century France), were the killing fields of some of the worst kinds of material and spiritual poverty. And yet all three societies bore three of the greatest and most powerful revolutions. Everything has a threshold. And some finally break. My worry is that this breaking will be hijacked by violent right-wing and myopic forces, while the more liberal and educated lot shall be left counting their credit cards, dig?``
Or mid 19th century America or the Rise of Japan (20th century) after the bomb. Or basically any transition in history. Dude, give up. Not every revolution is accompanied by the blood and gore most revolutionaries would rather have. Some powerful event happens which sometimes creates a vacuum and people die needlessly. You can`t foresee or stop that, most revolutions happen with persistence, perseverense, a sense of commitment to your cause and of course because people gradually learn to do the right thing if you give them a chance. Is it possible that we can and will be able to have a big fat revolution albiet without the usual hollywood special effects. It will be good enough for me. So what if I don`t get to sharpen my axe and lope off a couple of fascist or fundamentalist heads? We got video games for that now.
``You seem to long for literature (etc.) to make that change and YET sound so awfully cynical. Why do I repeat myself? The same reasons YOU did. Here.``
I long for things that make a difference. Pick up any list of the best writers and you see people from Asia and Africa. Most with real things to say and problems to solve and things to achieve and all of this remarkably conveyed in a way that makes you want to pitch in and make things better. Not that they are talking about less serious or less important things. Not that they live in a world with fewer things to be bitter about. No, they take advantage of the medium they have been gifted with.
Then pick up a Muslim writer from my beloved Pakistan and you get an instantly antagonizing list of complaints with little to suggest for improvement and even less to redeem an absolute lack of style. Why would the reader want to listen to you? As long as you sit up there on your psychophilosophically high horse and refuse to come down to your reader, you can`t seriously expect to change opinions or set the conditions for people`s mentality to evolve. You`re not better than your reader dude, stop trying to prove yourself. You`re only as good as your ability to communicate and persuade. And I don`t feel your present style helps.
#33 Posted by ana on March 16, 2005 5:55:08 am
boom boom is frothing again. and here`s this from a beloved western scum. . . perhaps when your ears and eyes have recovered from the boomshakalaka that you`ve been brainwashed by. . . you just might understand. because obviously you don`t understand that rape doesn`t know boundaries, and east-west, you bechara baighairat sod. .
instant karma is going to get you. . .
Instant Karma`s gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you`re gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin` to do
It`s up to you, yeah you
Instant Karma`s gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin`
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin` at fools like me
Who in the hell d`you think you are
A super star
Well, right you are
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Ev`ryone come on
Instant Karma`s gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev`ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you`re ev`rywhere
Come and get your share
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah
--john lennon
instant karma is going to get you. . .
Instant Karma`s gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you`re gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin` to do
It`s up to you, yeah you
Instant Karma`s gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin`
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin` at fools like me
Who in the hell d`you think you are
A super star
Well, right you are
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Ev`ryone come on
Instant Karma`s gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev`ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you`re ev`rywhere
Come and get your share
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah
--john lennon
#32 Posted by echoboom on March 16, 2005 5:32:20 am
No wonder then Mukhtar Mai & Shazia cases happen in Paki-land.
In Pakistan Zaanis [adulterers], and zanabiljabrees[rapists], Sharaabees (drinkers), Haraamkaars(corrupt), rishvatkhores(bribe-takers) and such `moderate` and `enlightened` types get support from cantonements & civil-lines.
Hence the westernised scum will continue their baighairat and bayhayaa lifestyle and delude themselves into believing that they are somewhat `educated``.
``If you do it in english, it must be great``--the totaa mainaas conclude.
And then there is IRAN!
Iran`s `desert vampire` executed
The condemned collapsed twice during the pre-execution flogging
An Iranian serial killer who murdered at least 20 children has been executed in front a large crowd of spectators.
Mohammad Bijeh, 22, dubbed ``the Tehran desert vampire`` by Iran`s press, was flogged 100 times before being hanged.
A brother of one of his young victims stabbed him as he was being punished. The mother of another victim was asked to put the noose around his neck.
The execution took place in Pakdasht south of Tehran, near where Bijeh`s year-long killing spree took place.
The killer was hoisted about 10 metres into the air by a crane and slowly throttled to death in front of the baying crowd.
Hanging by a crane - a common form of execution in Iran
- does not involve a swift death as the condemned prisoner`s neck is not broken.
Calm and silent
The killer collapsed twice during the punishment, although he remained calm and silent throughout.
Spectators, held back by barbed wire and about 100
police officers, chanted ``harder, harder`` as judicial officials took
turns to flog Bijeh`s bare back before his hanging.
Bijeh was stabbed by the 17-year-old brother of victim Rahim Younessi, AFP reported, as he was being readied to be hanged.
Officials then invited the mother Milad Kahani to put the blue nylon rope around his neck.
The crimes of Mohammed Bijeh and his accomplice Ali Baghi had drawn massive attention in the Iranian media.
They reportedly tricked children to go with them into
the desert south of Tehran by saying they were going to hunt animals.
They then poisoned or knocked their victims out, sexually abused them and buried them in shallow graves.
They were found guilty of the murders of between 19 and 22 people, but local people believe the toll to be higher.
Baghi has been given a 15 year prison term.
In Pakistan Zaanis [adulterers], and zanabiljabrees[rapists], Sharaabees (drinkers), Haraamkaars(corrupt), rishvatkhores(bribe-takers) and such `moderate` and `enlightened` types get support from cantonements & civil-lines.
Hence the westernised scum will continue their baighairat and bayhayaa lifestyle and delude themselves into believing that they are somewhat `educated``.
``If you do it in english, it must be great``--the totaa mainaas conclude.
And then there is IRAN!
Iran`s `desert vampire` executed
The condemned collapsed twice during the pre-execution flogging
An Iranian serial killer who murdered at least 20 children has been executed in front a large crowd of spectators.
Mohammad Bijeh, 22, dubbed ``the Tehran desert vampire`` by Iran`s press, was flogged 100 times before being hanged.
A brother of one of his young victims stabbed him as he was being punished. The mother of another victim was asked to put the noose around his neck.
The execution took place in Pakdasht south of Tehran, near where Bijeh`s year-long killing spree took place.
The killer was hoisted about 10 metres into the air by a crane and slowly throttled to death in front of the baying crowd.
Hanging by a crane - a common form of execution in Iran
- does not involve a swift death as the condemned prisoner`s neck is not broken.
Calm and silent
The killer collapsed twice during the punishment, although he remained calm and silent throughout.
Spectators, held back by barbed wire and about 100
police officers, chanted ``harder, harder`` as judicial officials took
turns to flog Bijeh`s bare back before his hanging.
Bijeh was stabbed by the 17-year-old brother of victim Rahim Younessi, AFP reported, as he was being readied to be hanged.
Officials then invited the mother Milad Kahani to put the blue nylon rope around his neck.
The crimes of Mohammed Bijeh and his accomplice Ali Baghi had drawn massive attention in the Iranian media.
They reportedly tricked children to go with them into
the desert south of Tehran by saying they were going to hunt animals.
They then poisoned or knocked their victims out, sexually abused them and buried them in shallow graves.
They were found guilty of the murders of between 19 and 22 people, but local people believe the toll to be higher.
Baghi has been given a 15 year prison term.
#31 Posted by zarahamid on March 15, 2005 9:12:28 pm
Nadeem Paracha is still very much a darling of many young people of my generation aswell...so what if the socalled nineties generation who made him a star now dish him
for failed promises... he still stirs many young people today in Pakiland...he is only writer
in land of pure who matters for many of us...
for failed promises... he still stirs many young people today in Pakiland...he is only writer
in land of pure who matters for many of us...
#30 Posted by viqar.qadir on March 15, 2005 1:49:59 pm
Re: # 25
Nass
Dude, I never said he doesn`t have it in him or that he is incapable of accomplishments. I wouldn`t spend all my time writing to/about him if I thought so. The whole point being to avoid wasted effort and to see something positive in others and oneself, if you get it. I will, therefore, cordially distance myself from your apparently personal opinions. No hard feelings.
P.S
I also don`t think that if I read his articles when I was younger, it automatically bestows upon me the right to bash him for it when I grow hair on my cojones. I try to base my opinions today on the facts today.
Nass
Dude, I never said he doesn`t have it in him or that he is incapable of accomplishments. I wouldn`t spend all my time writing to/about him if I thought so. The whole point being to avoid wasted effort and to see something positive in others and oneself, if you get it. I will, therefore, cordially distance myself from your apparently personal opinions. No hard feelings.
P.S
I also don`t think that if I read his articles when I was younger, it automatically bestows upon me the right to bash him for it when I grow hair on my cojones. I try to base my opinions today on the facts today.
#29 Posted by ana on March 15, 2005 11:49:01 am
viqar,
i`m not going to argue with you about NFP`s writings, or his promise. your objections to his work are undoubtedly valid, and you make your points well. i did not grow up, or grow period reading NFP`s work, and i have a different take on it.
if NFP is a promise unfulfilled, then forgive me but he only reflects what the reality is where he lives. pakistan is a promise unfulfilled, long unfulfilled. and perhaps the disappointment felt in him, is that he represented ideas which contributed in some small way to that fulfilment. like i said, what you`ve articulated is some of what i`ve given thought to myself, but i am still not qualified to say that he is a failed promise, or that he is not making a difference in any way shape or form. if you know him well enough through his writings to make those judgments, that is your opinion.
having said that. . .
nass,
you appear to have more personal and intimate knowledge of nadeem than any of us here, and you never fail to reveal that. i don`t even think you read his articles anymore. :) you have lately turned some NFP boards into your opportunity to give him more personal lashings. and he must be worth it, even if he is a egomaniacal hedonist! i wonder though, i`ve seen other writers personally trashed with just as much anger and bitterness, rather than reading what they`ve written. what you do must be therapeutical for you, but apparently it`s not making any difference to him, because he just keeps coming back. i hope it makes a difference to you though. i hope it makes you feel a lot better, knowing that you at least are moving forward while he`s still stuck somewheres. or are you. . . moving forward that is?
i`m not going to argue with you about NFP`s writings, or his promise. your objections to his work are undoubtedly valid, and you make your points well. i did not grow up, or grow period reading NFP`s work, and i have a different take on it.
if NFP is a promise unfulfilled, then forgive me but he only reflects what the reality is where he lives. pakistan is a promise unfulfilled, long unfulfilled. and perhaps the disappointment felt in him, is that he represented ideas which contributed in some small way to that fulfilment. like i said, what you`ve articulated is some of what i`ve given thought to myself, but i am still not qualified to say that he is a failed promise, or that he is not making a difference in any way shape or form. if you know him well enough through his writings to make those judgments, that is your opinion.
having said that. . .
nass,
you appear to have more personal and intimate knowledge of nadeem than any of us here, and you never fail to reveal that. i don`t even think you read his articles anymore. :) you have lately turned some NFP boards into your opportunity to give him more personal lashings. and he must be worth it, even if he is a egomaniacal hedonist! i wonder though, i`ve seen other writers personally trashed with just as much anger and bitterness, rather than reading what they`ve written. what you do must be therapeutical for you, but apparently it`s not making any difference to him, because he just keeps coming back. i hope it makes a difference to you though. i hope it makes you feel a lot better, knowing that you at least are moving forward while he`s still stuck somewheres. or are you. . . moving forward that is?
#28 Posted by HP on March 15, 2005 11:34:59 am
In case you have not seen this gem before.
http://www.scotchwhisky.net/images/blends/vat69.jpg
Check out more details here.
http://www.scotchwhisky.net/blended/vat_69.htm
#27 Posted by HP on March 15, 2005 11:26:26 am
#23 by baaghiraja
“Only YOU would get that Vat:69 joke. LOL. Why am I not surprised? Yes, there is actually a drink called Vat:69. I found that out only a few years ago.”
Obviously, you were born yesterday! VAT: 69 was the most famous Scotch that was served in all bars from Empress Market and the “Dekha-Na-tha girl” cabaret in Karachi to Anwar bar in Hyderabad to many other Bars for common folks all over Pakistan. This scotch was still available after the prohibition but disappeared after 79. Several types of Indian whiskeys replaced that grand old VAT 69. I started on this scotch mostly stealing it from older brother’s closet.
I bet the one you don’t know anything about was VAT 1. Yes, this was the Pakistan whiskey. Many students started drinking on VAT 1. After 77 prohibitions, Vat 1 held the fort for sometime, as it was the only whiskey available from the stock and sold in the market. Once bars depleted their stock, VAT 1 also disappeared. What a tragic day that was. Pure Pakistanis relying on cheap and tasteless Indian whiskey and Gin! How tragic!
God bless you for reminding me of that grand old Vat 69.
Khuda tum ko karwat karwat jannat naseeb karay and Jannat main sharab- especially VAT 69- ki nahrain hoon!
#26 Posted by temporal on March 15, 2005 11:12:53 am
nadeem:
...A free shot of Vat:69 for you, sir, with YOUR choice of cola. ...
taubah taubah astagfirallah naoozobillah...and other reverential words ending in ah!
vat69 was standard backdrop accessory in b&w desi movies of old...hence my inkling of the firewater they may contain...therefore...and i mean very humbly...can i take a rain check on this?...i have it from these very impeccable sources that speak in no uncertain terms from the pulpits and minarets that that firewater consumption is a strict no no for the breathing soul...(dead are exempted, i understand)...and even though i live far far from the soul-shaking sermonizers... the fear they have instilled in my youth lingers to this day...so...after this long but very much necessary preamble i would ask for a raincheck for your kind offer...
perchance
on an evening stroll in the mall over there you with your attendant houris me with my friends...if we ever come across each other...then i will gladly remind you of this raincheck...with rocks...i mean i prefer on the rocks;)...
realistically
the possibility of that happening is very remote...no, sir not casting any aspersions on your weed imbibing outspoken-ness and other strengths that you have not shared yet...i say remote because i am continuously told by my partner in crime to straighten up or will end up in some hot hell hole...you know what they say...chant something repeatedly and it might happen...not that am supersitituous...but you do get the drift...we may be on different planes in that future...however...
...ok back to work...
rgds
t
...A free shot of Vat:69 for you, sir, with YOUR choice of cola. ...
taubah taubah astagfirallah naoozobillah...and other reverential words ending in ah!
vat69 was standard backdrop accessory in b&w desi movies of old...hence my inkling of the firewater they may contain...therefore...and i mean very humbly...can i take a rain check on this?...i have it from these very impeccable sources that speak in no uncertain terms from the pulpits and minarets that that firewater consumption is a strict no no for the breathing soul...(dead are exempted, i understand)...and even though i live far far from the soul-shaking sermonizers... the fear they have instilled in my youth lingers to this day...so...after this long but very much necessary preamble i would ask for a raincheck for your kind offer...
perchance
on an evening stroll in the mall over there you with your attendant houris me with my friends...if we ever come across each other...then i will gladly remind you of this raincheck...with rocks...i mean i prefer on the rocks;)...
realistically
the possibility of that happening is very remote...no, sir not casting any aspersions on your weed imbibing outspoken-ness and other strengths that you have not shared yet...i say remote because i am continuously told by my partner in crime to straighten up or will end up in some hot hell hole...you know what they say...chant something repeatedly and it might happen...not that am supersitituous...but you do get the drift...we may be on different planes in that future...however...
...ok back to work...
rgds
t
#25 Posted by Nass on March 15, 2005 10:48:26 am
Oooo, boy. Don`t remember Mr.NFP being both attacked and defended this well in a long time. viqar.kadir I too am from one of those after-zia generation who waited so restlessly every Sunday for NFP features and lashings. But on close look the truth was that yes there was that promise you talk about but it fizzled out a long time ago. He was never more than a brash egoistic hedonist whose revolutionary chants and witty cracks used to come to a dead stop as soon as he came down from all that he was always high on. I think this still is the case, so that makes him a decadent hedonist with a promise of which he himself is his biggest enemy. And his respose and reply to Aboutmoods comments is a good example. He`ll fall one day and fall hard and maybe that`s what scares him the most. A pity though that a once darling of a whole generation has only to do with his concern that if he has enough alcohol and charras supply for the night. Shame.
#24 Posted by viqar.qadir on March 15, 2005 10:19:56 am
Re: # 21
Ana
You wrote ``writing IS an act``
I meant to also respond to your ``why must there be a silver lining?`` comment earlier but thought it wise not to engage in a tertiary argument. I realize I haven`t been very clear, the reason being that I only get a very small amount of time at work.
There was never any doubt about the idea of writing being an Act. We usuall write to express or share or educate or propagate or for any number of such purposes, so you also have an expected outcome.
There are other modes of expression where you are not interested in an outcome as long as there is adequate and satisfactory expression. You have the reader/audience centric art and you have the writer/creater centric art. In some art forms the writer/creater is not answerable or is not supposed to have anything to say to someone/thing outside of the being. I am cool with all of that.
Then you have the content. You can talk about/against/for anything. Thats also cool. No problem.
The problem arises when you take a nihilistic approach and apply it to appeal to life outside of you. The premisis will not support the hypothesis. You can`t say ``start everything with the name of Allah`` and then say you are allowed to say ``there is no Allah``. You can`t choose the most capitalistic of all the platforms in the world and say down with capitalism. Or fight tooth and nail for the ``freedom to express`` and then say ``down with the instruments that gave me the right to express myself``
Not all writers/commentators/reformers write/express what they live or vice versa. There are many such examples. Realistically speaking, not everyone expects them to do that either. They have a right to their lives and their choices. This, however, has some moral qualifiers. You can`t have a big gap between what you tell people to do and what you do yourself with a clear conscience, especially if there`s likelihhod that some of your audience will listen to you. Rush Limbaugh is a good example.
When I take on the responsibility of reform, as anybody who takes on socio-political issues as their subject invariably does, I become responsible to my audience for consistency, for truthfulness, for rational analysis and for anything that may prejudice my opinion on what I am condemning. I know a lot of the people will disagree with me but I think that if I writer is read by a considerable audience and has made the choice to comment on social conditions, he has a moral contract to fulfil. Having said that, it is never fair to expect anyone to have all the answers...even wrong ones. But it does not follow that the writer is also exempt from asking the right questions. For a ``reformist`` writer, the subject is the focus of the piece, and not his own personality. If you`re in it for introspection, choose a different slogan or do it at home. If you are in it to make a difference, you keep your ``issues`` out of your work and have something to say. Write a book for christ!...get it out there for people to read.
I grew up reading his column on top tens in the news (was it?). Me and a whole generation of post zia surfers. Now his writing prowess has been reduced to this obligatory (and dare I say regurgitated) monthly anti-everythig squeal that is full of sound and fury...Nadeem has been a constantly unfulfilled promise so far.
I hope this makes some of the issues I raised clearer.
Ana
You wrote ``writing IS an act``
I meant to also respond to your ``why must there be a silver lining?`` comment earlier but thought it wise not to engage in a tertiary argument. I realize I haven`t been very clear, the reason being that I only get a very small amount of time at work.
There was never any doubt about the idea of writing being an Act. We usuall write to express or share or educate or propagate or for any number of such purposes, so you also have an expected outcome.
There are other modes of expression where you are not interested in an outcome as long as there is adequate and satisfactory expression. You have the reader/audience centric art and you have the writer/creater centric art. In some art forms the writer/creater is not answerable or is not supposed to have anything to say to someone/thing outside of the being. I am cool with all of that.
Then you have the content. You can talk about/against/for anything. Thats also cool. No problem.
The problem arises when you take a nihilistic approach and apply it to appeal to life outside of you. The premisis will not support the hypothesis. You can`t say ``start everything with the name of Allah`` and then say you are allowed to say ``there is no Allah``. You can`t choose the most capitalistic of all the platforms in the world and say down with capitalism. Or fight tooth and nail for the ``freedom to express`` and then say ``down with the instruments that gave me the right to express myself``
Not all writers/commentators/reformers write/express what they live or vice versa. There are many such examples. Realistically speaking, not everyone expects them to do that either. They have a right to their lives and their choices. This, however, has some moral qualifiers. You can`t have a big gap between what you tell people to do and what you do yourself with a clear conscience, especially if there`s likelihhod that some of your audience will listen to you. Rush Limbaugh is a good example.
When I take on the responsibility of reform, as anybody who takes on socio-political issues as their subject invariably does, I become responsible to my audience for consistency, for truthfulness, for rational analysis and for anything that may prejudice my opinion on what I am condemning. I know a lot of the people will disagree with me but I think that if I writer is read by a considerable audience and has made the choice to comment on social conditions, he has a moral contract to fulfil. Having said that, it is never fair to expect anyone to have all the answers...even wrong ones. But it does not follow that the writer is also exempt from asking the right questions. For a ``reformist`` writer, the subject is the focus of the piece, and not his own personality. If you`re in it for introspection, choose a different slogan or do it at home. If you are in it to make a difference, you keep your ``issues`` out of your work and have something to say. Write a book for christ!...get it out there for people to read.
I grew up reading his column on top tens in the news (was it?). Me and a whole generation of post zia surfers. Now his writing prowess has been reduced to this obligatory (and dare I say regurgitated) monthly anti-everythig squeal that is full of sound and fury...Nadeem has been a constantly unfulfilled promise so far.
I hope this makes some of the issues I raised clearer.
#23 Posted by baaghiraja on March 15, 2005 9:51:53 am
AboutMoods
~~Much of it was meant to be complimentary. I guess the protest came out a bit too strong because I`d been sitting on it for a couple of years now. Having said that, I still disagree with the complacent stance in the article/piece/thing written here.~~
Fair enough.
~~I take issue with the writer in a number of things, this piece being just one of them. The opinions one have about things in life normally and ethically should reflect the choices one makes in life. In this instance we don`t see that. We see a long list of grievances and nothing actually done about them. At least nothing that requires an effort and is of consequence.~~
I see you are pretty active(?) Are you sure you would like to go through a list of things I am involved in? Wont sound as entertaining, though. I grieve therefore I write. This is one. For the rest you can e-mail me. You’re being extremely presumptuous here. That too doesn’t require much of an effort, now does it?
~~Satire is a literary genre that has been successfully used to raise public awareness about sensitive social issues. The comic element, the ironies and other literary devices are normally used here to a desired effect...a change. That desired effect is the silver lining to the clouds. The purpose of satire is not to say ``See? I can do this. Am I good or what? Isn`t this the cleverest little string of cliched anti-everything slogans you`ve ever read?`` Satire is by its nature a corrective style of writing, its didactic and accordingly it assumes that the writer has a higher moral or social stance than the reader and the reader must rise to it through persuation. Naturally you would want the writer to actually believe and act on what he/she is preaching in this kind of writing.~~
And what can the writer possibly be preaching here? And even if I WAS preaching, how can you presume so surely that I am not practicing it? But I would like to know what was it that you so unquestionably thought I was preaching? I would like to know. Here. Punk.
~~I also take issue with the subject matter. The various evils that he makes fun of (not very original or clever) are ground realities.~~
Okay, but what do you think are “not very original or clever?” The various evils that I make fun of or the ground realities. What’s the difference between the two?
~~ There are things we do that can make a change in these ground realities, and there are things that don`t make any difference. Marxist ``fatwas`` and clever little ``satirical`` pieces belong to the second category. And they won`t, no matter how many times you repeat yourself.~~
Respect your point of view, but my experience tells me otherwise. As the fads and fashions, sociology and politics of generations keep changing, some things about modern life remain constant, such as certain social, political and economic issues which keep bothering and confusing certain “self-absorbed” minds like me and which, by nature, are emotional and unforgiving. Youth today all over the world are still involved in radical movements and causes, ranging from poverty elevation, to environmental and human rights issues. Revolutions are not always about overthrowing governments (although sometimes they do become a raging necessity). My interest is in young men and women with a mind and passion to do whatever they can (as writers, singers, architects, journalists, students, whatever), to work (preferably collectively) towards bringing in a social and cultural change in a society suffering from cultural myopia, political decline and social apathy. Thus, bad news, sir/madam. I plan to continue ‘repeating’ myself.
Mental and social evolution is a valid solution. But even for that certain situations have to be created and set up. I as a thirtysomething journalist have been trying to set up these very situations, though not always successfully and maybe not as diplomatically. Well, that’s my way, and this way has done some good as well. Not that I give a flying f**k that whether it bothers certain refined sensibilities and experts on satire and what was that, yes, “Marxist Fatwas!!” Lol. Now I`ll raise a glass of Pepsi for that.
Let me tell you about my greatest fear. Early 20th Century Russia and mid-20th Century China (or for that matter, 19th Century France), were the killing fields of some of the worst kinds of material and spiritual poverty. And yet all three societies bore three of the greatest and most powerful revolutions. Everything has a threshold. And some finally break. My worry is that this breaking will be hijacked by violent right-wing and myopic forces, while the more liberal and educated lot shall be left counting their credit cards, dig? Till than I plan to ``repeat`` myself. As you have already noticed. Nay, presumed, judged and executed.
You seem to long for literature (etc.) to make that change and YET sound so awfully cynical. Why do I repeat myself? The same reasons YOU did. Here.
Ana,
Only YOU would get that Vat:69 joke. LOL. Why am I not surprised? Yes, there is actually a drink called Vat:69. I found that out only a few years ago. And AboutMoods would be interested to know that it was during a trip to Kabul not so long ago that I found that our broken hearted Lollywood/Bollywood heros’ and lecherous vamps’ favourite beverage was actually a reality! A ground reality. What was I doing in Kabul? Ah, that is for Moods to assume. Here.
temporal,
A free shot of Vat:69 for you, sir, with YOUR choice of cola.
Rgds,
NfP
~~Much of it was meant to be complimentary. I guess the protest came out a bit too strong because I`d been sitting on it for a couple of years now. Having said that, I still disagree with the complacent stance in the article/piece/thing written here.~~
Fair enough.
~~I take issue with the writer in a number of things, this piece being just one of them. The opinions one have about things in life normally and ethically should reflect the choices one makes in life. In this instance we don`t see that. We see a long list of grievances and nothing actually done about them. At least nothing that requires an effort and is of consequence.~~
I see you are pretty active(?) Are you sure you would like to go through a list of things I am involved in? Wont sound as entertaining, though. I grieve therefore I write. This is one. For the rest you can e-mail me. You’re being extremely presumptuous here. That too doesn’t require much of an effort, now does it?
~~Satire is a literary genre that has been successfully used to raise public awareness about sensitive social issues. The comic element, the ironies and other literary devices are normally used here to a desired effect...a change. That desired effect is the silver lining to the clouds. The purpose of satire is not to say ``See? I can do this. Am I good or what? Isn`t this the cleverest little string of cliched anti-everything slogans you`ve ever read?`` Satire is by its nature a corrective style of writing, its didactic and accordingly it assumes that the writer has a higher moral or social stance than the reader and the reader must rise to it through persuation. Naturally you would want the writer to actually believe and act on what he/she is preaching in this kind of writing.~~
And what can the writer possibly be preaching here? And even if I WAS preaching, how can you presume so surely that I am not practicing it? But I would like to know what was it that you so unquestionably thought I was preaching? I would like to know. Here. Punk.
~~I also take issue with the subject matter. The various evils that he makes fun of (not very original or clever) are ground realities.~~
Okay, but what do you think are “not very original or clever?” The various evils that I make fun of or the ground realities. What’s the difference between the two?
~~ There are things we do that can make a change in these ground realities, and there are things that don`t make any difference. Marxist ``fatwas`` and clever little ``satirical`` pieces belong to the second category. And they won`t, no matter how many times you repeat yourself.~~
Respect your point of view, but my experience tells me otherwise. As the fads and fashions, sociology and politics of generations keep changing, some things about modern life remain constant, such as certain social, political and economic issues which keep bothering and confusing certain “self-absorbed” minds like me and which, by nature, are emotional and unforgiving. Youth today all over the world are still involved in radical movements and causes, ranging from poverty elevation, to environmental and human rights issues. Revolutions are not always about overthrowing governments (although sometimes they do become a raging necessity). My interest is in young men and women with a mind and passion to do whatever they can (as writers, singers, architects, journalists, students, whatever), to work (preferably collectively) towards bringing in a social and cultural change in a society suffering from cultural myopia, political decline and social apathy. Thus, bad news, sir/madam. I plan to continue ‘repeating’ myself.
Mental and social evolution is a valid solution. But even for that certain situations have to be created and set up. I as a thirtysomething journalist have been trying to set up these very situations, though not always successfully and maybe not as diplomatically. Well, that’s my way, and this way has done some good as well. Not that I give a flying f**k that whether it bothers certain refined sensibilities and experts on satire and what was that, yes, “Marxist Fatwas!!” Lol. Now I`ll raise a glass of Pepsi for that.
Let me tell you about my greatest fear. Early 20th Century Russia and mid-20th Century China (or for that matter, 19th Century France), were the killing fields of some of the worst kinds of material and spiritual poverty. And yet all three societies bore three of the greatest and most powerful revolutions. Everything has a threshold. And some finally break. My worry is that this breaking will be hijacked by violent right-wing and myopic forces, while the more liberal and educated lot shall be left counting their credit cards, dig? Till than I plan to ``repeat`` myself. As you have already noticed. Nay, presumed, judged and executed.
You seem to long for literature (etc.) to make that change and YET sound so awfully cynical. Why do I repeat myself? The same reasons YOU did. Here.
Ana,
Only YOU would get that Vat:69 joke. LOL. Why am I not surprised? Yes, there is actually a drink called Vat:69. I found that out only a few years ago. And AboutMoods would be interested to know that it was during a trip to Kabul not so long ago that I found that our broken hearted Lollywood/Bollywood heros’ and lecherous vamps’ favourite beverage was actually a reality! A ground reality. What was I doing in Kabul? Ah, that is for Moods to assume. Here.
temporal,
A free shot of Vat:69 for you, sir, with YOUR choice of cola.
Rgds,
NfP
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