Unquestionable Changes? The GLTB - whatever - through PM: Thanks for letting me in on SameerJB`s fear that our ``love`` for for the West will somehow translate to, horror of horrors, homosexual onsloughts.

In this and age it is rare to find a real bigot. How unusal. Someone should perform tests.

A man, much wiser than myself, one asked me who taught me how to procreate. Of course he wasn`t interested in how the Webster`s Student Dictionary was a revelation to a fourteen year- old. What the wise man was hammering on about was that it wasn`t the barbarian Westerners who taught us about the birds and bees. In fact, it turns out we were boozing and whoring - both homo and heterosexual boozing and whoring - long before the barbaric hordes of the West got in on the action. If SameerJB, for some strange reason, attributes ``the homosexual onslaught`` to Those Magnificent Men Alexander and Baber, then he is wrong. He need not cast his gaze Westward to find homosexuals, he merely need look the other direction: The East.

I`m off to get some more ammo on this topic.

Rafay

Unquestionable Changes? I write in direct response to tkhans reply #23, as well as the piece. My grandparents are getting old, and day by day I feel that I - we - are losing one of the most important links we have with the past. They are certain things that I can only think of doing with my grandparents.

Point is that I know that thier generation can never be replicated. However, I can feel within me the desire to be similar: To host like them; to be as hospitable as them; to be as tameezdar as them; to have thier sense of honour and dignity. It is in this desire that I find that The Sehra has been passed on. We need not look any further than ourselves to find it. This is what I meant earlier when I was talking about interpretation - see Sobia, you MUST keep on banging away at those subtle points - being the heart of social change.

At this point, I hate to sound, well, pontificatory, but: Do whatever you can to learn more about your parents and elders. Ask them tough question; embarrass them. From my experience, I have learnt the two following rather juicy things: That my grandparents were caught on a date (grandma has escaped from Kinnaird, even in 1939) and that this precipitated thier marriage; and that my grandfather was so mortified at the thought of his father finding out that he even wrote a suicide letter. Thankfully, he never carried out his plans, and to this day we laugh - well, he blushes - at the memory.

Just though I`d share that with you.

Rafay

Unquestionable Changes? I don`t like mustaches. They are uncomfortable; my masculinity derives itself from things stronger than hair. I wear Pesahwari chappals with my suits, and a shawl with my overcoat. I am proud of my heritage and would challenge anyone who says that wearing a shalwar will not get you a job. It`s not what you wear, but how you wear it. One of the best dressed men in Lahore - and I don`t take my directions from the sartorial dictats of Lawrencepur`s ``list`` - is Yousaf Salahuddin, and you`d be hard pressed to find him in anything but a starched white shallu.

Outdated traditions, regaurdless of how quaint, are outdated; they do not carry currency today. I`ll stick my neck out here and say: The preservation of tradition does not matter. More important is how tradition is interpreted for the future. Take marriage for example. Should a woman be allowed to choose a spouse of her choice or should she let her family decide. If the strength of the tradition comes from some sort of male control over females, the ``tradition`` will never survive the forces of the social market, and it will die a well deserved death. However, if the force that motivates arranged marriages is NOTHING but parental good intention, then perhaps the ``tradition`` will continue.

--Disclaimer: I am personally against the concept of arranged marriages. What I write is without prejudice and solely to illustrate my point.

I appreciate your effort Sobia, but can you explain what ``when the little things in our daily lives start changing without our knowledge, we truly evolve from what we were to what we become but for a limited time before things change again`` means? A bit of constructive criticism: Don`t be afraid to drive home your points, especially the subtler ones, again and again; and never underestimate how stupid your readers can be - myself included.

Sincerely,

Rafay

The Millenium Manifesto or ’Ikeesween Sadi Dastoor’ I`m surprised that the manifesto contains no mention of the judiciary, human rights or of law in general.

You`ve made mention of the fact that the 1973 constitution should be the one used. Your reasoning here is not too hot. The parties that existed at the time the 1973 constitution was framed do not exist as the same today.

Secondly, the 1973 document is, frankly, out dated. It does not properly grant the citizens of Pakistan freedom of expression, movement or freedom against state - or other - oppression. In terms of Fundamental Rights, it is not a document that was made taking needs of the people of Pakistan into consideration. Also, in terms of the way the pillars of state are positioned, the document is again lacking. There are no checks or balances. I must stop here and disclaim any desire to see something like the 8th amendment being reintroduced into the constitution. I`m not a constitutional expert, but I`m sure that the legal minds of Pakistan can come together to forge something better.

Farce I was told, by someone wiser than myself, not to enter the debate on one`s own article. However, I seem to have a desire to pen (type?) a few words in response to the replies I have recieved. Perhaps the fact that the article is off the Chowk main page - and hence not in general circulation - will get me around the advice I should be following: Our attention spans are short, and no-one is going to re-read this piece. However, dear reader, if you have ventured this far, then please continue.

First: The ``friend`` I refer to is Rishaad Salamat, anchor and editor at Bloomgurg Inc., a large news orinization. He told me about Musharraf`s high altiture inhalations, not Owen Bennett-Jones (mere mortals do not associate with the gods).

Second: I do like Musharraf. He seems like a nice guy. The type who you would remember as fun if you met him at a Shadi etc. I think the smoking scenario only best highlights his character: He is not one to take orders from anyone else. Given he is a somewhat balanced personality, this might be a good thing.

Third: Well, I thought I clear up some factual misconceptions. The other criticisms to this article are opinions, which I shall leave be, as they should be.....except the one that referred to me as a ``waste of band-width``. I have two words for you, and you should know what they are.

Sincerely,

Rafay Alam

Good Girls and Bad Postures It`s a shame that it an article like this to make us realise what we do. ``Bad Girl`` your point is well made and even better expressed. I mean no ill will when I say that if you had erm....the balls to write the article, you could have put your name with it. After all, I would be proud of a piece of work like that, and prouder still if my sister - or any woman - had courage enough for her convictions.

On another note: The name of religion is oft used to legitmise slouching. Our girls ``simply don`t behave like that`` in Pakistan. However, a subtle distinction should be drawn between religion and custom (though I don`t want to get into debate about defining such a line - it`s good enough to know which side of you are on). When the distinction can be seen, the behavior can be explained (though in NO case condoned). The results are surprising.

Again, well done.

Rafay Alam