Long Live the King: Musharraf’s Controversial Legacy “I’ll never forget what one of the military generals—not half as tipsy under the influence of alcohol as he was inebriated by the arrogance of power—said..”

Dear Mr. Ambassador, the above statement of yours is very unbecoming of a career diplomat, even though you mentioned it only in passing. I wonder what the good General told his friends about you. The rest of it is just your opinion.

What Talibanization? Paracha Sahib. Some experiences yove had. The parallel that comes to mind regarding Tablighis’ is that of bee and nectar. A bee only sucks on the flower where it will find juice.

Here is New York (and I guess elsewhere in the US as well) there is a similar group (traditionally known as the Bible Students “Taliban”) but more commonly referred to as Jehovah’s witnesses (not considered Christians by other Christians because of their rejection of the Trinity). But unlike the Tablighis or the Talibs, the JWs have had a huge impact on the civil liberties and laws of the US. Although they go house to house preaching (like Tablighis) but they don’t force themselves upon you in public places. They just sit on a bench with their magazine (Watch Tower) and hope that someone will talk to them. They are a very interesting group of people.

There’s a book “The American Religion” by Harold Bloom. A fascinating read about the role of religion (or modern American religion of the 19th century, e.g., Pentecostalism to Southern Baptism) on the US culture.

Pura Vida – 2 Weeks in the Land of Ticos Between my wife and I, we have been to half of the world. In all honesty, I have not been to any place where I had felt that I could live for the rest of my life. Costa Rica was one place where I thought I could.

Why are we fighting?

Pura Vida – 2 Weeks in the Land of Ticos Haha Masadi Sahib. I am doing pretty good, hope all is well with you too. I took some photos of some rare animals, and I will try to post once I figure out how.

I found Costa Ricans to be very different from other Central Americans. Many Americans have made Costa Rica home for retirement.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Ek. There are lots of things you don't know. Can I suggest some readings? because your views appear to be pretty ignorant of Ahmadi beliefs. I honestly doubt that you have ever seen Ahmadi literature (seen because you have obviously not read it).

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Eklayva, since you are an expert on Ahmadis, tell me is it allowed for Ahmadis to pray if he/she hears an Azaan done by a non-Ahmadi. Let’s see your scholarly view on this one.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance re #139 - Charlie, it is a commonsense (or common nonsense) to worry about who is leading the prayers (and with due respect to Sattar Sahib for his opinion). I will pray behind anyone, even a non-believer, because I am not praying “to” him, but to my creator. He is just there as a loud mouth. Ideally, there should be a robot leading Nimaz, because it the same repetitive stuff that an Imam does, it must get pretty boring doing it day in a day out.

The purpose of praying is to be humble and to submit to a divine power, and not to worry about who the Imam is. It’s like saying that if Chudhary Rafeeq is piloting the plane, I will miss my flight.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Re: #127

Toori yaar. What proof do you have that Karela (PUBH) is a legit prophet?

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Charlie, there may be some validity to your analysis and the way you feel. In general world, people usually don’t go and question about people’s beliefs. Last nigh I hung out with 3 hindu guys, a beautiful Afghan girl, a beautiful girl from Gyana (of Indian UP/Bihar origin) a beautiful white girl, and I had a blast. I met them at a fundraiser for Desi youth. No one asked me if I was Ahamdi or a gandoo or a chootiya. When people start questioning me how deep I shove my head up Mirza Sahib’s bund, I stop meeting with them.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Charlie, you met Mirza Masroor Ahmad KM5? Yeah he as real as they come, so consider yourself blessed. I hope you kissed his hand.

AK Saab, I was just teasing Charlie, because his only motivation to hang out with Ahmadis is for meeting Ahmadi chicks.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Hamid Saab, you are “other”.

Charlie, is that why we need a longwinded declaration on applications for passport? Lemme give you an inside Ahmadi information: No Real Ahmadi (fake may be) will meet with someone like you. Seriously.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance At present the purpose of declaration is nothing more than to ridicule Ahmadis for their faith. If the purpose is to collect data about people’s religion (for whatever sinister purposes – I am thinking Holocaust) then there are much easier ways to do that. Redesign the form with a column with multiple choices for religion, and people can check off their respective faith: Sunni, Shia, Christian, Buddhist, Ahmadi, Wahabi, Hindu, Muslim, etc. this way, no one will feel mocked and no Muslim will be signing off on stupid declarations: a win-win for all.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Tomatoes are 60 rupees a kilo, onions are not to be found, by this speed our Aloo Keema is going to taste like shit and we are worried about a dude (PUBH) who died some 1500 years ago. Where are our priorities? Be grateful that you only had to go thru the hassle of completing a form, a lot worse things are going on with religious minorities in Pakistan.

The Non-Existent Tourist’s Guide To Pakistan Paracha Sahib. Very pungently funny. It will be nice to see more of stuff like this on Chowk than the boring social and political commentary that takes up 80% of space.

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey I leave for my summer vacation in 2 weeks, and if I can get it before then, it will make a good beach read.

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey The HarperCollins website is not processing US orders and lists a number to call. I would like to read the book. I like Farzana’s writings and I am sure I wont be disappointed.