Obama\'s 100 Days of Presidency Re: # 10
Very smart of you quin. Now you are inducing me to take a U turn. Like I said the problem was more with the system and not with the Kenyan kid. We knew that even before he was elected. We could've predicted even then, even now after 100 days and even after 100 weeks. We'll just keep coming up with more intense and disappointing poems each time.

With your arguments, you even deny me the right to live peacefully in a fool's paradise :)

Is it being realistic or pessimistic?

Obama\'s 100 Days of Presidency I know it is not going to be much different.The problem is rooted elsewhere.

But give the man a break...for optimism's sake!

Hangman and the Priest No denial of the fact that a complete change of mindset is required at every level....but letting others fight on our land and ridicule our sovereignty would only compound the problem my friend!

The issue at hand is complex, multidimensional and intertwined. In a deeply fissured and polarized society, such attacks and acts of aggression by foreign elements emanate reactionary emotional support for these retrogressive forces. Lack of education and economic disparity aggravate the situation.

If we can't fight , we can't let others fight on our behalf as well.

Urban Middle Class’s Steady Descent Into Conservatism and Religious Right Re#87
Thanks for the prompt response.

Let’s not forget that media is buzzing and screaming for its own commercial gains. Not indulging into the bullshit of moral and ethical responsibility, media is operating in a highly competitive business environment with each enterprise/service provider pouncing at every bit to enhance its bottom line and profitability. While portraying to ‘reflect’ the sentiments of the society it will continue to do every bit to ‘shape’ our opinions for its own purposeful gains. We can’t expect anything different from media.

Watching Hamid Mir defend Talibaan or Zaid Ahmed with his venomous anti Zionist effusions is much better than watching a sole state run propaganda PTV especially when you have a choice to switch to other channels.

If the middle class has got the proper sense, with its entire knowledge and information base, it should be able to extract the relevant bit and determine its course of action.

Urban Middle Class’s Steady Descent Into Conservatism and Religious Right A nice analysis in general but fails to incorporate two basic facts into the equation.

1. The phenomenon of ‘religious right’ (won’t call it conservatism) does not evolve in isolation, as is the case, and needs to be seen in a broader perspective duly factoring in all the contributing elements. The skewing towards right, which is circumstantial only as is not based on figures or data, is directly co-related to Anti American sentiment breeding in the middle class following the ‘with us or against us’ episode. The bifurcating divide propelled the society and middle class towards greater polarity compelling to opine either for the devil or the deep sea. If the middle class developed a pro religion sentiment _ Anti west or anti American element has a got a deep co-relation.

2. The second fact is the middle class indifference and more importantly its lack of influence in the decision making quarters. The urban middle class dubbed as the silent majority has either kept itself at bay as in case of every general elections or has been trampled if it did mobilize itself and made a significant bid to seriously challenge any development. The way various protest movements were curbed when ZAB’s govt. was overthrown is an example. Later Amir ul Momaneen ruled the indifferent nation for 11 good years at his free will and shoved the middle class/ nation while imposing (his own brand of selective ) Islam leaving no stone unturned to proudly represent Pakistan as the “ citadel of Islam�. Was that middle class’ fault? If at all it was middle class’ indifference and sycophancy in some cases at most.

The lack of clear foreign policy or more appropriately any foreign policy at all with frequent U turns has plunged the entire middle class and nation in chaos and confusion. 61 years down the road lack of identity remains the core issue. Now who is to be blamed ? and more importantly who has to take an initiative and set our priorities right ?

Living Together Thank you again quin.

Pls. read as Re # 7 instead of Re # 5 , in my last interact.

Living Together Re # 20

Thank you for taking all that (sweat and) pain and uncompromised deviousness to explain the intricacies and delicacies of this intriguing poem. Now makes more sense to a senseless person like me:)

Re # 5

If anything, bending my shoulders never meant providing any room to facilitate your gun.

I am convinced you have got plenty of vantage points and space of your own to launch your mock and pun attacks. Spare me for now.

Lessons From Another Lahore Tragedy Re # 110, 113

Agreed. There is intense hatred against USA that is apparent and transcends all cross-sections and layers of the society. This is bound to grow as we sink deeper into the so called WOT.

As for drone attacks, it is the inherent weakness of the government and compromise on the sovereignty that such shameful attacks are being allowed.

Given the strategic importance and geographical location, pull out of Pakistan is only unfortunately a theoretical possibility. One way or the other Pakistan has to go for or against the US designs.

Lessons From Another Lahore Tragedy Re # 43

The population of Punjab may not be monolithic so to speak. Population, customs, culture even language and dialects varies from region to region. The distinction is more apparent in larger blocks like Saraiki, Punjabi and Potowar. Also the regions in northern Punjab namely Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujjar Khan and Potowar has bred more Army Generals than anywhere esle in Pakistan. To quote an unconfirmed source 84% of Pakistan's Army personnel hail from the 'entire Punjab'.

Having said that, the social and physical interaction and relations transcend any boundaries that pave way for a peaceful co-existence. Intermarriages and joint businesses are frequent that enable these geographically isolated people to gel together.

Differences in personalities, behaviour and attitudes do not give rise to a friction that should spark some serious concerns.

Lessons From Another Lahore Tragedy Re#33
Revelation that central/upper Punjab is the fulcrum of all problems confound me. Would you elaborate this point of view further?
Re#37
What message is Altaf Bhai delivering by asking people to buy arms,more appropriately to a nation that stands at the verge of civil war?

Lessons From Another Lahore Tragedy Worse is no-one has got the guts to take responsibility and resign. On the contrary, the authorities are shamelessly celebrating over the fact that they were able to seize control in nine hours.What do you expect from this mindset and attitude?

Living Together These words constitute a spectrum that seem to radiate and diversify splitting themselves into multiple shades and hues giving varying colours and meanings to underlying thought.

I dare not say, I could grasp much of the meanings for these lines are pretty deep and profound. Only cursory comprehension if anything at all.

Good to see you back on FP in a long while. Keep sharing more please.

President Zardari’s Address to The Parliament There were apparent forces and elements mediating between the lawyers, opposition and the government.Incessant efforts for reconciliation were underway.

Opposition in general and NS in particular was able to score a big pyschological and political victory by bringing the government to its knees.Masses stormed the streets for what was generally deemed to be a just cause.

By the time government caved in, the demand from nearly all quarters had been reduced to one point.Decision for further agitation against the governemnt at that time lacked objectivity and merit.

Fluidity and tendency of masses to be mobilized comes as a strong warning and turning point for current regime and the leaderships to follow.

Pakistan Faces Unprecedented Water Scarcity A timely and thought provoking article.

As one of the minor contributing factors, its about time we start exploring possibilities with regards to recycling of water for domestic and commercial ( such as car wash ) uses. This inturn would require energy something we are already short of and need to sort out.

On larger scale, we have huge potential for water storage and regulation that can be exploited by constructing economical dams.A significantly large sea shore that runs for thousands of miles provides an enormous resource.

My November Rain Nothing (for me) to comment on the story but plenty on the controversy that ensued

What was so wrong with the interact # 28 that it had to be filtered? Just compare it to some of the stuff that goes on regularly.

Do we have some consistency at chowk ?

Mont Blnac

I see you have earned some great rewards and titles (conferred upon you) other than a new login for expressing yourself. Congrats!

I subscribe to your slogan on quality and of course we need much more of tolerance, mutual respect and positivity here.If everyone keeps contributing towards that!

My Younger Sister Has Died... May Allah bless the departed soul. My heart felt condolence.