Mumbai Attacks: Shocking Re: # 310

How about allowing American troops to enter the NWFP to root out these terrorists? Or end the fence sitting regarding about the militants which Pakistan seemingly refuses to arrest

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/world/asia/29intel.html?em

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Hail Obama Re: # 12

"Enough is enough....alright
Please, educate yourself with the history....Talibans are the creation of America/Pakistan in 80s to be used as their soldiers to fight against USSR......"

Please check your facts before you correct/lecture others. The Taliban did not come into formation as group until 1994 well after the Soviets left. Yes many of its eventual members fought in the Afghan-Soviet War, but they were not specifically supported by the Americans, who supported a wide variety of anti-Soviet groups including Masood. Pakistan nurtured the Taliban in the 90s as a means to pacify Pashtun nationalism via Islam and as a counterbalance to Indian influence in the region.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/144382.stm


"Yes, rashid has every right to wag finger on US, just like you who has all the audacity to butcher the true History...For God's sake....have some integrity and get your facts checked....."

Yes I know its fun to wag your finger, facts be damned.

"Talibans are the creation of Pak army/Pak governance/America/UK with the help of middle eastern countries and in this tug of war, Talibans are being used as weapons of mass destructions by both powers to get control of oil resources....."

Oil? What Oil? There is nothing but rocks and dirt in Afghanistan and the NWFP.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

The Modern Morlocks Emerge – Muslim Americans The article cites a trend not just here in the US but around the world. Anti-muslim sentiment has exsited in south ssia for centuries in the context of the hindu/muslim divide. But now such sentiment is spreading throughout the world. You see it in Europe, Australia, Canada, the US, Russia, and now China. One wonders if muslims will be the pariahs of the world, unwanted everywhere.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Seize The Moment Re: # 247

"Similarly, arjun32 and co. represent a certain section of the "local elite" in India, the one that has kept india the basket case of the world in terms of communal violence. However, not all "local elite" in India cover their face with a "US taxpayer" mask while spouting their putrid hindu mindset on chowk. That is why I am optimistic about the future of India. "

My advise is to base your perceptions of Hindus/Indians on your personal/professional experiences rather than on these forums. Most of the people that comment on chowk, youtube, topix etc. seem to be little more than trolls addicted sadistic machoism. Heck if I believed some posters here were representative of Muslims/Pakistanis, every one of them would be a gun toting religious psychopath.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Muslim Psyche After September 11, 2001 " Many Muslims who were sympathetic to the innocent American families who lost their dear ones in the tragedy became angry and resentful when the American government over-reacted by attacking Afghanistan and Iraq and killing thousands of innocent Muslims."

And if it was the Sudanese govt killing thousands of Muslims you would see similar outrage? Guess not. Don't kid yourself this not any genuine concern for your fellow human being and this case your fellow Muslim. It is merely "selective outrage" to allow people to indulge in playing the victim.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

The Indian Mujahideen – The Answer to BJP’s Pseudo-Secularist Fascism or a New Method to Spread Unrest? Re: # 217

"Why do non-brahmin hindus put up with this implied insult to their heritage by "being offered a chance to become brahmin" is beyond me!!"

In Hinduism a brahmin is not an ethnic group nor someone's "heritage". Rather it is life calling that formed the basis of one's vocation in ancient times. The reality may be it has devolved into some kind of clan identity but that is society not religion.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Time for Musharraf to Quit Musharraf is definitely no angel. However, I would argue he is no worse than than the other politicans. Zardari and Sharif? These poltical hacks are the vanguard for democracy in Pakistan? Give me a break. Its hard to find anyone to back when the institutions of the state are a kleptocracy.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Re: # 6

really?

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance Excellent article. Peoples' obsession with calling ahmadis or any other non-mainstream minorities non-muslim is religious extremisim run amok. If people say islam is their religion, that is their belief and simply put none of your business.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

The Non-Existent Tourist’s Guide To Pakistan Wonderful article Nadeem. In addition to being funny, this article shows a great amount of introspection and self-criticism. Something sorely lacking in south asia. People seem to prefer to blame the CIA, RAW, ISI, and god knows who else for their problems. Suicide bombings in Pakistan? It must be those dastardly Indians allying themselves with the jihadis to screw us over. Anything to avoid "humiliation".

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Swat: Can the deal work? "the government "fail(ed) to step in"? according to this eyewitness account i mentioned, the ex-MP who was killed was desperately calling all his contacts (including modi) for help. there are pictures i have seen of police standing by doing nothing as mobs do their dirty work."

Not sure but did not my comment embody what you have said? That government failed to stop mob violence against a minority (i.e. the govt did nothing while the mobs did their dirty work).

Anyways enjoy the weekend.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Swat: Can the deal work? Re: # 35

TKhan,

I would agree. My point is that we should not be overly focused on income equality per se. There seems to be anathema to people getting wealthy among the progressive community. There is nothing wrong with that especially if you are contributing something to society (e.g. taxes). Such wealth benefits the whole of society by stimulating job creation as the newly rich demand goods and services. However, in the interim there will be greater inequality. The rich have gotten richer but the poor are not any poorer (actually they are better off than before just not as much as the rich or middle class).

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Swat: Can the deal work? Re: # 46

I would disagree there tahmed. The violence in Gujurat was instance of communalism, sparked by a specific incident but due to many complex reasons, wherein the govt failed to step in and prevent violence against a specific minority thus nearly 2500 people, both muslims and hindus, died.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1856049.stm

The Holocaust on the other hand claimed 6 million lives and was not an incident of communalism. Rather it was the Nazis using the institutions of the state, mainly via the Schutzstaffel (SS), to exterminate an entire ethnicity.

The Gujarat govt did not set up concentration camps for muslims nor was it out to exterminate muslims.


"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Swat: Can the deal work? Re: # 9 TK,
Your link appears broken. I tried to cut and paste with no luck. I would disagree with you that income inequality is a primary cause of poverty. India's income disparity is not much different than most west european countries and is signifcantly less that the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Gini_since_WWII.gif

The problem is the lack of wealth generators, although this being remedied by the rapid expansion of the middle class (e.g. IT,engineering services, pharma, etc.) to allow for the trickle down of such wealth to those in poverty when the middle class demand goods and services thereby creating jobs. I don't mean to say that having many wealthy people neccessarily helps in poverty reduction. If you are wealthy because you are adept at gaming the system then you are not a wealth generator but merely a parasite.

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

Swat: Can the deal work? Have any of the previous deals worked? The Pakistani army/government will learn a hard lesson that dealing with militants will only lead to disaster. Will Pakistan countenance a major city (e.g. Peshawar etc.) being de facto controlled by these militants?

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1184614595/bctid1640 106821



"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey Re: # 65

"on the one way mudslinging - i am not kidding, you are kidding yourself. if you find this hard to believe, check out the posts on this board starting from post 1 from the nutcase laddu who is obsessed with islam and pakistan, followed by arjun who is obsessed with islam and pakistan, and so on."

So what are you saying that since there are Indian posters that mudsling there are no Pakistani posters that mudsling? I did not differentiate between the two. See posts 24 and 37 for example at http://www.chowk.com/interacts/14316/1/0/a

Even Senora Qureshi recognizes this in her post 54 in that interact.

"on BJP you kid yourself again when you say BJP has been long gone from power. Historically, BJP has been the second largest party after Congress, was in power in the cen ter, remains the second largest party after Congress. Known criminals No, sir. We dont have anything close to this in Pakistan."

This sounds confusing the BJP are not part of the government but they are in power? Furthermore the religious parties that supported Musharraf up to this point may yet again be a force to reckoned with. Besides the BJP today is far more centric and less Hindu nationalist than it was before.

"Pakistan going down the shithole thank you for your good wishes. i dont know why so many indians are so spiteful, but i can only thank God we have to put up with people like you on the internet only."

When did I say I wished any ill will on Pakistan? My statement was that Pakistan was going down the shithole of religous zealotry thanks to a bunch of fundo-freaks, it is a statement of fact not of want or desire. To the contrary i think it is sad that all the religious BS is butchering Jinnah's vision of a secularist pakistan. If you want to ascribe underlying motives to my comments that fit your worldview that is your business, but as for me I say what mean and mean whay I say.

"Maybe one day Indians will realize that there is a better way to live than by holding on to 60 year old grudges and 1000 year old grudges, with spite rather than goodwill towards others. But I wont hold my breath waiting for that day!!"

I hold no grudges. In fact, being in my mid twenties, I honestly could not care less what happened 30 years ago let alone 60 years ago. Same goes for many of my atheist/agnostic Pakistani friends who rant far more than me agianst this religious plauge that is turning their motherland into a shithole. Sorry we prefer to pay attention to problems of the world instead of deluding ourselves into believeing otherwise in order to avoid painful truths.
"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses."-- Johannes Kepler