A Sad Day For Liberty

Benazir Bhutto used to lecture the world press about being the first Muslim Woman to be elected into office. In a conservative Muslim society like Pakistan, that is a big statement of Democracy. Bangladesh out did her feet by electing two female Prime Ministers consecutively; again in a Muslim country, where women are alleged to be suppressed & disenfranchised by the western media & intellectuals alike. India did it with Indira Gandhi, the Brits’ with Thatcher, Canada elected Kim Campbell even Israel did it with Meir.

 

France the epitome & propagator of democracy trashed Segolane Royale, the only female candidate in the Presidential last year to elect a scoundrel, attention craver like Sarkozy. Now it is America’s turn to dump Hillary Clinton from her high horse of even hinting at the idea of trying to rule over ‘democracy & equality’ preaching men. Will America vote for a woman to be elected into the highest office in the WORLD? - (as claimed by the US media). I think she’ll barely get the ticket to run for the Presidential. The role of vice-president suits her like a cashmere coat, though. A dynamite character like Obama could hardly stomach the role of playing second fiddle to her.

 

America just like her sister, in liberty, France is still shying away from the taboo of electing a woman to the highest office. Why we wonder. The Muslims & Jews let their mothers & daughters run, despite the taboo in their scriptures. Is it that westerners are more appreciative of Women being their playthings & hardly capable of performing in such a pivotal role? There have been previous attempt of the fairer sex trying to run for President of the United States of America; all unceremoniously fell flat on their faces. I anticipate nothing less for Mrs. Clinton even with the Lewinsky lover in her pocket.

 

There are tremendous amounts of Hillary bashing going across the media spectrum of the US of A. The traditional foes of her party – the Republican are salivating at the prospect of her running against them to catch an easy bus to the White House, cashing in at the women hater’s club. Its looking ominous for ‘Liberty’ to be even passed the torch at the polls let alone holding it up for all to see. Their founding father’s never hatched the thought of a black man running for President but they were darn sure that a woman was highly unlikely to succeed at reaching that summit. A truly sad day for Liberty, if that is to be the case.

Love in Waiting

by Jamshyd Osman

 

From a tiny clot she coagulates

Butterflies her conception generates

Instant thoughts of tiny feet & legs forming

Not a sign not even a warning

 

 

As an abstract thought she exists

Keeps us warm in these nights of drizzles & mists

 

 

With hope & glee we pen our lists

Praying that nine months pass devoid of any twists

Spawned in the heavens

Spawned off love

A gift of life from above

From decaying hearts sprigs buds of hope

Rejuvenating those who dwell without scope

 

 

We knit for her aspirations

Envision her treating patients

Making me tea, looking after me

Being my eyes when I can’t see

 

 

We supplicate for a righteous slave

Bowed head, in adversity brave

An advocate of the Truth

A sharp tongue against the brute

 

 

She will stand like an Oak among the palms

Just her eyes would flock lads in swarms

Even beasts submit to her charms

Anxious to cradle her in its arms

 

 

Her destiny by now prescribed

From her first words to being a bride

A miracle transformation inside

From her Maker’s workshop to our side

In her mother’s womb dwells my pride

Prokash’eh

Adhaar amaai daakeh

Dupurer megh heen akasheho

Aloh’r abhabeh Bosheh roi koneh

Adhaar’er khoojheh

Aloh amai kaadaay

Ami jenoh maa’er koleh

Taap theke asroyeh

Kuch kucheh kaaloh adhaar chipreh dhooreh

Klaantoh noyon mucheh

Roi jegeh

Shaantee’r loobheh.

The Chosen Sanctuary

Jamshyd Osman

 

We live…

 

In a near failed state

Failed due to the mischief of men

Who try & write their own destiny

Manufacturing poverty

 

In a failed family

Hissing with hostility

Between blood not strange

Bordering on brutality

 

 As a disaster as an individual

Living life unaccountable

Disturbed psyche

Unpromising yet bursting with possibility

 

In a failed marriage

Owing to our lack of courage

To take on responsibilities

Retreating like a bear burdened

Having found no nourishment

As nature calls him for hibernation

 

We live

To shy away

To comfort’s cave

The chosen sanctuary

Warm with security

Peace & humility

 

More than Words

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action speaks much louder than words. Much louder! So why are we so inactive in chasing the dream of being a better person, a better human being? Better guardian of our fellow man, animals or the earth. We sit in front of our TV screens and see death & destruction upon the aforementioned, without lifting a finger tip to assist our brothers & sisters. One or two from amongst us do, lift a finger listening to their voices within. We criticize them too.

 

 

Silly of me to bring this up at a time like this when floods, hurricanes & political upheaval are upon us as a nation & that the “war on Islam” & victimizing innocent men, women & children are afoot worldwide, from the scrutiny of a citizen of The Nation of Islam. Still, we sit still, waiting for things to pass & be forgotten. Not a word uttered in the defense of one’s neighbour that we so fondly, (falsely) call our brother. Some of us claim that it is ‘their’ fight, trial or misery & that inactivity on the part of the onlooker is the standard action to be taken after the news or movie segment or the latest catastrophe hits. Where has this inactivity led us humans to? To inhumanness, if I may. All the lessons of our forefathers were mere folk tales of our childhood nostalgia. If it hasn’t hit you yet, it might hit your child’s conscience & one fine day he’ll question your conscience. A shrug of your shoulders or a phrase of falsehood might lead him to unaccountable ways, one day.

 

 

Words… words are nothing unlike the lies of politicians that have robbed us blind for generations. So why are we fond of speaking big words in public gatherings deafeningly. An empty drum beats loudly & the onlookers treat them like demigods. Why do these members of parliaments sit on their large behinds on towel adorned seats in the secretariats or at parliament rather than being with the people of his constituency? Listening to their grievances & solving them as is their job description. The elected officials forget their people as soon as they get elected, only to return back to beg for their votes with their propaganda blaring from rented speakers, just before the next election. Parents like politicians seem to have lost their morals also. They speak of principles & love laced words of standing by their children at times of strife & trial. Their words are proven false at their first crime & their inactivity emanates smoke signals of their claims of unconditional love being nothing but falsehood.

        Words… they cut like a knife. That must be the reason for another dictator to suppress voices & oppress his own people to keep his grip on power. Oppression has never perished the Truth. It has only made the masses conscious of it being suppressed. Some of us are blinded by the propaganda of falsehood, straining our voices to defend untruths, because it suits us & our lifestyles. My generation lives today in a world of falsehood, broken promises & conflict within the family, community or with other fellow humans of other races, religions, creeds or nations for reasons better understood by barbarians. Our previous generation takes responsibility for giving us birth & claim to have given us independence from the oppressors. We hold them responsible for the mess we see our world to be in, due to their insensitive ways with the environment, people, poverty, politics, law & order & most of all for keeping quite while their so called brothers raped our nation, tattered to shreds our culture & stained our beautiful religion, trashed our environment, among a list of things, just for personal gain.

        Oppressors are not solely blamed for the state of affairs today; those who stood silent & endured the oppression are equally responsible according to Holy Scriptures. Forget the collaborators of the enemy. What about the millions that stood silent during the carnage before the independence of the then East Pakistan and after? There was complete anarchy after independence. Banks were looted; innocents were raped & killed by the thousands, property was forcefully occupied, the weak were governed by the strong. A faulty foundation can never hold a sound building. It might collapse like house on cards at the hint of a moderate earthquake. Well the quake has hit & society as we know it is collapsing as we speak. Our beloved nation is wandering aimlessly for direction & leadership & so is our battered & tarnished Nation of Islam. An abstract war has been declared long ago. We just can’t wake up to smell the coffee. Then it just might not be coffee brewing in the first place. The truth isn’t just out there; it exists in your hearts & minds. One just has to look a little deep for it in this world of endless falsehood. I urge you to start acting now. Take action if you see injustice, first with your hands, if unable to, then speak against it, if one is unable to do either then possess hate for it in your hearts. Don’t just sit there!

Four Walls

by Jamshyd Osman

The house is empty
Heart’s gone cold
The mantel’s gone dusty
Littered with spider webs & mold

An unusual feeling
Unwanted, Deserted
Involuntary tears
Of disgust & anguish
Guilt stuck at the throat
Another chance, another wish

Weaving tales of sorrow
A wasteful pastime
Bitter nothingness of tomorrow
No rhymes no smile

An oddity of emotion
Can’t dare to share
Errors in their judgment
Makes the truth look bare

Once these halls echoed laughter
Bore witness to joy
Nights & mornings after
Playing wild, playing coy

The romance of monsoon
Blessings after the gloom
Moments becoming hours
Tending to beds of flowers

We owe it all to Thee
That window of glee
I‘m glad that had to be
Both the bitter & the sweet
Wouldn’t have ventured any other street

Yesterday created today
Here now silence can only prevail
Echoes of yester-steps
Landmarks stay still as memoirs appear
Like an oasis in another hemisphere

Feels like a grave
Inside these heavy & lonely
Four walls

Unforgiven – Joi Bangla

Forward & Rewind
Hitting stop is a crime
This random play is cramping the growth of my mind
Entangled, entwined
A slave to the vibe

Advancing hindered by wine
The usual line
Enraged & nonsensical
Mind so fickle
Like an inconsolable child
In the abyss of vulnerability, I comply

The logical mind rejects
Yet the heart requests
Logic has its limitations
Whereas love is infinite compassion
Forgiving, kind
Logic is cold & regulated
Limited, blind

The intoxication of rage
Leaves trains of regrets
Scars remain
Even if time forgets

Anger & envy are satanic
Uncontrollable at times
Sins of the ancient
History of the impatient

The heart cries
Because its kind
The mind takes over & acts vile
A whisper guiding one to be unforgiving
The heart desires to be pleasant, to laugh & smile

The whisper returns unrelenting
Saying: to forgive is a crime

UN Peacekeepers – Bangladesh Armed Forces

Bangladesh, one of the top ranking contributors in global peacekeeping, on Tuesday joined other nations to observe the International United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Day.

Bangladesh lost its 76 peacekeepers during the last 19 years, while working with the UN peacekeeping force in the trouble spots across the world.

The day was observed with due solemnity and acclamation of the forces for the first time, although the day has been observed throughout the world since 2002, a press release of the defense services said on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Armed Forces took different programs to mark the day, which bears a great importance for the country as its 9,683 soldiers are working now in 11 different trouble spots of the world.

The day’s program began with “peacekeepers run” which was inaugurated by Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman here on Tuesday morning.

Chief Advisor of Bangladeshi caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed laid the foundation stone of “Peace Monument” in memory of the fallen soldiers of Bangladesh during peacekeeping at the parade ground.

A reception of the nearest relatives of the fallen soldiers and crippled ones was held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital Dhaka in which Fakhruddin Ahmed attended as the chief guest. Besides, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Renata Dessallien was present on the occasion.

On the occasion a theme song and a documentary on UN Peacekeeping operation was telecast on television channels, while national dailies published special supplements.

In his message on the eve of the day, Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed said, “Our peacekeepers have elevated the image of Bangladesh in the international arena by displaying a very high standard of professionalism, dedication, sincerity and courage.”

He also paid his highest tribute to all the peacekeepers for their sacrifice and selfless efforts in promoting global peace.

Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed in a message paid his highest respect to those who have sacrificed their lives for restoring peace and stability in strife-torn countries of the regions.

He said: “We reiterate our firm commitment here for promotion of global peace under the aegis of the United Nations and wish the peacekeepers all success in their humanitarian endeavors on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.”

Source: Xinhua

Last night’s ‘God’s Warriors’ on CNN

SYNDICATED
by makeprofilelink(“Pam Spaulding”); Pam Spaulding · 8/24/2007 02:00:00 PM ETmyCount

I watched the third part of CNN’s documentary with Christiane Amanpour, “God’s Warriors” and it will have the fundies hopping mad. Parts one and two dealt with extremist movements in Judaism and Islam. Last night’s installment took a look at religious fundamentalists in the U.S., the “Christian” right wing. The transcript is here.

Amanpour conducted the last TV interview with Rev. Tinkywinky at Liberty University the week before Falwell died. He again recanted the apology he made for saying “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians” were responsible for 9/11. He calls his young Liberty University scholars “pit bulls for Christ;” his goal is to graduate as many fundie lawyers as possible, to infiltrate and influence the judicial system in favor of God’s law.

Michael Jensen has a great piece up at AfterElton about this part of the doc series. A snippet:

It would be hard to imagine a documentary examining the impact of Christian fundamentalists on American culture that didn’t include a look at the part played by gay issues. Fortunately, God’s Christian Warriors doesn’t disappoint and the result is a fascinating and often frightening look at the religious right that any progressive — but especially any gay progressive — would be well advised to watch.

…While watching Amanpour interview some of these fundamentalists, I hoped she would ask just what would happen to gay people should they get their way: stoning to death, as suggested in Leviticus? After all, fundamentalists claim the Bible should be the foundation upon which America is built and that would be the logical conclusion.

…If looked at through the prism of understanding what the religious right wants for America, however, then the documentary can be considered a success if even only a few Americans — especially gay ones — wake up to what these Christian fundamentalists aspire to. And for anyone paying attention for the last twenty years, no explanation is needed as to what it is the religious fundamentalists want for America.

As God’s Christian Warriors makes amply clear, their goal is an America that is governed by biblical principles; principles that leave no room for gay people to co-exist in any meaningful way except by going deeply back in to the closet.

CNN has done a fine job on this series; I am curious how the documentary is being received by fundamentalists, considering it is quite harsh (but accurate) about the violent history of the religious right regarding abortion activity, showing the shootings of doctors and bombings of clinics — acts Falwell condemned when the topic was raised by Amanpour. I’d venture a guess that being lumped in with extremist factions of Islam and Judaism is going to cause a massive uproar in the fundie press shortly.

Oh wait…take a look at the drivel already up at WingNutDaily.

What are your thoughts on CNN’s documentary series, ‘God’s Warriors’?

And the headline of the related story, which has all of the expected hysteria:
CNN airs ‘one of the most distorted programs’ ever
Documentary compares Jews, Christians to Muslim terrorists

CNN will proabably re-air all three parts over the weekend. Check listings.