Those Darn Muslims!

Those darn Muslims! They have over complicated life. Perfectly good countries on the verge of destruction in the name of some twisted ideology. Between the Communist Russians and the bastard Mullahs, who preach a twisted ideological view of Islam, which mind you are alien to the Prophetic ways. A whole nation was turned upside down. Afghanistan, particularly Kabul was considered the Paris of Asia. A culturally rich city, filled with music, dance, and life. Over night it was destroyed, for what? At whose expense, but the people of that land. The people were stripped of all their rights, stripped of their dignity and honor. Women and Men both made to conform to an extremely narrow interpretation of Islamic Shariah - which mind you is very much alive within Bay Area Mosques today, except it has been package very cleverly to make it appear western sounding, thus palatable to the vast majority who with folding hands will blindly listen to whats being preached from the pulpit.

The movie, Kite Runner, based upon Khaled Hosseini's novel provides a vivid snapshot of the pre Soviet/Taliban Afghanistan era, it essentially is a flip of the same coin.

The life depicted in pre Soviet Afghanistan, of a young boy Amir, or Amir Jan, as he was loving referred to as, and his friend, Hassan, which many years later he learns was actually his half brother, not just the servants boy.

Amir's early childhood reminds me a little of my own childhood. In the sense, I tended to keep to myself, was quite, didn't have many friends. Most of the time, when not at School, or with family, would spend time by myself, playing, constructing with lego, sand, clay, or playing with our Afghan (Pathan) servant boys Anwar and Ali.

This was the early 80's in Pakistan, US-USSR war was in full swing. While Pakistan, under the austere dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq, 'Marde-Momin Marde-Haq, Zia-ul-Haq, Zia-ul-Haq' were slogans I heard uttered by my mother and several of her WAF activists, was in every respect the United States instrument that pushed the Soviets out of Afghanistan. Not without the emergence of the Afghan Soldiers of God, or Mujahadeen, who later after the war became known as the Taliban.

It was later, after the Soviets where driven out that the Taliban, under the leadership of the ISI , and authority of the CIA, ruled Afghanistan until the 2nd Aghan War of the modern era.

However, this time it was a war between former allies, the Taliban/Al Qaeda on one side, and U.S/Pakistan on the other, under yet another dictator of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf. A dictator, who unlike his predecessor General Zia was packaged by his overlords in Washington to appear like a liberal, and progressive ruler.

Amir Jan spent his early life in Afghanistan, and then later in the US, specifically right here in the backyard of the Silicon Wadi, Fremont where he, with is father Agha Sahib took refuge. Agha Sahib, not to forget, and from what could be gathered from the movie and the novel, was a sort of revolutionary personality in pre-Soviet Kabul. He spoke against Communism, while at the same time attacking the "bearded,  good for nothing Mullahs".

Life in the U.S. wasn't easy, as for many people who immigrate from wore torn countries. Amir, raised in a privileged household saw and experienced, unlike many of us professionals of the Silicon Wadi immense hardship. However, with their Afghan communities support they were able to overcome the extreme hardship Again, something I can personally relate to, or rather as a witness to of my families unfortunate times here in the US - much of which can be attributed to the volatile economic situation in Pakistan. Which, in many respects can be related to the events following the Soviet Afghanistan era, the influx of drugs and Afghan refugees, and emergence of the Kalashnikov culture.




Copyright C. Abdulrahman Rafiq

Divide Pakistan ADs on CNN - Where is the Foreign Office?

i

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C03%5C12%5Cstory_12-3-2007_pg7_9

Pakistani diplomats in the US, who toil ceaselessly to counter critical newspaper editorials by writing plaintive letters to editors, seem to be stumped by the ad, which usually airs in the morning. A 30-second prime time spot on CNN can cost as much as $ 20,000.

What "stumped by the ad". They bloody well do something about it than just being stumped - but then why doesn't it surprise me?

I think Pakistani/Pakistani-American private citizens have done, and are doing a far better job than our so called diplomats who have the official authority, and are recognized as the official authority to represent the country, but in essence haven't lived up to the bargain - though you may ask what bargain? Well that is another issue for another RZone blitz.

Seriously if they are stumped then let us, the private-citizens through our various vehicles such as AOPP, PAKPAC, PANA, PADF, OPEN, PakSEF, IOPWE etc lend them a hand. Many of the named organizations may not have the political clout or resources to foot the bill for $20k ads on CNN everyday - but we certainly have the passion and commitment to promoting Pakistan as a progressive nation that it is - a country with unbounded opportunities - a country ripe for foreign investment - a nation with growing and vibrant economy. A nation where the CEOs of some of the leading fortune companies in the U.S. make it a point to praise the countries leadership in their company meetings.

Fact of the matter Pakistani's and Pakistani-Americans need to act now with a major nationwide campaign to correctly brand Pakistan. For the last 12 months I have been harping this on various discussion groups, reciving nothing but lip service acknowledgment. From AOPP to PAKPAC to PADF - the organizations where formed with this particular mandate seemed to have failed to mobilize the vast majority of Pakistani and Pakistani-Americans.

Though, you have to give credit to AOPP and OPEN two organizations which have stepped up the challenge, and have in fact mobilize the Pakistani/Pakistani-American community in a nationwide effort to re-brand Pakistan. AOPP has in fact has been organizing Branding Pakistan events all across the Eastern Seaboard of the United States - from New York to Washington DC. On the other hand OPEN Silicon Valley has for the last three years successfully organized Business and Technology moots where promoting Pakistan as an investment friendly country has been on top of its agenda.

The bottom-line is Pakistan has enemies, both internal and external, however the passion and enthusiasm to keep the idea Pakistan alive is a trait ingrained in every Pakistanis DNA.

What is needed is a serious unified re-branding effort on the part of the entire Pakistani diaspora. The Foreign Office is not equipped to handle negative propaganda such as this led by Syed Jamaluddin ; or by others such as World Sindhi Institute or the World Sindhi Congress. These are three organizations with a small following, but have bloating expense accounts. Surely we, the mainstream Pakistani and Pakistani organizations can as a united front nuetralize these few anomalies. A sustained nationwide media campaign is in order - daily ADs in all the major U.S. newspapers, daily Prime Time ADs on national TV, weekly Branding Pakistan information sessions and cultural events in every nook and cranny of America. The idea is to promote the honest by God truth about what Pakistan is and who Pakistani and Pakistani-Americans are?



Copyright (c) Abdulrahman Rafiq

A Disenchanted Love Affair....Pakistan and the U.S.

The following video was uploaded to YouTube by Asadullah Khan (YouTube ID:Afridi). It's a depiction of Pakistan and U.S. foreign relations over time, from Faiz Ahmad Faiz's view point.

From the 1947 to now, the U.S. Pakistan relations have stood the test of time, though at times not so favorable. But then we are way past the honeymoon period, true love goes far beyond the honeymoon glitter - the mark of unconditional love is when lovers are able to see past one anothers faults. Can one look upon the Pak-US affair as a mature one, an unconditional love affair, with it's frequent mood swings? I would say yes, though some may disagree and argue it is a relationship of convenience.



Comments are requested.