Chowraha

What my nani taught me about being a woman

2012-01-20T05:43:00.000-08:00

It was the day I was leaving for university in Oakland, California after my winter break in Pakistan. I had gone to spend the day with my nani before I left for the airport. I have always been shy about showing affection publicly, so as soon as I found myself alone with her, I put my hands on her arm and tried to tell her I was leaving for the airport soon to go to uni. I wasn't even sure

Imran Khan - a dispensable party or a complacent people

2011-10-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

In his recent launch of new book, Imran Khan spoke to an auditorium full of supporters and fans at the UCL on what the purpose and message of his book was. Mr. Khan explained that the book dedicated to the youth of Pakistan aimed to unravel the realities behind the world post 9/11. In a country constantly faced with militant attacks, drone attacks,suicide bombs, target killings and American

The Arab Spring: "Hey Mubarak, Nobody Likes You"

2011-08-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

Fiza asked me "What are your thoughts on the Arab Spring?" To be honest, I didn't see it coming. From the students I talked to/debated with at the American University in Cairo (AUC) to the man on the street who sold fruit to me, I didn't see it coming. From the students, I heard bitterness in their voices but never enough anger to start a revolution. After all, you do need a certain amount of

Post Bin Laden: A Neo - War on Terrorism

2011-05-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

Monday morning, last day of bank holiday weekend, and I was sleeping in late when a message from a friend in Egypt woke me up - "Osama bin Laden is dead" it read. Being my mother's daughter, any such news on TV and my first reaction is to run to the TV and staye glued to it for the next several hours, if not the next few days, flicking between news channels and hearing every political analysis

What Egypt Taught Me: People plus Media is equal to Power

2011-02-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

As I sit here breathless in London, flicking channels between Al Jazeera English, BBC, CNN and France 24, in anxiety and excitement to see what Hosni Mubarak will announce within the hour, I cant help but realize what the last 14 days with Egypt has taught me. It's been a rush of emotions, for me in the last few hours, a non-Egyptian, feeling in one with the Egyptians standing on Tahrir Square,

Operation: Tunisia Cyberwar

2011-01-15T07:51:00.001-08:00

Note: This was originally posted on "Project: Carousel" a student led online community working under the auspices of The Centre for Media and Film Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)Any form of speech used for pulling communities together to criticize a government or ruling group’s action has historically met with tightening of laws, suppression of freedom and unjust

(Re)-considering Pakistan: Salman Taseer, Blasphemy and People

2011-01-05T12:00:00.001-08:00

The extremely sad assassination of Salman Taseer has shocked Pakistanis throughout the world and is a shrewd reminder of how Pakistan’s state of affairs have reached a point that not a day goes by without a disturbing news. Living outside of Pakistan, I am trying as quickly as possible to hover all the details, and reactions about the tragic death of a well-renowned governor of the country.

Begum Nawazish Ali: Frivolous Entertainment or Playing the Political?

2010-12-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

"The sophisticated and flirtatious Begum Nawazish Ali has been on Pakistani airwaves for a few years now. With people tuning in to watch her grill, joke around, and shamelessly flirt with her guests who include celebrities and politicians, her talk shows have been huge hits....Her invasive questions, political interest, and classy style have made her a sensation on Pakistani television. Not to

Tale of Two Women

2010-10-18T05:06:00.001-07:00

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/articles/39/A_tale_of_two_murdered_women.html A tale of two murdered women By Walid El Hourican Neda and Marwa: One becomes an icon, the other is unmentioned On June 20th 2009, Neda Agha Soltan was shot dead during the post-election protests in Iran. The protests occupied the largest news segments around the world, with analysts and commentators predicting the

When Water Becomes Excess

2010-10-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

This year marks a strange reminder or rather a strong nudge for me pointing out at the calamities of our ignorance and weakness. When the floods hit my homeland Pakistan, I couldn't stop crying sitting far away and thinking why it is the helpless and the poor that always suffer from the lack of planning, lack of concern from the end of the educated, the somewhat elite, and the ones that can

A Comedic Approach to Ground Zero Mosque Debate

2010-08-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

3 Reasons the "Ground Zero Mosque" Debate Makes No SenseBy: Gladstone August 20th, 2010 439,991 views I don’t usually write about politics. It’s important, but something I want no part of – kind of like a raw sewage treatment facility. But frankly, I haven’t been this upset in a long time. And it's due to the logic-hating, herd-mentality rhetoric that some have been flinging in opposition to the

Obama's Stand on Mosque Weakens

2010-08-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

From THE NEW YORK TIMESAugust 17, 2010Our Mosque MadnessBy MAUREEN DOWDWASHINGTONMaybe, for Barack Obama, it depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is.When the president skittered back from his grandiose declaration at an iftar celebration at the White House Friday that Muslims enjoy freedom of religion in America and have the right to build a mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan,

Debate over Mosque Near Ground Zero splits GOP

2010-08-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

Reporting from Washington — As top Republicans including House Minority Leader John A. Boehner and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich attack plans for an Islamic community center and mosque near the destroyed World Trade Center site, a larger schism is opening up in the GOP over the inflammatory issue. Some Republicans fear that pressing the issue carries risks, diverting attention from

Just How Far Is the "Ground Zero Mosque" From Ground Zero?

2010-08-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

The "Ground Zero Mosque" that we have been and will be hearing so much about is not exactly a mosque, nor is it at Ground Zero. Here's why: you can't see Ground Zero -- the former site of the World Trade Center -- from the future site of the Cordoba House. From 45 Park Place, the former Burlington Coat Factory building that will make way for the Cordoba House, it's two blocks, around a corner,

Exaggerating the Jihadist Debate

2010-08-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

The following is an article I am re-sharing from Aman's google buzz, an American citizen and a law student in the USA. The original article was written by ROMESH RATNESAR onTuesday, Aug. 17, 2010 for TIME. This is a great article in Time that talks about how this obsession in the media and in politics, regarding the Park51 community center, is a distraction from more important things. There is

Obama's Encouragement for Mosque Near Ground Zero

2010-08-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

A friend has nicely worded his thoughts on Obama's approval of mosque near Ground Zero site. Here it is below: Obama and Mayor Bloomberg (who, incidentally, is Jewish) deserve credit for their courageous stance. The mosque debate may be more symbolic than substantive, but symbols are important, they crystallize and shape ideas, and ideas often drive actions in international politics. It is not

Jon Stewart on Mosque Near Ground Zero

2010-08-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

Municipal Land-Use Hearing Update - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 08/10/2010 - Video Clip | Comedy CentralA distrust of Muslims is the one thing that unites America from sea to shining sea. Airdate - 08/10/2010

Transcript of Mayor Bloomberg's Popular Speech on Ground Zero Mosque

2010-08-13T14:25:00.001-07:00

Transcript of Mayor Bloomberg’s Speech on Ground Zero MosquePosted by ReligiousLiberty.TV on August 3, 2010 · View Comments Delivered August 3, 2010 at Governors Island in New York.“We’ve come here to Governors Island to stand where the earliest settlers first set foot in New Amsterdam, and where the seeds of religious tolerance were first planted. We come here to see the inspiring symbol of

Bloomberg's Landmark Speech on Ground Zero Mosque

2010-08-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

Bloomberg, the mayor of new york city, has stood firmly in support of the mosque and islamic center being built in close proximity to ground zero in spite of some harsh objection to it from some. Bloomberg is a very successful ex-businessman who is worth billions, and is, of course, jewish. "Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has

Blogging Heads: Islamic Triumphalism?

2010-08-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

This was taken from the video portion of The New York Times as part of the Opinion sectionhttp://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/08/04/opinion/1247468571224/bloggingheads-islamic-triumphalism.html?ref=global-homeJoshua Cohen, left, of Stanford University and James Pinkerton of Fox News debate the mosque near ground zero.

Florida Church Planning to Burn Qurans on 9/11

2010-08-04T04:03:00.000-07:00

When the debates over mosques or no mosques at Ground Zero (which btw is two blocks away from Ground Zero so not technically Ground Zero) becomes so out fo hand, and is raised as an "issue" at all, there is no surprise that a society begins to harbor more hatred than acceptance...http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2010/07/28/a-poignant-way-to-mark-911/Florida Church planning to burn Qurans on 9/

The Republican Campaign Against the Mosque in Lower Manhattan

2010-08-04T03:46:00.000-07:00

Following is a buzz re: the mosque discussion...I have copied this off from Aman Shareef:Newt Gingrich is telling Saudi Arabia and their bigoted leaders: "If you do not rise to our level, we will fall to yours."Here's another article about the mosque/community center in lower Manhattan. I pointed argument backed by quotes, about how many Republican leaders still believe that this is the time of

Broadway and the Mosque

2010-08-04T03:36:00.000-07:00

In an effort to follow the discussion on the mosque being built near Ground Zero, I am copying the following post that I received via email today and am collecting feedback and comments on these. Feel free to leave your comments.Broadway and the MosqueBy THOMAS L. FRIEDMANThere are several reasons why I don’t object to a mosque being built near the World Trade Center site, but the key reason is

The Only People to Blame for 9/11 Are...

2010-07-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

My Friend's Note Guess it's about time I acknowledge this... Share Yesterday at 2:45pm ...since I've received a few questions about my feelings on this issue. Here's a link to a note written by the one and only Sarah Palin, where she writes about how wrong it is that a mosque even be THOUGHT about in the same city as Ground Zero.As a victim of 9/11, I want to speak out against these sentiments

Sarah Palin's Note on Mosque at Ground Zero

2010-07-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

The original post can be found on (xxx)An Intolerable Mistake on Hallowed Ground Share Today at 11:47am Earlier today, Mayor Bloomberg responded to my comments about the planned mosque at Ground Zero by suggesting that a decision not to allow the building of a mosque at that sacred place would somehow violate American principles of tolerance and openness.No one is disputing that America

A Mosque Maligned

2010-07-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

***The following article regarding the mosque being built near Ground Zero was originally written by Robert Wright and published in NYTimes***Just to show you how naïve I am: When I first heard about the plan to build a mosque and community center two blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks, I didn’t envision any real opposition to it. Sure, I can understand how some people traumatized by 9/11 —

Cartoons and Comics - A Call to Maturity and Self-Determination

2010-05-28T04:54:00.000-07:00

I received this article recently from someone I know and really appreciate her forwarding this to me - it serves as an eye-opener in perhaps us re-evaluating our sentiments and responses. The article has been taken originally from this website. “Cartoons and Comics – A Call to Maturity and Self-Determination: Ust. Abdu SattarPublished on February 14, 2008 — 26 Comments9 people like this

Facebook ban: Our Polarising Press

2010-05-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

A very well-written article by George Fulton (remember from George ka Pakistan) and so glad that he spoke up about the polarizing impact of new media in Pakistan. It all boils down to not just access of the internet but the language of the internet too. English language in itself is a polarizing language in Pakistan – those taught in English schools automatically inheriting a grain of power and

One Facebook, Two Faces

2010-05-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

A cousin's friend has written the following article on the two faces of Facebook. It is definitely interesting to see how Islamophobia is so hyped up on newspapers and every protesting action carried out by a Muslim or a sympathizer is looked down upon by many but something like the following goes unnoticed or even unquestioned. I am pasting the article which has been originally posted on several

How on Earth Did We Get to the Facebook Ban

2010-05-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

The post was originally posted on CHUP - Changing Up Pakistan and written by Kalsoom. Following is the link of the original post:http://changinguppakistan.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/from-south-park-to-the-lhc-ban-how-did-we-get-here/As I wrote here a few weeks ago, Comedy Central censored the oft-controversial South Park after the show depicted the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit, leading a fringe

Analyzing the Facebook Ban

2010-05-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

This is an email from someone I received analyzing the Facebook situation. This email was in response to an outrage by someone at the poor people of Pakistan being repressed by their government and "it covers the points that need to be considered are necessarily technical, but the crucial aspects of this issue are subtle and often ignored, so I've tried to be succinct but thorough."---I hear you,

Clash of Civilizations?

2010-05-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

The title reminds me of Samuel Huntington's belief that the world is divided into civilizations - Islam and the rest, in short and their clash is inevitable. It is unfortunate when we fall prey to such a belief because in doing so we convince the one who is different from us in terms of religion or belief that we are worthy of fighting with, whether we are the so-called Westerners being

Comments on Pakistan Banning Facebook

2010-05-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

My last post on this blog was called "Pakistan Bans Facebook" and I wrote this article to discuss the issue around Facebook banning and what in my opinion is problematic with Pages like these. I have also uploaded this article on Project Carousel website, which is a website maintained by the Media and Film Studies department at SOAS. I have been receiving some comments on the article via email

Pakistan Bans Facebook

2010-05-22T04:09:00.000-07:00

Now that I have your attention with the title of this post, the real story behind this post is to discuss whether campaigns like “Draw Muhammad Day” are really more attempts at increasing the divides in the world or again a celebration of freedom of expression. Furthermore, the response by Pakistan and other Muslims around the world, is it a response legitimate enough or are there other ways of

Frustrations....

2010-04-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

When I first told people that I was studying abroad in Cairo, a lot of the reactions I got were, "Oh my gosh that's so exciting! Are you going to see the pyramids?" Needless to say, there is a lot more to Cairo than just the pyramids, but I have to admit that I was still excited about seeing them. Whenever I thought about Egypt, I would remember my sixth grade class and learning about the

Addicted in Afghanistan - a must watch

2010-03-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

The original post was published on Project Carousel of SOAS and you can find it here: http://www.projectcarousel.org/2010/03/addicted-in-afghanistan/Last Thursday, on March 11 2010, SOAS held the London Premiere of the film “Addicted in Afghanistan.” Khalili Lecture Theatre was packed at 6:00 pm from people who had been queing up since 5:15 pm eager to watch Jawed Taiman’s film on the addiction

The AUC vs. Cairo

2010-02-13T15:26:00.001-08:00

A view of Cairo from the Citadel in Islamic CairoAUC's old campus in Tahrir Square (downtown)AUC's new campus in New Cairo (both top and bottom pics)I meant to be more consistent with my posts (reporting from Cairo), but I'm lacking a bit in time management skills. Well, attending the American University in Cairo (AUC) has been a completely different, and at times opposite, experience from simply

Good Media, Bad Media: How News-Making Practices Make Stories News Worthy & Their Impact on Society

2010-01-27T13:50:00.001-08:00

School of oriental and african studies (soas)Good Media, Bad Media: How News-Making Practices Make Stories News Worthy and Their Impact on Society The Transnational News Environment: Production, Representation and Use Fiza Fatima Asar4/1/2010 [This paper looks at the case study of a video which was released on Pakistani television channels in April 2009 and later circulated internationally via

The State of Sharia: Orientalism from Within

2010-01-27T13:47:00.003-08:00

SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES (SOAS)The State of Sharia: Orientalism from within[Mediated Culture of the Middle East] Fiza Fatima Asar4/1/2010 This paper looks at a series of programs titled ‘The State of Sharia’ that were shown on a Pakistani English News Channel, Dawn News, and studies them in the light of Orientalism. I argue that the process of creating the “Other” not only occurs

Cricket: The Play Between Global and Local

2010-01-27T13:45:00.001-08:00

SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES (SOAS)Cricket: The Play Between Global and Local Global Media and Post-National Communication: Theoretical and Contemporary Issues Fiza Fatima Asar4/1/2010 The paper answers the question “Analyze the dialectic between global and local in understanding glocalization.” As per my discussion and agreement with Dr. Annabelle Sreberny, I will look at the example

| Thinking Orientalism | American Popular Culture

2009-12-02T14:47:00.001-08:00

The first time I was introduced to Edward Said was during my undergraduate years in Mills College in a class on American Images of China and Japan by one of my favorite professors Dr. Wah Cheng. Ever since, I have been undeniably inspired by Edward Said's narratives and I have begun seeing the world the way he saw it. The same concepts spoke to me throughout undergraduate years and later in life

First Impressions in Cairo

2009-11-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

I've never written in a blog before so here goes nothing!I am currently an undergraduate student and I'm studying at the American University in Washington, DC. This year, however, I'm actually studying abroad in Cairo, Egypt at the American University in Cairo. (The 2 universities aren't affiliated)Maybe it makes no sense to come to Cairo for a full year considering my major is in Film/Visual

Words and Gulfs - the World we Live in Today

2009-10-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

A piece on today's Metro, a newspaper read by at least 2 million people in the UK everyday, caught my instant attention. At first I found it funny, but then it made me sad - sad to see how careless and in fact ridiculously childish reporters were, and media is at allowing (trash) news to appear. Trash not because of what it is reporting, but because of the "way" it is being reported, the language

Is Fair Also Lovely? (Part 1)

2009-10-23T04:12:00.000-07:00

Fair & Lovely is a product extremely well-known and easily available in many non-white countries of the world. I have tried to delve into what exactly is being sold here in physical terms and in ideology? I have attempted to explain why buying such a product is problematic and what can we learn about societies through this? (In Part 2, I will look into the Fair & Lovely expanding into the men's

Twitter to Boost Publicity and Sales

2009-09-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

Many people still do not fully understand what Twitter is or how to use it. But the Twitter boom cannot be ignored. Learn how to use this secret tool for higher sales!Read more: http://social-networking-tagging.suite101.com/article.cfm/twitter_to_boost_publicity_and_sales#ixzz0QiDGLZS1

Dubai celebrates Twestival in Ramadan Spirit

2009-09-09T06:54:00.001-07:00

The following article is taken from www.zawya.comThe UAE's Twitterati meet next Saturday to help raise awareness & donations for Dubai Autism Center as Dubai takes part in Twestival LocalDubai, UAE - 07 September 2009 - Dubai will host Dubai Twestival Local, one of the 200 Twestival Local events taking place in leading cities around the world, on Saturday using the power of Twitter to support

Guantanamo Suicide Raises Questions

2009-07-31T03:58:00.001-07:00

Abdullah Saleh, a Guantanamo detainee is alleged to have committed suicide. Binyam Muhammad, an ex-Guantanamo detainee refutes the allegations.Read more: http://international-human-rights.suite101.com/article.cfm/guantanamo_suicide_raises_questions#ixzz0MpjqYYOc

The New War on Afghanistan and Brtish Opinion

2009-07-29T10:00:00.001-07:00

More British lives have been lost in the last one month than any other month in the last seven years. But British government's propaganda for war on Afghanistan continuesRead more: http://britishaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_new_war_on_afghanistan_and_brtish_opinion#ixzz0MfWAApSN

A Cause

2009-06-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

"When a cause comes along and you know in your bones that it isjust, yet refuse to defend it -- at that moment you begin to die.And I have never seen so many corpses walking around talking about justice."-- Mumia Abu-Jamal --

Silence

2009-06-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stumbling Upon Myself...

2009-06-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

It's always interesting to see and hear what others have to say about your work. One of the most important things for a blogger in fact is the appreciation/critique fellow-bloggers or internet users give to her work. It doesn't make a difference whether it is a word of compliment or a word of concern, the fact that your name or your blog has been referred to on someone else's blog or website

Obama Travels to the Middle East

2009-06-02T10:19:00.001-07:00

President Obama will travel to Egypt tomorrow in order to improve the US image in the Middle East and to address issues that are of concern to the world.Read more: "Obama Travels to the Middle East: The US President Will Address Political Issues at Cairo University | Suite101.com" -

Is Taliban Going to Take Over Pakistan

2009-05-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Taliban are advancing in Pakistan and weakening the government's control over the country. This brings Pakistan at the centre of concern worldwide.Read more: http://pakistan.suite101.com/article.cfm/is_taliban_going_to_take_over_pakistan#ixzz0FP0kqiT3&B

Who is Political Prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal

2009-04-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

Rejected by Supreme Court, Mumia Still Awaits JusticeMumia Abu Jamal has been locked in Philadelphia jail for over two decades awaiting his death row. His only crime, his defenders argue, is the color of his skin.Read more: http://racism-politics.suite101.com/article.cfm/black_political_prisoner_mumia_abu_jamal#ixzz0CvjuA4Ov&B

Dr. Afia's Case Still Demands Justice

2009-04-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Binyam's evidence advances investigation into Dr. Afia's case - it is revealed that in fact Dr. Afia was imprisoned all five years of her "disappearance" in Bagram jail, Afghanistan. Her story demands cries for justice - forward and spread the word.

Is War on Terror a Bad Strategy

2009-04-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Check out my latest article on Suite101:It is titled "Is War on Terror a Bad Strategy"

Guantanamo - Is it the beginning of the end?

2009-03-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Read my recent article that explores on whether the closure of Guantanamo Bay is the tip of the ice-berg or a remarkable step on its own. The original article is published in Suite101.

Haiti: Struggling to Survive

2009-03-20T03:42:00.000-07:00

According to a study conducted by the Inter-American Bank, there are more than 26 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean facing ever-deep poverty if food prices remain as high as they have been lately. Between the beginning of 2006 and March 2008, worldwide food prices have increased by a staggering 68 percent. As a reaction, protests and riots have broken out in countries like Haiti,

Binyam's Release Raises Questions on the Image of Various Countries

2009-03-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Read my recent article on Suite101 - its about Binyam's release from Guantanamo Bay jail and looks into the fears of the British government on his release. To read the article, click on the link below.Welcoming home the terrorist - BinyamI will be updating this blog regularly on more articles related to this topic so watch out!

Shoot me or save me

2008-09-17T01:00:00.001-07:00