I have set up an e-petition urging the British Government to recognize the Genocide inflicted upon the Kurdish population by the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

If we get 100,000 signatures than they will debate this cause in the British Parliament, thus please sign and pass on your petition.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/25526

I would like to thank you all for the support and for being a friend to Kurdistan.

Laween Atroshi

When Ismail Sidqi pasha refused that Egypt would get-in the war of 1948, he wasn’t a traitor to Egypt or loving Israel. All about it is that Ismail Sidqi was responsible for an economic renaissance in Egypt; he was the one to develop Alexandria and its beaches… The man feared that the war would destroy all the economic steps which Egypt took in the past years preceding the war.

But, Ismail Sidqi didn’t continue on his stance, El-Wafd party took a populist stance and went with the flow, supporting the war decision. Ismail Sidqi felt as a politician that he would lose people if he kept his stance, so he withdrew and supported the war, preferring popularity between the people over the interest of Egypt.

We are all subjected to Ismail Sidqi’s situation and we are required to to ask many questions, such as: Is this war in the interest of Egypt? Are we obliged to get involved into the war? Would we choose between the interest of Egypt and our desire to go with the flow along with the crowds to achieve personal political gains? This article discusses these barbed questions.

Firstly: Peace and Democracy
We all know that Egypt had a democratic parliamentary life till the coup d’état of 1952, and since this coup till this moment, we suffer from a totalitarian bloody militarist rule. But, we have to ask ourselves: Why did a coup happen? Does that have a relation with the case of peace and war?

The historical sequencing of events… Egypt entered a war in 1948 despite it wasn’t qualified to fight Israel from the side of development of weapons and efficiency of combatants, so this war changed two important elements:
1- Egypt’s commitment to the treaty of 1936 concerning to the evacuation of the British of Egypt. The treaty included the emergence of the British army after 20 years (in 1956) on a condition that the Egyptian army be advanced and able to defend Egypt. The palace deliberately intended to plunge Egypt to the war, from one hand for king Farouk’s desire for becoming a caliph of Muslims and on another hand, to destroy the Egyptian army, therefore to disable the evacuation process. That exactly what happened, after the defeat of the Egyptian army in the war, the weakness of the Egyptian army appeared to everyone, everything which was already built inside the army was destroyed, therefore, Egypt lagged what it pledged in the treaty of 1936, therefore, the evacuation won’t be on its time… That resulted dangerous political complications, most importantly the cancelation of the treaty of 1936, cutting-off of the diplomatic solution to solve the conflict, which paved the ground for a coup d’état solution to the evacuation issue. The war occurred on the way of Egypt independence.

2- The Egyptian soldiers were subjected to a huge defeat in the war of 1948, the toughest of it was the fall of many Egyptian soldiers under the siege of the Israeli army, the Egyptian soldiers became under the mercy of the Israelis who allowed the passage of food to them in order not to die of hunger. Then, in February 1949, Egypt was compelled to sign the armistice agreement with Israel in order to be able to get back its besieged soldiers. Those soldiers came back to Egypt in shame and dishonor (Gamal Abdel Nasser was personally of them), they went to a war and strongly lost it and were besieged, because of them Egypt was compelled to sign an armistice agreement with Israel to get them back.

In order for those soldiers to take away their shame of themselves, they created the lie of the corrupt weapons, despite the nonexistence of any proof on it. When the judiciary investigated in these rumors and proved their falsehood, they accused the regime of corruption. They didn’t have the courage to admit that the war was lost because of their failure. Starting from here, the claims to cleaning the army began, so the movement of the soldiers happened, which was at its beginning (as the statement of Muhammad Naguib) a movement of military soldiers aiming at cleaning the army, then the army would move back to its barracks. But, after the soldiers found themselves in control of everything, they didn’t abandon the authority, despite that the revolution court proved the nonexistence of any corrupt weapons in the war of 1948 which was the rumor that the coup d’état happened for.

We lost democracy and we suffered from oppression for 60 years, we were obliged to make the 25 January revolution, all of that because of a rumor or the soldiers shy of their defeat in the war of 1948. If we hadn’t entered the war, there wouldn’t had been the defeat and there would had been the rumor, there would had been the coup d’état and we would have been now celebrating 90 years of parliamentary democracy in Egypt. The relationship between peace and democracy is very strong. War opens the door for internal tyranny under the slogans “military secrets, the homeland interest, national security, no voice comes above the battle”. In wars, countries enforce “state of emergency/marshal law”, these are procedures to limit freedoms of citizens, not the enemies. In wars, armies inflate, opening the way for military coups (that’s why Ancient Rome banned the entrance for armies to the capital). Moreover, tyrants exploit wars to turn away the attention of their peoples from democratic reform, we all see how Arab tyrants exploit Israel to distract the Arab peoples from democratic reform issues and to distort the image of honorable opponents with silly charges of the type “Zionism, normalization, agent…”.

Secondly: Peace and Economic Growth
Regardless od the case of Ismail Sidqi which started my article with, Tawfik el-Hakim narrates, in his masterpiece “The Return of Consciousness”, information uncovering for us how wars destroyed the Egyptian economy.

- Tawfik el-Hakim narrates how the Egyptian army, under commands of Nasser, threw sacks of gold to the tribes of Yemen during the Yemen war, in order to sway them to the Egyptian side, which cause the depletion of the Egyptian gold stock… At the time when simple Egyptians were happy with Nasser who made them employees in the government, earning a few Egyptian pounds monthly!

- Tawfik also includes, the cost that Egypt paid during the 6 years between 1967 and 1973. He spread the numbers and said that what Egypt spent on the wars, if it had been spent on internal development, the share for each village would have been a million dollars (noting the difference between the value of the currency at that time; a million dollars in 1967 is equivalent to 5 million dollar by today’s standards). Imagine, what would Egypt look like now if we didn’t enter those wars, and spending this money on building schools, hospitals, streets and developing the civil society? What’s really silly is the governmental non-sense, in order to escape this question says that Israel was the one to start the war and occupied Sinai, when in reality, Nasser had announced the war in his speech on 15 July, 1967, before that he had used the right of land blockade against Israel which is of the rights of the the belligerent country… That if we ignored the historical novel which says that the decision to expel the international forces was taken by the Field Marshal “Abdel Hakim Amer” without Nasser knowledge, at the time when the Field Marshal the Army Chief of Staff, contesting Nasser in his authority!

Taking a look at the world around us… Look how America was hit from its war budgets and how America is solving the problem now by pulling its armies from Iraq and Afghanistan, also by dismantling some of the military bases in Europe.

See how the civil war weakened the Somali people and turned them into poor people despite the natural resources which Somalia has. See how the nuclear ambition of North Korea transformed the citizens into poor people, thousands of them die of hunger monthly. Look at the Axis countries in the second world war (Japan, Germany, Italy) and how they entered the war as strong countries and went out of it smashed under foreign occupation, and still are paying the price of this war till our day.

Peace is the strategic choice for all the people who want to live in luxury. On the other hand, the people who choose the wars would suffer poverty forever till they realize that wars drain their resources and the effort of their people.

Thirdly: Peace and Life of Humans
Does the one who takes the decision of war realize that he is making a decision of execution tens of thousands of humans, including who are going to have permanent disabilities in the war? The life of the one who takes the decision of the war won’t be subjected to danger, he would keep sitting in his air-conditioned office in the capital, while the youth and the patriots from both side are paying their souls because of the failure of the political leadership in reaching a diplomatic peaceful solution.

I can’t believe any official numbers regarding the Egyptian victims in our wars with Israel. Some militarists estimated the victims of Egypt in the war of 1973 as million martyrs! Other than the injured, the lost and the prisoners of war. I can say that when Israel aired the documentary “Spirit of Shaked” about executing Egyptian prisoners of war, Egyptians asked themselves if there were still Egyptian prisoners of war in Israel, but none of the officials knew the answer of the question.

What is the reason to make a country enters a war to lose its youth and the rest lose their limbs, imagine the population percentage between both genders (as what happened in Germany after the second world war, the percentage was one man for every 5 women)! Why all that when there are alternative solutions to solve conflicts?
I know that in the last decades, suicidal orientations have appeared under the naming “martyrdom.. industry of death, asceticism in life, challenging death…), but here I speak to reasonable who seek the interest of their homeland and not committing suicide, who search for life not death.

The goal of any conflict is to solve the conflict, not to exterminate the other. The goal of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to achieve the full Palestinian right, not exterminating the Israelis. If you were looking for the Palestinians’ interests, then the solution is in peaceful negotiation, not in entering war which both sides die in, the Samson style (on me and my enemies)? But, if you were seeking suicide, please, commit suicide quietly without killing millions of innocents with you.

Epilogue
When I was choosing the title of the article, I wanted to title it “Peace to Egypt, not Israel”, but I preferred it to be “Peace to Egypt Before it is to Israel”… Because, peace would benefit everyone, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, even Iran and Turkey. Peace will benefit the whole world. Our role as Egyptians is to think sanely of the interest of our homeland, the interest of our revolution, the project of democratic transformation, our ambition for economic growth and our fear on lives of our brothers, our children and friends.
The peoples have to choose and each reasonable society have their mind and know their own salvation.

Maikel Nabil Sanad
El-Marg prison – 2 ع [‘ayn]
2011/8/7

Prison is about deprivation. Deprivation from everything: traveling, working, friends, love, sex, emotions, alcohols, computers, internet, cellphones.. I hate prisons, give me my freedom back.

Dear Director of El-Marg Public Prison,

Due to the severe injustice committed against me by the Military Justice Administration such as:

1. Having an unfair, secret, trial before a military court, even though I am a civilian
2. The extreme delay of the appeal of the sentence against me by the Military Justice Administration
3. The clear distinction made by the Military Justice Administration between the way my case is treated and the treatment given to similar cases such as those of Nabil Sharf el Din, Hussem Al-Hamlawi and Asma Mahfouz

I have therefore decided the following:

Firstly: Refrain from all litigation before an unfair, military court for it is illogical to ask for justice from the unjust

Secondly: To go on a hunger strike, starting from today. Should there be no response, I will escalate my hunger strike to include water and medicines. It will continue until death or until I am set free

I therefore request you to take the following actions:

1. To edit the minutes of the case as proof and notify the Public Prosecutor to carry out an investigation
2. Inform the management of the prison hospital to take responsibility for my safety
I will not accept any more injustice, and if my death is the price to be paid to put an end to the excesses of the Military Justice Administration, then it is a small price to pay.

Thank you very much.

Maikel Nabil Sanad Ibrahim
El-Marg Public Prison
23 August 2011

      With profound respect

            Maikel Nabil Sanad Ebrahim
            A pacifist activist and the chief of No for Compulsory Military Recruitment Movement
            and the first prisoner of conscience after the revolution
            1 August, 2011
            El-Marg general prison

1- Helping me to distribute my articles
Help me to deliver my articles to the largest sector of readers… Since I was arrested, I wrote 15 articles. Deliver them to all of your friends’ circle… You may help in translating them and deliver them to all local and foreign newspapers.

2- Demonstrate for me
Join the page “Free Maikel Nabil Sanad” with their stand-ins at Tahrir or in front of the Military Court or Ministry of Defense… Get with you a banner against military trials for civilians and refuse imprisonment in cases of publishing.

3- Write about me
Write about me on your blog and on Facebook. Say your opinion frankly, even if you disagree with me… Keep on writing so that the case won’t die.

4- Mail
You may send post mails supporting me, to someone of the following:
a. Ministry of Defense (Obba Bridge/Kobri El-Obba). Tell the Minister of Defense that you object the ruling against me and ask for the unconditional immediate release for me.
b. Minister of Interior (Lazoghli square). Ask for the improvement of the circumstances of my detention at El-Marg prison.
c. Letters to me to the address of the prison (El-Marg General prison). Those letters give me a big psychological support. However, those letters are read before I receive them and sometimes they don’t give them to me, but the letters make the prison management feel that they ought to treat me better.
d. Letters to me through the page “Free Maikel Nabil Sanad” and those are going to reach me without someone reading them, as well as, I would answer you as soon as the letter reaches me.

5- Talk to journalism about me
Talk to Egyptian and foreign journalists who you know and stimulate them to write on my case.

6- Nominate me to a human rights award: That would make a good pressure in favor of my case.

7- Come to visit me in prison: after co-ordinating with the page “Free Maikel Nabil Sanad”.

I thank again all who are struggling for my freedom and I believe that we are going to celebrate together soon for our country, free of militarists’ suppression.

For freedom

El-Marg General prison – Qalyubia
The Experimental Ward – 18th cell
3/6/2011

http://maikel-nabil-in-jail.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-help-maikel-nabil-in-prison.html

Imran Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and educated there, where he proved to be a fine cricketer and made his first-class test debut for Lahore at the age of sixteen. Imran was selected for the Pakistan cricket team in 1970, where he soon made a permanent place for himself. During the Seventies, Imran became a world-class all-rounder and was rewarded with the captaincy of the Pakistani cricket team in 1981. He was declared international cricketer of the year in 1989-90 and led Pakistan to numerous victories all over the world. Imran Khan once said to his team before playing the match, “I would like my team to play like a cornered tiger, when it is at its most dangerous”. And Pakistan did play like one and brought back 1992 Cricket World Cup with pride.

In his world cup winning speech he said, “I am proud that in the twilight of my career I finally managed to win a World Cup” & “Winning this world cup I am sure will go a long way in helping complete one of my obsessions which is to build a cancer hospital”

This is then what he did; in order to fulfil his obsession he went out to every street, every corner, every college and school; not only of Pakistan but around the world. I still remember Imran Khan came to my school and kids were lined to shake hand with him. At last in on 29 December 1994, just within 2 years of historic win he was able to cut the read ribbon of “Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre” named after his deceased mother who died of cancer. From cricketing hero, Imran Khan has turned into most loved social worker.

But this was not the end of his achievements; this was not enough to fulfil his dream of successful and Prosperous Pakistan. During this struggle he joined the feild of politics and started Movement of Justice, famously known as “Tahreek-e-Insaaf”. His struggle for justice came to lime light when he with his party marched on street of Pakistan for freedom of Justice; and was eventually successful in 2007.

His political business didn’t hinder with his obsession of social working; and he put another marvel by the name of “Namal College” in remote area of Mianwali in Pakistan. Thus providing highest standards of education to needy without greed.

In 1992, Khan was given Pakistan’s civil award, the “Hilal-i-Imtiaz”. He had received the “President’s Pride of Performance Award” in 1983. Khan is featured in the University of Oxford’s Hall of Fame and has been an honorary fellow of Oxford’s Keble College. On 7 December 2005, Khan was appointed the fifth Chancellor of the University of Bradford, where he is also a patron of the Born in Bradford research project.

In 1976 as well as 1980, he was awarded The Cricket Society Wetherall Award for being the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket. He was also named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983, Sussex Cricket Society Player of the Year in 1985, and the Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year in 1990. Khan is currently placed at Number 8 on the all-time list of the ESPN Legends of Cricket. On 5 July 2008, he was one of several veteran Asian cricketers presented special silver jubilee awards at the inaugural Asian cricket Council (ACC) award ceremony in Karachi.

On 8 July 2004, Khan was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Asian Jewel Awards in London, for acting as a figurehead for many international charities and working passionately and extensively in fund-raising activities. On 13 December 2007, Khan received the Humanitarian Award at the Asian Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur for his efforts in setting up the first cancer hospital in Pakistan.. In 2009, at International Cricket Council’s centennial year celebration, Khan was one of fifty-five cricketers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

He has also authored many books, namely Imran Khan’s cricket skill, Imran: The autobiography of Imran Khan, Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan, All Round View and Warrior Race: A Journey through the Land of the Tribal Pathans.

Due to all of his dreams, achievements and on going struggles; the youth of Pakistan consider Imran Khan as their mentor, leader and the biggest HERO.

Going through the pages of political history of Pakistan; rather take out just a moment of your time to remember the names of all the “Democratic Premiers” and all the “Democratic Presidents” who ruled us over the period of time. I am emphasizing on “Democratic” because we have seen dictators also produced their own presidents and ministers; I bet you can’t remember them, at least I can’t. On contrary if we start naming dictators; not only names, their time of rule, their duration of rule, even we can write books on their personal lives; why is that? It is not criticism on our general knowledge, rather it is the reminder sad truth we have been living all our lives.

I can talk on behalf of today’s generation, the first news we ever heard about politics was the 1999 military coup over democratic government. And then we spent our age of growth and learning under military rule. The other day I was discussing with my father and he told me that when he was in school, Ayub Khan ruled Pakistan; at his professional age Zia-ul-Haq ruled our country and when they got more senior Musharaf came. Just look at history of all the major events or major achievements we ever got were at the time of dictatorship.

Don’t think that I am in favour of Dictatorship … no … never ever ever … its not possible; my mind refuses to accept the basic and fundamental concept of dictatorship. How can a country like Pakistan, with its population of more than 18 crore, where more than 70 languages are spoken, where people belonging from various religions, cast and nations be ruled by ONE person with its whole sole powers. Experience has shown that in a working democracy mistakes can eventually be corrected before the society breaks down. The history of dictatorships on the other hand shows that they end all in violent and bloody mess. We have seen in Tunis, in Egypt and now witnessing in Libya. Dictatorship is not made for Pakistan.

But the Pakistan’s most successful 5 year plan of 1960-1965 was during time of military dictator Ayub Khan. This plan earned Pakistan 200% profit and it was copied by countries like South Korea. USSR lost its respect as super power at the time military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, that’s separate debate what we got in return but we did it. So-called freedom of press was awarded in another military dictator’s time i.e: Pervaiz Musharaf. On contrary democratic governments failed to give us any constitution for 9 years after creation of Pakistan, we got but it was brutally torn apart many times. Democratic government played with it by making silly amendments. It was during democracy when we lost East Pakistan in 1971. It was democratic government who ordered police to open fire on protestors rallying against electoral fraud of 1977. Army action was taken place in Balochistan during democratic government and city of lights had blood bath because of so-called democratic government claiming to be representing majority. And now during democratic time we are still arguing whether Pakistan needs democracy or dictatorship.
So this means, something is wrong and has always been wrong which made Pakistan to see the times in which we are living today. May be we never really understood the meaning of democracy. Seems like just completing your count to show majority is democracy, it’s just a number game for us to have the might of majority; whoever they may be and whatever they do. The objective resolution is 1949 states that Pakistan is a sovereign independent state “Wherein the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam shall be fully observed”, the classic example of Dasti with fake degree and winning election confirm the democracy as number game. My point is we got the democracy but we were not able to create any democratic system in which democracy flourishes and don’t remain mere number game.

What about an example to make it more understandable. A murderer kills someone and was then caught by lets say 20 men. Voting was held to decide the fate of the killer, 15 among 20 votes in favour to hang him and 5 opposes the decision. If democracy is just game of numbers to favour majority then according to this definition of democracy he will be hanged. On contrary if democracy is a system to govern the country where principles of freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice prevails, the murderer can claim it rights and ask the Judicial system, part of democratic system to prosecute him and decide his fate.

Let me put forward to you what I believe real democracy is and what it requires to flourish. Concept of democracy existed in 508 B.C with Greeks, but there has been no final definition on which political science students agreed. That’s why we see many different kind of democratic systems with its own way of selections came over the period of time; famous being presidential democracy and parliamentary democracy, wikipedia can list other for you if interested. But there has been points, some basic structures and some basic requirements everyone have agreed upon; the most important being “Separation of Powers”.

The state is divided into branches, each with its separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no one branch has more power than the other branches. The normal division of branches is

• Executive
• Legislature
• Judiciary.

In parliamentary democracy like Pakistan the responsibilities of executive is done by Prime Minister along with his cabinet, legislation is done by Parliament with its two houses of National Assembly and Senate whereas Judiciary is definitely a complete system of its own. In Presidential form of democracy the executive is President with his whole power, legislature is Congress and judiciary is judicial system. But we can see in Pakistan cabinet with its large number and corruption, parliament with its fake degrees and suppression of judiciary over the years destroyed and derailed democracy from time to time. Which confirms that whole bunch of other systems has to be defined to ensure proper governance with its real democratic system.

I want to put forward the components, rather sub-systems of any democracy but first there are some other basic points of on which different studies have agreed upon. The real democratic system should ensure Shared Respect and Shared Power within its citizens.

• Shared Respect

Because we all are human and contribute to the society, we should be respecting each other point of view with tolerance and treat everyone equally. Everyone should be given fair chance to learn and develop some skills in order to be useful for the society. And we should all be recognising each other rights irrespective of profession, cast, creed or religion. Thus shared respect ensures thriving democracy.

• Shared Power

A working democratic system ensures shared power between its citizens representing different group of societies. Students unions, factory labour unions, farmer unions and many others represent their respective community thus playing important is democracy of the country. Every citizen voluntarily votes for election of its representative without interference, thus every citizen is sharing bit power indirectly. And most importantly the opposition voices are respected and heard thus ensure their share of power.

Beside shared respect and shared power, some conditions of democracy are agreed upon by different political science students’ i.e: Economic balance and Enlightenment. Aristotle believed that the middle income men contribute more to the society thus providing economic balance. Enlightenment is freedom of getting information which is done my public education, books, magazines and most importantly free media.

For shared respect, shared power, economic balance and for enlightenment different other systems are put forward in-order to have proper working democratic system which grows and amend itself. I will try to put forward some common and rather most important factors for working democracy.

Constitution is the most sacred document in any democratic country. The set of rules put forward by different group of society and agreed upon by the selective representative of society is very important for any successful democratic system. But constitutional history of Pakistan as we all know is very dark and dramatic. For 9 years since the creation of Pakistan we had no constitution, once we had it was brutally raped by dictators. And even last 1973 constitution has been disrespectfully treated by making 19 amendments to it and unfortunately mostly done by democratically elected men.

Judiciary should be independent, free from any outside interference. It’s no news for us that how judiciary has been treated. Social Justice is ensured by the judicial system and how it can ensured until unless judiciary is having trouble of its own.

Social Security is vital important in any democratic country and is ensured by the security forces or police. Unfortunately in Pakistan the political parties have been assigned different quota to hire its own policemen in-order to confirm the power which totally violates the fundamental concept of democracy.

Education system ensures the enlightenment condition of any democratic system. Citizens should be well-aware of laws, constitution and their right. The educational institution should also work as political institution where future leaders or political activist should be created. Student politics should be legal and well governed by the institution itself, otherwise the Family politics will never in country like Pakistan.

Election Commission should independent of any political influence and is responsible for free and fare election. The voters list should be error free and encourage its citizen to take part in electoral system. Not only education system, election commission should also be involved in educating the citizens and realising them the importance of voting to decide their future.

Last but not least the Accountability. Umer bin Abdulaziz, who was caliph of Ummayid Dynasty and was famously called the fifth caliph once said, “Rulers usually appoint people to watch over their subjects. I appoint you a watcher over me and my behaviour. If you find me at fault in word or action guide me and stop me from doing it”. The accountability or the check and balance have vital importance in democratic system. This rules out the might of majority and ensures that democracy should not be considered as number game. NAB (National Accountability Bureau) of Pakistan is supposed to responsible for that but unfortunately this institution has never been given its deserved power and been played in hands of politicians.

Democracy or democratic system is not heavenly devised system; it is system of government of the people, by the people, for the people; which can have loopholes and can be played with, but proper democratic system grows with time differently from nation to nation. We Pakistanis as independent nation living in independent and sovereign country can, shall and will produce such a democratic system with justice for its citizen, rights of the people, accountability of empowered, education to its youth and proper economic system. No wonder Pakistan can become the country which Allama Muhammad Iqbal wished for. LONG LIVE PAKISTAN

For the love of GOD, please stop spewing these kinds of statements. Have not you seen the repercussions of the so-called Justice Restoration revolutionary movement in the recent past? Did you forget the poems like “Dharti hogi Ma’ kay Jaisi”?? Can’t you recall the politicians chanting slogans and singing Habib Jalib’s poetry to get the 10mins of fame and cash the sentiments of the “18 Karore Gadhay”?? Can you now (after almost 3 years) get to the bottom of the “Democracy is the Best Revenge” theme?? And the biggest con played by pseudo-revolutionists is “Awaam ab Baa’sha’oor hain”.

Pakistani Awaam is yet the most gullible nation in the world. Where in the words of a Poet;

“Ameer-e-Sheher Ghareebo’n Ko Loot Laita Hai,
Kabi Ba Heela-e-Mazhab, Kabi Ba’naam-e-Watan”

[Translation: Ruler of the city loot the poor (subservient); Sometimes in the name of Religion and sometimes in the name of Motherland]

And the pseudo-revolutionists, politicians and the media personnel too are exploiting the sentiments of the poor to con them. These con masters and tricksters have their own vested interested in maneuvering the public sentiments to the best of their advantage. Ironically, the “Awaam” do not possess the memory any longer than 15days and that’s the real dilemma.

I can remember the Mr. Khadim-e-Ala’ Punjab reciting and commending Habib Jalib as the best and one of the honest poets of Pakistan. Let’s remind him of one of his verse which was dedicated to his elder brother and party when the elder (former Khadim-e-Azam) stepped into flood water (1990s floods) and publicly tried to en-cash the slogan with “Qaum kay liye ja’n o Dil day dain gay”.

Jalib Replied,

“Na Ja’n day do na Mill day do,
Jo kiya hai qaum ka ziya’n tumnay,
Bs us ka aik Bill dy do”

Consequently, later Jalib was denied by Shareef Govt. the visit to U.K for his treatment and he succumbed to death. Alas! Same happened with the Judiciary movement. Mr. Aitzaz one of the leading pseudo-revolutionist in the Justice Restoration has disappeared from the scene ever since his political party came into power. No one now remembers “Dharti hogi Ma’ Kay jaisi”.

All of these tricksters and con masters are found in the every political party and revolutionary movement. Who can forget “Ms. Asma Jehangir”?? – Another pseudo-revolutionist, expropriating all resources in the name of NGOs, embezzling funds and evading taxes. Sole purpose of these pseudo-politicians and revolutionists are to exploit the sentiments of the public to expropriate the public resources.

Do not forget the bureaucracy. Tax evaders of unique kind. These bureaucrats are no different than politicians. They enjoy all the perks and expropriate all the possible resources for their personal use. Bureaucrats show politicians the way to convert their black money in to fair. The unjustified discretionary power of the bureaucrats is promoting the social and moral injustice in the society. A prime example of the street level bureaucrat is the police or traffic police. Yep you are right! You won’t need further explanation as it (Police) is self elucidating.

I have not read history a great deal but I know all the revolutions that I read has one thing in common. All the revolutions i.e. Iranian, Chinese, Cuban and French were against the monarchy. In Pakistan there is no monarchy at the moment. So, what are these revolutionary people are looking to overturn?? Just wondering……….. Is it the democracy they want to overturn??

We are in dire need evolution rather than revolution. Evolution takes time. It is slow and gradual process. Nations which evolves better can tailor their destiny better. We do not have the patience to evolve. We are looking at the horizons for the new leader to emerge. It is like nearer the Church farthest from GOD. Look around yourselves you may find someone who can be a good leader, any person pure at heart. We need to produce pure hearts. Hearts which are more patriotic and more selfless. If we cannot produce pure and selfless hearts we cannot bring revolution. With corruption at heart pseudo-revolution will bring moral and social intolerance. The so-called revolutionary movement in the recent past has produced nothing except Black Coat Terrorists. Attacking courts, paramilitary, civilians and media. Everyone here is willing to wear crown, but no one is willing to get the accompanied headache.

I say No to Revolution because we are not pure at hearts. We need to purify ourselves first. It may (will) take generations. We desperately need evolution than revolution. Evolution will pave the way for real, selfless and pure at heart revolution. There is no need for the bloodshed to call it a revolution. It would be up to the leaders to choose what medium they use to bring the revolution. i believe a sensible can plus Awaam can do it without bloodshed. My say is;

Yes to Evolution, No to Revolution

Cross Posted @ I’m No Superman!

The father was 12 years old when Israeli soldiers shot him in the head with a rubber coated steel bullet fragmenting his skull and damaging part of his brain. Ten years later, Israeli army officers severely beat and tortured him.He got married to his cousin immediately after.

Palestinians kicked out of their home in 1948

The family originally comes from Al-Walaja village, the village along with some 530 Palestinian villages, was destroyed and ethnically cleansed in 1948. Most of this village land came under Israeli rule. The part that came under Jordanian rule was used to build a new Al-Walaja where some of the relatives returned and built homes in the early 1960s.

After having their first child, the young couple received a blessing in the form of a donation of a very small plot of land from their uncle and they built a humble one room house (literally one room) in Al-Walaja. Both had jobs.

They moved out of the refugee camp and lived in this house for 3 years during which time, they delivered their second child who then died at 18 days of age (by SIDS.) Then the Israeli army demolished the home saying that it was built without permit (Israel gave no permits for any houses in the village since the occupation began in 1967.) The family rebuilt the house but Israeli threats forced them to not live in it (Israel wants also some NIS 20,000~ US$ 6.000 for the cost of destroying the home and wants to levy other fines on the family.)

So the young family came to live in a small dwelling underground and without windows (bought with money from selling the wife’s wedding jewelry) in the refugee camp of Dheisheh. There, the third child (second who is alive) was born and they named him Mohammed. He turned out to have Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (a genetic disease characterized by obesity, eye problems, kidney problems, hexadactyly or six fingers and toes, developmental delay etc.) An uncle and an aunt of Mohammed (refugees in Jordan) died before age 20 with this condition (we took blood samples from the family for genetics study at Bethlehem University.)

The first snow in years came and the roof of their dwelling collapsed. The husband had developed a psychiatric disorder and was treated at a local hospital. Both he and his wife were unable to hold jobs anymore. They had one more son (healthy) and she is now pregnant. Thankfully, UNRWA rehabilitated the home in the refugee camp, and the home in Al-Walaja remains unoccupied and unfinished (and no water or electricity).

The family is loving, hopeful and steadfast (we call it sumoud in Arabic). We spent a few hours during Eid Al-Fitr together and visited the home in Al-Walaja. I personally witnessed how the family cares for each other. Their eldest son Khaled (in 5th grade) is simply brilliant and very loving for his two younger brothers. A short video is at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd17icOsDdo

This is one of millions of Palestinian stories of tragedy and persistence after ethnic cleansing and under colonial occupation.

Mazin Qumsiyeh,

PhD

A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home

http://www.qumsiyeh.org

Professor, Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities Chairman of the Board, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People,

http://www.pcr.ps