There's a hollow pain in my chest where my heart ought to be
Rainy days aren't all that charming anymore
On cold winter nights sitting by a fire side,
Near me is where you ought to be.
Should I consider this love?
This madness, this, this insanity?
For never once has it happened before
That love ought to inspire me.
There's a twinkle in your eyes,
A passion that hasn't died.
There's a spark in my heart,
An unsettling electricity in the dark.
Champagne doesn't thrill me,
Sinatra once spoke of it.
Cosumed by indolentia,
You are the ultimate kick.
19-1-2011
Wednesday
January 19, 2011
January 7, 2011
From Munni to Mumtaz
I was asked to write about my take on Salman Taseer's murder.
At this point, I've decided that anything is possible. The state of anarchy that humans have reached, anything can happen. And nothing shocks me anymore.
For those who don't know, Salman Taseer was an avid critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, and he thought Asia Bibi should be pardoned for blaspheming about the Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He was killed by his own guard Mumtaz Qadri in the name of Allah, for advocating a blasphemer. I could go on about how this whole issue was fabricated to be about blashphemy and minority rights when in fact it was a property feud, but I won't because the fact of the matter is that whatever happened, happened because of what was believed by the public (Mumtaz Qadri) and what was brought to light by the media, NOT what really happened and whether it really even happened at all or not.
In one sentence: What happened to Salman Taseer was wrong. Period. It's human life and it was taken away by someone other than Allah. This is haram.
All those arguments about killing people in the name of God, well, as fellow blogger and friend Mehreen Kasana said, "God does not need human protection." And God sure as hell does not want you to take someone's life because that is not what Islam preaches. How many times do we have to whip out the Hadith saying whoever kills a man has killed all of humanity.
I'm not going to go into details, because there are several other bloggers out there who do a much better job than me to provide you with all the evidence.
All I have to say is this: Mumtaz Qadri was not a hero, and Salman Taseer was no hero either. Salman Taseer was corrupt like all other politicians, and Mumtaz Qadri was a bigot like all uneducated, brainwashed humans. But Salman Taseer did not deserve to die like that, just like Aafia Siddiqui did not deserve to be treated that way, or the hundreds of other innocent civillians who didn't deserve to die in drone attacks.
None of these humans deserved to die. Human life is not cheap, and it is NOT so worthless that we kill it because of our xenophobic tendencies.
Salman Taseer might have been wrong to advocate Aasia Bibi's pardoning in a state that is run on Sharia Law, but that is precisely what Pakistan is not: run on Shariah Law. We don't follow Shariah Law in any of our courts, we fight for democracy but whip Shariah out when it comes to blasphemy. Why don't we follow Shariah for all those years of murders, for robbery, for theft? And what appalls me are the large number of people belonging to s0-called globalized, civilized population who advocate this downright ridiculous 'cause and are celebrating this murder as 'Aashiq-e-Rasul'. It's like one minute they were out there singing along to Munni and comparing her with Sheila Ki Jawani, and all of a sudden this is about protecting Islam and fighting against blashphemy.
As for Aasia Bibi, how do we really know for sure whether she committed blasphemy or not? Do we have evidence? And this is precisely where Qadri is wrong; to have killed without even knowing really for sure, without concrete evidence. To have killed at all.
I don't support Salman Taseer, no. I don't support any of the involved parties. Where was justice when it came to Aafia Siddiqui? Why didn't Taseer sit next to her and address the media? Why didn't Mr. Lion-of-Punjab be all fierce and heroic when Aafia Siddiqui was kept in a male prison? But I am against him being killed for voicing what he believed in. I will start believing in blasphemy laws when Pakistan starts applying them. Islam is not a pick and choose religion and I'm SICK of this twisted interpretation of a religion that spread a revolution solely through love, unity and good character. When the disbelievers cursed the prophet, not once did he curse them back, but kept showing mercy and love. He did not go around killing every single disbeliever who blasphemed. He corrected them through dialogue, through rationality and character.
Boycotting social media websites and internet, protesting around the city, suicide bombing, killing blasphemers and murdering their advocates is NOT in support of Islam. It will not implement Shariah in Pakistan, if that's what you really even what. People seriously need to remove their brains from their buttholes and understand what the beautiful religion of Islam preaches.
STOP shattering the image of Islam and Pakistan. This is not who we are. This is not who we were and this is NOT what we were taught.
At this point, I've decided that anything is possible. The state of anarchy that humans have reached, anything can happen. And nothing shocks me anymore.
For those who don't know, Salman Taseer was an avid critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, and he thought Asia Bibi should be pardoned for blaspheming about the Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He was killed by his own guard Mumtaz Qadri in the name of Allah, for advocating a blasphemer. I could go on about how this whole issue was fabricated to be about blashphemy and minority rights when in fact it was a property feud, but I won't because the fact of the matter is that whatever happened, happened because of what was believed by the public (Mumtaz Qadri) and what was brought to light by the media, NOT what really happened and whether it really even happened at all or not.
In one sentence: What happened to Salman Taseer was wrong. Period. It's human life and it was taken away by someone other than Allah. This is haram.
All those arguments about killing people in the name of God, well, as fellow blogger and friend Mehreen Kasana said, "God does not need human protection." And God sure as hell does not want you to take someone's life because that is not what Islam preaches. How many times do we have to whip out the Hadith saying whoever kills a man has killed all of humanity.
I'm not going to go into details, because there are several other bloggers out there who do a much better job than me to provide you with all the evidence.
All I have to say is this: Mumtaz Qadri was not a hero, and Salman Taseer was no hero either. Salman Taseer was corrupt like all other politicians, and Mumtaz Qadri was a bigot like all uneducated, brainwashed humans. But Salman Taseer did not deserve to die like that, just like Aafia Siddiqui did not deserve to be treated that way, or the hundreds of other innocent civillians who didn't deserve to die in drone attacks.
None of these humans deserved to die. Human life is not cheap, and it is NOT so worthless that we kill it because of our xenophobic tendencies.
Salman Taseer might have been wrong to advocate Aasia Bibi's pardoning in a state that is run on Sharia Law, but that is precisely what Pakistan is not: run on Shariah Law. We don't follow Shariah Law in any of our courts, we fight for democracy but whip Shariah out when it comes to blasphemy. Why don't we follow Shariah for all those years of murders, for robbery, for theft? And what appalls me are the large number of people belonging to s0-called globalized, civilized population who advocate this downright ridiculous 'cause and are celebrating this murder as 'Aashiq-e-Rasul'. It's like one minute they were out there singing along to Munni and comparing her with Sheila Ki Jawani, and all of a sudden this is about protecting Islam and fighting against blashphemy.
As for Aasia Bibi, how do we really know for sure whether she committed blasphemy or not? Do we have evidence? And this is precisely where Qadri is wrong; to have killed without even knowing really for sure, without concrete evidence. To have killed at all.
I don't support Salman Taseer, no. I don't support any of the involved parties. Where was justice when it came to Aafia Siddiqui? Why didn't Taseer sit next to her and address the media? Why didn't Mr. Lion-of-Punjab be all fierce and heroic when Aafia Siddiqui was kept in a male prison? But I am against him being killed for voicing what he believed in. I will start believing in blasphemy laws when Pakistan starts applying them. Islam is not a pick and choose religion and I'm SICK of this twisted interpretation of a religion that spread a revolution solely through love, unity and good character. When the disbelievers cursed the prophet, not once did he curse them back, but kept showing mercy and love. He did not go around killing every single disbeliever who blasphemed. He corrected them through dialogue, through rationality and character.
Boycotting social media websites and internet, protesting around the city, suicide bombing, killing blasphemers and murdering their advocates is NOT in support of Islam. It will not implement Shariah in Pakistan, if that's what you really even what. People seriously need to remove their brains from their buttholes and understand what the beautiful religion of Islam preaches.
STOP shattering the image of Islam and Pakistan. This is not who we are. This is not who we were and this is NOT what we were taught.
December 25, 2010
*Insert Misleading Title*
I remember back in elementary school, we got aked to fill out these little quizzes and they'd ask us about our role models. Or in slam books, where bright-coloured glitter pens would speak volumes about who we were at that time, depending on who we jotted down as our role model.
I could never come up with a name.
I've never had a role model, or a person I'd look up to. I think this is probably because I've always wanted to be my own person, uninfluenced by others. Copying others has always been a pet-peeve of mine, and I believe my childhood was no different. It irked me to the end of my wits if one of my siblings jokingly told me I only did a particular thing to be like said person.I remember how fiercely I'd argue to get my point across. Ofcourse, my pitch directly proportional to my level of frustration at not being heard.
I guess this speaks about the nature of man, about how imperfect man is. We all have certain qualities, certain talents, some God-gifted skill if you will at which we're ace. But there's always something we lack. For example, great artistic sense but a serious lack of social skills. I probably realized way early as a kid that it's better to be your own person than look up to someone because they weren't perfect, and if they weren't perfect, well then there's no point in making them an ideal, an idol.
I don't think I was or am narcissistic, I mean God alone knows how wonderful it would to be to have just a dash of narcissism in me. I mean, there were things I admired about people, like a particular talent or skill, and it inspired me and made me want to take the initiative and achieve great things like them, but I never wanted to be them or be like them. Sure, having talents like them would be great, but not the whole deal.
So anyway, that was a little something dug up from my past. How about you? Ever had a role model? What's your take on the whole idol/ideal thing?
I could never come up with a name.
I've never had a role model, or a person I'd look up to. I think this is probably because I've always wanted to be my own person, uninfluenced by others. Copying others has always been a pet-peeve of mine, and I believe my childhood was no different. It irked me to the end of my wits if one of my siblings jokingly told me I only did a particular thing to be like said person.I remember how fiercely I'd argue to get my point across. Ofcourse, my pitch directly proportional to my level of frustration at not being heard.
I guess this speaks about the nature of man, about how imperfect man is. We all have certain qualities, certain talents, some God-gifted skill if you will at which we're ace. But there's always something we lack. For example, great artistic sense but a serious lack of social skills. I probably realized way early as a kid that it's better to be your own person than look up to someone because they weren't perfect, and if they weren't perfect, well then there's no point in making them an ideal, an idol.
I don't think I was or am narcissistic, I mean God alone knows how wonderful it would to be to have just a dash of narcissism in me. I mean, there were things I admired about people, like a particular talent or skill, and it inspired me and made me want to take the initiative and achieve great things like them, but I never wanted to be them or be like them. Sure, having talents like them would be great, but not the whole deal.
So anyway, that was a little something dug up from my past. How about you? Ever had a role model? What's your take on the whole idol/ideal thing?
December 23, 2010
December 22, 2010
Teenage Dreams
Let's stay up all night watching the fireflies as they dance around the flames.
Fiery flames, hissing, burning. Licking us.
Consuming us into the moment.
Hand in hand we skip through life, paths undiscovered, destinies unfulfilled. The background a dizzying array of scenic pasts, we come through.
Teenage dreams, reverberating through our souls.
Teenage dreams, reverberating through our souls.
Titles are a Dead Giveaway for the Content of the Entry. Therefore, I revolt!
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a hole, there's a hole
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a log, there's a log
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea.
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a hole, there's a hole
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a log, there's a log
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea.
Am I the only one who sees a connection here?
Tsk tsk.
Corrupting young minds...
December 12, 2010
Munni Badnaam Hui, Darling Teri Liye!
*walks into room full of angry, shoe-and-other-random-objects holding bloggers with arms crossed over head*
Someone's been bad.
*hears imaginary spanking*
Right. So long, uninformed absences? What be the cause?
Well folks, the time came in the life of yours truly where, HOLD YOUR BREATH, the passion died down.
People kept nagging me about how blogging is a time-wasting activity and how I do nothing productive with my time.
Said people also told me that I will never be able to do anything in life if I whiled it away on the internet. Said people were HA-IN-YO-FACED after I got my first real job via Twitter, for the Berkman Center in Harvard too. *ho-snap* Can I say ha once more?
HA!
So anyway. I've decided to take things under my control, seeing as it IS my life and I AM 18 years old and venturing out into the world. And do my own thang!
And I don't give a flying poo (here's to visualization!) about what anyone else thinks. I don't want to live their life, I'm living mine. And I call the shots here.
So, that's that. I'll keep doing what I have to do. For too long I've let others dictate my passions, it's time I dictate my own.
I feel so rusty with this whole blogging thing, considering I've been away for a good few months.
I BETTER BE GETTING SOME WELCOME BACK LOVE!
Someone's been bad.
*hears imaginary spanking*
Right. So long, uninformed absences? What be the cause?
Well folks, the time came in the life of yours truly where, HOLD YOUR BREATH, the passion died down.
People kept nagging me about how blogging is a time-wasting activity and how I do nothing productive with my time.
Said people also told me that I will never be able to do anything in life if I whiled it away on the internet. Said people were HA-IN-YO-FACED after I got my first real job via Twitter, for the Berkman Center in Harvard too. *ho-snap* Can I say ha once more?
HA!
So anyway. I've decided to take things under my control, seeing as it IS my life and I AM 18 years old and venturing out into the world. And do my own thang!
And I don't give a flying poo (here's to visualization!) about what anyone else thinks. I don't want to live their life, I'm living mine. And I call the shots here.
So, that's that. I'll keep doing what I have to do. For too long I've let others dictate my passions, it's time I dictate my own.
I feel so rusty with this whole blogging thing, considering I've been away for a good few months.
I BETTER BE GETTING SOME WELCOME BACK LOVE!
November 27, 2010
This Candy Got You Drunk!
Anybody remember these?
Wonka Nerds ♥
Stumbled upon them yesterday at Emarat and just had to have one.
Avalanche of childhood memories ^__^
November 20, 2010
How To Spot a Freshman
If I were to learn that seniors point their fingers and tilt their heads back in profound concentration in a serious attempt to spot a freshman on campus, I would not be suprised.
You see, there's something remarkably dorky about us freshmans that makes our seniors want to smack their lips and cry out "AHA! FRESH MEAT!" , Trunchbull style. Whether it's the lost expression or the socially awkward behaviour of a freshly-pubescent kid, trust you me we're the easiest category of the human race to discern in large crowds on campus.
Below is a list of traits that will help you locate a freshman in a jiffy.
1. The walk-reverse-walk: Who knows this better than I do? Thinking you're going in NAB* when you're actually headed to SBM*. "Oh wait, that was NAB. NO WAIT IT WAS SBM!"
Repeat cycle.
2. The inexplicable yet omnipresent expression: Yes folks, this is THE EXPRESSION. It's a cross-over between being utterly fascinated by the magnificent campus in front of you, and the sheer confusion of where to go next. Physically, it translates to wide eye-balls, a crap-load of lip-biting and a LOT, and I mean A LOT of head turns (to peep at the signboards on the buildings, ofcourse!)
3. Seen one freshman appear every 10 minutes on the same spot, 5 times already? That's the noobest of the noobs! Seriously, though, whenever you do come across this person, please go up to them and help them out, because if it wasn't enough to have to carry around your Eco 201 textbook in the scorching heat, running around the ginormous campus really, really hurts.
4. The elevator genius: Oh wait, that would be me. You see, the elevator in the student center has just one button pointing downwards. HOW ON EARTH IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT GOES UP TO THE 1st FLOOR?!
So the next time you spot someone on a wild goose-chase running in and out of the student center and the door next to the lift, kindly do us a favour and tell us it does go up. Aside from laughing hysterically, ofcourse.
5. Classroom habits: See someone taking out all their notebooks and stationery and arranging them in a neat pile? Do they have a small homework diary next to them? Or worse, are they writing in the student planner? That's your fresshie!
6. "Miss, can I please use the toilet?" Enough said.
7. When you see students running to their respective classes 20 minutes before class:
You'd think it makes sense to walk from the library to LAN* 10 minutes before. Oh no no no! Fresshies really don't wanna be that late. Or die from shortness of breath.
8. When someone's Facebook status or Tweets all revolve around how much work they have to do.
9. When you spot someone decked out in the latest trends, KNOW that it's a freshman. It's only until the first few semesters that this continues. *Fast forward to a year later* Jeans and teeshirt are your bestfriends while you might've lost a pencil in that mane--either you catch up on the sleep, or get extra revision time! Fashion can wait.
10. When you see someone waiting for the elevator, rooted in the same spot for 15 minutes. Not until you're done with a month or so of classes will you realize your safest option to avoid being late is to take the stairs.
Now that I have revealed upon you these words of wisdom illustrating how to discern thy fellow disciples, it is my sincere hope that they be assisted by you in whatever feat they set to accomplish.
OMG WHAT IF THEY END UP BEING RAGGED?!
You see, there's something remarkably dorky about us freshmans that makes our seniors want to smack their lips and cry out "AHA! FRESH MEAT!" , Trunchbull style. Whether it's the lost expression or the socially awkward behaviour of a freshly-pubescent kid, trust you me we're the easiest category of the human race to discern in large crowds on campus.
Below is a list of traits that will help you locate a freshman in a jiffy.
1. The walk-reverse-walk: Who knows this better than I do? Thinking you're going in NAB* when you're actually headed to SBM*. "Oh wait, that was NAB. NO WAIT IT WAS SBM!"
Repeat cycle.
2. The inexplicable yet omnipresent expression: Yes folks, this is THE EXPRESSION. It's a cross-over between being utterly fascinated by the magnificent campus in front of you, and the sheer confusion of where to go next. Physically, it translates to wide eye-balls, a crap-load of lip-biting and a LOT, and I mean A LOT of head turns (to peep at the signboards on the buildings, ofcourse!)
3. Seen one freshman appear every 10 minutes on the same spot, 5 times already? That's the noobest of the noobs! Seriously, though, whenever you do come across this person, please go up to them and help them out, because if it wasn't enough to have to carry around your Eco 201 textbook in the scorching heat, running around the ginormous campus really, really hurts.
4. The elevator genius: Oh wait, that would be me. You see, the elevator in the student center has just one button pointing downwards. HOW ON EARTH IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT GOES UP TO THE 1st FLOOR?!
So the next time you spot someone on a wild goose-chase running in and out of the student center and the door next to the lift, kindly do us a favour and tell us it does go up. Aside from laughing hysterically, ofcourse.
5. Classroom habits: See someone taking out all their notebooks and stationery and arranging them in a neat pile? Do they have a small homework diary next to them? Or worse, are they writing in the student planner? That's your fresshie!
6. "Miss, can I please use the toilet?" Enough said.
7. When you see students running to their respective classes 20 minutes before class:
You'd think it makes sense to walk from the library to LAN* 10 minutes before. Oh no no no! Fresshies really don't wanna be that late. Or die from shortness of breath.
8. When someone's Facebook status or Tweets all revolve around how much work they have to do.
9. When you spot someone decked out in the latest trends, KNOW that it's a freshman. It's only until the first few semesters that this continues. *Fast forward to a year later* Jeans and teeshirt are your bestfriends while you might've lost a pencil in that mane--either you catch up on the sleep, or get extra revision time! Fashion can wait.
10. When you see someone waiting for the elevator, rooted in the same spot for 15 minutes. Not until you're done with a month or so of classes will you realize your safest option to avoid being late is to take the stairs.
Now that I have revealed upon you these words of wisdom illustrating how to discern thy fellow disciples, it is my sincere hope that they be assisted by you in whatever feat they set to accomplish.
OMG WHAT IF THEY END UP BEING RAGGED?!
*NAB= New Academic Building connected to (see below)
*SBM= School of Business Management
*LAN= Language Building
Attached below is a map to enable you to understand better what I mean.
November 9, 2010
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