I happened to attend this concert just by chance because a friend was going and asked if I wanted to come along - and it was a great decision to do so!
The music was so mellifluous and melodious and had the audience in raptures.
The video is extremely brief and quite the teaser but i'm looking out for the complete version if anyone could be kind enough to pass on. It gives a good idea of the quality of the artists and what the experience was like.
Hope they perform again!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
First Annual Sudanese Music and Dance Festival
Friday, August 10, 2007
I'm scared of wearing this t-shirt
I sometimes wonder how far I should go to fight for civil rights and civil liberties. Notice how I didn't write MY civil rights and civil liberties - alas! - I am not a citizen! So how can I enjoy those same rights? Yet, still, I think it's worth the broader fight and struggle; to stand in solidarity with those who've lost so much and continue to prod on.
So when I read this article, one can understand the shiver that went down my spine as I recalled the day I wore the same t-shirt - that, too on my flight to Chicago. I think my brother, who was traveling with me that day, balanced us out by trying to look cool thereby neutralizing my not-so-cool attire? You folks decide.
Anyway, I must admit: every time I wear that t-shirt, I am nervous. I am fearful of what may happen to me. But those of you reading this, please know that it was for the masses of nameless, faceless people who died as unsung heroes, fighting for a better future - which many of us enjoy today. I am merely but paying my dues.
Accept this as a small token of my gratitude. I will not remain silent.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
"Indian film focuses on women in 2002 riot"
This article's title really intrigued me, and it goes without saying that I was definitely going to read it, but my real question was - which women? - Hindu, or Muslim?
The article is a simple news piece, but a real work of genius when you think of how different terms and language have been used.
Take, for example the title itself: "Indian film focuses on women in 2002 riot". The film is most certainly "Indian", yet the "women" in the film he refers to are Muslim - so why not mention that in the title? Instead, we find out only in the second paragraph that the protagonist is Muslim. If the focus of the film is this 23 year old pregnant girl, at least she deserves to be identified as a Muslim - the very reason for the violence she was victim to.
Then, towards the end of the piece, the writer did something I really detest - he called the film a "Hindi" film. Now, i'm pretty sure my criticism is directed appropriately, because many writers do this: they refer to Indian films as Hindi films. Why? I will never know. yet he still goes on to use "Indian" in the title of the article, but "Hindi" in the body. Very interesting!
Usually, what they're trying to say is that it is an Indian film, yet Hindi denotes the language of the film, and those of us familiar with South Asian cinema know all too well that Urdu is used almost always more often than Hindi.
But on that count, I may be mistaken, because the title of the film is kya hum jinda hai? with jinda being the hindi term for an urdu word, zinda - alive.
Anyway, semantics and use of language in unique ways never ceases to amaze me.
Forgive me if I have erred, and do leave comments if this spurs a discussion.
The article is a simple news piece, but a real work of genius when you think of how different terms and language have been used.
Take, for example the title itself: "Indian film focuses on women in 2002 riot". The film is most certainly "Indian", yet the "women" in the film he refers to are Muslim - so why not mention that in the title? Instead, we find out only in the second paragraph that the protagonist is Muslim. If the focus of the film is this 23 year old pregnant girl, at least she deserves to be identified as a Muslim - the very reason for the violence she was victim to.
Then, towards the end of the piece, the writer did something I really detest - he called the film a "Hindi" film. Now, i'm pretty sure my criticism is directed appropriately, because many writers do this: they refer to Indian films as Hindi films. Why? I will never know. yet he still goes on to use "Indian" in the title of the article, but "Hindi" in the body. Very interesting!
Usually, what they're trying to say is that it is an Indian film, yet Hindi denotes the language of the film, and those of us familiar with South Asian cinema know all too well that Urdu is used almost always more often than Hindi.
But on that count, I may be mistaken, because the title of the film is kya hum jinda hai? with jinda being the hindi term for an urdu word, zinda - alive.
Anyway, semantics and use of language in unique ways never ceases to amaze me.
Forgive me if I have erred, and do leave comments if this spurs a discussion.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Lobbyists, Democrats pressure Bush, Pakistan government for fair elections
This is the first time in Pakistani electoral history i've seen such an organized campaign to get someone out of office. Bhutto has her work cut out for herself, but it also seems odd that she is sleeping with the very enemy she seeks to do away with.
I've copied some salient lines below, and the article gives some good background info as well.
"Lobbyists for a Pakistani opposition party are urging top Democrats to press the Bush administration and President Pervez Musharraf to promote free and fair elections in Pakistan this year.
Under contract with the Pakistan People’s Party, led by former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, lobbyists with BKSH & Associates have made dozens of contacts with Capitol Hill, the State Department and think tanks around Washington.
“Our key message has not wavered: Robust U.S. support for free and fair, internationally monitored elections in Pakistan remains critical, as does U.S. support for the safe return and participation of opposition candidates,” a BKSH director, Lisa Cotter Colangelo, said.
Her firm has earned more than $80,000 since January for its work on behalf of Bhutto’s party, according to records filed with the Justice Department.
Led by Cotter Colangelo, who has more than 15 years of experience in representing foreign opposition parties, BKSH is using its partners to help Bhutto’s party.
BKSH’s affiliate, Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, has worked on polling research for the party.
Parent company Burson-Marsteller LLC is handling an extensive media campaign, with the former Coalition Provisional Authority’s communications director in Iraq, Robert Tappan, taking the reins.
Lobbyists have handed out several op-eds critical of Musharraf, including columns by Bhutto and an editorial by The New York Times, entitled “Propping up the General.”
I've copied some salient lines below, and the article gives some good background info as well.
"Lobbyists for a Pakistani opposition party are urging top Democrats to press the Bush administration and President Pervez Musharraf to promote free and fair elections in Pakistan this year.
Under contract with the Pakistan People’s Party, led by former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, lobbyists with BKSH & Associates have made dozens of contacts with Capitol Hill, the State Department and think tanks around Washington.
“Our key message has not wavered: Robust U.S. support for free and fair, internationally monitored elections in Pakistan remains critical, as does U.S. support for the safe return and participation of opposition candidates,” a BKSH director, Lisa Cotter Colangelo, said.
Her firm has earned more than $80,000 since January for its work on behalf of Bhutto’s party, according to records filed with the Justice Department.
Led by Cotter Colangelo, who has more than 15 years of experience in representing foreign opposition parties, BKSH is using its partners to help Bhutto’s party.
BKSH’s affiliate, Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, has worked on polling research for the party.
Parent company Burson-Marsteller LLC is handling an extensive media campaign, with the former Coalition Provisional Authority’s communications director in Iraq, Robert Tappan, taking the reins.
Lobbyists have handed out several op-eds critical of Musharraf, including columns by Bhutto and an editorial by The New York Times, entitled “Propping up the General.”
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Tom Tancredo is at it again
I'm going to let Tancredo's statements speak for themselves because they speak volumes! It is disappointing and extremely horrifying that an elected official in the US can not only say such things, but get away with it.
I hope anyone reading this calls his office and gives them a piece of their mind.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo says the best way he can think of to deter a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. is to threaten to retaliate by bombing Islamic holy sites.
The Colorado congressman on Tuesday told about 30 people at a town hall meeting in the state of Iowa that he believes such a terrorist attack could be imminent and that the U.S. needs to hurry up and think of a way to stop it.
«If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina,» Tancredo said at the Family Table restaurant. «Because that's the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do.
Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia, are Islam's holiest cities. All able-bodied Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives. Tancredo's comments were recorded and posted on the Web site iowapolitics.com.
A Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group responded in anger Thursday, calling Tancredo's statement «unworthy of anyone seeking public office in the United States.
«Perhaps it's evidence of a long-shot candidate grasping at straws and trying to create some kind of a controversy that might appeal to a niche audience of anti-Muslim bigots,» said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Campaign spokesman, Alan Moore, said Tancredo stands by his statement.
This is not the first time Tancredo has suggested taking extreme action against Mecca and Medina.
In 2005, he drew international criticism after he told a radio talk show host that «you could take out» Islamic holy sites if terrorists ever launched a nuclear attack against the United States.
I hope anyone reading this calls his office and gives them a piece of their mind.
Republican candidate advocates threat to bomb Islamic holy sites as response to terrorist attack on U.S.
2007-08-02 19:10:39 -WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo says the best way he can think of to deter a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. is to threaten to retaliate by bombing Islamic holy sites.
The Colorado congressman on Tuesday told about 30 people at a town hall meeting in the state of Iowa that he believes such a terrorist attack could be imminent and that the U.S. needs to hurry up and think of a way to stop it.
«If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina,» Tancredo said at the Family Table restaurant. «Because that's the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do.
Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia, are Islam's holiest cities. All able-bodied Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives. Tancredo's comments were recorded and posted on the Web site iowapolitics.com.
A Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group responded in anger Thursday, calling Tancredo's statement «unworthy of anyone seeking public office in the United States.
«Perhaps it's evidence of a long-shot candidate grasping at straws and trying to create some kind of a controversy that might appeal to a niche audience of anti-Muslim bigots,» said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Campaign spokesman, Alan Moore, said Tancredo stands by his statement.
This is not the first time Tancredo has suggested taking extreme action against Mecca and Medina.
In 2005, he drew international criticism after he told a radio talk show host that «you could take out» Islamic holy sites if terrorists ever launched a nuclear attack against the United States.
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