My blog has been too focused on Pakistan. The focus needs to be redirected towards ME!
Anyone who has known me for a while most likely knows that one of my peeves is being called "too young to ____" (fill in the blank). Fascinatingly, people here tend to remind me of my age more often than anyone did at college. I would appreciate this if I had an awful memory and didn't know when my birthday was (which actually isn't so funny since my parents were somewhat confused about what year I was born in for a short period in my life). But really, if I've forgotten, I'm sure a friend or a good samaritan (facebook) will remind me when to blow out my candles. So, I have decided to respond to these polite reminders, exclamations of surprise, excuses for my "lack of craziness" with a list of why I'm old:
- I have white hairs. Not just one - many. I'd rather just believe this is a sign of wisdom.
- I have a horrible memory (except for when it comes to remembering my birthday). I lost my favorite scarf - twice - and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to recover it now.
- I can stay up past a bedtime. In fact, I dont even have a bedtime.
- I take afternoon naps. Oh, and also, I can fall asleep anywhere - ANYWHERE.
- I drink coffee - not the 99/100 milk and 1/100 spoon coffee kind, but the actual bitter strong disgusting kind.
- I wore a business suit two days in a row (although to be honest I couldn't retain the professional look and ended up eating Bugles on Wall Street because I get freakin hungry all the time).
- I am jaded.
- I am idealistic, but only when appropriate.
- My impromptu dance and singing shows have been reduced to only happening in my room.
- I make lists.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
The beginning of the end?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7262071.stm
When Youtube stopped working for me earlier this afternoon, I didn't think much of it - until I read this article. Leave it up to Pakistan to create a global problem for everyone, however temporary. At some level I can laugh this off, but at another, Pakistan's censorship on youtube is quite frightening.
The Danish cartoon controversy is not only over-done but is also about two years old at this point. It's surprising that Pakistan would censor a public site such as youtube so close after the elections and the subsequent "victory of democracy." Clearly, elections do not equate to democracy. The government has alot of work to do in order to stop Pakistan from spiraling down into an autocratic state.
In order to respond to an inevitable protest to the above statement, I should say that I don't mean that someone should "install" a democracy in Pakistan. As I said earlier, the elections do not prove stability; however, there are specific freedoms - social, religious and political - that should not be denied to anyone. Perhaps that seems too basic, but that is precisely why they are important - these rights are logically basic and inherent to everyone. No state, or a small group of people, should be able to curtail these, under the guise of religion or state unity. If religion and statehood become more important than human freedom, we need to rethink the extent of their importance.
When Youtube stopped working for me earlier this afternoon, I didn't think much of it - until I read this article. Leave it up to Pakistan to create a global problem for everyone, however temporary. At some level I can laugh this off, but at another, Pakistan's censorship on youtube is quite frightening.
The Danish cartoon controversy is not only over-done but is also about two years old at this point. It's surprising that Pakistan would censor a public site such as youtube so close after the elections and the subsequent "victory of democracy." Clearly, elections do not equate to democracy. The government has alot of work to do in order to stop Pakistan from spiraling down into an autocratic state.
In order to respond to an inevitable protest to the above statement, I should say that I don't mean that someone should "install" a democracy in Pakistan. As I said earlier, the elections do not prove stability; however, there are specific freedoms - social, religious and political - that should not be denied to anyone. Perhaps that seems too basic, but that is precisely why they are important - these rights are logically basic and inherent to everyone. No state, or a small group of people, should be able to curtail these, under the guise of religion or state unity. If religion and statehood become more important than human freedom, we need to rethink the extent of their importance.
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