PENSIEVE: Structural integrity failing! —Farrukh Khan Pitafi Revolutions I would have believed in, but unfortunately my country does not want a French Revolution for the sake of real change but in search of our own Napoleon Bonaparte. However, countries with far weaker structural integrity have survived in history and may survive for good You must watch the ‘Star Trek’ series, especially its prequel titled ‘Star Trek Enterprise’ and the culmination of its timeline called ‘Star Trek Voyager’. What? Think I am being silly? I thought so too when somebody told me to do so. But then I came across Michiko … Continue reading Structural integrity failing!

Zaytuna College, First Muslim College In U.S., Opens In California // Brooklyn native Faatimah Knight chose Zaytuna College, which aims to be the nation’s first accredited four-year Islamic university, because college “has to bring me more than book smarts.” By Joanna Corman Religion News Service BERKELEY, Calif. (RNS) Faatimah Knight’s college decision came down to eight schools where she would have majored in English, or Zaytuna College, where she could study Islamic classical teachings in an environment that embraces all aspects of her Muslim faith. The Brooklyn native is part of the inaugural class of what Zaytuna’s founders hope will … Continue reading Zaytuna College, First Muslim College In U.S

VIEW: Institutional radicalisation of public schools —Ali K Chishti There are millions of ‘non-state actors’ whose handlers could prod them into doing anything by evoking emotions through misquoting Quranic verses “Hindu pundits were jealous of Al-Beruni” (Social Studies, Class VIII, Punjab Textbook Board, page 82). Another textbook reads, “The Hindus who had always been opportunists” (Social Studies, Class VI, Punjab Textbook Board, page 141). Still another reads, “The Hindus had always been an enemy of Islam.” (Urdu, Class V, Punjab Textbook Board, page 108). An e-mail I got from a Pakistani Hindu friend asked me what did they do to … Continue reading Pakistanis – emotional biological robots?

WASHINGTON DIARY: Lack of common societal goals —Dr Manzur Ejaz Religious indoctrination did nothing except ruin the national identity and a collective consciousness to address societal problems. Now, Pakistanis pretend to be more religious but when it comes to self-interest they cling to the most primitive of identities Instead of being a melting pot, Pakistani society is more like a sieve through which unity and tolerance travel before reaching the people. India, despite having competent institutions, has struggled to become a melting pot as well. As Pakistan’s sieve filters out nationalism and unity, what reaches the public is a schizophrenic … Continue reading Pakistan is not beyond repair

COMMENT: A mysterious affair — II —Munir Attaullah Was it all a vivid dream? This is most unsettling because, I must confess, something similar has happened before with me. Like the time one night when I thought I had solved Fermat’s last theorem, only to discover the next morning that my scribbled notes were nonsense How selfish can we be? The country is grappling with a disaster and here am I in Morocco, trying to work out who has stolen the blueprint of my latest brilliant idea, potentially worth billions. Had I even an ounce of brotherly feeling I would … Continue reading How selfish can we be?