Punctured tires, hungry tigers

It is almost impossible to know just where to begin. The beginning.......yet where is that. Please forgive if the commentary is a little difficult to follow; I will do my best to be concise.

Amid fears of terrorist activities and party violence, I packed up a bag yesterday morning and headed out to witness what I considered history. Perhaps nothing of any great story would happen, yet how could that be possible. Even if the same ole' same ole' came out of the elections, that in itself would be a story for all of the "free, fair, and safe" talk that had been going on. Hundreds of internationals came to babysit the polls and be sure that the voice of the people of Pakistan was heard. That is, except the women in some parts of the north, and those political affiliates who were boycotting the elections. When the low numbers are mentioned in the international media, I have yet to notice this analysis. Perhaps I've missed it, it's possible.

I didn't know what to expect. I didn't even know where to go quite frankly. At the gas station NO ONE could tell me where a polling venue was. Given most of the workers come in from villages this is no surprise, but at least one of the other customers should have been able to offer assistance. It was looking bleak. Then through a good friend I got a hold of a sr. reporter with the English news channel who invited me to come along with him and his camera man. YES!

Introductions were made, pictures were taken, and I got to witness history. Safe history at that! I was very excited. Early in the day my guide informed me we would be going to one of the top politicians' house where this man and his son were both running to hold their seats in the assemblies. I was very excited. Yet, by the time we got there unofficial results were coming in and it was looking very bad for these two gentlemen. It had been looking badly for their whole party actually. The PML-Q was the ruling party, the President's party. The campaign trail was not littered with issues and promises, rather just simply who's party name was on the poster. The "symbol" used by the party spoke volumes. Choosing not to re-elect the PML-Q members was the citizens way of letting them know they no longer support the President. Too bad, so sad.

Another bit of analysis people in the U.S. won't hear......there were NO "terrorist" activities. There were no bombs (as reported by CNN), there was no random acts of violence by egotistical and/or brainwashed radicals. Rather, the violence which occurred (while still sad) was the usual party to party shootouts/threats, etc. Even the deaths which have been reported (within PK the report is under 20, outside it's being reported as closer to 30) are lower than in previous years. The voter turnout was not the lowest in all of the history of voting, and not even as low as many feared. I researched voter turnout in the U.S......every other voting year it's hardly 40% and the other years it's higher....makes sense. The point here is when it's low turn out in a place like Pakistan the world thinks it's dismal (and it may be), but you can also offer reasons such as past poll rigging, female intimidation, no real competition on lines such as policy, etc. What excuse do we have in the U.S.? The fact is people are people everywhere. Lazy, not persuaded one candidate over another is actually any good, and/or dis-trust in the whole system (Bush 2000 rings a bell). This is just the Federal Elections, who knows what kind of voter payoff, manipulation, intimidation exists throughout the U.S. My point-as with other issues- people should stop being so judgmental and start realizing people are no different despite their oceanfront view.

The big news, and perhaps the bigger story than all of the above-and this is where the U.S. and foreign news should be making note of changes in this country-is that the MMA (code for crazy radical people who support oppression of women and the "taliban") were voted out of their seats and replaced with the party known for being moderate...the PPP (think Benazir Bhutto). While I am not a particular fan of most of the PPP folks, this turn of events is HUGE! People managed to stand up to a group of people who have essentially kept the Northern Areas hostage with the help of the likes of Osama Bin Laden. I am interested to see how this particular win plays out.


I am back at work on Tuesday. It's pretty boring because most places just called today an additional holiday to be on the safe side. Lahorees are enjoying their food, sheesha and 4$ coffee (yes, we have it here too), and basking in their victory of returning to power the PML-N party. My family and I mourn. Not that we are overly impressed by the ruling party, but we do accept things have indeed improved even so slightly these past 5 years (and we can't stand the PML-N). Also-there is a bit of breath holding to see what the new parliament will do.


Too bad about those pictures.

Just the facts ma'am

Today I opened my email to a story from one of the leading English newspapers "dawn news". A suicide bomber has left for Lahore. First.....as if he's the only one!!! Second, (and here I'll simply cut and paste the actual part of the article) And if anyone doubts the reality of the stupidity, I'll include the link...

"They said the man was slim and tall, sported thick beard and wore glasses."
http://www.dawn.com/2008/02/14/top18.htm

I doubt I need to go on. If there's any confusion as to why this made the blog feel free to inquire, but I bet you get it.

The need for a slow down

I shouldn't be, but I am constantly amazed at what an idiot I am. The human side of life really sucks. It sucks because of this spiritual war that is ragging around us constantly. It's all Adam's fault. Alright, Eve played a part, but Adam should have done his job. Okay, we were meant to make up our minds to follow God or not....but the "unfair" advantage to this I am finding is the inability to remove thorns from our lives, despite repetitive attempts (and the fact we are actually able to). I think of when Paul was requesting God to remove the thorn in his side, and he is told he has been given what is needed. Yeah. But I suck at utilizing those.

My focus continually shifts from God to......everything/anything else. It's like spiritual a.d.d......praying, loving, worshiping God......"oh look something shiny!" It's not even that I find anything else more appealing or better for my life, it's just simply....something else. The danger here, is when that something else turns out to be an appropriate letdown the light bulb goes off and I remember "oh, I was actually on my knees". All of the emotions I feel about life can be summed up very easily.......I'm not living IN God, and therefore by attempting (even inadvertently) to find fulfillment in this world continually fails.

My happiness shifts as the realities of the world are in overdrive. Things I can not control control me. I am smothered by thoughts I don't even desire to have, and my stupid mouth is an ocean of death most of the time. (which I believe has been a blog incidentally)

My spiritual life is shallow, which can only be an indication of my spiritual mind. And as I finish my thoughts, I realize I will return to the floor of my room and plead with God what He's heard a million times before......forgive me and help me to think.