French Quarter III-Paris Burning again

The article published in Washington post aruges that:

"While the demonstrations have been orderly and peaceful, groups of 200 to 300 youths who police say do not appear to be participating in the organized marches have appeared suddenly during concluding rallies, taunting police and creating havoc.
Police have speculated that the gangs may be from the poor suburban areas that erupted in riots last fall. In those disturbances, youths across France -- many of them immigrants or French-born children of immigrants -- burned thousands of cars and hundreds of public buildings and private businesses to protest government indifference to the joblessness and lack of social services in their communities. Little of that violence spilled over into Paris or other urban centers."

It is possible that these are just the overzealeous jobless gangs however I will not rule out the possibility that some OBL's AQ cells are changing their strategy and trying to engage Europe in economic stability through violent protests. The immigrants probably know that how much effective these strategies are in derailing economic activity in their home countries.

I must say that French society and government must act with caution as they are already trying to recover from last years scars caused by riots. As a student of Economics I must say that the government should treat young and adult workers alike. Most of the Europe's job market problems are owed to strong labor unions. The inside workers always make it difficult for outside workers to enter into job market as they see it as a threat. I wish I had time to explain the economic theory of inside and outside workers and the interaction of European labor unions but I am sure you can find a lot on internet.
Related: French Qurater I; French Quarter II.

Islam a religion of peace and Muslims are follower of ......?

As I opened my email inbox today the Washington post headline in subject Negative Perception Of Islam Increasing caught my eyes. The views expressed in article are based on a survey conducted by Washington Post-ABC. To be succinct, Americans have unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority believes that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence. I am not surprised at all. Many would blame it to media but the truth is "As you sow so shall you reap."

After 9/11 I felt an empty space in my heart for long--- it hurt me to think how everything changed-- so suddenly. The space even grew bigger when I saw Muslim opportunistic considering it a chance to teach non-Muslims about Islam. All the time they will make my ears sore and head spin by propounding an insane argument . . . see more and more people want to know about Islam and they are reading about it! . . . . .

Oh God! Their argument just made me sick. So sick! I wished I break my head rather than punching them in their nose. They were not realizing the fact that earlier--before 9/11-- people wanted to know about Islam as a religion of peace---Afterwards----they want to know about Islam to find out:

• What has gone wrong with Muslims?
• Why they are so violent?
• Why they are intolerant?
• Why they are so insolent?

How in the world you can teach someone peace by slapping in his/her face? And then tell them I love you dear---there is no compulsion in religion!

Muslims really need some soul searching here--period.

Bush pats Musharraf for blocking my Blog

Disclaimer: this is not an actual picture. It is just a pinup/work of art for self expression and free speech.

"The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed the government to block internet sites displaying sacrilegious cartoons and called explanation from authorities concerned as to why these sites had not been blocked earlier." In order to comply with supreme court orders the GOPak has blocked all websites ending with www.--.blogspot.com. This action has resulted in blocking all weblogs and Mr. Bush, visiting Pakistan, has given a pat on Mr. Musharraf's back for blocking my Pakistani readers. Pakistani readers cannot read the blogs anymore but they are able to post web logs because the primary blogger address is not blocked. Thanks to those who started an internet-blog based cartoon war on Muslim sensibilities, believing that they can teach respect and freedom of speech to Muslim countires. Now we cannot teach them anything except how to close their doors.

Update: Joining hands to Condemn Censorship of Blogs in Pakistan (more here...)

Two articles

Two articles that I consider must read for students of South Asian politics and economy.

• America and India: A passage to India
• China, Pakistan and the bomb: The Declassified File on U.S. Policy, 1977-1997