African American Contributions to America

Black Americans have made significant contributions to science and finance in the United States. Here are a few notable examples:Science:George Washington Carver, known for his work in agriculture and his development of hundreds of uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes.Ernest Everett Just, a biologist and professor who conducted pioneering research on the physiology of cells.Percy Julian, a chemist who was a pioneer in the synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.Jane Wright, a pioneering cancer researcher and oncologist who made significant contributions to the field of chemotherapy.Finance:Robert Smith, an investment banker and philanthropist who is known for his contributions to technology and private equity investments.Sheila Johnson, a co-founder of BET, who is also a philanthropist and businesswoman.Robert Johnson, founder of BET, the first black-owned cable network, and America’s first black billionaire.Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based investment firm, founded by John Rogers Jr., which manages over $13 billion in assets.

Thanks a trillion to ChatGpt

RRR – Sustainable Israel-Palestine Conflict Resolution

I teach conflict resolution and soft skills including visionary leadership, communication and positive attitude for close to 25 years. I always asked myself repeatedly the same question: with this huge body of knowledge how is it that no one has been able to impact global conflicts?

Perhaps the world of business and interpersonal relationships is simpler. There are no historical baggages from centuries passed on from Father to son or mother to daughter, there are no religious dilemmas of who among us is the chosen one bound to Green Paradises the rest facing some sort of a hell.

However I tried my luck on an app called clubhouse which is all about audio chat in mostly triggering rooms and I came across a lot of people from both sides of the fence so I experimented with many conflict resolution models trying empathy, listening skills, paraphrasing, emotional support, you name it. I was not able to influence a lot of people but then that was to be expected as explained above, centuries of societal programming is bound to have an effect. While the Israel Palestine conflict does not span over centuries (Abrahamic religious conflicts span longer) it does at least involves 2 to 3 generations. Which is something that cannot be easily discounted when speaking of a solution because there is a lot of baggage on both sides and each has their own, and I must say, very believable justifications.

So what does one do in such a situation to resolve what appears to be unresolvable?

RRR – my 2 cents

Sounds like some fancy management mnemonic but it’s a little beyond, and it is based on almost a year of active experience in listening to both sides which wasn’t always pleasant or cordial especially on the Palestinian side. The three Rs cannot be any simpler than recognise, respect and reap rewards.

1 Recognize

The first step for both parties is to recognise their right to freedom and existence leaving behind historically modified versions of the same reality or UN resolutions for that matter to justify their stance and instead focus on the benefits of recognising and how it impacts their combined future. It takes to two to tango right? Practically speaking I would expect the Palestinians to recognise the existence of Israel in its current form without referring to the past or self perceived moral and ethical constructs. I would expect the same of Israelis so they also recognise Palestine as a legitimate state. Of course as part of this recognition I would expect a mutually acceptable definition of boundaries.

2 Respect

Recognition is worthless if it is not embedded in respect. And both parties should promote respect for the other party in their respective territories. I have noted that quite frankly antisemitism is rather prevalent in Palestinian discussions disguised in many forms or sometimes plain too, I am sure there are many in Israel who do not like Palestinians either. However the internationally recognised and respected notions related to antisemitism need to be applied by the Palestinians out of respect if nothing else for what the Jewish people suffered specially in the holocaust. If somehow this apparently extremely difficult objective is achieved I am pretty sure the Israeli side will reciprocate.

3 Reap Rewards

This is the fun part of this hypothetical peace and conflict resolution model. Assuming the herculean tasks of recognition and respect are achieved by both parties we will see mutual coexistence which in simple terms will translate to cooperation and collaboration. Hence I can imagine cheap labour force coming from the Palestinian side helping out the Israelies in their commercial ventures. At the same time I foresee Israeli technology and brain power helping out the Palestinians with cutting edge solutions in governance, energy, technology, environment, healthcare, policing and education.

If you think about it and imagine the first two Rs taking place in our lifetime, we would likely see a positive revolution between two people who never saw eye to eye for a needlessly long time.

Now the practical part. I think being neutral and emphatic towards both sides I can play matchmaker. But then I am not Jewish nor am I anywhere near the stereotypes of a typical Muslim. I am also an Asian. All this makes my acceptibility a bit of a challenge, you can guess from the way I put it that I must be an optimist which thankfully I am and I wish more followed suit.

Happiness and love are states of mind we can all choose to be in. Hatred and anger are also states of mind that for whatever reason we can choose to be in too. As people or communities. I would always choose and promote happiness, for obvious reasons.

CrystalHeart

Afghanistan, the Aftermath: Much ado for nothing!

CrystalHeart Kazmi FacebookLinkedInTwitterProfileClubHouseAboutMe

2 People Fell from Plane in Kabul, Afghanistan - Video is Horrifying

Freedom forever for poor Afghans!

Some images haunt us forever, like the Syrian child, Alan Kurdi, who’s lifeless body was washed ashore Turkey’s Bodrum beach. The images of three Afghanis falling from the sky to their inevitable deaths, clinging on, impossibly so in every sense, to the USAF C17 will also remain with us till eternity, the haunting footage of Kabul Airport right after the exit of US forces, will remain etched in our memory too.

Right after 9/11/2001, GWB attacked Afghanistan alongside NATO on October 7, 2001, a timeline fraught with promises that were never honored in letter or spirit to the Afghan people except the installation of a corrupt, puppet government. Almost 20 years later, on August 16, 2021, the Taliban triumphantly captured Kabul from the American posted puppet regime headed by Ashraf Ghani who ran away leaving the Taliban in control of all assets left behind by the Americans and Afghan Army and Government. Billions of dollars of state of the art air power, arms and ammunitionweapons procured with heavily taxed Americans’ income, is now in the hands of tribals with hardly any education but a dangerous mindset of governance laid out in the Russian takeover in the late 70s (more on that later)

Sadly, international media analyzes the aftermath in a very shallow, callous and even inhuman lens, one of worry about Americans “left behind” or their contractors, or of other nations like New Zealand and others.

Women: the obvious casualty, as far back as April 2021 The Guardian spoke of how they feared slavery under Taliban. The Inquirer foretold a gloomy future, also, in April 2021 expressing the opinion of US Lawmakers:

Members of Congress, many of whom are skeptical about the plans to bring home the 2,500 remaining troops, worry the departure would cede control to the Taliban, whose 1996-2001 rule severely curtailed activities for Afghan women.”

In late July 2021, FP (Foreign Policy ThinkTank), raised concerns on women rights under the Taliban too. All conveniently ignored!

Perhaps the most interesting and clear alarm was raised by the former Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, in TRT World where he couldn’t possibly have been more explicit on August 14, 2021:

“The fall of Oruzgan to the Taliban, and the reported threat to Kabul, is an unmitigated disaster for the good people of Afghanistan… It is now urgent that the US Administration reverse the course of its final military withdrawal.”

It was clear as day that reverse gear was needed, but the elephantine US administration was not to pay heed under the Guardianship of Senior Joe Biden who should have been resting then presiding over such tricky state of affairs, which, in a way he did, with a much needed Camp David retreat while the Afghan soldiers and so-called President were running away from Kabul and the Taliban were marching in. With rather obvious results.

Ironically, if one goes back in time, the Taliban were created by the Americans back in the late 70s/80s with assistance from the Arabs and Pakistanis to thwart off the Russians. Washington Institutes’ white paper titled “Who is responsible for the Taliban?” is pretty amazing as it goes down to the minutest detail and should be a clear eye-opener for anyone on the root cause of this situation:

“The decision to arm the Afghan resistance came within two weeks of the Soviet invasion, and quickly gained momentum.(21) In 1980, the Carter administration allocated only $30 million for the Afghan resistance, though under the Reagan administration this amount grew steadily. In 1985, Congress earmarked $250 million for Afghanistan, while Saudi Arabia contributed an equal amount. Two years later, with Saudi Arabia still reportedly matching contributions, annual American aid to the mujahidin reportedly reached $630 million.(22) This does not include contributions made by other Islamic countries, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, and Europe. Many commentators cite the huge flow of American aid to Afghanistan as if it occurred in a vacuum; it did not. According to Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid, the Soviet Union contributed approximately $5 billion per year into Afghanistan in an effort to support their counterinsurgency efforts and prop up the puppet government in Kabul.”

Thus the Frankenstein was created as rather sarcastically described by TFI, armed with hatred against “Godless infidels” purported to be Communist Russian soldiers of the 80s, only to come back as a boomerang to it’s very founders in 2001! “A is for Allah, J is for Jihad” textbooks printed by the Americans and their allies of those days for young “Talibs” will continue to haunt us… all one has to do is google “University of Nebraska files” and see the beginning of a horror movie given a new lease of life… the lack of foresight in creating “extremist Islam” in a laboratory to dislodge the Russians was a huge axe that seems to continually hit American feet time and again.

Afghanis who loathed the totalitarian, unIslamically Islamic yet claimed to be so Taliban regime were / are not the only affected party. While the Taliban “Government” is announcing a no prejudice against women policy, Khadija Amin, a TV anchor recently fired after Taliban rule tearfully told her story at a Clubhouse chat room:

“I am a journalist and I am not allowed to work,” said Ms. Amin, 28. “What will I do next? The next generation will have nothing, everything we have achieved for 20 years will be gone. The Taliban is the Taliban. They have not changed.”

FT states it rather bluntly, no guarantee of security of women under Taliban rule. Zahra from Herat sees the return of “dark days under Taliban” and quite logically so!

But then again, besides Afghanis, specially their women, so many others have suffered. More than 2,300 US army personnel lost their lives in the 20 year Afghan war. And about 30 times that number or almost 60,000 Pakistanis died during this war as their army, also, fought the Taliban. Many invested in Afghanistan’s rebuilding. But one thing has been missing all along since 2001 by the Americans. Ownership.

This takes us back to the 19th century. The British Empire then was the largest ever colonisation of the world with about of a quarter of the world’s population and area spanning from Asia to Africa, even the US in the early days!

The British were no angels, they maintained strict control despite no modern communication tools, internet, air travel and yet, they kept a tight leash on their slaves of yesteryears by no means commendable, yet they were on top of things in their colonies.

The New Yorker, in an excellent effort, describes the cons of the British Empire often portrayed as a selfless, virtuous effort to “promote democracy” which it calls “MisRemembering the British Empire.”

But not all was evil and selfish during the British Empire! The writer’s father, S M Owais, was an Indian Civil Services Officer in the 1930s and 40s under the “RaJ” as it was called, treated with respect and dignity, and his many suggestions including one on using the Hindi language in courtrooms via translators for the English Magistrates and Judges (of which my father was one too) was accepted by the then British rulers. He often remarked, till his deathbed, that the British used to say before they left in 1947 that “the Indians (encompassing the whole as we know today as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan) are excellent subordinates, but terrible masters.”

Call the British Colonials of yesteryears evil, plunderers, looters, whatever you like, but you will find an uncanny reality check in how they described the inept, insecure, incompetent, insensitive, inhuman, corrupt and reckless so called “leadership” of ex colonies, look into IndiaPakistan, Bangladesh, African nations, it’s the same story! A JSTOR article describes post colonial corruption in graphic detail, how the leadership in India, Pakistan and so forth became “Brown Sahebs” and rule their people to this day no better then “slaves of the same color.”

Ironically, a Pakistan Military General friend once explained that the British left detailed manuals and complete system of governance for the military, bureaucracy and justice systems. Everything was explained to the minutest detail possible. He went on to say that specific to Pakistan, our Army has remained a staunch follower of the British recruitment, management and leadership practices, values and philosophies, obviously with evolution over time, and has hence remained the most competent institution compared to others in bureaucracy and judiciary both infamous for massive corruption and mismanagement, because they disregarded the “instruction manual” left by the English.

The irony doesn’t stop here, the trigger happy hateful Indians and Pakistanis (towards each other) BOTH have British systems put in place and followed in their governance mechanism!

And perhaps the most obvious benefit of the British 90 year old rule of India from 1857 to 1947 is the fact that I could converse in English, have some table manners, a sense of humor and above all ideals of equality and fairness, things lacking aplenty in the Muslim Mogul or Hindu Raja rule of India before the English came in.

The British also left railroads, the famous GT Road in Pakistan or the “Grand Trunk” road made by the English still strong! African and Asian railroads, you could argue the British used them to siphon off resources, that is true, but is it not so that infrastructure helps a nation to get it’s act together and almost all colonies had it!

Now contrast this with the Americans!

Pretty simple and straightforward. Had the Americans been less boastful in proclaiming “deliverance” to third world nations they invaded for various reasons from terrorism to non existent WMDs, and instead learned the ART of governance and change from the British, we may then have seen a different Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya (remember what happened, Chris Stevens?), as the 51st, 52nd and 53rd States of the USofA where the Americans would have brought about their great human values, judiciary, tax, education (leave out healthcare though) systems to these nations. Given their people hope and the people of the region a “way out” of their miseries (read “the totalitarian Iranian regime”) among others.

But as fate would ordain this was never to be! The Americans couldn’t see beyond their nose, arms, oil, “bases” and some loose knit “anti terrorism” – this was it, I mean IT! No ownership! Afghanistan left to the dogs, Iraq and Libya not too far off.

AFTER spending a trillion + dollars and dead soldiers plus other sides armies and civilians! The phrase “much ado for nothing” comes to mind…

The only way out, as I see it, is to pay heed to the advice of H’able ex PM of Australia, Kevin Rudd, which is to go BACK to Afghanistan and (my advice) govern it as benevolent rulers enabling them to have an America-like democracy, thus attacking the root of the problem.

The British may come in handy for some good advice should our “know-all” American friends deem appropriate?

About time we saw real change than a regression back to the stone ages…

https://www.reddit.com/user/crystalheartkazmi/comments/p6mdcq/afghanistan_the_aftermath/

Taliban, Afghanistan & America

By CrystalHeart Kazmi

I am no stranger to controversies. Anytime I open my mouth people from my dear Pakistan often hurl abuses or slander. It doesn’t affect me because I believe in what I am doing. Speaking the truth has always been hard if you read human history. Liars have become leaders, truthtellers have paid the price.

So before you insult me just think about my analysis.

Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. These three countries were not extremist Islamic nation back in the 60s and even 70s. Their cities were no different from London, New York or Paris. So they were slowly transformed. The question is who was behind this?

If you think about the answer to this question, you will discover the truth no one wants you to know.

Because it is all about money. Religion is a great tool to sell arms to poor countries. Isn’t it?

When a poor country like Afghanistan is once again made famous the world over for reverting to “extremist Islam”. Then please ask this simple question. When will a new war against Afghanistan start?

And when a war is fought, a lot of people die, and a lot of people become very rich. Those who make and sell weapons.

There is no such thing as an “absolute victory” in today’s world. All we have are projected misperceptions. Ultimately such “wins” as that of Taliban (Kabul) are used to justify trillions of dollars in weapons sales.

Exactly like how Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been shown on world media as the ideal reason for many nations to spend trillions of dollars in arms.

Therefore, don’t be happy at Taliban “capturing” Kabul, just ask yourself “who made them capture, rather allowed them to do so! And for what purpose?”

Your happiness will turn to sorrow at the narrowminded, myopic, adversarial mindset of our people and worse, thinkers and intellectuals! God save us from them and their false ego and pride!

America has not left Afghanistan, just like the British never “left” India or Pakistan. We are used to helping them achieve their financial and power objectives. Literally so simple yet so hard to understand for so many!

Please pray the next war doesn’t destroy us as well for Afghanistan seems to be busy digging it’s own grave while the manipulators silently watch!

For once my dear Pakistanis, use something between your ears rather than let it rust!

The future is NOT in Islamization of these nations (Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran) but rather SECULARISM that allows ALL religions and people to be treated as EQUALS with the SAME RIGHTS and RESPECT. Please DO rejoice WHEN the Taliban ACTUALLY do something like that (0.00001% probability nevertheless) for now they are just telling the whole world that their leadership style and values are INCOMPATIBLE with the 21st century. And sooner or later, like Saddam, Qaddafi, Osama SOME excuse will prop up to “put them back in their place” and in the process trillions of arms dollars will exchange hands too!

So stop the madness please atleast STOP rejoicing at the future destruction of Afghanistan whose foundation stone is being laid today YET AGAIN by the SAME Taliban who put Afghanistan BACK TO THE STONE AGES in the 80s!

Why Pakistan and India need to rethink everything?

Why Pakistan and India need to rethink everything?

By CrystalHeart Kazmi (the writer is a speaker and writer on peace, interfaith harmony and low cost, just, gender and orientation equal global governance)

It all started with a dream. Of ousting the “Raj of Gora Sahab” – the Imperialist Colonists who occupied India in 1857. Started around the first world war and in 40 years delivered India from the clutches of the British. So goes the folklore.

But is this really so?

  • Did the British Colonize India for better or for worse?
  • Did the combined Hindu – Muslim struggle to fight for freedom desire a culmination in two uneven, forever hateful of each other states? Was this the vision of Indian freedom? Or the tunes of “divide and rule”?

Reality of Pakistan India Freedom

73 years gone by and everyone can see the reality of these rogue states where the nationals of India and Pakistan have anything but slogans. Corruption is rife, law and order nonexistent (except for the super rich exploiters), institutions are a charade, education is for namesake while hunger and hopelessness are denied in the clamor of blind nationalism, sports, movies and amplified chatter of goons and thugs known as “leaders” – an average Pakistan and Indian is in one word, unhappy! Look at Kashmir in India or Karachi in Pakistan! Subjugation is the order of the day.

British “invasion” of 1857 pros and cons

Now go back another 90 years from 1947, India was governed by the Persian Moguls, who valued their mistresses so much that they built “Taj Mahals” for them while an average Indian was enslaved to their Will, they were infact used to getting themselves called “Zille Illahi” or the “Mercy of God” – far from it! High headed dictators who’d kill anyone who disagreed or they didn’t like, pick up any woman they wanted and literally did as they pleased. In such a backdrop the British with a colonist agenda came in with “East India Company” which literally took all of India by 1857. It was, if you ask me, a change for the good. Had it not been for the British I would be chanting “Zille Ilahi”, of course I would probably not know how to speak “English” or have rudimentary table manners or any semblance of “civil society” as the English would call it. Thus all in all the British invasion of India was in fact real freedom from ignoble rulers, the Moguls, and the Nawabs, and the Rajas and the religious Pundits of any side, who were the real enslavers of Indian people before the advent of the British. The only “con” of the  British rule was high handedness and tyranny at times which mellowed around the fag end of their rule, they were not the English we know today, kinder, compassionate with a mantra of “equal opportunity”

What if the British of today ruled India?

Ironic and controversial as it may sound, had the current generation of Brits been leading India none would have asked for freedom! For why else do people from the subcontinent or other places throng to the UK (and other Western nations apart from the continent in the Pacific and her sister, Aussies and Kiwis)? Why go BACK to the “enslavers” now that you are a “free” people? Not only that you go there and spread your brand of Hinduism or Islam and expect that the hosts would actually not even bat an eyelid? In the name of “equality”? That doesn’t happen as we’ve all seen the DISintegration of people from subcontinent in the West due their often opposing values and mindsets. Recently my young relative, a Muslim in the US wanted to get married to a Hindu girl he fell in love with, and despite the girl’s consent her parents were most resistant of their overtures. He was not alone, millions of those who wish to cross “boundaries of faith, race, caste, orientation” to find the love of their life are met with stoic silence or even death as I wrote about in my political movement WomenAreVotes, dishonorable killings are aplenty all in the name of honor in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan among other backward scum of the world we live in. Thus the hapless, hopeless, fundamentalist and extremists nationals of the subcontinent scourge the world with their brand of myopia then staying back and fixing their own mess like real men and women.

The price of speaking out!

I tried to do that (reform the unreformable, or so it appears) and met with countless death threats, hate and labels of CIA agent and so on, folklore ascribed to anyone who speaks reason! That too after countless contributions amassing to USD 1 billion for the Government of Pakistan in anti smuggling measures, and parents who contributed to Pakistan like few others, not to speak of my reform movement ChangePakistan that all and sundry in the echelons of power appreciated! Later on I launched GadhaParty, a clear satire on the rotten system of governance, dynasty politicians and all. It earned me the nationalistic wrath and hatred of myopic Pakistanis at all levels, I am 100% sure had I been an Indian the same or worse may have ensued. The people of the subcontinent to me have proven without doubt their lack of respect for human rights and freedom of expression. Pakistan and India today are intolerant nations who pretend to be otherwise. The mantra of dominant faith bullies the rest while all sorts of flimsy arguments are given to the contrary. But the world is not blind, and there are good people like me, albeit a few, who dare to speak out.

The way forward

I think the good people of India and Pakistan, few as they are, should stand for unification of these great lands otherwise, with so much hunger they both foray USD 88 billion in defense budgets (India 77, Pakistan 11) going to their old masters mostly or others for arms supplies and maintaining huge armies where their nationals suffer their own horrible governance and caste system whether overt in India or racist and covert in Pakistan. Or even better, invite Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth to undo the wrong she and her Cabinet did in 1947. Proof? Do an online survey in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan even Iran on “would you like to permanently migrate and give up your citizenship to the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada or New Zealand” I can BET atleast 80% of the respondents would! So why infest the cleaner parts of the world with nationals from these countries who due cowardice and hypocrisy sing blind patriotic praises of their nations yet strive to move to the West all along! This hypocrisy must end! The people of India and Pakistan besides other LDCs (less developed countries) should stop blaming Capitalism or the West or the Military Industrial Complex for their woes and instead work towards internal peace and harmony by imposing something like KodeOfKonduct – a concept paper I wrote where I openly decried the highhandedness of “faith” in laws and social conduct and asked for a non discriminatory code to drive all laws placing humanity above all else.

I aspire for the day something like the American First Amendment is made mandatory the world over, where freedom of speech is not stifled by faith, nationalism or any other human endeavor to silence the truth or the human spirit.

I know my words will land me in more trouble, more hate and more myopia from my subcontinent based literate illiterates but call a spade a spade is all I learnt and shall do so till my last breath!

Hello Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, (in response to his Open Letter to Donald Trump)

I am a Muslim from Pakistan, though that identity doesn’t explain the truth of who I am, I am more like you, a Christian in my thought and actions who is mostly secular in belief, the Pastors I know tell me that I am a “Christian in a Muslim’s body” – I tell them “look, I’m just an ordinary human being who adopted the faith of his parents but refused to let hate and judgment affect him in dealing with people of any race, faith, color etc”

This is the bottom line, freeing ourselves of biases given to us by our “faith” be it Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Parsis, Ahmedis, Baha’ais and you will be surprised, atheists and agnostics too, EVERYONE carries “mindsets” against others! I wish it were funny, but it’s not, because these are mostly mindsets of PURE HATRED, surprisingly, if one evaluates the texts of Abrahamic faiths (as explained in a BBC documentary by a British ex Frair of the Dominican order Mark Dowd) ebar.com/news/news//258127 and topdocumentaryfilms.com/children-abraham/ he proved beyond doubt the synchronicity in the beliefs of “children of Abraham” but then EACH of these 3 (not counting the several dozen break-ups and sects) would like NOT to think so! If I go to a Muslim scholar they’re like “son, you don’t understand, the Christians and Jews are unlike us” my answer usually is “hell yes, not only they are but often times BETTER than us!” when I speak to a Christian the answer is “son you don’t get it, we three are very, very different” same thing from the Jewish people. I don’t get it, if it’s the same Abrahamic God, he had “x” Prophets till Jews (Moses pbuh), we all agree to it, then x+1 son (Jesus pbuh) as you believe comes in, then x+2 (Muhammad pbuh as we believe comes in) – now the TEACHINGS are not VASTLY different if you ask me with regard to social mannerisms, crimes, do’s and don’ts – you, the Muslims and Jews will CERTAINLY disagree but I KNOW murder, rape, robbery/theft, lying, lewd behavior/immorality, spreading hatred, not caring for the hungry, poor, orphans, neighbors, elderly, children, and abortion are all areas with a COMMON thread in the Abrahamic faiths that FEW would like to agree to, but nevertheless a FACT

Sir an enlightened Jewish Rabbi or a broadminded Muslim Scholar would have written NO differently from you, in essence when it comes to principles of good and bad

The only issue here is the LINKAGE to Donald Trump as a man of God, THAT is where I disagree, we are ALL men and women of God, even if don’t obey or believe in Him, doesn’t matter, and hence so is he. But is he or anyone a “chosen” one, I don’t know. Are all these riots against his reelection? The left says EXACTLY the same thing about him, that he’s planning it (what you say that they’re planning!) – he’s not a poor man, he’s wealthy and that too not always in the “right Biblical way” as you would perhaps agree, he may represent RNC today but was pro Democrats most of his life. Is it not likely that a group of good Christians frustrated and let down by the left / Democrats to the mayhem as they perhaps saw hope and savior in Trump which was more of a requirement they had than a reality he represented? (or other believers of Abrahamic faiths would, trust me have little disagreement to the apprehensions and line of thinking you mentioned) – then these “Godless” people vs people of “God” as you see them, label the EXACT same allegations that you do on them, and sir I am sure many a Rabbi or Mullah has been doing so all along in a similar vein in whichever nation they’re in, for like the right, the left is also all over the world. We, in Pakistan are told the Americans and others conspire against Islam, I don’t believe it, I think it’s PURE BALONEY to hide their OWN incompetence in building GOOD HUMAN RELATIONS with other faiths and EVEN among themselves!

So sir, be a man of God, that is good, do speak for what you believe in, against racism, murder, abortion, hatred and for kindness as Jesus pbuh taught us all – but please Sir, do not bring politics into it. In the so called left not everyone is a “child of the serpent” as you mention and NEITHER are in the Catholics, or Muslims or Jews are all the “children of the Woman” (Eve)” I so believe you intended? There are people with Godsent morals in the left and their are hypocrites and liars in the so called God fearing. Ask me I’ve seen many a lewd, reprehensible character who have long beards or do hijab in the Muslim category. I’m sure so have you and the Jews in their pretentiously “pious” ones. You and I cannot judge if an adulterous, Godless atheist is NOT going to heaven and that we are going to hell instead! No sir that is not for us to decide! We cannot label people good nor bad based on their beliefs, YES on their actions. And that too WHEN WE HAVE PROOF. Your article sir has NO PROOF but your conjectures on who did why and what, EXACTLY the same conjectures and assumptions are reflected by the left! So who is right here?

I won’t judge. I’ll just say that what IS happening in America is unfortunate, racism must GO for sure and it doesn’t mean “white supremacists” it ALSO means those crying out for BLM but not doing ANYTHING to help the blacks out of the rut they’re in with motivation, education and a generally “positive” outlook to life and the whites! And I believe in FAR better US police training and protocols than now, THAT Sir was / is the ROOT CAUSE of all this violence and tension, not Trump, not the left, not the right. But that’s my 2 cents you’re at liberty to ignore or disagree

Trump may be a good man, he may also be a power hungry man who exploited the republican and God fearings’s anger and frustration by claiming to be someone he isn’t (I think he’s a very liberal and open man, he’s not your average Christian type, he is most likely an average “left” democrat who’s enjoying all the power and has been totally open, but gained power by being someone he isn’t, bear in mind his zodiac: Gemini) or well, he might even BE a born again Christian with an agenda but that to me appears more fantasy than reality. You certainly have your own opinion and I respect that, just adding my humble perspective to it

The following is my line of thinking, you might agree to it?

We believe NO ONE is an “enemy”, and try to highlight our own state, race, faith weaknesses BEFORE we cast a stone on others (based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and also all seemingly logical people

Hence, if you believe a nation, faith or race needs to “improve” somehow or realize some “mistakes” or “errors” in their ways by all means please do so! Just start off by “I am an XYZ national / faith person, and unfortunately we have our own share of weaknesses like abc, however I would also like to humbly point out ABC national / faith etc issues that I believe, if resolved, will bring them and us closer together”

If somehow you agreed and started emulating this I assure you it WILL get you a lot of flak from YOUR race and faith too (just like I did) but is it worth it? Hell yeah! you feel like YOU are doing the right thing and what can be better than that?

Global United Citizens

I invite you all to join me in this epic global initiative, a GROUP of LIKE-MINDED people called GLOBAL ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS (renaming my old group Crystal’s Friends)

Our motto:

We ACCEPT our faith, our race, our country was never a CHOICE but thrust upon us by nature, we ALSO accept that because of these involuntary decisions we were forced to judge, hate and harbor ill against other faiths, races and nations.

Now as mature and enlightened adults we realize that we can do away the negativity for others caused to us by our parents our race or nation-state and instead DECIDE to BREAK FREE of these chains and become GLOBAL ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS who BREAK THE CHAINS of a nation, faith, and race – and join each other as enlightened humans.

It does not mean you give up your faith or shed away your race or nation only that you break free of the NEGATIVITY, BIAS, and JUDGMENT associated with it.

For example, if you are an Indian or a Pakistani stop hating the other country or their faith if you are a German, or French, or Russian or Punjabi stop demeaning other races and vice versa.

If you a White stop looking at African Americans as criminals or trouble makers and also if you are Black please stop looking at Whites as anymore entitled than you are but simply do not realize your power within!

Remember your faith your nation and your race or your color cannot divide you from other humans UNLESS you decide to let it divide you!

By birth and hence due to involuntary “choice”, I am a Muslim but I consider myself secular in outlook, meaning I do not think Muslims are any better than the rest be they Hindus, Christians, Jewish, Ahmedis, Buddhists, Sikhs or any other faith.

I am a Pakistani but I consider myself a global citizen hence Indians are not worse than us or enemies and the same is true of others.

I am an Urdu speaking (a category in Pakistan of people who migrated from India) but I don’t think I am better than any in the world or Pakistan like Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Pathan, Balti. I want all the people who join me to think like this. Do NOT be proud of being a Christian or a Muslim or Ahmedi or Jewish or Hindu or Sikh etc but BE proud of loving each of them EQUALLY. Do NOT be proud of being an Indian, Pakistani, American, Israeli, Arab, Iranian, African, South American, Russian etc but BE proud of seeing your OWN reflection in the others. Do NOT be proud of being white or black or brown or whatever color, but BE proud of seeing the love you have in others too.

Build bridges with other humans, animals and nature, don’t destroy them as your nation, faith leaders, race or government may sometimes tell you to. Don’t believe them. Believe the goodness WITHIN you to rise above it all. As a GOOD ENLIGHTENED HUMAN being.

I believe in the rule of law giving equal opportunity and treatment without any regard to faith, race or nationality as practiced in USA, Canada, EU, UK, NZ and Australia.

Hopefully from now till the day you die, be a beacon of love and harmony for the whole world.

We believe NO ONE is an “enemy”, and try to highlight our own state, race, faith weaknesses BEFORE we cast a stone on others (based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and also all seemingly logical people : – )

This is why conflicts are never resolved, because people try to act “holier than thou” – all faults are ascribed to the “enemy” nation, faith, race etc, while OURS are whitewashed in our minds, it’s wrong, it’s hypocrisy and it’s simply insensitive to others, let me give you an example, as a Pakistani Muslim I always start any discussion pointing out weaknesses in my people or faith – it helps relax people and builds empathy though it sometimes severely offends Pakistanis and Muslims (I consider that the “collateral damage of speaking the truth”). Yet I see a majority of Pakistanis and Muslims (others too) take an offensive stand on other nations/faiths and a defensive stand on their own. A classic “us vs them” situation with very predictable outcomes. Neither party agrees as a blame game ensues, instead of coming closer people go further away.

Hence, if you believe a nation, faith or race needs to “improve” somehow or realize some “mistakes” or “errors” in their ways by all means please do so! Just start off by “I am an XYZ national/faith person, and unfortunately we have our own share of weaknesses like ABC, however, I would also like to humbly point out ABC national / faith, etc issues that I believe, if resolved, will bring them and us closer together.”

If somehow you agreed and started emulating this I assure you it WILL get you a lot of flak from YOUR race and faith too (just like I did) but is it worth it? Hell yeah! you feel like YOU are doing the right thing and what can be better than that? Friends of an eccentric revolutionary 🙂 Don Quixote

https://www.facebook.com/groups/globalenlightenedcitizens/

Does America have a THIRD option?

I want my friends, especially Americans, whether Democrats or Republicans, to carefully ponder over my words. I have no crystal ball but I am pretty observant of you and your leaders, and the world at large. I mean well for the world and hence as someone aligned with humanity I REQUEST you take off your “party caps” and think as an American and / or as a global citizen (which I consider myself to be, inspired by America and Americans!)
 
Let not petty people with petty ideologies in blind pursuit of power using the power of hate embedded in tweets and personal attacks from either side disturb your “true North.” And for that, you’ll need to FORCE yourself to THINK OUTSIDE the BOX, do NOT trust the media OR your leaders, do an INDEPENDENT analysis of data, some of which is below, most already at your fingertips and do the math with a sense of idealism. Think for yourself, think as if YOU were the POTUS do not be intimidated or concerned that a “better of the worse” option is all you deserve or need to live with.
 
My dear friend and mentor from Canada, a Psychologist, Dancer and an amazing human being Thérèse Lepage Lachapelle-Bhatnagar wrote and I generally concur at facebook.com/crystalheartkazmi/posts/937921503325307
 
Her post below clarifies Trump’s posturing, further strengthened by Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
 
Let me make one thing clear though, while Obama was a polite and decent man I was in no way a fan of his policies which were hinged on non issues from most angles. He lacked courage, conviction and clarity and that was apparent in his communication. Trump would have NEVER won the elections had Obama done 20% of what he was, in my opinion expected to do as a US and global President (you would be surprised his first election had many all over the world rejoicing as he to many represented a Globally Sensitive American President) – yet BenGhazi, ObamaCare (egoistic and impractical), no focus on Black and White racial tensions, in fact he became a party to it on some occasions! Whereas he should have remained non-partisan! Plus hardly ANY emphasis on US economy. All of these set the stage for ANY challenger – and Trump viciously beat upon those weaknesses. Hillary’s emails gave him further Ammo and what we all saw was an almost satanic rise to power that divided a great nation across clear political lines. Trump was never America’s President, only those who blindly followed and agreed with whatever insane proposition he could come up with, from a border wall to calling COVID a “Chinese Virus.”
 
Trump rode on Obama’s back, let’s all understand this please, Obama helped him with his 8 years of incompetence and lack of focus alienating ordinary Americans who wanted an “anywhere but here” America that moved out of it’s decline. And so Trump emerged with promises of greatness dipped in divisive hatred and uncouth, ungentlemanly treatment of opponents.
 
Democrats then and now failed to impress me with their choice of candidates. I ask anyone, just how well matched was the quiet, lady like, elegant Hillary to the abusive roller coaster and Hulk that Trump was? Even now they’ve put up Biden, a man with a lot in his closets that Trump will easily uproot as an opponent and sail to victory with, I assure you, an even HIGHER margin than his first victory! Time and again I pointed at Bernie Sanders as an idealistic man who could even woo Trump’s supporters given the DNC and voters endorsed him, Biden should and even NOW so back down than lust for power. He’s been VP for 8 years what else does the man want? He is not Obama, there’s no race card behind him, he’s not even as eloquent as Obama was, he won’t fly, and the DNC knows it and in my view colluding again to help Trump trump them. Yes I am actually speaking of a CONSPIRACY theory that the DNC is hand in glove BEHIND the scenes with RNC in sealing the fate of America. For I cannot think of any reason for their gaffes then, and now. Whether they’re doing it for money or for a more subversive cause in “national interest” that to them Trump serves better than theirs for whatever reasons I don’t know – but I do not trust the DNC at all. RNC is clear as day, their agenda and stance, even if repulsive to some is transparent. One of which, in my view, is race. I hope I’m wrong but the way this entire George Floyd affair is being played out, the sheer media power behind it should open prying eyes.
 
I think 2016 elections were about Democrats incompetence and corruption as Trump trumpeted in his campaign (whether right or wrong, the mantra prevailed) 2020 elections will be most likely about race. George Floyd killing and its globalization is no accident. His death will be used to further a divide and rule agenda over the American people and also set as a racist precedent for the mostly racist world out there anyway!
 
If you are a good person, please understand that neither Trump nor Biden are anywhere representative of American VALUES, one is a snake oil salesman, a reality star turned PotUS and the other is devoid of any substance except a rehash of his Chief’s 8 years of failed policies. Sanders could have shook Trump’s boat, but thank you DNC, you blew your last chance, and I so believe you did intentionally with malice against your own party and your nation, sorry being utterly blunt and straight here.
 
You can disagree with me, but I sincerely and honestly think that at least 1 out of 2 Americans that I know either personally or on social media are significantly better people and prospective leaders compared to these two stooges who stand for nothing that an average American WHETHER a Democrat or Republican or whatever stands for which is: KINDNESS, practicality, function over form thinking and overall a humble, self critical approach.
 
Americans are not egoistic maniacs, that’s most of the rest of the world, therefore they don’t deserve such leaders either.
 
It comes to the same dilemma, will either a solid ordinary American rise or in the least put Sanders forth? I see neither happening.
 
And hence I see a dark future 4 years for our world, for America sets the tone and it’s pretty pathetic as of right now.
 
Thérèse Lepage Lachapelle-Bhatnagar wrote
 
“I do not blame all Americans but I do blame Trump for so many character flaws and refusal to GROW in LOVE! Lie & Deny + 100’s of other defense mechanisms are the traits of ABUSERS!
 
I also blame all those who support him and don’t have the courage to contradict him in any way, especially if they have a moral conscience but put it on HOLD! For those who have no moral conscience, then they follow their instincts & reflexes!
 
What children lack is not to be disciplined by parents who lack maturity & self-discipline and project on them, they need the presence, the respect, and the love of their parents who set an example… vicarious learning & modelling last a lifetime!
 
Morally AWARE people share the same views! 💖
 

Why Americans deserve our respect

Why Americans deserve our respect:
 
Keep going America!
 
I’ve recently observed how the world loves to have fun at America’s expense when it comes to race and police excesses.
 
They hide their wrongdoings and hardly if ever protest whereas Americans take to the street for the wrongs of their police or government.
 
Police excesses in Pakistan or India if compared to American police will have American Officers get Angelic Badges. Not at all condoning the wrongdoings of Americans police as in Floyd’s or other cases. Where the 4 Officers are on trial for murder as we speak within 10 days of the incident. Just putting things in a global perspective. Indian and Pakistani (or other nations, the list is exhaustive) police are famous for torture, arresting people without warrants, fake encounters where an enemy of a rich man or the state is executed on the pretext of being a criminal trying to run away. Even police reports against rapists or influential rich people are either never registered or after a lot of pressure. We have people rotting in jails for $5 crimes and politicians with $5 mn corruption cases with proofs against them in our Senate or Assemblies. Murderers go scott free too, if they can pay or influence their way out of it.
 
Ironically, whereas America guarantees her citizens the “First Amendment” which is, for those who are unaware, an integral part of their constitution and way of life ensuring freedom of speech to everyone – even if it is against the state or religion or whatever. In countries like Pakistan or India this is not so.
 
In Pakistan we have laws base upon religion that discriminate, punish or even kill people based on religion. The Hudood Ordinance, a globally decried law thanks to Gen Zia Ul Haq in the 80s can have you stoned to death with your partner for even consensual sex, as it is against the religion, the Blasphemy law can have you executed if you utter a word against religious figures revered by the majority. There is a specific minority who are not allowed to proclaim their faith as they believe so because the majority’s faith considers them “non Muslims” whilst they claim the exact against the majority! So majority wins, human right to self expression lose!
 
In India, their is a “Citizenship Law” that specifically targets Muslim minority groups and asks for “proof of citizenship” of people who have for centuries been living in India! In Kashmir, to suppress the Muslim majority, the Indian Government, Police and Army have, for decades, against UN resolutions murdering, raping and subjecting their residents to the worst form of torture and violence all under a state umbrella. Floyd anyone? Millions in India, Pakistan, Africa and other places the world over.
 
Religion is used to foster crimes. In India, if you eat beef, even store it in your house, an angry mob can lynch you to death for a cow is revered as a Deity. In Gujrat, Kashmir, Delhi as of just a few months back Muslim and Dalit (a lower Hindu caste) minorities have been mercilessly killed, raped and murdered. The police supports the majority. Just like Pakistan. The Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Muslims of India live in fear, so do their counterparts except majority Muslims in Pakistan.
 
Interestingly both countries have a practice where morality and a woman’s chastity is used as an excuse to kill a woman and her partner. All she has to do is marry of her own free will! have an “affair” (which is common for Indian and Pakistani married or unmarried men) or even the illusion or suspicion that she’s having an affair! All these are enough to “enrage” the male members of the family to plot and kill an eloped daughter or sister and mercilessly murder her to “avenge” the honor of the family! Only in 2004 did Pakistan atleast agree to have punishment for this as a “crime” – India while on the face of it has laws in practical terms the society itself supports such practices. The irony of it all is that these people run away as asylum seekers to the West and in Germany, UK elsewhere they carry out the same practice, there are many much publicized cases of Afghans and Pakistani origin migrants in the West who murdered their daughters with the collusion of often father, mother, brothers for eloping with a man they loved, marrying in a different caste or faith, having “affairs”, wearing immodest dresses and so on. Qandeel Baloch case was much publicized in Pakistan where a model was killed for bringing disrepute to the family and “immoral conduct” – she was a reality star, a young kid who just wanted to live life on her terms, a life snatched by the man she must have played with as a child, her brother.
 
It breaks my heart to share the last case with you, Asifa Bano, a beautiful 8 year old Kashmiri girl was abducted and raped in a temple by a gang of police & government officers with civilians. Her crime, she was a Muslim! She was mercilessly raped by a gang of 4 for a week before her head crushed with a stone. Even after the killers were caught there were protests in FAVOR of the killers! Even the witnesses were almost killed in lock up!
 
How would you, the reader, feel, regardless of your nationality, if White Americans took to the streets with placards in favor of the policemen who killed George Floyd? How would anyone feel if this happened in America? But its commonplace in India, Pakistan, many in Africa and other nations where crimes are not only hidden but condoned by the masses, police, government and the legal system is an accomplice in either condoning or acquitting criminals. Massive protests in 10 days is all it took for the killers of Floyd to face the music, it would take 10 years or maybe eternity in many other parts of the world.
 
Unbelievable as it may seem, two Ministers of the BJP government attending rallies in India in favor of the rapists and killers of the 8 year old girl Asifa Bano! Pakistani Ministers are on record for inciting religious hate against minorities on multiple occasions. I’m sure the world has many examples.
 
But who talks about their police, legal system, governments or even people’s excesses? Hardly. It’s only “stupid Americans” who take to the streets to fight for minorities and justice for the oppressed, like George Floyd. When Trump early in his Presidency imposed a travel ban on 8 countries, mostly Muslim, from entering the US or under enhanced restrictions, countries that were known not to be the best friends of America, some of their nationals overtly and covertly despised America and her “immorality” or so many reasons people find to “hate America” – yet, for those nations, ordinary Americans took to the street so their nationals or immigrants stuck in JFK or other airports across the US could be reunited with their families. The Americans who stood up for their rights didn’t read what these people think of America “back home” – what their press and government says about America. Out of pure love and innocence they stood up for justice, just as they did for George Floyd, barring a few miscreants and opportunists which is to be expected in such a mass uprising.
 
Unlike idealistic Americans, average people, forget governments, of India and Pakistan staunchly defend the excesses of their government, police, laws against the oppressed. Many will deny that ANY racism or religious intolerance even EXISTS in their countries despite globalized proofs! They will go to the extent of blaming the victims to any extent. How would you feel if Floyd was blamed for his death? That’s just the norm in India, Pakistan and so many other places where laws, police and religion are combined to further crime collectively by the people and governments than deliver Utopian and idealistic justice which is the hallmark of America.
 
And on social media many from Asia and Africa, my “beloved” Pakistan (and India) would see cyber warriors, normal people like you and I, defending their country’s honor, they are NOT like an average American who stands up for what is RIGHT even if it brings ridicule to his police or country the world over. THAT my friends is the definition of CHARACTER. Something Americans have in greater measure than most of us out there.
 
Americans are not angels. Neither is the rest of the world. But it’s made to look that they are and the rest really don’t have a problem. Just that few, if any, talk about their problems in the way American public or media does, or even accept racism and excesses happen in the first place!
 
So my fellow American brothers and sisters, I may not be an American, but I vocally support your idealism and activism against injustice. Please don’t let the cheap world out there dampen your spirits, if they wish to live in or perpetuate the Dark Ages of their existence please let them, compared to them, you were, are and remain on higher moral ground, Floyd or not. Remember that.
 
God Bless America!
 

I can’t breathe – 8 minutes 45 seconds – a song / poem on George Floyd RIP

The song
I went to buy
 
a pack of cigarettes
 
a 20 dollar bill
 
he thought was fake
 
I bounced the bad guys
 
But a virus took my job
 
I was friends with Cup Foods
 
Mike knew me well
 
The cops told me
 
My currency didn’t work
 
They tried to put me in their car
 
But I ain’t no criminal man
 
So they put me to the ground
 
Derek’s knee on my neck
 
For 8 minutes
 
and forty five seconds
 
I begged him
 
to let me breathe
 
I called my Mama
 
Mama I can’t breathe
 
Tom, Tau and Alex watched
 
I just begged to breathe
 
Please let me breathe
 
God just let me breathe
 
I was the friendly giant
 
6 foot 2 at just 12
 
I hurt nobody
 
But I just can’t breathe
 
I’ll give you 40
 
keep the 20
 
Please, just let me breathe
 
Giana and Roxie are waiting for me
 
Jesus just let me breathe
 
I can’t breathe
 
They filmed me and watched me
 
but no one let me breathe
 
I died for a 20 dollar bill
 
I’d have give them a lot more
 
If they just let me breathe
 
I’m no more
 
My breathe is gone
 
My dreams are gone
 
Giana and Roxie will breathe
 
the breaths I kept for them
 
The Pope says it was my race
 
I said they’re going to kill me
 
But no one listened
 
to my borrowed breaths
 
They say I had a heart attack
 
That I didn’t suffocate
 
They’d know when a knee’s on their neck
 
For a fraction of 8 minutes 45 seconds
 
They won’t be able to breathe
 
Just like I wasn’t
 
For a 20 dollar bill
 
I can’t breathe forever