Berlin Aquarium — From Cold War Scaffolds 1987 to Peaceful Pulse 2012 – IMRAN®

Berlin Aquarium — From Cold War Scaffolds 1987 to Peaceful Pulse 2012 – IMRAN®

Aquarium Berlin, end of April, 2012. The crocodiles no longer flinch at sirens, and the jellyfish pulse in peace. But I still see the scaffolding of 1987—when West Berlin was a fortress of defiance, and I stood outside this very complex, a guest of a divided nation, predicting its impossible reunion.

Back then, as I was turning 25, the Crocodile Hall had only just reopened, scarred by Allied bombs and Cold War silence. Now, the glass glistens with quiet grace. The murals speak in color what the walls once held in tension. And the light post I framed in the foreground—whether original or reborn—marks the spot where I once stood, hoping one day they'd trace the light back to me.

I returned not to marvel at marine life, but to trace the emotional sediment of a city that once mirrored my own need to be set free from the shackles of the now-dead dictator General Zia's vile, fundamentalism-breeding regime in my motherland in the 1980s.

Over those 25 years, the two halves of Berlin reunited and healed. I too endured, and continued my journey through MySpaceTime. By the grace of God, I achieved great freedoms to be all I want to be. Although it is a surreal irony that now, in 2025, it is the United States that is losing its freedoms—to Nazi-loving, Russia-controlled enemies of democracy.

© 2012–2025 IMRAN®

#aquarium, #Architecture, #autobiography, #Berlin, #Clouds, #democracy, #freedom, #Germany, #History, #IMRAN, #memoirs, #memories, #Sky, #travelphotography, #travel

Berlin to JFK — A Flight Through Time, History, Freedom — SwissAir Passing Blessed NY Home April 2012 - IMRAN®

Berlin to JFK — A Flight Through Time, History, Freedom — SwissAir Passing Blessed NY Home April 2012 - IMRAN®

In April 1987, I arrived in (then West) Germany—not as a migrant, but as the youngest foreign journalist guest of its government. Back home in Pakistan, I had been a student political leader—imprisoned and tortured by a U.S.-backed military dictatorship that feared dissent more than it feared decay. General Zia-ul-Haq ruled with iron and ideology, his regime propped up by the CIA and Saudi oil, while the ISI grew into a shadow state.

When my German hosts urged me to visit (then West) Berlin, I resisted. I imagined a city cold, grim, and depressed—surrounded by walls, haunted by war, and suffocated by Soviet shadow. But destiny had other plans.

I flew Lufthansa to Frankfurt, then boarded a Pan Am flight from Bonn—after a weeklong stay in that working capital of West Germany—to West Berlin. That city, encircled by East Germany’s barbed wire and ideology, became the most electrifying part of my two-month European journey.

I turned 25 there, in a place where freedom had to be flown in. Tegel Airport was its lifeline, and just across the divide, in Dresden, a young KGB officer named Vladimir Putin served the Soviet hammer that kept East Germany silent.

During that visit, I met West German leaders—including their foreign minister—and boldly predicted that Germany would reunite within five years. They laughed, dismissing it as impossible in their lifetimes. But history had its own rhythm.

By November 1989, I was an American living in New York City, watching CNN as the Berlin Wall crumbled. Tears rolled down my cheeks. The laughter of diplomats echoed in memory, now replaced by the roar of freedom.

Exactly 25 years after my first landing, in April 2012, I returned to Europe—touching down at Schiphol, Amsterdam within hours of my original arrival in Frankfurt in 1987. After a conference keynote speech there, I took a train to unified Germany.

Berlin was now whole, and I loved my new stay, walking the same places I had a quarter century prior. Finally, it was time to return home.

Tegel—the Cold War portal that had once welcomed me into the caged freedom of West Berlin—was preparing to close. My flight out, SwissAir to JFK, was among the last international departures from that historic airport before it was decommissioned.

Besides Manhattan, New York and Lahore—my forever hometowns—only Berlin has etched itself into my soul. It is a city I resisted, then embraced. A city I returned to at 50. And, at 55. God willing, a city I hope to return to again for my birthdays in the future, if fate and the jetstream of time permit.

Some journeys are measured in miles. Others in meaning. This one was both.

© 2012–2025 IMRAN®

As the Airbus descended into New York airspace, I captured this moment: the deep blue waters of Long Island stretching beneath the wing, the red Swiss logo gleaming on the winglet. My blessed home lay just below, as history soared behind me. Over Bayport and Sayville—Fire Island drifting past the frame—the coordinates read 40.7320, -73.2300. The coast to my right, the archive to my left.

Truth Is Black And White, Justice And (Statute Of) Liberty For All - IMRAN™

This is a screen capture of a very low resolution video I shot with a 10 years old camera while flying over Manhattan very recently. It was cloudy, it was dusk, and it was a gloomy day overall. The plane window was not that clear either and this was just a video clip I accidentally recorded for 1 second while trying to take a still photo. But, this shot was worth extracting and sharing. The simple truth is clear as Black and White, even at the gloomiest of times. Justice and (Statute Of) Liberty are for all humankind.
© 2018 IMRAN

Using CVS App A Prescription For Invasion Of Privacy - IMRAN™

Why is CVS Pharmacy trying to track #consumers' #location even when we are not actually using their App? Sleazy invasion of #privacy and a #security risk! Shameful #UX design decision. Maybe the Federal Trade Commission can find out.

© 2017 IMRAN™

https://t.co/0cgubYkwYb

Our Principles Must Trump Our Symbols - IMRAN™

There are a lot of news items about people expressing their protests in different ways, from kneeling at the time of the national anthem to flag burning Americans.
I have no sympathy for racial groups that have a sense of entitlement because some white man enslaved some black man 400 years ago. Many of us immigrants come from former colonies or enslaved countries. Some still live in places like that in Kashmir and Palestine.
The groups that celebrate gangster culture in their music and commit crimes but get off easy for playing the race card. I cannot stand them. But I am deeply & literally physically sickened when I see, again and again, unarmed black men being killed by out of control cops, none of whom go to jail.
So, I can understand the silent, peaceful, protest of some professional players to call attention to the matter.
If anything, I am dismayed that a supreme court justice, whom I respect, first foolishly expressed political opinions against Donald Trump. Though I cannot stand him, I would expect a Supreme Court justice to keep their personal opinions to themselves in case the election leads to a Supreme Court case. I would expect even a despicable person like him to get a fair hearing.
(Sidebar: I despise both candidates. Donald Trump being the worst Presidential candidate in recent history is the only reason the second worst candidate Hillary Clinton is likely to become President. Even worse, as I have been warning my Republican friends for months, he could cost them Senate and even Congress if things keep going as they are. Then they will be wishing they had accepted President Obama's moderate nominee).
The lady Justice then called the silent peaceful protesting players stupid for kneeling in protest at the anthem. Maybe she is ready to retire and wants to go out making some statements like that to be in the news, but she is wrong on that.
The fact of the matter is, saying Black Lives Matter when an unarmed man is murdered by cops just because he was Black, does not mean one is saying it is OK to kill cops or that other lives do not matter. I do not see a stream of videos of cops shooting white people for even more egregious actions.
Therefore, silent peaceful protest it to be respected not demonized. Would we rather have the violent gangs burning up cities as happened in Ferguson?
No group is perfect. Speak up for injustices against blacks or any group. But throw criminals in jail hard regardless of their color. Stand by the police. But call out and prosecute the killers among them.
That brings us to another controversy people are fed to take their attention off real issues, Burning of the American Flag.
I dislike people who disrespect the flag of their own country. BUT, remember, the Flag is symbolic, the Constitution is what makes us the greatest country in the world.
Symbols represent us. Principles make us who we are. We could change the American flag to all pink and purple or any color and still be the same great nation if we live by our constitution.
So do not get caught up in the furor of someone burning the flag. Sure, discourage them, ignore them, but do not threaten or attack them. They are doing what our constitution gives them the right to do as also decided in a Supreme Court decision.
Only a freedom guaranteeing constitution like ours gives people the right to burn the flag or do other stupid things under free speech.
Our principles must always trump even our own symbols. Symbols can change but not change who we are. But if we abandon our principles, it won't matter what color or how fancy or pretty or fireproof our flags are.
What do you think?
Imran Anwar
IMRAN.TV

You Know What Rises To The Top, In USA Elections & Pakistan Politics - IMRAN™

What!? HOW DARE THEY DO THAT?! A shameful image to see on Pakistan's Independence Day, August 14! People of Pakistan ...

Why are pictures of the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and respected Miss. Fatima Jinnah, up SO HIGH?

They are almost too close to the greatest leaders on the Planet (Lollywood) that no one will remember in 50 years.

//end sarcasm 

Send 1000 Jootian (rotting shoes) to the ass licking chamchas (sycophants) who put up the posters this way. Thanks to Shams Bin Niaz for the photo.

For my non-Pakistani friends, this is like political parties here putting up posters of Donald Trump/Mike Pence or Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine ABOVE posters of George Washington/Abraham Lincoln along city streets on the 4th of July. 

Sadly, we are not far from that situation here in USA either. A few years ago Fox News had actually done a segment on George W. Bush (Yes, the moron retard Iraq War one) being THE GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER...

Seriously. It seems Pakistan has also reached that level of sickening political shamelessness. Or, wait.... is it the other way around?

 

50 Rich People Own Our Freedom & Our Government Thanks To The US Supreme Court - IMRAN™

i/Robot Vs i(Need3)Robot(s)! - IMRAN™

 

Cada vez mais medo desses robôs...

Posted by

Tudo Interessante

on Friday, May 15, 2015

When the lapdog henchmen treasonous military officials under dead dog dictator General Zia had me arrested and court martial(ed) for being a student leader opposed to his CIA-backed, US-funded, fundamentalist-creating, government, I was among several people thrown in Kot Lakhpat Prison, in Lahore, Pakistan… of course after being beaten up quite well by 6 cops, sentenced ostensibly to 2 years hard labor without any defense allowed by some two-bit colonel in Summary Military Court (SMC37), shackled and thrown off a truck on reaching prison…the amazing thing was how my mind immediately started looking forward to making that a positive experience. I immediately decided I would request 3 things to be sent to me.

These would be sheets of paper and some pens so I could write a book (still not done since 1982 LOL), learn to play #music (with the ground breaking Casio VL-1) and, yes, a Rubik's Cube so I could learn to solve it. In the decades since, I wrote a lot but did not actually publish a book, I made a music CD but did not actually learn to play piano or guitar, but one thing I did not even get to try much... the Cube.

Good thing I waited so long, as you can see from this video, when even a rudimentary robot can effortlessly solve it. Auto-Melody and Accompaniment & Tune programs already exist in music, making untalented people like me sound tolerable. Now all I have to do is wait for the one that will take all my writings, organize them and publish a couple of books for me. LOL

Imran Anwar

Out Of This World Views On Religion, Space & Terrorism! - IMRAN™

Non-Muslims worry that the sons of swine members of #ISIS somehow represent all 1.5 Billion Muslims. If their actions make all Muslims #terrorists then the thousands of child rapes by countless Christian priests in Churches worldwide, including here in America, would mean all Christians are pedophile child rapists. Are they?

Keep in mind Muslims are united in believing only a few things. There's only One God (Allah in Arabic) that Adam, Nosh, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad brought the message of. They believe in Mohammad as the final prophet in that line. They believe in the day of judgement, heaven and hell. And they believe that the broken roads in their countries, the electricity power failures, their internal bribery driven corrupt cultures, and probably even solar flares are all due to a Zionist conspiracy.

Everything else that can be disagreed on, is disagreed on.

As most people living in #Pakistan know, we #Muslims can’t even sometimes agree which day our #Eid#holiday falls on, with greedy halvah-swallowing mullahs play with telescopes arguing about sighting of the new #moon, here on Earth, which only has one moon.

#God help us if we lived on #Saturn which has 62 moons orbiting it! Talk about #Religion making your head spin. We already have dozens, if not hundreds, of Muslim sects, condemning each other to hell for the way they stand in prayers, or the length of their pants/bottoms. Imagine a Muslim astronaut being told he's going to hell because his spacesuit shows or conceals his ankles the wrong way.

So, my fellow human beings and especially Christian or non-Muslim friends, the planet's Muslims are ISIS as much as you are a pedophile. Meaning, don’t go for the foaming at the mouth neo-con hate-mongers whose words of hate about Muslims would get them thrown out of their jobs if they said them about Jews or other groups. All of us, all decent people, of all religions are under threat of ISIS.

Is there an increased risk, even near certainty, of ISIS wolf packs and lone wolves killing innocent people in our countries? Yes, unfortunately, certainly there is. But even here in America our biggest killers remain handguns and drunk drivers way more than any terrorist groups. But no one wants to pay attention to or stop those killers.

If anything, the evil ISIS, AlQaeda, Taliban, Boko Haram, have killed 100,000s more Muslims than they have barbarically and un-Islamically murdered non-Muslims. But 100,000 Muslims killed by terrorists in Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, etc. get 2 inches of newspaper space on Page 5.

When terrorists kill anywhere from 10-100 in a place like Paris, it becomes a global tragedy. That in itself plays right into the terrorists hands who will obviously want to carry out attacks that get news coverage.

Even worse are the media hypocrisy and dual standards of justice we show. When a non-Muslims murders 30 (thirty) people in an attack, he is an “alleged shooter”. If a so-called Muslim kills 3, repeat three, people, it is a massacre by a terrorists. The non-Muslim who kills 30 gets life in prison.  

The moron younger brother involved in the deaths of 3 people in the Boston Marathon was declared a terrorist who got the death penalty even in bleeding heart (hypocrite) liberal Massachusetts.

All this plays right into the hands of AlQaeda and ISIS as “proof the West hates Muslims” and gets them even more recruitment success. That puts us all at even greater risk of terror attacks here.

May my fellow Americans who are maligning all Muslims and Islam for the actions of ISIS wake up and smell the coffee of logic and facts. And, may these ISIS type terrorists be pelted with 62 Saturn sized spinning fireballs in Hell when they think they're getting 72 hot virgins to take for a spin. Amen x 72 x 62!

What do you think?

-- Typed on a cell phone screen, excuse any typos if you're a grammar fundamentalist.

Dumb & Dumber & Dumbest All In One News Week! - IMRAN™

What a week it has been in the news cycle. Never a dull moment. And the politicians in the news are not vying to win the Best or Smartest politician vote, but to prove how unbelievably dumb they are and can be.

Let’s start with Hillary Clinton. I remember when Bill Clinton became President, most considered Hillary the brains behind the operation. She was also always the most deeply enmeshed in any of their non-sexual scandals. But for someone so experienced, and so full of hubris, she has shown herself neither smart, nor savvy.

First she was dumb enough to use a private email server to run classified information through. Then she was dumber to deny that. Then she was moronic in doubling down and saying she did nothing wrong and refusing to apologize. And now, patently obviously showing how polls and hunger to get the Democratic party ticket are her only guiding light, she is now apologizing. Too little, too late, too insincere.

In the past I did think she was a more experienced candidate when Obama and she were competing for the ticket. I thought he lacked experience compared to her. He won. And served two terms. Regardless of her viability in the past, I do not think she is worthy of being President.

I thought Bill Clinton was a great President, regardless of the inexcusable sexual escapades he is infamous for. His (not) having sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky, did not destroy the economy or cause the deaths of tens of thousands as George W. Bush and Darth Cheney did, while destroying the economy too. So hearing another Bush name coming up also irritates me.

I am personally opposed to the political dynasty concept that Jeb Bush (whom I liked as a politician more than his brother or father) or Hillary Clinton are the ‘only viable candidates' that both political parties seem to follow.

This is America, not some third world country where one family or two families rules for decades.

It is time for the unexciting Bush and the completely untrustworthy Hillary Clinton to be sent packing. They can go write books, make money giving speeches, but please, spare this country more from those two houses of cards.

My Democrat friends, Hillary will sink you all. And, my Republican friends, if you do not dissociate yourselves from people like Mike Huckabee, the only politician who has proven himself absolutely shamelessly desperate even more than Hillary, you will give the Democrats another win.

Mike Huckabee is actually supporting a buffoon government employee, that moronic two bit clerk Kim Davis (the one with four husbands and children conceived with others while married to someone else) claiming her FAITH keeps from following the law on gay marriage. If you read her actual background you would ROTFL (roll on the floor laughing) at the mind numbing surreality of her stance.

No matter where I stand on that issue, now that it is the law of the land, it has be respected. If she does not like it, she should quit her job. Or stand aside so others can.

But, wait! Huckabee is all over her. She is his desperate Hail Mary (no pun intended) attempt to touchdown with the low IQ crowd that cannot differentiate between a personally odious woman breaking the law and her claiming she is good Christian who is the victim of religious persecution. Seriously!? So if a Muslim gets elected clerk in a county, would it be OK for him or her to issue four marriage licenses to people? If someone else becomes clerk, would it be OK for them to say their religious beliefs keep them from issuing marriage licenses to interracial couples?

To show how stupid people have gotten, to ensure even greater ignorance, and even greater intolerance, and even greater likelihood to falling for liars and false logic, the people in that dumb county have decided to close schools in support of this repulsive woman! Way to go!

But it is not all bad news. I see a silver lining. Kim Davis and Huckabee are a match made in heaven I say. Huckabee can be her husband number five perhaps, because he definitely does not match what we need in a candidate for President.

God SAVE the United States…..from these dumb, dumber and dumbest candidates.

 

Somebody's Watching Me - IMRAN™

Post by Imran Anwar.

Let There Be Consequences To Treason

I have always been a supporter of democracy, imperfect as it is, over all forms of dictatorship and tyranny, whether ‘benevolent dictators' or hypocritical Kings supposedly custodians of holy places. 

One reason Pakistan has always been overrun by its own military was that there were never any consequences to the military people who broke the constitution.

As in every society, sycophants will crawl at the feet of whoever has power, regardless of how evil or how illegal the dictator may be.

The worst cancer of religious intolerance, extremism and terrorism was injected into Pakistani society more than 30 years ago by the vile General Zia, who turned Islam into a weapon against democracy and moderation.

It was with a sense of hope that I read this news item today. Former #Pakistan Dictator Pervez Musharraf indicted on Treason!

General Musharaff was not bad as far as dictators go, and even did a few good things. Of course, he let power go to his head and paid the price. Even after being ousted he was delusional enough to return to Pakistan expecting to win back power.

I do not wish to see him condemned to death or anything that would be too extreme.

But, may this be a good start to the concept of "actions have consequences" and "no one is above the law" that Pakistan has long needed.

More than teaching Musharaff a lesson, I hope this teaches all politicians, and military people, that Pakistanis have awakened, the rule of law is getting established in the echelons of power, and that in time Pakistan can be a strong, stable, moderate democracy and a regional power of good. Amen.

 

 

Dealing With Nasty Criminals Like The German Los Angeles Arsonist & His Disgusting Mother

There was an LA Times news story about a German arsonist living in Los Angeles who started about 50 fires, causing untold damage, and endangered countless lives, because his ugly, criminal, possibly-a-prostitute, mother was being deported to Germany. I would love to have your thoughts on the interesting discussion which ensued, after I posted saying:

Imran Anwar · CEO and Founder at ICloud.PK

If she knew he was mentally ill, why did the stupid criminal b&^ch not have him committed?

Reply ·  4 · Unlike · Unfollow Post · about an hour ago

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  Janet Margrave ·  Top Commenter
  
  

  not that simple any more. the streets are filled with people who have mental illnesses. the states aren't interested in providing care. budget cuts affect the old, poor and mentally ill.

  Reply ·  7 · Like · about an hour ago
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  Imran Anwar · CEO and Founder at ICloud.PK
  
  

  Janet Margrave I understand. But, then people who later claim mental illness for serious crime perpetrators should be able to show proof they tried to have the person committed as a danger to society. Then, the state, or whoever set them free, should be liable for the damage they do.

  Reply ·  4 · Unlike · about an hour ago
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  Paul Birmele ·  Top Commenter · Santa Monica College
  
  

  Imran Anwar And who is supposed to pay for that? The state is broke. The feds are broke. And guess what gets cut FIRST: Mental health support. The justice system is FULL of people who should have been put in a mental institution long before they committed a crime, but there aren't any. Talk to any sheriffs deputy or jail guard. They will agree.

  Reply · Like · 45 minutes ago
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  Imran Anwar · CEO and Founder at ICloud.PK
  
  

  Paul Birmele , and who pays for THAT? The cops, the courts, the jails, the food, the upkeep, etc? We all end up paying that, ON TOP of the cost of the damage criminals do to lives and property. Almost all of whom claim some sort of insanity when that is the only way out of prison time. My proposal, seriously, is to outsource prisons…. abroad. Mexico, Pakistan, India…. then see how many people want to go to jail.

  Reply · 1 · Unlike · 41 minutes ago
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  Paul Birmele ·  Top Commenter · Santa Monica College
  
  
  Imran Anwar Imran Anwar They already outsource prisons. They already privatized. 264 of them in the US are private. Has it made it cheaper? no. Scarier.
  

  
  I think its nice that you suggest he not have any civil rights. I assume you are a native american and have lived here for thousands of years, but the rest of us and our ancestors came to America to live a free life, with civil liberties. Saying he should lose his is stupid.
  
  Case in point: Some people believe in profiling at airports. This is something YOU should know about. That would mean any time YOU were in a public place the cops would search your whole body. Why? Because you aren't blonde and blue eyed. But they aren't supposed to. Why? Because in America we have civil liberties.
  
  I SURE AS HELL DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN AN AMERICA WITHOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES.

  Reply · Like · 29 minutes ago

  
  
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  Barbara Stevens ·  Top Commenter · San Diego, California
  
  

  Janet Margrave Neither of these two people should be here. WHY aren't they sent back to Germany? why are they allowed to stay here?

  Reply · 1 · Unlike · 29 minutes ago
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  Dick Brandlon ·  Top Commenter · Teacher/ Student Teacher Supervisor at Retired Teacher
  
  

  Imran Anwar Can you envision people paying taxes for this?

  Reply · 1 · Unlike · 28 minutes ago
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  Imran Anwar · CEO and Founder at ICloud.PK
  
  

  Paul Birmele , I have news for you. I AM profiled when I am at the airport. But, no one strips me down… maybe if the TSA officer was a pretty blue eyed blonde I would not complain. LOL. But, seriously, in addition to that profiling, the dirtbag Mayor Bloomberg of NY was working closely with the CIA or others to spy on MULIMS (not some suspicious individuals). Did you do something about that to complain? NY Daily News, the rag from NYC, wrote editorials defending profiling Muslims… wonder if they'd write the same if cops used profiling to catch expensive car thieves in certain uptown parts of NYC. Bigots like LOWE'S management can express their hate for Muslims and get away with it without any of my fellow Americans stopping shopping there.
  
  BUT, hate is not against the law, crime is. This dirtbag's fat ugly b*&ch mother was illegally here, committed crimes in her own country, apparently ran a sensual massage service (with her son? who knows), and he hated America, committed serious crimes, and should be thrown in the slammer forever (or maximum sentence possible if that is not possible) after a trial. Sorry, but what part of that is taking away his civil rights?
  
  The only good news in all this was this scumbag was not a Muslim. LOL. In that case, he'd be charged with terrorism. Sad, but true. LOL

  Reply · Like · 17 minutes ago
  
  

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  Technorati Tags: Justice, Germany, Crime
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Mother Of Exiles, By The Golden Doors

Mother Of Exiles, By The Golden Doors

By Imran Anwar

The Statute of Liberty, in New York, is one of the best recognized symbols in the world. Less known are the full words of the poem found there. See it larger.

On a heavily clouded day in Manhattan, the often blue sky filled with shades of gray was burdened with the weight of a golden red sunset they were trying to conceal.

The light was the worst it could be for a great traditional photograph. But, as I caught the patina of Lady Liberty through the architectural frame painted Gold by the falling sun..... it provided the perfect backdrop for me to remember, and share, the words that hold so true today, and forever.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

© 2009 IMRAN
DSC_3427_PSPF

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Fire Bird Birth From Fiery Sun & Dark Clouds, The Razor's Edge Of Hope & Miracle

Fire Bird Birth From Fiery Sun OR Flying Into A Dark But Bright Future?

Is it the birth by fire of a new Fire Bird? Or a dark angel looming above, bringing misgivings? Or the power of dreams flying into a dark, monstrous, malevolent cloud formation -- just beyond which is the promise of pure light and brightness. And just beyond that, visions of God?

The thunder cloud's malevolence separated from the life-giving sun by the razor edge of hope and miracle. A possibility of coming out from storms into the light, however briefly, at least until the final sunset on a life of fantastic flights of fantasy.

Or a little bit of it all?

Smith Point Beach in Long Island, NY is a favorite place of mine to catch sunsets over expansive vistas of water. This time we were there ahead of time and I shot some pictures waiting for the sun to set.

As this bird came towards me, somewhat like the apparition of one Alexander the Great sees in the movie ALEXANDER, the silhouette came into focus. I clicked and snapped a mesmerizing image.

© 2009 IMRAN
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The Good News About The Bad News In Pakistan

An old adage is that bad news sells. But there comes a stage in societies and countries, as well as the minds of news-readers and TV-viewers, when they just get sick of bad news.

I think it is no exaggeration to say that Pakistanis in general have gotten used to bad news, negative publicity, adverse editorial opinion and just general anti-Pakistan sentiment every day, everywhere, from New Delhi to New York.

That is why it was such a happy occasion to see the current Administration of Pakistan, opposition leaders, the military as well as the Chief Justice of Pakistan doing their part to literally bring Pakistan back from the brink of total chaos.

The reinstatement of the Chief Justice, as well as other political institutions and Punjab government, were also much awaited good news for Pakistanis. You could feel and hear the actual sense both of pride and hope in the eyes and voices of Pakistanis of all walks of life, from Karachi to California.

Obviously this was not detracting critics of Pakistan, as well as Indians and their lobbyists, in addition to Pakistan-bashers in general from continuing their attacks on Pakistan.

It even seems that American Administration officials, in particular the military men responsible for Afghanistan and Pakistan, also have a vested interest in giving the impression of an unstable Pakistan almost on the verge of total collapse.

I don't know if that would be to give them the excuses to continue with their missile strikes or for some other nefarious purpose. Or just to make themselves look like heroes when things get better in 6-12 months.

One can understand their fear, that nuclear-armed Pakistan, with internal strife, daily terror attacks, especially with a perceived internal support for the Taliban among certain government agencies, could become a nuclear nightmare for the United States. But, their own pronouncements have the risk of becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.

However, their pseudo-intellectual analysis of Pakistan being on the verge of collapsing as a country within six months is hardly the way to go about expecting positive change in Pakistan, or Pakistanis attitudes towards America and its representatives here. Nor is it helping bring about economic prosperity, or at least stability, when that is most needed to ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan and Pakistanis.

Keep in mind that any criticism of Pakistan also has a multiplication factor of actions by the Taliban as well as Al Qaeda, which seems to have made parts of Pakistan their head office. Throw in the general fear, mistrust and perhaps even sheer hatred for the concept of militant Islam and Muslims, and you can see why Pakistan gets perceived even worse by Western media, politicians and the public in general.

Sadly, it is supposedly our fellow "Muslims", whether they are brainwashed or willing hell-bound murderers, who take away the brief moments of joy and good news that Pakistanis begin to enjoy.

To make matters worse they kill and maim innocent people, destroy families and malign, damage and even insult Islam by carrying out the most despicable, dastardly and disgusting acts of horror. They blow themselves up in mosques, even in funeral processions, where the only thoughts most people have in their mind at that time are of God and of the day when we all have to return to Him.

I believe that the word suicide bomber is totally insufficient to describe these forces of Evil, these representatives of Satan, these worshippers of Lucifer, these children of Shaitan.

I believe we Pakistanis, and Muslims, as well as the media have to start calling them by their real name. they are not "jihadis". They are not suicide bombers. They should be referred to as "jahanummi qaatil kuffar" - because that is what they are – hell-bound murderer infidels.

And, we need scholars of Islam, religious leaders and decent Imams and Ulema to give fatwas against every jahanummi qaatil kuffar who carries out such attacks.

Let the ones following them know that they will not go to heaven with 72 virgins waiting for them. Let them hear they will go to hell, with the entire Ummah spitting on their names and dead bodies with 7200 curses lashing their souls for eternity.

The recent events and terror attacks in the last few days have left no doubt in my mind that these are the worst enemies of Islam and Pakistan. And the sooner Muslims and Pakistanis unite t exterminate these vermin, the better off Islam, Muslims, Pakistan and the world will be.

From their actions aiming to kill worshippers in a house of God, to the shameless, spineless, disgusting torture and whipping or public flogging of a young woman (regardless of whether the video was made recently or months ago), they show themselves to be the animals that they are.

They are even worse than the pagan Arabs that our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made it his mission in life to try to first show the light of true Islam and later to defeat in battle. Fighting these true enemies of Islam is true Jihad.

How shameful that these people, whom even the Quresh tribe of pagan Arabia would spit upon, are the ones claiming to do what they do in the name of God, religion and Islam.

But like many Pakistanis, and many Americans, who believe that the future is always going to be bright, I refuse to give in and give up hope. Even in these terrible, and dark, days I see good news.

I felt proud to be part of the Pakistani media, both through the pages of the magazine and newspaper chain that carry my outspoken opinions, to my own blog and new media, as well as the TV channels that I also appear on. Each one of them went above and beyond to expose the evil, dastardly, cowardly, woman-flogging Taliban for the vile scum that they are.

I am proud of my fellow Pakistanis, here in Pakistan or living abroad, doing their bit to spread the word of this heinous crime - using every tool available to them, from e-mail to Twitter, FaceBook, etc.

I felt pride in the Chief Justice of Pakistan taking notice of this grave injustice and jumping into action. I am even appreciative of usually spineless, two-faced, politicians who spoke up against this cruelty.

In all these things I feel Pakistan and Pakistanis have turned yet another positive corner. I see this as yet another positive sign. I see even more light at the end of the tunnel than before.

I see a nation not falling apart in six months. I see a newly rejuvenated nation. I see Pakistan coming together closer, more united, with greater faith and higher discipline than ever before.

I see a new willingness in the psyche of formerly apathetic Pakistanis finally starting to speak up. Much that I would like to take credit for having written the article asking people not to be silent anymore, in reality my recent article was written knowing in my heart of hearts how great a future we all want for Pakistan.

I know in my heart, mind, body and soul exactly what greatness lies within the hearts, minds and souls of my fellow Muslims and Pakistani people.

Pakistanis taking a stand, and speaking against the evil-doers and the bad news, is the good news, even the best news, we have heard all year.

==
Imran Anwar is a New York and Miami based Pakistani-American entrepreneur, Internet pioneer, inventor, writer and TV personality. He can be reached through his web site http://imran.com and imran@imran.com . You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/imrananwar

Tommy, Frankly, Boy, In General, You Don't Know A Damn

My FaceBook connection "John Adams" posted a status update


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"It will be interesting to see if the moderating qualities of the office temper Obama’s views or empower his ego. http://formykountry.com.via Twitter - 12:12am - 3 Comments

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And I commented following that.

Imran Anwar at 12:28am November 11

Ego is a good thing, if connected to a hunger to leave a positive mark. It is a terrible thing when it is an "I am right and the decider in chief though I don't know what to do, let me ask Cheney who to bomb next."

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John followed up with:

John Adams at 1:00am November 11

What I have seen so far I fear is the ego of Obama will just be to big for him to really do what is best for America.

I hear General Franks on Fox news state that Obama will change his views on Iran after he is briefed. When asked are you sure he responded he will or their will be an uprising of the people.


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to which I had to respond.


Dear John,

Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

Good source, Fox News, to get the views of the general who "managed" the hunt for Bin Laden in 2001 (still going great I hear), the "mission accomplished" in Iraq in 2003 (not so sure we found WMDs he said he was sure we would find). He's the same guy who endorsed George W. Bush (true War Zero) in 2004 after retiring and becoming a security consultant - gee I wonder where he makes his money.

Glad you rely on reliable and obviously objective sources to worry about Obama's ego. Last time I checked, it was not Obama who claimed to talk to God and be doing Jesus' work on the planet. LOL.

BTW, "according to Time magazine, on November 21, 2003, Tommy Franks said that in the event of another terrorist attack, American Constitutional liberties might be discarded by popular demand in favor of a military state."

He must actually be Dick Cheney's secret 'don't ask don't tell' lover or something!

Let's talk in 2 years and see how Obama is doing and how Franks' consulting gigs are going selling fear and 'security' solutions.

He's just another Giuliani but in a military cut suit, cashing in his accidental place in history with businesses cashing in on the fear they monger while sucking up to George W. Bush, easily the worst President in this country in 100 years.

If the Dems screw up, we throw them out in 2 years, and Obama can go in four years if he is not a good President. But, even with both hands tied behind his back, duct tape over his mouth, three injections of morphine, codeine and heroin in him, Obama would be smarter and more lucid that George Bush on his best day.

And, to the good old General, I say, "Tommy boy, Frankly, in General, you don't know a damn thing about what you're talking about now."

Regards

Imran


What do you think? Comments welcome!

Can Bush Push Mush? Another Legacy Leaving Opportunity Lost

For all the years I have followed Pakistani politics, from the inside as a student political leader, or from the outside as a media person, I have always been amazed by the huge number of historic opportunities squandered by Pakistan, Pakistanis and Pakistani generals, judges and politicians.

From the dictator Zia having an opportunity to clean up the country of corruption, to Benazir Bhutto doing something for womenkind and education, history was wasted. Ghulam Ishaq Khan was thrust into the role of President and blew a historic opportunity for him to be apolitical, and have a chance to be someone Pakistanis would remember as a hero.

Alas, once in power in most countries, and especially in Pakistan, elected and unelected heads of state, regardless of being 40 years old or 70, seem to live in the moment, for the moment, and moment by moment. Even the aged Ghulam Ishaq Khan did more to enrich his relatives, and play political games, than grab the incredible opportunity he had to become a new father figure in Pakistani history.

It is amazing that in Pakistan's 61 years, there is not a single head of state who has tried to, or left, a legacy good enough for Pakistanis to consider adding his (or her) photo on even a (now defunct) One Rupee note.

We now have a situation that is eerily similar to what we have seen before. A dictator, even more unpopular than Zia, is clinging to power, simply because one of the most unpopular American Presidents, ever, George W. Bush's grand foreign policy for the South Asian region is --- 'we stand by Musharraf.'

Perhaps Bush supports Mush because it ensures there is at least ONE President who is more unpopular than Bush himself is! But, jokes aside, even a tragic accident of history like George W. Bush is trying, belatedly and with no success, to spend the next 6 months trying to "leave a legacy."

I can easily say Musharraf is a far smarter and more cunning man than Bush ever was, or will be. But, one thing they both share in common besides the sound of their names - no understanding of how legacies are left.

They do not understanding that a legacy is not created by clinging to power, or failed ideas, but by doing things in the greater interest, things bigger than what even our biggest admirers could imagine us doing. Legacy and history smile on us when we do things even we could not imagine being selfless, brave and visionary enough to do. When we become bold enough to stop living for our own egos today, but to step aside now, so the future can look back on us with respect.

Alas, neither Bush, nor Mush, get the concept, which is why they are both close to each other in how history will not remember them. They are among the most unpopular, ineffective, and impeachable Presidents - though they rule over countries thousands of miles apart, and worlds apart in political, religious and social systems.