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Love across troubled borders...

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Zaini:
Madhavi,

Thanks a lot for understanding,My first interaction with Indians was also through this site,And i got friends like you,Sharmin,Sahil,Angela and a lot of others,the hatred is mostly propagated by govts for their own good,and for other enemies who don't wanna see these regions stable,and a small fraction of people on both sides who need to get their heads checked.Majority of our populations have way severe problems of their own,they are not interested in waging wars and spreading hatred.We have children who need education,diseases which need cure and moms who need not to be dead while giving life to another human being,I hope our govts will understand that one day,that arms and ammunition doesn't do anything other then destructing everything,and we need construction,not destruction.

Love,

Zaini.

Fadd:

--- Quote from: manojmass on February 07, 2010, 05:08:43 PM ---Of course it is not just limited to 2 countries...when a thal gene is enough to get us all together from all over the world to share our woes and joys...and yet the world is somehow eager to have biological warfare to say the least!
May the love that this forum bears overflow into the world...
Madhavi

--- End quote ---

When there is a same cause it brings the people of same mindsets at the same spot borders don't matter.
The first time I had an interaction with any Indian was when I was too young, when I had to get addmitted in the hospital in KSA for the transfusions. There were many Indian nurses there which always made me fell at home. (Due to the same language comfort and care :)).
We also had two neighbours there then and they all were a real feast.

I totally agree to Zaini that there is only a small fraction of extremists who could be held responsible for the devastating conditions and deforming the relations, moreover the Govts. also have some of their concerns.

Fouad

Dori:
Every program I watch which goes about people everywhere I always have one thought. We humans are all the same and have the same wishes and dreams for us and our family and for everyone in this world.<>Looove<>

Andy Battaglia:
I am brought back to this thread by yesterday's bombing in Pune, a city that is very dear to me. Pune was the site of the very first thalassemia conference that I attended. Pune is the home of my dearest friend, Shilpa and her lovely family. This bakery that was bombed was across the street from the place I bought my first meal in Pune and was also a place where Shilpa stops for coffee. Close to the Osho compound, this area is quite popular with westerners, who may have been a target of this attack. With the attacks on the Taj hotel in Mumbai and a bombing at a market in Delhi, three places I have visited in India have been the targets of terrorism.

I hesitated to respond to this thread earlier because I have talked to too many people from this group from both India and Pakistan who have an abject hatred for those across their borders. This issue nearly tore this group apart a few years ago, and I have found that in spite of our good words and efforts, we are not even getting through to many who are members of our own group. Just a few weeks ago I saw one member post accusations against India on Facebook. This troubled me greatly.

How are we going to ever make any difference in the world when we allow hatred and fear rule our own beliefs? It is quite obvious from our day-to-day communications that we do all respect each other here, but that should not end when we are away from these pages. When someone from Pakistan expresses hatred for Indians or when one from India expresses hatred for Pakistanis, is there a realization that the hatred expressed automatically includes people they interact with right here? This really needs to change.

When people tell me that all Muslims want to kill me, all I can think of is sweet little Akka. Really? Akka wants to see me dead? Of course not, but this is the idiocy of being absorbed by hatred. When someone from India wants to blame all Indians, do they really think that sweetie, Simran wants them dead?

I am asking each one of you to stop before ever expressing feelings of hatred towards a people and just ask themselves. Do you really think so-and-so from thalpal wants to see you and your family murdered? Do you really think the average person from either country is absorbed with this violence? What I always see is that everyone is just trying to live their own lives. Please, don't ever make or even think these generalized thoughts of hatred that are based on borders. We are all people who are trying to do our best in life. If you're from India and you know Ayesha, Zaini and Umair, see them in every single face in Pakistan. When you are from Pakistan and you know Shilpa or Simran or Neeti, think of them before you decide to let those thoughts of blame form in your mind. We won't change the world but we can change ourselves.

Sharmin:
That was beautiful Andy.  I hope that people know that it is our selfish leaders who are to blame - not the innocent people on either side of the border.  My parents are from India - making me Indian - and some of my closest friends and well wishers are Pakistani.  When I am having a tough time I look to my Pakistani friends here to support me and pray for me - just as I pray for them.  What would I do if I didn't message Zaini when I was worried?  Or if I didn't communicate with so many of my other friends here?  My son has the privilege of learning from all of you here.  I hope that we can teach him to see beyond these differences.   In so many ways, I have more in common with people across the world than I do with my next door neighbor here in Canada.  Hating people just like us - who support us everyday is ridiculous and it is wrong. 

Thanks again Andy,

Sharmin

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