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Posts Tagged ‘Society’

Halloween

pumpkinHalloween is celebrated by millions of people as a fun time for kids, putting on costumes, and going door-to-door to get candy. But it is also known as a time of witches, ghouls, goblins, and ghosts. On one hand, some see halloween as a harmless time of fun and on the other, a ghastly and demonically inspired night to be avoided.

As Christians, there is a lot of debate on whether or not we should participate in Halloween. Is it alright to go trick-or-treating? Can we dress our kids up in costumes on that day? If we do any of this, are we celebrating an evil holiday?

Halloween’s Origins

The word Halloween is derived from the term “All Hallows Eve” which occurred on Oct. 31, the end of summer in Northwestern Europe. “All Saints Day,” or “All Hallows Day” was the next Day, Nov. 1st. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day.

Apparently, the origins of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Ireland and Scotland around the time of Christ. On Oct. 31st, the Celts celebrated the end of summer. This was important because it was when animal herders would move their animals into barns and pens and prepare to ride out the winter. This was also the time of the crop harvests. This annual change of season and lifestyle was marked by a festival called Samhain — pronounced ‘sow-ane’ and means ‘end of summer.’ Sow rhymes with cow.

There was much superstition associated with this time of change including the belief in fairies, and that the spirits of the dead wandered around looking for bodies to inhabit. Since the living did not want to be possessed by spirits, they dressed up in costumes and paraded around the streets making loud noises to confuse and frighten the spirits away. In addition, the new year began for the Celts on Nov. 1. So, the day of Samhain was believed to be a day that was in neither the year past or the year to come.  Since it was in between, chaos ruled on that day. Often, people would pull practical jokes on others as a result.

Later, around the 5th century, as the Catholic Church developed and moved into the area, instead of adding a new day to celebrate, it took over the Samhain celebration. Nov. 1st became “All Hallows Eve” where all the saints of the Catholic church were honored. A later custom developed where people would go door-to-door on Nov. 2, requesting small cakes in exchange for the promise of saying prayers for some of the dead relatives of each house. This arose out of the religious belief that the dead were in a state of limbo before they went to heaven or hell and that the prayers of the living could influence the outcome. This may have been the precursor to Trick-or-Treat.

The Jack-O-Lantern apparently comes from Irish folklore about a man named Jack who tricked the devil into climbing a tree. Once the devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross on the trunk, preventing the devil from coming down. The devil then made a deal with Jack not to allow Jack into hell after Jack died if only Jack would remove the cross from the tree. After Jack died, he couldn’t go to hell, and he couldn’t go to heaven. He was forced to wander around the earth with a single candle to light his way. The candle was placed in a turnip to keep it burning longer. When the Irish came to America in the 1800′s, they adopted the pumpkin instead of the turnip. Along with these traditions, they brought the idea that the black cat was considered by some to be reincarnated spirits who had prophetic abilities.

So, it appears that the origins of Halloween are a mixture of old Celtic pagan rituals superstition and early Catholic traditions.

What does the Bible say about Halloween?

What does the Bible say about Halloween? Nothing. But it does speak concerning witches, the occult, and paganism.

Exodus 22:18, You shall not let a witch live.

Deut. 18:10-12, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD…”

The Bible definitely speaks negatively about occultic practices, spirits, and witches and condemns not only the practice but also the people who are involved in it. As Christians, we are to have nothing to do with the occult. Tarot Cards, contacting the dead, séances, lucky charms, etc., are all unbiblical and can harm a Christian’s fellowship with God and open the Christian to demonic oppression. Most Christians know this and avoid these activities. But, the question still remains. Since there are ancient pagan connections and present occultic connections, what is the Christian to do?

Can the Christian celebrate Halloween?

The answer is simple: Yes and No. Let’s look at the negative first.

The Christian is not to be involved with or support the occult, witchcraft, demonism, or any other thing that uplifts the occult. To do so is to contradict God’s word, dabble in demonic spirits, and invite judgment from God. If a Halloween celebration is centered on demons, devils, spirits, etc., I would say don’t have anything to do with it.

On the other hand, it isn’t wrong to dress up in a costume and go door-to-door saying “Trick or Treat.” Provided that the costume isn’t demonic, I can’t see anything wrong with this.  It’s just fun for the kids.

Take a look at the Christmas tree.  It was originally an ancient fertility symbol. Yet, it has become a representation of Christmas and the place where gifts are placed. Are the Christians, then, paying homage to an ancient pagan fertility god? No. Not at all. They do not consider it pagan at all and are simply joining in on a cultural event and giving no honor to anything unbiblical.

In the Bible in 1 Cor. 10:23-33, Paul speaks about meat sacrificed to idols. This meat was often sold in the meat market and the question arose, “Should a Christian each such meat?”

Paul said in verse 25, “Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience’ sake.” This is most interesting. He says it is okay to eat the meat bought in the market place even though that meat may have been sacrificed to idols.

Then in verses 28-29 he says, “But if anyone should say to you, ‘This is meat sacrificed to idols,’ do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?” (NASB). Paul is saying that if you find out the meat was sacrificed to idols, don’t eat it — not because of you, but because of the other person. In other words, eating that meat won’t affect you. But, it may affect the attitude of another who does not understand the freedom the Christian has in Christ.

Is it any different with Halloween (or Christmas)? No. Even though Halloween has pagan origins, because of your freedom in Christ, you and/or your kids can dress up in costumes and go door-to-door and just have fun. However, if you are not comfortable with doing this, then you should not. If you know of a person who would be hindered by doing it, then you shouldn’t either.

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Vexation of Spirit is the a waste of time, negative thinking is a waste of thoughts.

Verbal conflict is waste of words, Physical conflict is a waste of flesh.

People will always be who they want.

And that’s what makes the world go round,

Unconditional love is scarce.

A pretty girl born in a place where worshipping God was forbidden. To grow up from the backs of Communism where innocent souls died. People have no choice to express feelings, but live in negative thoughts. They only get assurances & promises by their government. Soldiers fighting wars and they don’t know why ?

Love is not the thought of the day for her life. She’d read about love only in books and fairy tales. While her family & the entire country is caught up in the worlds most dreaded disease ‘poverty’.

Poverty is a disease which, once it is accepted , becomes a fixation which is hard to shake off. Misfortune & miscarriage and pre-mature crack babies are normal news. She can never dream about perfect life, when she is awake. When night comes, her father is trying to spread her legs and force it in. When she gets pregnant, its abortion to kill another baby. Strength from great God above is what she’s hoping and that one day Jesus Christ will come to save the world.

Mothers are forced to earning bread for fathers Vodka through prostitution. Children don’t have any reason why they should obey their parents. When  was eighteen,  sold to flesh trade & transported to Dubai to make a career. I guess, I am still trying to figure it out, why they call Dubai  the ‘City of Gold’.It is no disgrace to be born in poverty but once accepted, its side effects are adverse. She has no choice, but to accept the conditions life has offered her. Night clubs, Discos, Bars, Pubs she looks so hearty, feeling fine. She likes to party until, she gets selected by a weird customer and says goodbye to her dance floor mates. She needs to fake love with a total stranger, sometimes till morning. Although she lives now on the worlds most richest place, with water hotels & highest towers. Her soul torments when the day ends to dusk. She only understands material love by wearing Gucci’s & Prada’s. Her life aint stopping at night when the red lights are on, in this district red light means business. All under the watchful eyes of her boss and the local Police. In this world of calamity, she spends nights with dirty looks & men of insanity. Before she used to love to smoke, now she is shifting coke. She tries to hide the scars on her face with Avon & Loreal, but each time she washes her face, she aint loving her looks. As a kid she thought of blue sky and now its bright dark disco lights.

I look from across the bar table at her with a sarcastic smile and see her laughing at the bartender when there aint a joke. She gets impressed with my light color suit, but doesn’t know, I’ll be the one to handcuff her and she will be on her way to deportation. She doesn’t have money but wants to get high. She is wondering if I am the one who’s gonna buy. I buy her a drink and we try to get familiar. In meantime, somehow she realises I aint no customer and its time to say bye. She finds difficult to get away, so she gets emotional. Tells me her story, well it’s not familiar. I try to disagree with certain points and get sillier. Then she says ‘ There aint God in this world and hers is only Prostitution Paradise’. She caught my spiritual nerve, now I try to reason with her pitiful life and I say “God loves you”, she replies”does it looks that he loves me after all that you know about me now”. She says “only heaven she knows is while she sniffing coke”.

I understand, opportunity beckons to everyone who has the ambition to recognize and embrace it, if opportunity does not beckon to us, people create their own opportunity to escape a sort of life. Poverty had paralysed her and destroyed the desire for freedom, now she only enjoys branded things. Quotes of love & commitment fall on the face when morning comes. The talks of love fade when the reaction of alcohol gets low, slowly the stranger wears his clothes and disappears like the night never existed.

That first time I met her and after the long debate on God & life, I decided not to get her arrested and to assure her protection any time in future and that God will save her. Time went by, weeks after weeks I seen her often at the club and raised my thumbs up with a smile and said her Hi. She used to look good, now she looks hideous. She’s seen more Hotel then Rent-a-Avis. I hope she will slow down or someday she will. Now she is lost and can’t find her way to safety. She tells me now that ‘to fake love with her customers, she don’t need rehearsing. Her dignity & flesh are the only things she sells.’ Still I know that beneath those demons she has that warm person. I get her twice to visit the local church and she told me she didn’t feel God, but she felt nice.I thought the spirit was touching her and I tried to find her a better day job. Now she seems soft, no more swearing & cursing. I felt soon I will be able to get her out from her Paradise of Prostitution, as she always refers that too.

She phones me one fine afternoon and says she found a true love and he decided to marry her. I was glad, as I could be, a very bright future for her I could see. Still she needed few days to clear her dues with her boss so she could be free. I prayed this would pass soon and no longer she would be living a life of hell. The next day, I receive a call from my  partner at C.I.D ( Criminal Investigations Department ) “We have a crime scene” he said. We rushed to the perimeter, we broke open the door, we find a naked body of a girl on the bed, choked to death. When I discover to see the face……its the face of innocence….of this same girl. I was in tears and without words. Prostitution Paradise that’s all i heard, these words kept ringing in my ears. The feeling kicks in now, she’s in the dark zone….heaven or hell only God knows. Who made who, whats this life? as I ask myself….

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Juliet is Filipina girl on a visit visa to Dubai in order to find job. She has two kids back in Philipines and her husband has deserted her. Therefore, she doesn’t have any option, other than leaving back her kids with her parents and search for a better career in gulf. She was promised by one Madam Claire that finding  job in Dubai wont be difficult. Juliet had to take loan of $8000 at a monthly interest of 15%  from one of the agents in Philipines  in order to make her travel arrangements. Madam Claire was referred to Juliet by one of her friends who claimed to have a nice career in Dubai courtesy. This assurance made Juliet decide for opting for Dubai.

Juliet was sent to many companies for interview by Madam Claire’s sources. It was over one & half month and Juliet hasn’t found a job. Her desperation increases as she hasn’t sent money back home for her families survival. Grabbing this opportunity, Madam Claire ask Juliet to shift to another residence on pretext that the landlord has asked to vacate the villa because they will let only to the families. Juliet moves into this new residence , it’s a old villa in Hor Al Anz area, which is surrounded by lots of Pakistani, Indian & other Asian expatriates. Juliet is surprised to see that in this villa there are more girls crunched and there are lots of partitions which have beds. She didn’t understand then, it was in the evening she saw the girls getting dressed up, wearing make up and trying to look as hot as possible. Juliet asked one of the girls “Are you’ll going out or something”, the girl smiled and replied “No”. Juliet asked her again “Then what”, the girl replied “Hey get smart, it’s now business time”. After few minutes Juliet found that there Pakistani, Indian,Syrian, Egyptian and other men coming to the villa chilling out with Madam Claire and selecting one of the girls and taking them to those partitions.

Juliet was scared and she asked Madam Claire “whats this happening and why am i staying at this place”, Madam replied with grin”Oh! don’t be nervous and doubtful it’s a noble work these girls are doing and all the more they are just trying to support their families back home”. Juliet was never forced into entering prostitution for another few days, but the environment where she was living was full of hope, parties, music, sex, alcohol and lots of money from these customers. The girls were all positive there, because they received expensive gifts from the customers and lots of tips.

Apparently Juliet learned that all these girls came to Dubai through the help of Madam and every one of them owed $8000 to $15000. They couldn’t find job and this was the only way they could repay Madam Claire her money back or else the rate of interest just keeps on rising with each passing month.

These girls found a refugee with Madam Claire. No force was applied on these girls, but the circumstances, environment, situation, manipulation, exploitation and lure of money compelled these girls for this last option. Any movement was monitored by Madam henchmen, the girls couldn’t be on their own outside the villa. They were always escorted by these Arab henchmen of Madam. The Arab henchmen would always speak about the dangers of escaping or trying to contact the outside world. These henchmen claimed to be Policemen. The girls found it extremely difficult to do anything else on their own, their only saviour & devil was Madam Claire.

However, the clouds of financial burden started to loom over Juliet’s head, she was getting more depressed & frustrated. Madam Claire & other girls were always compassionate with Juliet and they tried to convince her that this was the only way and trying to revolt would just be a stupid move. The customers are all decent guys., there’s no harassment , its safe and they are protected by the Police. More ever she would be able to get rid of her loan amount and once she clears that, then for each customer Juliet would get $55 and she could do something like 8-10 customers a day, plus not to forget the tips and the gifts. Once a girl wins Madams trust , then she is promoted to the position of a Manager and when more girls arrive , they are put up in new villas and she could manage them and doesn’t have to engage in sex herself. If she wanted to still do business then the entire earnings is hers. The convincing each day just gets heavier and one fine day with w very heavy heart Juliet decided to get into prostitution. 

I met Juliet during one my investigation on a Syrian national who had stolen some jewellery from the shop he was working and i was tracking  this guy. I found out that this Syrian guy had been a regular at Juliet’s villa and was deeply in love with one girl. He wanted to get married to that girl and Madam Claire had asked $15000 to let her free. The Syrian guy was just a victim of Dubai’s Sex trade, after some days we were able to nab this Syrian guy at one from the local night clubs. When Juliet was divulging the information about this guy, she got too serious and started to speak about herself. When i met Juliet this moment, she was the Manager for 25 girls at this villa. She always regrets getting into this business and says  there’s no turning back. I couldn’t guide her much, but my team & myself assured her that we could get all these girls out of this hell. She wasnt excited with the offer, because she said she would never imagine to get her dignity back and where else she could earn this much money per month. It’s almost two and half years she has been living in Dubai, transferring good amount of money to raise her kids back home  and she doesn’t have a valid visa or her passport and she fears if she has contracted HIV or AIDS.

( The names in this article have been changed )

There hundreds and hundreds of girls who have been lured to Dubai to get jobs from various countries and unfortunately they end up as call girls or at the brothels which runs below the curtain of strict laws of Dubai.  The expansion of sex trade has reached all parts of Dubai, parallelly expatriate men who are customers of this trade get addicted, spend all their earnings and even start to steal or murder for money. The sex trade has taken a heavy toll on these girls and also the men who get addicted to buying sex.

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Dubai’s Sex Trade

The story of Dubai’s rise as a bubble economy and the attraction for all expatriates from asian countries has made it the most sought after city in Middle East. But how much of it as the UAE government says is really the place of crime free country. I am not talking about the labor laws, different rules for expats and all the employment exploitation that goes unnoticed. The “City of Gold” has much darker picture then one could ever imagine. Living in Dubai for almost 14 years and hanging around with top police officials, government officials, diplomats and the rich and the famous allowed me the opportunity to get to the depth of the real scene.

What goes around in day has very contrast image of what happens in the night. Since working on several undercover cases and following criminals around in the city, i was able to discover the most terrible tales of human trafficking and sex trade. Nevertheless, this network is run none other than the local arabs or perhaps some government & police officials. Since the rise of whites as expats in the city, the Indian, Pakistani & Bangladeshi demand for girls went low. Subsequently, the collapse of the Soviet Union gave chance for traffickers to import girls from the break away Soviet Republics and even from Russia. Although, all these girls there are termed as Russian’s and the word Russian has now become synonym with prostitution. Sometimes even all white girls are looked by the other expats as Russian’s and to some extreme even as prostitutes.

Dubai has the highest number of Bars, Clubs, Discos, Pubs and brothels as compared to any other Asian country after Thailand. One can get a so-called Russian girl for a quickie for Dhm.20/- ( Offcourse these girls will be from Kazak, Uzbek , Tajik or Ukraine and other soviet break aways. ). When i moved in Dubai in 1997, i was living in an accommodation in the development of Al Nakheel area in Deira. What amazed me was after midnight it was just impossible to sleep, my door bell was rung for almost 4-5 times throughout night. Russian girls would ring the door bell or knock the door, asking me if i wanted to f*$#@ its only Dhm.100, some girls upon hearing my response “No, sorry” they would ask “please slakti you can pay dhm.50…40…30…so forth and so on…its sad but i was thinking what makes these girls so desperate, are they craving for money so badly or perhaps they really have a bad situation at home or maybe they are forced to do so…i had to wait for another couple of years till i could make my stand in the Dubai society and really find out, whats behind this prostitution racket.

Few later, when i was undercover, working on a theft case and keeping a trace about a certain gang at a Disco. I was practically each night at this disco, that’s when i came in contact with some Russian girls at this joint. Since they saw me that i come here regularly they started to speak to me, off course they initially started to speak to me, assuming that i am a prospective customer. My reply was negative, i clearly told them “I come here to chill out & for the music not for sex”. Getting to know these girls closer broke the ice between us and they sometimes shared their grief with me.  I tell you these girls were no less than the super models and they would give even the Bollywood actresses a run. Angelica barely 19 years,  was sold by her father in Uzbekistan for $15000/- , now she needs to work for this boss of hers Tataina until she pays back $40,000/- through prostitution. Tatiana her boss who hails from Russia, co-ordinates this business with her husband who helps getting young girls from these former soviet republics. Tatiana is grim-faced lady who is partnered with local Arab Abdul Saleem, who works for the Dubai Police as CID. Abdul Saleem arranges visa for the girls of Tatiana, guarantees protection for the girls and arranges accommodation. The girls have to pay Dhms.150 per day, for bed space in that accommodation. Everything from food, accommodation, visa , travel etc., Tatiana & Abdual Saleem have their profits, because they over charge these girls. When the girls realise that what they have been charges is high, they can only talk among themselves. The girls can’t escape from their bosses business because the partner is a local police guy, that makes things more difficult. The girls have to do at least 5-7 customers in a day, or else they will have Dhms.1000 fine credited to their account. However, it’s not difficult to get customers in Dubai’s booming economy but they at least have 4-5 bad days in a month, where they attract fines. These girls might work for their boss for one year to two years depending on the account balance. Thereafter, the boss makes the girl manager or th girl is free to go and work on her own. These girls never started as prostitutes in their home country so after one or two years in this work, it’s practically impossible for girls to lead a normal life. But yes i have met very few girls who have been released of their loan and luckily one of the customers fell in love, listening to sad tale and marries the girl or maybe even some girls( very rarely ) would take up a decent day job. The story of Angelica is very similar to all the stories i have heard in all the clubs, discos, bars …off course I didn’t visit a brothel, apart from raiding it with the police.

Most amazingly this trade is flourishing in Dubai to its peak, just like its infrastructure. Expats are getting addicted to buying sex and wasting all their hard-earned money to fulfill their sexual desires. The expats are not only exhausting their own salaries, but also going for credit cards and personal loans. After that ….things just turn pretty bad. This is bound to happen as these expat men have never seen such beautiful, perfect body girls, they are far away from their family, away from their wives, the desire of lust takes its toll on the mental and financial. The biggest profiteer are the bosses and the local arab sponsors, they get all their extra bucks to accelerate their gas guzzlers SUVs and wear diamond studded Cartier on the wrist.

The sad or the most saddest part is that some girls take years and years to come out of their financial chains from their bosses. Some girls get murdered by the hooligans sex craving lusty customers. Some girls who decline to offer their body after coming to Dubai probably get chopped off by their Russian bosses, the body is later carefully cut into smaller pieces and flushed away through the toilets. Some girls come out of it after a year or two and start on their own and some girls get lucky to settle down with a loving guy. The story doesn’t end here, i have avoided to put much detail here or write some of the most horrific things that i have witnessed as an undercover agent. But the Dubai night life is not all about drinks, party or dance. It’s when men drive around the city to hook up or pick up pretty girls dressed to impress.

Although porn sites or any sexual content on the internet is banned, no sex shops in the city, no pin-up magazine covers….who wants all those. When you can just visit a pub or bar next door to pick up your choice ranging from Dhm.200 to Dhm.2000. Incase if you know some bosses you can get your home delivery. Dubai boosts about being a Islamic country , but by the very nature of facts things are otherwise. Its the city where people come for sex.

The sale of these innocent girls in their home country, transfer to Dubai for a better job, captivity in the hands of the bosses, abuse of flesh, loss of dignity, killing of emotions, no hope in future are only some of the key points happening in the lives of these girls. I did manage to rescue some girls with our team and send them back to their home country but the pressure from the highest officials always put our team in trouble. Our work did not stop till the last days in UAE, but i hope such atrocities around the world on woman comes to an end or the governments act upon it. This can only be a dream…

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Cricket is now not only a bat & ball game. From gentleman’s game to the kid on the street, cricket has taken several forms and shapes. Technology & television have evolved this game as best entertainment in many commonwealth countries. Match fixing scandals had reduced the television viewers and ratings of cricket. Then a new star is born, “Lalit Modi”. IPL ( Indian Premier League ) of cricket had created a huge hysteria in most cricket playing nations, overtaking the famous English county cricket. The glamour, glitz, money, fame, cheer leaders, color, nail biting finished matches gave a new dimension to this game of cricket which had become a boring sport to watch. Today the entire nation of Indian is almost at a standstill while a live match is telecasted on TV. Subsequently the commercial rates during the match time had reached at its peak. Players getting endorsements, international players mixing with the local talent and lots of color around this event gave a new meaning to the game of cricket. The viewer was back, but this time the viewer became more interested in the merchandise of IPL products. Never in the history or cricket and anywhere in a test had playing nation cricket become a fashion?

 

Teenagers got busy discussing the statistics, discussing the strategies, debating who should be in and who should be out. I wonder even the team managements ever seriously discussed with player’s details at such depths, what the street side common man discussed with his friends. Due to the surge of IPL craze many parallel businesses like hotels, coffee shops, bars, pubs, and restaurants started to flourish. Some even suggested there should be probably two or three IPLs in year.

 

However, the common got very busy watching the IPL on TV, his kids buying the IPL products, teenagers going to bars and just drinking for another reason. All this glamour, glitz and the nail biting finish didn’t convince me on the player’s seriousness for the game. Many national players left their countries cricket side and limited themselves to the modern day version of T20 or IPL. Less time, big money, lots of parties and plenty of chicks. The players lack to show any commitment during the game, their relaxed attitude and less technique makes me think if the game of cricket is going to be like next WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Post-IPL the same players are not at all interested in playing for their countries, because they already made enough money with this new form of game. Players are most of the time unfit to play for their country. If sportsmen booze, dance party whole night, shoot commercials, date celebrities and seldom practice then how on earth they are going to perform.

Apparently, cricket is a bat & ball game, but that bat & ball game required natural talent with proper technique to make it a game. Today it’s really become a bat & ball game, all one got to do is go to the pitch to bat and swing the bat when the bowlers bowl. Either its hit for maximum or boundary if not you’re out. Bowlers just bowl in frustration and what we see more extras, wide & no balls. The technical part of this high staked version of cricket is lost. The franchisees have raised the stakes to phenomenal prices, without knowing the exact nature of game. Perhaps we are trying to make it like NFL or NBA, but this is minus any real technical part involved. The worst part or some might call it the best part are the post match night parties, players are drunk, craving to stick around with those beauties and eventually waking up late in the morning. Then how can one really perform on the field. Although we have seen some great fielding, batting and some substantial performers. But the way IPL is leading the noble game of cricket into the night club I wonder if we could really produce in future some Don Bradman’s, Sunil Gavaskar’s, Sachin Tendulkar’s & Gary Sobers and many past legends of cricket.

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The Christian Science Monitor posted an article by Alia Malek on American Jihadis: Blame violence-prone boys, not Islam

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0402/American-Jihadis-Blame-violence-prone-boys-not-Islam

“Security experts tend to see only a threat of Islamicization and the incompatibility of Islam with American values.

Even Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed his fellow soldiers at a time when violent crime and suicide in the military are both on the rise, is cited regularly as an example of home-grown terror with little to no mention of other contributing factors” ( excerpts of her post )

She shows much compassion towards the act of Nidal Malik and indirectly blames on violence within the nation. Oh! This is absurd; there is no nation in the world which doesn’t have home ground violence. Where ever human society dwells, so does violence and crime. Now that doesn’t mean Nidals actions were the basis of home grown terror. Even countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Australia and all other nations have home grown violence and I have never heard any of those criminals blaming it on the violence within. The author tries to distract the readers from the very basic nature of terrorism and replaces it with merely with non religious crime. I wonder even the attacks on twin towers and the Oklahoma bombings were due to home grown crimes.

Does Ala Malek mean that Nidal Malik was a true American patriot, if she describes he acted because of home grown violence. That only shows that the action was a revolt against the government. I know USA has freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean the pro-Islamic authors should mislead the American people. Until now Americans have been led into believing every lie of the government and the media. They have softened their stance on religious fanaticism. If US forces are fighting in Iraq & Afghanistan it doesn’t mean that US in involved in a religious war and US citizens should compromise the acts of terror on their own soil with such notions. Iraq & Afghanistan wars are total different agendas and both the US governments and Islamic regimes at the countries have served their own interests on the grounds of Islam & terror.

In her article Ala Malek has just written some of the most basic acts of violence, which is available in all countries of the world. She is trying to take these natural acts of home grown violence to cover the acts of terror. Terrorism and home grown violence are two different yet acts of violence against humanity. Terrorism is violence on a much more larger scale and people like Nidal Malik are surely encouraged by religious aggression. Home grown violence is on the local scale devoid of any society and not subject to religion, otherwise we will have all those hip hop bling bling boys blowing towers and shooting soldiers all over US.

The American should curb such religious violence and try to nip them in the bud. By giving extra mile and freedom to these Islamic radicals, America is becoming a breeding ground for more attacks on its soil in future. I know most American people are lost and confused or either turn a blind eye on such topics, but that only gives the radicals to become more and more stronger. Allowing ACLU and other anti-American institutions to rip of the freedom of common citizens under the blanket of their own version of freedom. Thus creating one more breeding ground for terrorists to act within the country with external support. Today the enemies of USA don’t have to fly down kamikaze planes all the way from Japan as happened in WW2. The enemies have their henchmen living in United States, all they need to do is excite these men’s religious feelings and they shall act against America or probably read certain verses from scriptures to create in the minds of listeners that this is a Holy war.

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Come to India to get Raped

Rapes cases in India are on rise. Women are being treated as how they were treated about a century ago. The conspirers go unpunished, due to the fact that they are either government officials, politicians or connected to either. Goa witnessed a surge in rape cases against tourists and police department were unable to punish the offenders. On a larger note the Goa police officials claim that they do arrest the culprits but the court grants them bail. Today I read about Indian nationals being attacked in Australia and there’s a big outcry about it in India, but what about Indians attacking, raping and even killing the tourist who come to India as a safe destination. I don’t consider that the present scene would allow the tourists to make India their ideal destination. Indeed what I see in advertisements “Incredible India”, that’s true surely if things continue this way it will be called in disgust incredible India.

India has always portrayed as a safe location but even the Indian woman are now longer safe. I was following the Ruchika molestation case for a long time on the news channels. The DIG who was involved in this pedophile act had been successful in forcing the girl to commit suicide due to his extreme pressure tactics on the victims family. Now I hear that this devil DIG Rathore will also go unpunished as is the case in all other rape cases.

This week a 9 year old Russian tourist girl was raped in broad daylight at a Goa beach. No action by the police and the culprits still hang at large. These same offenders will be encouraged to commit more rapes and due to some political connection, they will continue to haunt a once peaceful society.

Dharavi the biggest slums in Mumbai one woman was raped by four last month and burned alive in front of her parents, this woman was supposed to get married this year. All the four offenders are at large and the police says the search is on.

These some of the very few highlights of the rapes but there are several more happening everyday in the Indian society and many are not even reported. Whether someone blames it on westernization, movies, or anything else. A rape is a rape and doesn’t need any excuse in any form of society. Indian government needs to look into this matter. I can only hope that the government looks into the same, because I have not seen since the independence that any government official or politician being sentenced to punishment in a rape case. This only plants seeds for more such crimes against the woman and even the younger generation feels that they can rape and get away because the examples led by the other such rapists.

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Death of India’s Democracy

The Indian freedom struggle was the most important period in the Indian history. The struggle where freedom fighters were doing everything to get rid of the British Raj, but the elders have something different to say. I have interviewed over 100 surviving elders from pre-independence era; they said that they were happier under the British rule. Although they said that they didn’t have the liberties and didn’t have right to vote, yet the civic services, water, electricity, good roads, clean environment, better living, employment and many other administrative services were above standards.

 

Today India decides their government with only 40% people casting their ballots. That’s not how a democratic society is governed. Many would argue saying that if people don’t vote then how we can have reform. But the facts are if all the political parties are founded on the basis of crime, corruption, fear, violence, brutality and breaking laws, then how can sane citizen decide whom to vote. Many parties but choice is less. One example is the Professionals Party of India (PPI), a party formed by educated people from the society. When they contested in 2009 elections their candidate was defeated by a bigger margin by a corrupt party candidate. Indians are so used to live in filth, crime, corruption and destructiveness that they are still not prepared for a reformed or a decent party to be elected.

 

It has been observed that in Five years no high level criminals are charged or sentenced to punishment. They come on the news channels under breaking news everyday like havala scam, murder, rape, bribe, terrorist links, barbarism etc., Thereafter, no news channels cover these accused and as to what really happened to them, were they sentenced, all we know is those criminals & politicians are free in the  society.

 

I wont take you very far away in the village areas, but the worst example of the failures of Indian civic administration is that just 5 kms away from Mumbai ( Bombay ) city the adjoining towns don’t have proper water and electric supplies.

 

While driving in the cities of India, one can casually break the traffic rule and escape penalty by just bribing the less than a dollor to a Policeman.

 

 

Pollution control is just not understood by the Indians. Vehicles on the road discharging black fumes, I bet take a one hour bike ride on any Indian city and then wipe your face with light colored cloth, you will find out for yourself. The Industries just don’t seem to follow any procedures that declare hazardous to the environment and also dump their toxic waste not far away from the site.

 

The lower middle class and the middle class have given up their rights to take rice, wheat, oil & kerosene from the ration shops. The reason the rice & wheat will have about 10% of small stones in it, or the ration shop doesn’t have stock, or the shop is closed, or the ration shop owner has sold it in black-market.

Further the escalating prices of basic food items have either doubled or unavailable in the stores. Fresh fruits & vegetables are only limited to the rich class because of the high prices. The majority of people in India will have rice, chapatti or lentil soup. More than 5000 children below the age of five have died in last four years everyday due to malnutrition or some sickness.

 

Health services are not worth discussing here as they really not worth discussing as I consider that these services are no longer available free or minimum cost for the impoverished class. I won’t talk about the rich class here as 80% of the Indian populations still are poor. Just four or five cities in India don’t make up for the entire Indian population. I guess that’s what makes many farmers & villagers to leave their dwellings and head to cities to start a new life or if not, atleast they can beg and earn more than farming. However, the atrocities cast upon the farmers in many states by the local landlord’s makes life nearly suicidal as these farmers are fully cheated in debts by those landlords. There is a high rate of suicides amongst the farming community all over India.

 

Crime rates in metro cities and the fast life doesn’t allow the people to look anywhere into the activities of the government. People have taken a false way of life as a real & practical way of life. The voice of the common man has been lost , very much after the Independence of India.

 

I can go on and on but even after reading this article many Indians will just nod and continue with their day to day routine. No one would dare to rise against the present anarchy and death in the face of Democracy government.

 

That’s why the elders say “wish we had not driven out the British”. Today news channels are being ransacked, reporters, journalists’ is being attacked. Where is the freedom of speech? Just because a particular party doesn’t like a news covered against them. Time & time the Police fail to nab the real culprits. The offenders are never touched and even if they are arrested then there is big uproar by their party members and the offender released.

 

Ministers can have scams of millions of worth dollars and still claim their innocence and never to be tried.

 

Terrorism is supported from within the government against its own people and we will just blame on the neighboring countries. I don’t say that those countries don’t endorse terrorism on Indian soil but how many of those incidents are related to our own or supported by within. Maoists continue to kill the Indian army personnel and poor villagers and still the government is deciding a specific strategy. Very soon this terror will spread across other Indian cities & states and we shall do nothing.

 

Indian freedom fighters did not dream of such future, all they wanted was for the people and of the people, how much has come in reality. Lets see how Indian democracy survives the burns of anarchy and evil.

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Burj Al Arab, Dubai worlds only 7 star hotel.All the sky touching towers, Mega shopping Malls, five star hotels, express highways, McDonalds, KFCs, Pizza Kings and all that which glorifies the Sheiks of the land. Indeed I never thought that UAE would be such high flying place on earth. People from all corners of the world come here to fulfill their families’ requirements and achieve their career and financial goals, but little do they know that this land has its own toll, after all it’s a place which is dwelling on desert and they are dealing with the Arabs who for centuries have been killing and slaughtering people. The only difference is that now these Arabs don’t ride on camel back but they drive 4.5Litre Land Cruisers & Hummers.

UAE might boost its amazing growth rate and a high GDP compared better than the rest of their folks in the Arabian Peninsula, but what happens here is never discussed on news channels or published in print media. They claim that they are least corrupt in administrative and bureaucratic front but lets not believe what the local news agencies have to say. Corruption is as high as any other underdeveloped country in the world, the crime statistics are never made public and the other atrocities by the locals on the expatriates are only rumored. The living conditions of the 1.6 Million Asian construction expatriate workforce are not worth describing and they live under very inhuman conditions. A ten feet by ten feet room with single toilet and bathroom will have ten to twelve workers sharing, this room will not even have a place to keep your foot. These workers have paid about Rs.100,000/- to Rs.120,000/-( Approx $ 2500 ) to a recruitment agent back in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. The worker thought that he would recover that amount within a year and he was also promised excellent wages plus lots of overtime, but when he lands in UAE. First his passport is taken by the employers PRO and he is made to sit in Minivan like a slave and dropped to his labor accommodation. The feeling for that worker only gets worse when he realizes that he has to share the room with ten more workers in a most unhygienic condition. The other workers usually will be very hostile with the new guy and they find all the reasons to vent out their frustration on this new guy. The next morning the new worker has to sign loads of documents , agreements’ & undertakings less then a minute. He is supposed to keep copies of the same or neither can he read them. These undertakings are signed to fully protect the employer not the employee. The new worker understands that his dream of becoming a rich man back home is only a dream and he has to face the fact that he will be working 12 hours a day without overtime in scorching heat of over 50 degree Celsius. He has barely any money for himself and all he thinks is how green were the pastures back home and how will he collect money for his daughters or sisters marriage or how will he educate his children. This new worker will get his vacation only after 4 years and during those 4 years he only knows work and two square meals.

Although the country doesn’t tax anybody but there are several other ways that the government gets money from the tourists and expatriates working here. You pay for the visa, identity card, for get employment, for water, for sewage, for electricity , parking, house rent tax, municipality charges, real estate charges, medical card charges and list of other services ( Note the UAE is highest in the world for its charges on services ). A person earning $ 3000 per month will barely have any savings at the end of the month as he has incurred all on the services. The government does issue a medical card but its very funny to know that the medical card doesn’t cover any medical insurance, I never understood then why issue a medical card on the first place. The amount spent for renting an apartment in UAE for two years will fetch a house for a person India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. Almost 45% of the salary will go towards house rent.

Banks have their Kiosks all over, to lure the expatriate community for credit cards and personal loans. Claiming these cards are free for life without yearly charges, but one only gets fooled when realizes that even a minimum monthly payment sometimes becomes impossible. A person with a minimum salary of Dhms.2000/- ( $546 ) can also get a credit limit five times his salary or a personal loan 20 times his salary. Its only matter of time when the individual realizes that he was better off without a credit card or a personal loan. Since August 2008 many expatriates have lost their jobs due to recession and proof is hundreds of cars parked at the parking lots without the trace of the owner. However, even these cars were brought on loans. The expatriates who lost their jobs find it difficult to get jobs in their home country and many have even committed suicide.

I know one businessman Mr. Abdul Aziz who was awaiting his outstanding payment for his products sold for about 3 Million dirhams ( $ 815 thousand ) and the company owing him had fled the country. Mr. Abdul Aziz had registered a complaint to the authorities, but in vain. Eventually he was finding difficult to pay his employees, so he decided to take loan and pay them, he did release his employees to find jobs somewhere else. Little did he know that he would find difficult to pay the loan amount to the banks. Later the Bank filed a suit against Mr. Abdul Aziz, he was arrested and put into prison, his wife and children were not allowed to leave the country and they had to literally beg / borrow to even get one time meal.

Another instance I met a young expat who was cheated by his employer, mind you this employer was one of the biggest retailer in Dubai. They promised this guy named Karl a salary of Dhms.3000 per month but when he reached Dubai he was asked to sign an agreement of Dhm.900 per month for the job of Showroom Sales. Upon discovering the fraud Karl decided to approach the Ministry of Labor Department, he registered a complaint and was waiting for over a week for action to be taken by the Labor Department. Karl was living on the streets of Dubai without food or water, luckily we found him sleeping on a bench and we decided to help him. Karl said that one policeman had taken Dhm.2500 from him on a pretext to help him, thereafter the policeman supposed to be Capt. Mohammed Al Hashmi from Dubai Police wouldn’t help Karl or return his money. An official complaint was lodged at Murraqabat Police Station by Karl against Capt. Hashmi but no action was taken against him. They said “The Capt is Dubai local and a Muslim , we don’t cheat anybody , trust in Allah and one fine day the Capt would return your money”, this is not funny at all but what Karl had experienced in Dubai was one of the most horrific acts of he expats living here. We decided to lodge complaint with Indian Embassy Dubai, Indian Embassy Abu Dhabi & with the Police Head quarters so atleast Karl could get out of the country and Capt. Hashmi & Karls employer be punished. There was no response from any one of them. Finally Karl had to ask his relatives to transfer money to his employer sign an undertaking that he doesn’t have any case against the company and only then they allowed Karl to exit the country.

Now these are only some of the experiences I have mentioned above. The worst cases I have witnessed is human trafficking and children abuse. Dubai has the highest number of girls who are sold or forced into prostitution. I have seen and heard with my own eyes at one of the night clubs a Ukrainian girl being sold for Dhms. 30,000/- ( $ 8200 ). I was with one of my clients and he said these deals are very normal here sometimes girls are sold even for Dhms. 12000 ( $3300 ).

There is a very high percentage of girls from Eastern Europe, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, North Africa, East Asians being illegally brought into the country and forced into prostitution. No wonder Dubai has a Disco, Night Club and bar practically on every street. In the nights one can just see girls roaming the streets of Dubai. These girls are not even scared of a passing Police cars, as I understand that most of the Policemen are the local sponsors and owners of these girls.

All the glamour, blizz, international sporting activities doesn’t make a country developed. Neither does high rise buildings, indoor ski, water parks, seven star hotel make UAE a country to be pursued. One must not forget that it was Dubai which shelters some of the worlds most wanted criminals and refuse to handover these criminals to their respective countries.

People leave their families and head towards UAE to make their future, the laws here only protect the locals and hardly sentence the locals for any crimes against expats. Alcohol & prostitution are the major two elements where young expats get trapped and spend all of their fortune on both. Many expat females get sexually abused by their senior managers or locals without anything coming to the news. Many girls who are forcibly brought to UAE are murdered and killed and never return back to their home countries. Many expat employees get cheated and loose their savings which they had paid to the recruitment agencies, many girls get pregnant and quietly undergo abortion in UAE or fly to Mumbai to abort their unborn, high percentage of men & woman expats who leave their country have illicit or live in relationship which is unknown to their spouses back home and they say that due to financial crunch that was the only solution, many expats are locked up in the prisons of UAE for reasons unknown even to the Police. UAE and especially Dubai is the place which is very attractive but it has its own toll on the poor expats.

This country has a DARK SIDE which is world has unheard off, this is the place to magic , this is the place of curse , this is the place of material happiness or a place of life to get worse….

this is UAE.

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The number of spiritual, god, holy, healing and religious channels on the TV are on rise. Not because of the growth of spirituality or people following the faith, but all intended to make thousands & millions of dollars. The Media has played an important part to support the preachers, healers and the so called sons of God. The Media downplays any criticism against these preachers and controls any truth from directly affecting the beliefs of the followers. Perhaps, there have been many experts and authors who want to share the facts of religion or faith with the people. However, the media and rich people behind the preachers don’t allow these facts to be published and the outcome they declare the works of the people who uncover the facts, merely as fake or fabrication or misleading the followers.

Preachers like Billy Graham, Beny Hinn, Joel Osteen and may others are quite wealthy and fully backed by the government, rich and the elite. The backing comes  as huge sums of money is involved and it works for the government to control the people and to deceive them. The common people have been controlled and manipulated in the name of the religion. The Roman Catholics, Protestant, Jews & Muslims have all been trapped in the same hole. The whole idea of the government is to divide them and unify them and make money out of them. The different sects and religions are all the time busy in fighting each other than reconciling with each other, as the government decides. One thing is certain these Rich businessmen, politicians and preachers don’t have any religion and I wonder if they even fear God.

 

The common man / woman is always under the stress of what is the right way of worshipping God, how do I pray? Should I dance , should I sing hymns, should I clap or should I kneel down,. I have researched and witnessed that people change their churches atleast 4 to 5 minimum in their whole life time. The reason is they enter certain congregation and are overwhelmed by the praise & worship, healing, miracles, prophecies, testimonies etc., and feel that “yes, this is my church, this is where I belong, thank God I am in this congregation”. They even spent 20-30% of their earnings on the church, the pastors become rich and the church has more flamboyance and color. After experiencing holy spirit in this church ( I am not sure with all those occult practices if that’s the Holy spirit they felt). They are so sure that whatever good or bad happens in their life they thank God, the pastor programs them that in even the worst of sufferings the people are made to believe that those are the acts of God. Therefore, the pastors don’t have any real opposition or substantial criticism.  During the times of trouble I have seen people shed more than 50% of their earnings. I guess the pastors & preachers like this situation of their followers as more money and they can profess some coming soon good days. When these followers discover the real agenda of the church and a great deal of envy is created among themselves over certain key positions in the church, the believers start to fall out and look for another real church, they want to be born again once again, they want to be Christians one more time. Oh! What a sorry state they are in during this phase, as they even stop praying to God during the transition period from one church to another. Apparently the same story continues in the next church and after that and after that. The followers are just deceived in following these pastors, preachers, healers and holy men, without understanding the real meaning of the word of God or knowing the Gospel.

 

I fail to understand if God did allow suffering than I am sure he wants us to learn something from that, or maybe we are not on the path of faith. There has to be some sense. Perhaps the sufferings have befallen upon us due to our own inequities. Yet we blame God. Why do I need to sing in a certain church, dance, clap, fall in trance, music, loud shouting’s by the preacher “ You are healed”, “The spirit has touched you”, “ Jesus has touched you” and so forth and so on. I don’t think that God ever wants me to indulge in any stupid or foolish traditions of the world to follow him. Why? Don’t we have our own copy of the Holy Bible, maybe we didn’t read it properly, or maybe we just read everyday because our pastor made us feel guilty to read without really understanding what we read.

 

When we have the Gods word at our disposal and when the instructions are made clear, we fail to even follow the basic instructions given in the scriptures and get confused by so many traditions of the world. We were born of sin, sin is committed everyday, we shall commit sin tomorrow and after tomorrow, some way or the other. We forget that Jesus Christ was born, baptized and died on the cross for our sins, to wash away our sins, to forgive our sins and to lead us to salvation. Literal sense we even sometime use that “all our sins our forgiven”, so give ourselves room for allowed sins so that those words are like medicine that our sins our forgiven, it’s not the license to sin. When I understand, I know the scriptures and yet I sin than I cant call myself as Born again (Not related to any church but our spirit & mind born again).  

 

We commit many follies and disgraceful acts just in the name of the father and assuming that “ All our sins are forgiven”, a sure acts of deliberation, how can w be saved in such deceitful tactics with God. I discovered that more and more people are becoming less & less fearful of God. Or else we won’t have so many people falling into devils plans and in wrongful actions and blasphemies against God. Easily following the pastors, leaders, preachers who lead us to follow the devil. When it’s said God is within us we go and seek him in idols, holy men, miracles, churches and everywhere but do not give him a chance to live within us, all the while we try to throw him out of our body with all the unholy actions.

 

I conclude that when we are aware the exact do’s & don’ts mentioned in Gospel and yet challenge God that means we really underestimate God and don’t care for him. How we live our lives on earth in sinful ways and throw away the eternal life after judgment just because of few years of LIVE LIFE on earth. Lets not commit our follies, inequities, follow false prophets , traditions, sins, lust, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER….

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