East Hampton Airport Manager James Brundige, who has been with the airport since January 2005, is planning to retire in mid October, according to East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell this week.
Mr. Brundige said he plans to phase himself out of the position over the next several weeks, training his successor, whose name could not be confirmed by Mr. Cantwell or Mr. Brundige.
Mr. Brundige worked in management for United and as a pilot before retiring in 2004 at the age of 60, the mandatory retirement age for pilots. "I took this job the next season," he said of his position in East Hampton.
Originally from Saratoga Springs, Mr. Brundige currently lives in Locust Valley on Long Island, and he and his wife have a cottage in East Hampton to help with the commute to work.
"The job has been challenging and fun at times, and not so fun at other times," he laughed.
Mr. Brundige's departure comes at a time when the airport has become a controversial issue. East Hampton Town Councilwoman and airport liaison Kathee Burke-Gonzalez has reported an approximate 40 percent increase in helicopter traffic at the airport over the past year. Noise complaints from residents are also on the rise, as well as questions about whether the airport will continue accepting grants from the Federal Aviation Association which don't allow the airport to impose mandatory curfews or quotas on the number of aircrafts that can land and depart, and the hours during which they are permitted to do so.
Over the next few weeks in his position, Mr. Brundige said he will be prepping his successor for upcoming projects at the airport, including some paving projects and the implementation of new taxiway lighting.


text:
Health at a Glance
Health at a Glance 2009
OECD Indicators
This fifth edition of Health at a Glance provides the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in the costs, activities and results of health systems. Key indicators provide information on health status, the determinants of health, health care activities and health expenditure and financing in OECD countries.
This edition also contains new chapters on the health workforce and on access to care, an important policy objective in all OECD countries. The chapter on quality of care has been extended to include a set of indicators on the quality of care for chronic conditions.
Each indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability. An annex provides additional information on the demographic and economic context within which health systems operate, as well as a concise description of key characteristics in health system financing and delivery of services in OECD countries.
English Also available in: French, German, Korean
The Looming Crisis in the Health Workforce
Society at a Glance 2009
https://doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2009-en
Most OECD countries conduct regular health surveys which allow respondents to report on different aspects of their health. A commonly-asked question relates to self-perceived health status, of the type: "How is your health in general?". Despite the subjective nature of this question, indicators of perceived general health have been found to be a good predictor of people's future health care use and mortality (for instance, see Miilunpalo et al., 1997). For the purpose of international comparisons however, cross-country differences in perceived health status are difficult to interpret because responses may be affected by differences in the formulation of survey questions and responses, and by cultural factors.
English Also available in: German, French
https://doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2009-13-en
Add to Favorites Click to Access
Percentage of adults reporting to be in good health, females and males combined, 2007 (or latest year available)
Gender differences in the percentage of adults reporting to be in good health, 2007 (or latest year available)
Trends in the percentage of adults reporting to be in good health, selected OECD countries, 1980-2007
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/component/health_glance-2009-13-en

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: I'm trying to get information from the site, using the right css selectors, but it still returns me as if the element didn't exist
trying to build a bot to my own services, but while i'm trying to run its crashs
login_button = WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.presence_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "//div[@class='loginRegisterButtons sb-login-register-buttons clearfix ember-view']//a[@class='btn signin-btn sbLoginBtn buttons1571052392296']")))
login_button.click()

the html

           ENTRAR

A: The desired element is a Ember.js enabled element, so to click on the element you have to induce WebDriverWait for the element_to_be_clickable() and you can use either of the following Locator Strategies:

*

*Using CSS_SELECTOR:
WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "a.btn.signin-btn.sbLoginBtn > span.btf-text"))).click()

*Using XPATH:
WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(EC.element_to_be_clickable((By.XPATH, "//span[@class='btf-text' and text()='ENTRAR']"))).click()

*Note : You have to add the following imports:
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Political Play
Zulfiqar Shah
Global order: Ideologies, Religions, Sufism and Sindh-Balochistan - V 03 December, 2016
A patchwork of culture: Languages across the continents are connected. This is the foundation of contemporary global culture, a post multi-cultural reality that has to come in full expression as yet. Sindhi is a sister language to Sanskrit. It is a language of Mohenjo Daro. The Capital of Indus civilization country spread across Sindh, Balochistan and Siraiki southern Punjab.
It is connected with the languages spoken in Sindh, Balochistan, Siraiki southern Punjab, Punjabi northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa, Pakistan; Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, East Bengal and Tamil Nadu in India, Kashmir in Pakistan, India and China, Nepal, Bengal, Tamil Nadu in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Iran and Afghanistan.
Indus civilization in India is described as Kuchh ki Tahzeeb (The civilization of Kutchh) with reference to Kutchh. In centuries old history Kutchh was having Capital of Sindh in the period of Kind Dodo Soomro. The second Hero of Shah Abdul Lateef Bhittai, Rai Diach, the Iconic King of Sindh, having Capital in Kutchh, is treatise in the poetry of Bhittai, and later on by Sheikh Ayaz, a legendary poet of Sindh in twentieth century.
The vocabulary of Sindhi, Balochi languages, Siraiki, and Rajasthani languages, are shared to greater extent. The vocabulary of Sindhi, Punjabi, especially Hindko of Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa and Kashmiri is shared to certain extent. Sindhi and Nepali share their vocabulary to certain extent. In fact some places in Nepal as are associated with Sindh and Indus like Sindhu Pal Chowk, historical and official name of a road in Nepal.
Sindhi shares vocabulary with Pashtu and Persian to limited extent. Sindhi also share vocabulary with Urdu because Urdu is the latest, last and the newest language from united India having seat in Sindh as well as in Utter Pardesh (UP) and Delhi in India. Unexpectedly, Bihari and Sindhi have some cultural resemblance that is evident in Biharis of Tarai in Nepal and Biharis in India, and in Bangladesh also. However, ethno-linguistic Bihari immigration and influx in Sindh is post 1970 phenomena. There are phonetic and vocabulary traces between Kurdish, Spanish and Sindhi.
Sindh always have remained in favour of peace with India and Afghanistan. Sheikh Ayaz wrote a poem during 1965 war between India and Pakistan, the crux of which is 'Irony of War' "Hee Sanghram, Samhoon Ahey Narayan Shiyam, Hun Ja Muhinja Geet Ba Sagiya" (Irony of War. My departed Sindhi brother Narayan Shiyam is now on the land of India. And, we together share the same songs). He was jailed in Sahiwal prisons, in Punjab. Other Sindhi leaders and hundreds of activists were also jailed in Punjab between 1965 to 2010 due to democratic and political rights activism and movement. Rasool Bux Palejo, leader of Sindhi Awami Tahreek, Awami National Party and Awami Tahreek, spent years in Kot Lakhpat jail near Lahore.
Leaders and activists of all political parties from Sindh and Balochistan have been jailed for the same reasons from Zero hours of August 14, 1947 to October, 2016. Those who took part in the Second World War on behalf of Sindh, were handed over to Pakistan by Britain as Prisoners of War. Daily Guardian, London published news that Raheem Hingoro, a warrior, sentenced to death by military court of colonial Britain was hanged in Sindh Prisons Hyderabad. (Terrorist, by H. T. Lambrick, Oxford University Press, London, UK and Pakistan based in Karachi, Sindh)
Sindh and Balochistan together have always professed peace across in the history, excepting the war waged in self defense, and against offense (defensive offense), and only have supported war allies until 1943 -- Iran, Germany, Japan, Turkey and Russia. Sindh profess globally self-defence and shares its experience of non-violent deterrence through non-violent and peaceful actions that it has observed during its decades in Pakistan as federating state.
Balochistan declares, although warring for motherland is pride, Balochistan due to mountainous topography, thin population and sparse settlements, and having larger geographical area if compared with the other lands in Pakistan, peaceful deterrence remained an unattained desire, although Government of Balochistan like Government of Sindh has always been practicing deterrence over the issues concerning federal dissents and differences over the numerous matters.
Non-violent and peaceful deterrence is Sindh philosophy shared with Balochistan and Siraiki people. This, based on the historical political culture of the lands, especially during their decades in Pakistan, is an addition to the philosophy of non-violence, peace and interdependence, professed by M. K. Gandhi, who did demanded M. A. Jinnah a travel without visa to Pakistan, but also was killed while observing hunger strike with reference to Partition affairs for the people in the newly created Pakistan.
M.K. Gandhi once said that it is responsibility of Gujarati to undertake development in Sindh because Sindhi are teachers of Gujarati. Sindh thanks to Gujarat that Gujarati youth undertook reconstruction work after the earthquake in Sindh in 1900s. Gandhi Ji hiself said to Prominent Sindhi leader Dr. Choithram, "I am (M. K. Gandhi) Sindhi. (Sindhi Reflections, Lata Jagtiani, Jharna Books, Mumbai - the book carries forward note by L.K. Advani).
Nelson Mandela was a Gospel of Human Equality because of his path of reconciliation between ethnicities and culture through non-violent means that has not only been educated and professed by the African culture before the world wars but also by the Holy Scriptures, world community and United Nations. Sindh and Balochistan, thus, suggest and request United Nations acknowledgment of Nelson Mandela's great contribution to humanity by declaring a Day for Mandela.
Sindh-Balochistan together professes non-war use of nuclear technology. It is also formally mentioned that Balochistan Assembly during the period of Chief Minister Akhtar Mengal adopted resolution against nuclear tests by Pakistan. Simultaneously, G.M. Syed, Bhutto leadership of Pakistan People's Party, especially Murteza Bhutto, Rasool Bux Palejo, Shah Mohammad Shah, Mir Ghouse Bux Bizanjo, Mehmood Khan Achazai, and others from Sindh and Balochistan have always opposed war against Afghanistan.
Sindh expresses its displeasure over the manner Benazir Bhutto was perused to sign formal orders for strategic interventions with reference to Afghanistan. Sindh condemns the act of concerned quarters in Pakistani security establishment for refusal to sitting Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (Sindhi) on her wish to visit nuclear processing facility in Punjab, although the nuclear technology in Pakistan was a result of Zulfikar Ali Bhuto's diplomacy and leadership. (This act by certain in Pakistan establishment was quoted by Benazir Bhutto herself.) Sindh and Balochistan, therefore, sharing its experience of federal and democratic exclusivity of Pakistan.
Sindh and Balochistan believe that cultural interdependence, subsided by political culture of democratic norms in terms of not only holding elections, but also the actual trickle down of democratic essence into the actions at the Government level and in the all tiers of governance. Democracy essentially is the economic democracy without which only structural democratic skeletons may exist, the soul and body politic of social and state interaction for development, peace and prosperity is impossible. Until this is not attained across the nations, which together form global community, the real transformation of world into contemporary civilization based on even globalization would be impossible.
Governments of Sindh and Balochistan
Sindh and Balochistan have been on equal page on the issues like Kalabagh Dam, coordination for inter-provincial crime counter mechanism, water resources sharing, flood management coordination and other similar matters. Karachi and other parts of Sindh have historically like, today, remained home to Balochistan during the winters, and Quetta and other parts of Balochistan have remained home to Sindhi historically and contemporarily during the summers. Sindh Assembly is exception since 1930s concerning issues of the legislation.
In recent years, Sindh Assembly has legislated on numerous matters and issues ranging from Child protection to the religious minorities like Hindus, which in accordance with Sindh approach towards development, peace, people's security and sovereignty is participation of Sindh into contemporary civilization as people and as a federating state among the nations of the world. Sindh legislation before August 14, 1947 related to gender, protection of birds, and other similar affairs are Sindh contribution to the world with reference to earliest gender rights and to the responsibility towards life and environment in the globe.
Sindh Assembly has already passed resolution for the Sindh's own military-force between 1995 and 1998 for security. Government of Sindh has also declared the festival of Holi as public holiday, which Sindhi Hindu joined by Sindhi Muslim celebrate together. Chandra Keshab Sena (West Bengal) and Diya Ram Gindul Mal (Sindh) together took initiative for the legislation gainst t he tradition of Sati in Hinduism. The tradition of Sati was banned by colonial Britain India. (Raj Rashi Dayaram Gidu Mal, Biography)
Balochistan Parliament in united India has history of discussions and resolutions as well as legislation. Balochistan Assembly has passed resolutions regarding enforced disappearances, and the nuclear tests by federal authorities of Pakistan. Government of Balochistan decisions concerning national resources, demands with reference to Guwader, discussions in the Assembly sessions and the resolution by Balochistan Assembly whose elections were uncontroversial passed resolution with reference to Gawadar Port, against federal designs.
Sindh and Balochistan Police: Democracy and Justice
Unlike Balochistan, Sindh has province wide police. Sindh Police, like Sindh Postal Services, were established by colonial Britain as role model for rest for united India. (Story of Sindh, K. R. Malkani, Sindhi Acadmi, Delhi). Some actions by Sindh Police officers, like elsewhere in South Asia, has remained matter of concern for the people, as in the cities of Balochistan for Balochistan Police; however Sindh Police role is worth mentioned for emerging democracies in the undeveloped and developing world. Inspector General (Chief) of Sindh Police refused Pakistan Army for merging military cadres in Sindh Police during 1990s. Another IG Sindh Police Syed Kamal Shah on the orders of Prime Minister House, which had to come according to the procedures through Sindh Government, went to Jinnah International Airport, Karachi along with Police Force to arrest Pakistan Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf.
However, during military rule, he was questioned regarding his action. Later on he was promoted for federal services concerning policing. The same IG also instructed Sindh Police in Karachi and held press conference that police should not interfere the privacy of couples in the public places, and announced taking action against violators of instruction if complained on the announced telephone number. In Balochistan, the complaint against the Police is lowest if compared with rest provinces in Pakistan.
People of Sindh, on the line of Sindh Government during 2012 – 2014, demand that non-Sindhi cadres and personnel in Sindh Police should not be outsourced, nor merged. Besides seconding, IG Sindh Police decision to not merge military cadre in Sindh Police, and a few Sindhi dissenters political parties, if combined, will form majority from the membership perspective at least, would also not accept the merger of military cadre in Sindh Police.
Sindh Police decision to not join Balochistan Police for temporary merger undertaking special tasks involving political row is another torch bearing decision with reference to federalism. A similar decision in Pakistan by one Punjabi General was expressed during the discussion on military action in East Pakistan. The military action turned into War of 1971.
Sindh and Balochistan, although have remained concerned regarding indigenous tiny number of Sindhi and Baloch judges in Sindh and Balochistan higher judiciary, the decisions and verdicts by Sindh High Court as well as Balochistan High Court on enforced disappeared persons are exemplary. The district courts and other subordinate judicial mechanism, have is many complaints against Sindh and Balochistan Police have done justice. Judiciary is superior with reference to law. In fact, Judiciary is the first ever state-oriented structure which became globalised across the world. And, Will of the people is above all.
Sindh and Balochistan express their desire to undertake further governance reforms in all aspects, especially with support of United Nations and international community. Sindh and Balochistan thanks United States of America, and other countries for training and other support for police; Japan for road construction from Karachi to Quetta, RCD Highway; Iran for being first country dispatching humanitarian aid to Sindh during floods; and Sindh and Balochistan thanks United Nations, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia for help supporting through various means in several areas of governance, legislation, infrastructure development, culture and tourism, especially education and rest.
Sindh and Balochistan desires to seek further support of United Nations and international community in various areas of interests, including participation in peacemaking, reforms particularly UN capacity building of Sindh and Balochistan Police concerning international laws and their practices according to the law of land, as well as rights regime, UN has successfully provided to the Police cadres from across the continents.
Shared Political Resources
South Asia does not share the natural resources and cultures alone, it also shares democracy, statecraft and secularism that is our collective contribution to humanity, sovereign states and countries and the people. In united India nearly two thousand years ago, a state designation of Maha Mat (Prime Minister) which if translated, in Sindhi and Hindi, literally means 'the most Wise Leader'. We also share that practice with the Greek Philosophy.
South Asia has a legacy of Maha Mat, Prime Ministers that include many mentioning only the martyred one residents of the land, which mingles through Sindhu (Indus) with ocean at the Sea, and born in Sindh at the Capital of Indus Civilization - Moen Jo Daro -- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. Chanakya's doctrines on statecraft and politics are gospel for the statecraft across the world. In words of martyred Benazir Bhutto, a Prime Minister of Pakistan, mentioned about the secularism of southern Pakistan (Sindh, Balochistan), and somewhere she said we can share our experience of secularism with India.
Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto mediated between USA and China in 1970s for their alliance. Mao Zedong and Chuen Lai Led China tilted towards USA when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto arranged an undeclared two-day visit of US President to China routed through Pakistan, in which Chinese leadership agreed on principle matters with USA.
Rashtriya Swayam Sangathan (RSS) is the oldest political cultural organization rooted in the theology and philosophy of Hinduism founded in Sialkot city of Punjab, and its first unit after foundation was opened up in Nawabshah city of Sindh in united India. (Sindh Story, K. R. Malkani, Sindhi Academy, Delhi) RSS does not participate in the elections. Apart from its political ideology, RSS is oldest political forum of South Asia that still exists with largest membership amongst the likes for example Hindu Maha Shabha (HMS), older than RSS. HMS, founded probably in Bombay Presidency, opposed the separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency, is having a photograph of Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan in its headquarters.
Molana Obaidullah Sindhi, a born Punjabi Sikh, who voluntarily chose to become Sindhi and Muslim, and added 'Sindhi' his Zaat (Sir Name also) like Bhuttani of historically Nepali origin practice today by choosing 'Nepali' Sir Name after migration as well as seeking refuge in Nepal. Molana Obaidullah Sindhi, was the Minister of Home Affairs of Government of India in Exile based in Kabul, Afghanistan lead by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Sindh Sagar Party is the continuation of Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi's Ideology, and its interpretations of Islamic Jurisprudence are the role model for the participation of Muslims in the contemporary global civilization. Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi in his letter to Indian National Congress (INC) leader Jawahar Lal Nehru suggested that change the name of INC into Indian International Congress. This of his suggestion was an expression that has broader as well as exclusive connotation.
It is pride for Sindh and Balochistan that Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi, was among the first who chose Sindh as their motherland, and materialized and he prove to be one of the leaders of Sindh and of the Subcontinent. Some Scots as well as Englander Brits, Tibetans along with Chinese, Canadians, American, Iranians, Afghani, Africans, Iraqi, Turkish, Syria, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Central Asian Courtiers, and others chose Sindh and are buried in districts of Karachi, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Naushehro Feroz, and other districts of Sindh from 1910s to 1995, and before.
Sindh and Balochistan are proud on these sons all of whom played important role for Sindh, including waging wars and becoming the commanders in Sindh Army of the history. Simultaneously, Balochistan will always remember, on equal footings to the sons of soil, those who fought for the rights of Balochistan by being non-Balochistani, especially those Punjabi Muslims led by Asad Rehman, later on settled in Islamabad. It is pride of Balochistan that Dutch, Afghani, Iranians, Central Asians, African, Iraqi, and others who chose Balochistan as their motherland, and have graves in Balochistan from the period of 1800s to 1980s.
Sindh and Balochistan, besides being land where Rig Veda was written, also had saint Mian Mir Sindhi, who born and brought up in Sewhan city, where Rig Veda was written on banks of Indus. Mian Mir Sindhi, a Sufi Muslim Sindhi, was invited by Sikh Masters to inaugurate Golden Temple, the holiest place for Sikhism from their religious point of view.
Majority of Sikhs are Punjabi, then are Sindhi, Rajasthani, and Pashtuns. Guru Nanik Sahib meditated in Sadhu Bela, Sukkur, Sindh for long time before spreading the massage of Sikkhism--the fourth religion after Vedism, and its connotation in Hinduism and Jainism is associated with Sindh and Balochistan. Therefore Punjabi, Sindhi, Rajasthani and Pashtun are exclusively legitimate if they have any concerns about Sikkhism, especially Punjabi in case if Sikh is of ethnic Punjabi origin also.
A verse of God in Rig Veda, the first Holy Scripture, also in Holy Kuran the last Holy Scripture - Surai Ikhlas. God, the Absolute Being, has introduced his Self in the beginning and in the end that He is beyond Time and Space, which is also expressed in a Sufi centre in Balochistan, receives pilgrims from Sindh and Balochistan since time unknown is called La Hoot La Makan (Beyond the time and space).
It is pluralism of Hinduism, a contribution in religious practices in human heritage, that even a considerable number of the Hindus do not perform rituals before the images in all forms of Devta (an order between Saints and Prophets).
Bhutto like a few statesmen, similar to Chanakya, was a 'thin line' between Yin Yan of Confusions and Tau China and Korea. The only example of such in contemporary times is Clinton and Blair of the Mid Path Politics; Markhel of Germany; Putin in revival of Russia; and Abe of Japan. Yin and Yan, is Korean-Chinese expression, which in Hegelian logic and Marxian philosophy is Dialecticalism. At least Hegel and Marx are agreed on Dialecticalism, Idealism and Materialism is their own stream.
The debates of materialism and Idealism begins from Rig Veda, become thin line between Yin and Yan in Korea-China and contemporarily can be expressed Unity of Opposites in Dilectalism. Modern Sindh, in continuation of journey of human from Rig Veda to Islam and in Philosophical terms to the Russell and Will Durant, and to the Sufi Sadiq Faqeer in Umerkot Sindh says, "Allah Chadiyaun Aurahen, Parahen Paya, Bina Nam Supreen, Anjan ke Biya" which means the Sufis united all characteristics (safat) of God/Absolute Being and turned his name God into Omnipresent a unity behind the time and space, which is beyond time and space. In Rig Veda, this is called "Anaam". (Refer Sindh-Balochistan: Ideologies, Religions and Sufism available online, Merinews)
Sindh apart from many other contributions specifically to South Asia, offered first among the indigenous political leadership to the united India after Emperor Ashoka in the form of Barrister Raees Ghulam Mohammad Bhurgri, a Muslim, who was not only among the founders of Indian National Congress (INC), the first Subcontinent political party in terms of spread across the region, but also was earliest indigenous top leadership of INC. Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah joined leadership row of INC later on.
Gandhiji, while visiting Hyderabad, Sindh said Hyderabad is the most beautiful city of (undivided) India. Queen of Asia was the title used for Karachi by invader Charles Napier, had first Mayors G. M. Syed and Jamshed Naswanji Mehta. Jamshed was the maker of modern Karachi and formally the Mayor. In the city, G. M. Syed and Jamshed Nasarwanji Mehta incepted theosophical society in association with others, led by a Brit Theosophist founder.
Sindh Theosophical Society had chapters in a few parts of Sindh including Hyderabad. Sindh Government is democratic enough that 'Sindh Freedom March' in 2009, 2012, and 2014 took place in Karachi, which were attended by over one million people, was not resisted by the authorities. The march had stage at Sindh Theosophical Society Headquarters near Tibet Centre in Karachi and was peopled around the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Meanwhile, Sindh demanded protection and legislation for the cultural-religious freedom of the religious minorities by holding a march (2011), which began from Anne Besent Hall of Sindh Theosophical Society in Hyderabad participated by hundreds of participants. Government of Sindh, sensitive to the core issues of Sindh, did legislation and taken actions on some demands mentioned in the Memorandum of Sindhi. The slogan of protesters was Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Sindhi Nation, and Sindhi Nation. This blend of theology with Ideologies, theosophy, Sufism and secularism is enshrined in the culture of Sindh and Balochistan, a legacy of Indus civilization.
Chosen Land
Sindh is chosen land, together with Balochistan, historically. The contributions of Sindh begin with Rig Veda and Moen Jo Daro. Sindh is hounered by Jesus Christ according to the Church of Canada, when he was buried, probably, with the Ajrak linen, a Sindhi block print used for all cultural happenings, also associated, however necessarily, for burial by Sindhi, Baloch and Siraiki since over two thousand years.
Sindh, again was honoured by Imam Hussain A. S., a grandson of Holy Prophet PBUH, when he chose to stay in Sindh, which was Buddhist and Hindu population at that time. Holy Prophet PBUH is quoted as saying "Hussain Mini, Wa Ana Min All Hussain" (Holy Prophet expressed that he shares his features with Hussain, and Hussain shares feature of mine.) Like God in his verse in Kuran said "Al Insan Siri, Wa Ana Sirahu" expressed sharing of his features with persons.
God chose sacrifice among the Religions of Abraham (Hazrat Ibrahim A.S.) however, received the sacrifice by Jesus and Hussain -- both lineage of Abraham. When Imam Hussain sent proposal to the Islamic Caliph Yazid, according to the Sindh Textbook Board textbook for Intermediate, he should be given passage towards/for Sindh. His companions were also with him. Sindh, was having Hindu and Buddhist population. Why then Hindu and Buddhist should even be considered for discrimination by the Muslim?
Sindh, thus, extends its experience of thousands of years-long journey of Indus civilization with the world for shaping contemporary civilization of our own generations and for the generations that have yet to come.
Indus describes Islam
Sindh and Balochistan respect all civilizations including the contemporary one. The journey of religions that began with the kingdom of humanity, transformed into Kingdom of God in Christianity after Judaic salvation by Moses. Jesus Christ said he will get rebirth on the occasion of the Day of Judgment.
In Islam, arrival of Akhir ul Zaman (the Personality, God's medium of communication before the end of the world).Day of Judgment is a shortest moment through, which God will "end the… (human) world with the music" which would be an end to history with the end of human goble because according to the acquired interpretation (of which sources are untraced) having tradition in Sindh, God housed soul in the human through music. According to the particle Physics, when Atom was further analyzed, anti-electrons, anti-neutrons and anti-protons were found. And, when these minor most matters were further analyzed, Quarks were found. Quarks are music according to Physics.
Raj Rashi Dayaram Gidu Mal, an authority not only on Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam but also authority on English, Hebrew, Arabic and Persian. A Sindhi Hindu Judge in the undivided Indian judiciary, Daya Ram Gidumal, resolved an issue with reference to Islamic jurisprudence, when two Muslim conflict sects of India were not reaching an agreement with reference to the interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence in the matter. Both approached him. After proceedings, he issued decree, both religious parties accepted. (Raj Rashi Diya Ram Gidu Mal, a biography in Sindhi)
There are so many matters in Islam, which does not require Ejtahad. Only true and appropriate interpretation with reference to the contemporary realities of Kuranic verses would be the contemporary connectivity of Muslims and Humans with the Islamic Jurisprudence. Some matters no doubt, require Ejtehad in any way.
Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that He is a Home of Wisdom. Ali is the door. How one can know in accordance with His above quoted words about Kuran, Islam, and Jurisprudence (Sharia)? In that perspective, Nahaj-ul-Balagha (Climax of Wisdom) the Book of Discourses by Hazrat Ali are necessary for understanding and interpreting Kuran, Hadith, Sharia and Sunnah. Can any Imam of Fiqah (Interpolator of Islamic Jurisprudence - Sharia) can be more authentic if compared with the Wisdom of Ali A.S. in the Climax of Wisdom? Besides, the Jafferia and Ismailia interpretations of Islamic Jurisprudence (Imam Abu Hanifa's Hanfia Maslik – Orthodox). Jaffria interpretation is by Imam Jaffer Sadiq, great grandson of Holy Prophet of PBUH, is practiced by Shia Asna Ashri; and the interpretations by Imam Ismail, great grandson of the Holy Prophet PBUH is practiced by Khuwaja Shia Ismaili.
Farz is an obligation in Islam. Rest is not, even Sunnah (the life style and practices of Holy Prophet PBUH). Therefore scholarly and popularly if someone does not use words like Salallah Alaih Wasalam (PBUH) it is neither sin nor inappropriate according to Kuran, Sunnah, and Hadith. However respecting Prophet is social and individual responsibility in a bid to respect the Prophets including Holy Prophet PBUH. If teachers are ought to be respected, why not the grand teachers of us in the human history? This does not mean that Muslim start acting on behalf of God and Kuran without any Orders, and start punishing for any expression, if otherwise. The blasphemy law can be reviewed in this context and in the context of Kuranic verse(s), Practices and sayings of Holy Prophet if obligatory, and in the light of Nahaj-ul-Balagha (Climax of Wisdom).
If Hadith - mostly quoted sayings and practices of Holy Prophet by others, which are contradictory and controversial to certain extent according to the scholars. According to Muslim history, Abu Huraia has attempted to document the most of the sayings by Holy Prophet PBUH and practices. He himself became Muslim during the time, when Holy Prophet was to depart this world in worldly sense. There is an incident in which Bibi Aysha A.S. contradicted a saying of Holy Prophet when Abu Huraia shared. Abu Huraia did not buy the version.
Consent of male and female for marriage is obligation in Islam. When a person is married without his own / self consent, mostly on the parents will or wish, that relation of intercourse is called Zina. While Rape is called Zina bil Jabr. This means, if un-consented by marrying parties, and without will / wish in association with Parental responsibilities, the act of intercourse is called Zina bil Jabr. One can marry without the will / wish of parents similar to what is legal through the Courts in Pakistan.
There are more than seventeen kinds of marriage bonds according Islamic orthodox of Hanfiya, Shafai, Humbali, and Maliki Orthodox (Maslik). Besides, consented intercourse for an agreed period, if shared with at least two person as witness of agreement if present, is part of Islamic Jurisprudence. In case of absence of witness, according to Jurisprudence, natural existence like trees, moon, and others can be made witnessed before God. Consented/ periodic intercourse and relation is allowed in the Islamic Republics as well as Muslim majority countries in Middle East, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and many others. Regarding Marriage among Ahal-e-Kitab refer to the published write-up Sindh-Balochistan: Ideologies, Religions and Sufism, Merinews.
Intercourse in lieu of money, according to Hadith, and Muslim history, is allowed in case of wars and emergencies. According to the narration, Holy Prophet PBUH was asked during a war that warring Asahaba were away from their wives, therefore they require to have intercourse. Holy Prophet PBUH replied that they can have intercourse if female in the area have consented, and are paid appropriately. Paid intercourse is allowed in the Islamic Republics as well as Muslim majority countries in Middle East, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and many others.
Liquor is not Haraam. Haraam is a Jurisprudence ban by the order of God in Islam. For a period not more than year's, there was no verse from God on the use of intoxicants. Only when, Asahaba (those who saw Holy Prophet PBUH) inappropriately performed Namaz, a fundamental of Islami called Farz, the verse revealed that the Prayer cannot be performed while intoxicated. God did not said that do not use intoxicants. He fulfilled his words that he can forgive Huqooq Allah, but not Huqqooq al Ibad.
Although taking intoxicants, excluding for the medicinal or similar use, are Huqooq al Ibad, God also cared for his creature - the person. He preferred abstaining Prayer, not the intoxication. There is no particular verse that is an order by God for declaring intoxication Haram. The verses related to the matter of intoxication in the world only mention the damages to health due to use of it, and with reference to his Faraz.
Therefore, there is no punishment in the world and after Day of Judgment for intoxication. God himself has offered liquor in Heavens according to Holy Kuran. Before this, Islam the Prophets have also been using and offering the liquor, like according to New Testament (Injeel Muqadas) Jesus Christ invited his students for liquor and shared the gathering with them.
Holy Prophet was not only for man, he was for nature as well. It is assumed that the status of Harram for Pork was in a bid to save species of Pig / Bore. Although Bore is Haram in Islam, the specie of Pig extinct in Arabia.
Islam's unacknowledged contribution is a framework of rights regime for women according to contemporary time to the Holy Prophet PBUH and the institute of Ejtehad was established for times to come. God, according to Kuran will call everyone on the Day of Judgment with the names of their Mother. How God would have called persons for the Judgment with the name of fathers, if Jesus got birth without father? Besides, he is responsible to contain everyone's privacy. If a consented intercourse happens and a female convinces, and in case the father of the baby is socially unknown, how than God disclose the privacy (secrecy) of the person, both female and male. In Europe and Northern America, identity of parents is mandatory with the Mother's name.
(Linguistic explanation for the use of word 'Seen" with reference to the 'Seen' in Holy Kuran associated with either Abaseen (Indus) or Sino (China) is a matter of historical and religious scholars of Arabic.)
World-polity and beyond - flow of contemporary civilization with the Oceanic Indus
On the banks of Indus, in southern Punjab, Siraiki poetry 'Sindh Sagar Naal Hamesha' is a massage for flowing with the wave of Indus. Sindh and Balochistan receive it. The wave of Indus is submergence with contemporary civilization of globalisation and connectivity with the universe in all of forms. Sindh and Balochistan acknowledge that led by USA, Russia, Europe, and India we together are connecting with the universe. It is the contribution of the USA in terms of country, with the collective scientific contribution that it protects the physical sovereignty of the Globe by taking measures to destroy strides. This is the beginning of an important aspect of the contemporary global civilization. The wave of Indus is an important part of it.
This is an age of Continentalism, according to Asif Baladi, in his discourse two decades ago. Asif Baladi is an intellectual and previous Secretary General of Jeay Sindh Qomi Mahaz (JSQM).
JSQM a political party that leads the largest popular peaceful social movement for freedom and sovereignty in Asia, and if combined together with Sindh based political parties, the movement of Sindh is the largest amongst the peaceful and non-violent movement in the World. Since militant Sindh Liberation Army (SLA) has not has caused killing of human and animal according the news reports, therefore freedom movement in Sindh is peaceful and non-violent. JSQM also popularly demanded freedom of Sindh and Balochistan both in front of some millions people from activities and mobilization in and around Sindh Freedom March from 2009 to 2014 according to the news reports.
In fact it is the second largest political party in Sindh and third largest people mobilization party in Pakistan. If movements for freedom and sovereignty for Sindh and Balochistan are combined they together would prove largely non-violent, and peaceful; meanwhile with reference to Baloch warriors and Pakistan Army and civilian leadership mentioning word "war" in Balochistan is the also a feature of the freedom movement.
In the age of contemporary global civilization, where world slowly pacing towards observing an epoch, for a new "leap of faith" based on calculated madness our own contemporary civilization. Brexits of their own kind are simmering everywhere due to nations transition from older order to the new global order. Nations take decision in today's realities and in accordance with their own contemporary interests. They will be thinking differently, before the dawn of tomorrow if its suits their interests.
At this juncture, the forums like Common Wealth of previous British dominions and colonies, and Common Wealth of Independent States of previous Soviet Union federating states also needs to have pace with this development. It is suggested by Sindh and Balochistan that a Common Wealth of Subcontinent States should be established.
Sindh and Balochistan, when find climate similarity with their neighbour Iran with USA, and when economies, societies and the civil and military interests of both USA and Iran, along with their support to the Government and the people of Sindh and Balochistan, they want to well wish a peaceful relation between USA and Iran particularly taking Afghanistan related security of both lands is concern. And, both of lands have well wishes for ethno-linguistic connectivity with the neighboring countries. This will also ensure a Southasia in broader terms.
Jerusalem, the Holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, are foresighted everywhere with that reference in the contemporary global civilization in the context of Sindh, philosophy of unity between the diversity of religions. Islam terms Baital-Muqadas, (Holy House of God) the first Kaba (the House) established by Ibrahim A.S. (Abraham). It is suggested that this truth of us all that religions, which have come before Ibrahim A.S. have connectivity with the all religions prophesied by the lineage of Ibrahim A.S. would help coping the challenges of global terrorism syndicates spread across Al-Qaida and ISIS (Daish).
Besides, with reference to Sindh and Balochistan people's view that was suggested to His Excellency Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General, United Nations on the issues concerning Federations across the world, in which it was expressed that issues within the federations across the world in the federative mechanisms, is the first largest consideration in the numerical context of the people; and second largest from the international community's perspective; our contemporary global civilization has to view the issues concerning federal disorder in the context of the universality of philosophy for a unity among the diversity that is deeply rooted in nature, all civilizations, philosophies and in religions.
A federation is agency that provides collectivity in terms of sovereignty, security and interests from territorial and people's perspective. If a federal mechanism fails this of its political, philosophical, and foundational responsibility, and it does not transform in bid to fulfill this responsibility, welcoming new sovereign countries with the Will of people would be the only way forward.
Pakistan, in the foundations of its Constitution in place, claims that Sovereignty belongs to God. This sentence is a connectivity of people through state with God and vice versa. With the reference to the Constitutional essence of Pakistan, ruler inclusive of federating states that are constitutionally called Provinces, are Vice to the God in serving them. Even in that religious perspective of Sovereignty, the Opinion and Demands of Sindh and Balochistan are in accordance with the universally acclaimed political ethics, philosophy, principles and laws. Let the people of Sindh and Balochistan be given agency to realize their dreams through their Will.
(Zulfiqar Shah is a Sindh civil and political rights activist, journalist, and writer. Although UNHCR recognized refugee, he is still associated with historical Diyal Das Club located in Hyderabad, Sindh. He is virtually house arrested on the request of Pakistan authorities, with round the clock audio-visual monitoring by Pakistan, USA, and India. The references to the facts and opinions have mentioning and citation apart from those that are established facts. The facts concerning period of colonial Britain are in documents that available for Public in India Office Library, London, UK; as well as Government of India at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata being Britain rule capital and sub-capital in undivided India. A word 'Personality' used in the write-up is suggested by a Sindhi from Sindh in Pakistan)
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Zulfiqar Shah is a stateless activist, analyst, and researcher. Although he is a refugee, and living a life in exile, he is a born Sindhi and South Asian. Currently he lives in India.
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I'm not kidding. Although most people skip the obits unless somebody they know died recently, they can be a great source for writers. The terse listings of birth and death dates, names of survivors and funeral information don't offer much, but the longer stories are full of possibilities. In my newspaper days, I wrote hundreds of obits. They often intrigued the storyteller in me. An obituary is the story of a whole life told in a few words. So often, comments in the obituary can tweak the imagination. If you put on your creative writing hat and ask yourself why, how and what was that like, the stories will come. You don't have to write about that particular person. You can, if nonfiction is your genre, but you can also use the obits as prompts to get you thinking about stories from your own life or make up characters who lived some of the same elements.
Take this guy Chuck in yesterday's local paper. His family wrote that he "went 'forever fishing' when his heart stopped on Saturday April 26 at the age of 69." He grew up in Minnesota but headed for the Northwest right after high school graduation. Why? Did he come alone? How did he travel? What did he bring? Did he know anyone here in Oregon?
Chuck's ashes are being scattered at sea next month. Folks are invited to meet at the Eagles' Lodge afterward. "Shorts recommended." What will that party be like? What if you started a story with that scene?
The obituary offers basic information, but it leaves a lot of room for memory or imagination to fill in the blanks. Does Chuck remind you of someone in your life? Write about it and see where it goes. Or use Chuck's obituary as the start of a poem or a story. Give him a new name and start writing.
If you don't usually read obituaries, you might want to start. They're full of stories waiting for you to tell. If you come up with something about Chuck, I'd love to read it.