Wednesday 30 March 2011

100 Silver Coins

Mullah Nasr-ed-Din Hodja set up a stall with a sign above it: 

Two Questions On Any Subject Answered For Only 100 Silver Coins.

A man passing by the stall who was troubled by matters to do with both family and business had two very urgent questions. He stopped, looked at the sign above Nasr-ed-Din and handed over his money, saying:

"A hundred silver coins is rather expensive for two questions, isn't it?"

"Yes," said Nasr-ed-Din, "and the next question, please?"



Read more Nasr-ed-Din stories here.

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Dear Afghanistan

Dear Afghanistan,

At the end of World War I an armistice (truce) was called and soldiers not more than a 100 yards from each other laid down their weapons and the silence on the battlefield was "the voice of God" speaking to mankind. In 2011 on the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month bells will ring out across the world for remembrance of all who have suffered from war and for hope that the world will find it's way out of this killing mindset that has plagued us for far too long. Join us by ringing bells and remembering on November 11th, on 11/11/11 at 11:00am.

Peace out,

Dave Logsdon
Veterans for Peace, Minneapolis
Dear Afghanistan,

It is time for peace. We can create a peaceful world if we work hard and truly desire peace.

I hope that the war in Afghanistan will end and that peace will come.

Sincerely,

Bruce Magnuson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
USA
This is a brief message of protest and hope. I protest the continuing war in Afghanistan as wasteful of human life, and I hope for a peaceful future for both Afghans and for an American people weary of pointless wars.

Thank you.

Steve Bastasch
Dear Afghanistan,

I'm writing to you from Bellingham, Washington, USA. I detest violence and abhor killing. Today I'm joining the millions of people who are calling for an end to war in your ravaged country. You are not alone; you are not hated or feared; we will continue to do all that we can to bring this war to an end.

Peace,

Carolyn
 Selected letters taken from 449 Dear Afghanistan emails of peace.

Monday 21 March 2011

New Year Hope - د نوی کال هیله

دوستان او همکاران

د بسم الله سره
 
سلامونه وړاندې کووم او ټولو له د نوی کال هیله غواړم

خوشاله اوسئ، اباد اوسئ، د خدائ په ښه نظرونه کښی اوسئ

آمین


هيله
اميد
Hope

نوروز مبارک

Tor_Khan تور خان

Saturday 12 March 2011

Pakhtoon Schools Project

The Yorkshire and Lancashire textile and steel mills of the 1950s and 1960s saw a wave of immigration from the then newly independent Pakistan and India - lands once occupied by the British Empire. Those who lived through this time tell their own tales of racism, building cultural bridges, acceptance and an emerging post-war British identity. These were not easy times and the experiences have left their mark, but the story of Ramon Mohamed's father goes back further, to the small village of Toru near Mardan, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.

Pakhtoon Schools Project

Ramon's journey to find his roots has been chronicled on his website and his travels across Pakistan and Afghanistan have inspired in him a desire to fulfill a personal mission - that is to build a school overlooking his father's grave not far from the grounds of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. Ramon has gained some publicity for raising awareness and the opportunity to work with Sheffield University who are supporting his efforts.

In a joined up world, people cross paths and here too, minds meet. Ramon's journey of discovery through life brought him to the UAE  a couple of weeks back when I hosted him. I was very fortunate to learn more about the man and his remarkable vision in our conversations together.

Ramon and I share some key commonality - both of us draw from our combined Pashtoon and Yorkshire influences, both of us are primary educationalists and both of us have a passion for the development of educational opportunities in the Pashtoon belt. We share the ideal of a peaceful, progressive people, literate in world-affairs, technology and Pashto language.

It would be right to consider Ramon Jan a friend. He is already a commentator on this blog and this photograph from a posting I made on a BBC news report about the destruction of schools in Afghanistan is one that comes from Ramon Jan himself whilst observing open-air schools in Nangarhar. All our journeys continue in whichever direction Allah has prescribed for us, but I hope to use this space periodically to share thoughts and update on the progress of the school projects.

For readers and visitors to this blog, do follow the link here to learn more.
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