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Choking 'the life within': Wombs morphing into graveyards
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Deep sense of uneasiness, sounds of thumping feet, dust strewn atmosphere, where every moment of a second becomes harbinger of violence & bloodshed... rattling of weapons, sounds of thudding bullets, the very atmosphere, gives you a panoramic view of Mahmoody’s novel, Not Without My Daughter.
Iraq which was a kind of panacea for the Mid East with respect to providing medical facilities after submerging under the ocean of blood has surpassed every standards of viciousness that now takes on the unborn souls that await (hopefully) to breathe an air free of suffering.
No doubt, Iraq is burning in the insurmountable flame of agony affecting the populace till extreme... people have been divided into two categories, one who can stand nothing except bloodshed while the others, who have been fallen into the dungeons of despondency, quite similar to the latter category, there falls a section who has been the worst sufferers of the pain and they are ‘the pregnant women’ of the miserable nation. The violence destroyed the life of my son while he was still in my uterus, says a victim.
Grim figures as postulated by UNICEF assert:
1. Maternal mortality rates have been rising since the last 15 years.
2. In 1989, 117 mothers out of 100,000 died during pregnancy or childbirth and the figure has now gone up by 65 per cent.
3. Out of one million babies born in Iraq in the last 12 months, at least 40,000 of them have been born to displaced families while other who survived are living in unsanitary conditions in camps.
Ongoing strife is making women live under the sky of apprehension; they are sulking in pain not for their existence or suffering but for the life within. Unbridled brutality and prevailing blackouts make the access of medical care nearly impossible for the needy women consequent upon which, the lives of unborn babies are snuffed out by the actions of violent criminals. This is one aspect of the aftermath of that torpedo which was initiated by the oil aficionado U.S. President George W. Bush, his ally Tony Blair, and their domestic and foreign supporters, who tagged Iraq to be a hub of developing weapons for mass destruction.
As is the ‘custom’ of every war, people in authorities become the spectators while the masses turn out to be pawns in hands of high profile people and in here, women have taken the role of pawns and are paying a heavy price. Large numbers of them are facing delivery difficulties,for at least two women in every 12 who seek emergency delivery assistance here, either the mother or her child dies, says a gynecologist.
Impending social scenario along with choked economy has garroted women, who have abandoned their education, (if they were among the fortunate ones), thus dropping both their financial liberty plus their best opportunities for self-determination and liberation. Yet this loss seems almost trivial during a time when most women in Iraq are struggling to protect the life of the little one that is still nourishing in their womb but are uncertain regarding the unborn’s survival.
Iraq has already witnessed blood streams of thousands of children and this is completely inexcusable! This blockade has already seen numerous child slaughters, and will observe more if the situation continues.
In 2005, the US assured quality health care to women as part of their re-construction project in the region but how far has the commitment materialized? Americans articulate that they came to liberate the people, well, if this is called liberation, what would be devastation then?
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So once again the American ideals have fallen flat on their face. What else could one have expected from a war that was devoid of reason and legitimacy right from the outset.
Now that the pregnant women are becoming the unfortunate victims of this exercise, it seems that the Americans have sealed the fate of this nation for generations to come or as this article rightly points out the ’unborn’ victims.
It is but obvious that the international community which has for long been a meek spectator to this show of strength will continue to do so and the mothers will have to bear their fate in silence. The foolhardiness of the sects in Iraq are not helping their case either. It is their predilection for violence that is making their womenfolk and indeed their children the worst sufferers.
And what a brilliant way to end ’devastation’...Indeed...
Now that the pregnant women are becoming the unfortunate victims of this exercise, it seems that the Americans have sealed the fate of this nation for generations to come or as this article rightly points out the ’unborn’ victims.
It is but obvious that the international community which has for long been a meek spectator to this show of strength will continue to do so and the mothers will have to bear their fate in silence. The foolhardiness of the sects in Iraq are not helping their case either. It is their predilection for violence that is making their womenfolk and indeed their children the worst sufferers.
And what a brilliant way to end ’devastation’...Indeed...
Where the UNBORNS suffer too, can we imagine the condition of those who are ALIVE????
Women are facing the worst of their lives....and we talk about emanicipation.......!!!
STRANGE.....
Women are facing the worst of their lives....and we talk about emanicipation.......!!!
STRANGE.....
This is a great tragedy indeed. I am not speaking about the tragedy the author has essayed here in this Live post. I am just pointing out to the fact that the image accompanying it is the classic picture of the tragedy that had befallen the children of Bhopal in 1984, courtesy a company named Union Carbide. Pathetic, isn’t it?
Of course, I am also inclined to point out to the journalistic poignancy of the author here who has masterfully tried to confuse the audience of the site with the current situation in Iraq with the real life escape (read defection) of an Iranian to the West.
I am simply wonderstruck by the composer of this fantastic article who is more than just being capable of making Peter Pan the 101st President of the United States.
Any disputes? Would really welcome a contradictory comment.
I am simply wonderstruck by the composer of this fantastic article who is more than just being capable of making Peter Pan the 101st President of the United States.
Any disputes? Would really welcome a contradictory comment.
Iraq has already witnessed blood streams of thousands of children and this is completely inexcusable! This blockade has already seen numerous child slaughters, and will observe more if the situation continues.
Is It? Where is the source?
Is It? Where is the source?
Mate! once again I wud like to harp on the same string – ‘PRO US IDEOLOGY’ that you own……simultaneously do your favor for calling above write-up a journalistic poignancy.
I find nothing wrong with Pooja’s article coz unquestionably the figures that are backing her article, don’t lie….....with debating the issue however, we are doing no great job, but aforementioned figures are really contemptible that shows a grim approach/ugly picture of modern civilization that people in 21st century bear in their minds….whatever, it’s little infants whose neckline is chocked eve before they enter this merciless world.
I find nothing wrong with Pooja’s article coz unquestionably the figures that are backing her article, don’t lie….....with debating the issue however, we are doing no great job, but aforementioned figures are really contemptible that shows a grim approach/ugly picture of modern civilization that people in 21st century bear in their minds….whatever, it’s little infants whose neckline is chocked eve before they enter this merciless world.
There goes Yashpal again with one of his classic rants. As usual, he again missed the woods for the trees here.
As the readers can see, I have never toed on the subject of the article above, far from even delving into pro-US/anti-US ideologies, but was trying to find a link between Betty Mahmoody’s book ’Not Without My Daughter’ (that was later made into a movie) on her real life escape from her husband in Iran, the iconic image of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the situation in Iraq.
Of course, I never expected him to understand that for I knew long back that analysis and debate is not his forte, ranting is.
Anyway, Yashpal, thanks for all the entertainment that you have provided to the audience, especially the commenters here. Hope this continues for a long, long time to come.
Cheers!
As the readers can see, I have never toed on the subject of the article above, far from even delving into pro-US/anti-US ideologies, but was trying to find a link between Betty Mahmoody’s book ’Not Without My Daughter’ (that was later made into a movie) on her real life escape from her husband in Iran, the iconic image of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the situation in Iraq.
Of course, I never expected him to understand that for I knew long back that analysis and debate is not his forte, ranting is.
Anyway, Yashpal, thanks for all the entertainment that you have provided to the audience, especially the commenters here. Hope this continues for a long, long time to come.
Cheers!
Iraq is a conflict zone, where atrocities of war are bound to take their toll. Women pregnant or otherwise being the weaker link in an unprotected environment will suffer more.
Chaos as opposed to order is responsible for much of the unborn children deaths in Iraq as projected by UNICEF and other organizations. It is just one indicator of the human misery that Iraqi society is undergoing, no matter who the main actors are.
But when compared with a free, bold and large democracy like India, or a nation like China that is gaining in strength economically as well as militarily, the deaths of unborn children (selectively killed) in these nations would easily be more than twice as much as the total population of Iraq.
And these countries are in not in any conflict zone. There is some semblance of order as opposed to chaos in them.
America may have messed up in Iraq and is paying a price for it, but what is the mess in India and China.
Horror tales of female fetuses being dug up from wells and other places is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more lie buried and by what name should we call this crime against humanity, I know not.
Which crime is graver? Pregnant women, losing their babies due to war conditions, or pregnant women choosing or being forced to abort in peace zones.
Jesus Christ, while defending a prostitute simply put it as “let him be the first person to cast a stone at her, who has not sinned.”
Chaos as opposed to order is responsible for much of the unborn children deaths in Iraq as projected by UNICEF and other organizations. It is just one indicator of the human misery that Iraqi society is undergoing, no matter who the main actors are.
But when compared with a free, bold and large democracy like India, or a nation like China that is gaining in strength economically as well as militarily, the deaths of unborn children (selectively killed) in these nations would easily be more than twice as much as the total population of Iraq.
And these countries are in not in any conflict zone. There is some semblance of order as opposed to chaos in them.
America may have messed up in Iraq and is paying a price for it, but what is the mess in India and China.
Horror tales of female fetuses being dug up from wells and other places is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more lie buried and by what name should we call this crime against humanity, I know not.
Which crime is graver? Pregnant women, losing their babies due to war conditions, or pregnant women choosing or being forced to abort in peace zones.
Jesus Christ, while defending a prostitute simply put it as “let him be the first person to cast a stone at her, who has not sinned.”
Pratyush, please check the following links:
http://www.instablogs.com/live/children-of-iraq-a-lost-generation/
http://www.stolenchildhood.net/entry/iraq-hitting-the-charts-in-child-deaths-says-report/
http://www.instablogs.com/live/children-of-iraq-a-lost-generation/
http://www.stolenchildhood.net/entry/iraq-hitting-the-charts-in-child-deaths-says-report/
Thank you all ladies & gentlemen for the tremendous entertainment that you all rendered through these comments. Now, I hope that an end should be put to this altercation. :-)
As Makhaik said, unborn children are killed even in peace zones. It has become fashionable these days to blame the US-led war in Iraq for whatever its woes might be. Though I agree that the war had made the situation grimmer than ever before, but to blame it solely and in the process vilify the US.
Then, where is the link between the mentioned book, the Bhopal image and the story. I fail to find any.
A comparative chart between Iraq and several other countries with high unborn, infant and women mortality rates might contradict the sensationalized post.
Then, where is the link between the mentioned book, the Bhopal image and the story. I fail to find any.
A comparative chart between Iraq and several other countries with high unborn, infant and women mortality rates might contradict the sensationalized post.
Pooja provided me the link through another ’Live link’ that says in its first paragraph as:
Are ”a million innocent children...dying at this time...in Iraq” because of U.S. sanctions, as Osama bin Laden claimed in his October 7 videotaped message to the world? Has the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) discovered that ”at least 200 children are dying every day...as a direct result of sanctions,” as advocacy journalist John Pilger maintains on his Web site? Is it official U.N. belief that 5,000 Iraqi children under the age of 5 are dying each month due to its own policy, as writers of letters to virtually every U.S. newspaper have stated repeatedly during the past three years?
The short answer to all of these questions is no. The sanctions, first imposed in 1990 after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, are administered by the U.N., not the U.S.
Pooja u wrote in 5th para as.. This is one aspect of the aftermath of that torpedo which was initiated by the oil aficionado U.S. President George W. Bush, his ally Tony Blair, and their domestic and foreign supporters, who tagged Iraq to be a hub of developing weapons for mass destruction.
How can you co-relate the US, UK with the number of children dead in 90s because of Saddam’s own policies at some extent.
Are ”a million innocent children...dying at this time...in Iraq” because of U.S. sanctions, as Osama bin Laden claimed in his October 7 videotaped message to the world? Has the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) discovered that ”at least 200 children are dying every day...as a direct result of sanctions,” as advocacy journalist John Pilger maintains on his Web site? Is it official U.N. belief that 5,000 Iraqi children under the age of 5 are dying each month due to its own policy, as writers of letters to virtually every U.S. newspaper have stated repeatedly during the past three years?
The short answer to all of these questions is no. The sanctions, first imposed in 1990 after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, are administered by the U.N., not the U.S.
Pooja u wrote in 5th para as.. This is one aspect of the aftermath of that torpedo which was initiated by the oil aficionado U.S. President George W. Bush, his ally Tony Blair, and their domestic and foreign supporters, who tagged Iraq to be a hub of developing weapons for mass destruction.
How can you co-relate the US, UK with the number of children dead in 90s because of Saddam’s own policies at some extent.
One of the drawbacks of the political blogosphere is that there is very little dialogue between the left and right sides, or the anti-war and pro-war camps. And if it ever happens, it isn’t all that pleasant to read…so is the case here. Yet, the time has come to get an exchange of ideas going and I was prompted to do so after reading Pratyush’s comment.
“How can you co-relate the US, UK with the number of children dead in 90s because of Saddam’s own policies at some extent?”
Is this an emotional call or do you really believe that!
I realized that, unfortunately, you misunderstood what the writer is trying to bring up … Pooja is trying to make most of us clear with the fact that after the “US led Misadventure in Iraq” the situation has only gone worst from worse.
Although it won’t be possible for me to give a clear explanation of the off-track issues raised by few of the readers above. However, let’s try to take it one by one. First, it doesn’t make any sense in pointing out that the relation between the “panoramic view of Mahmoody’s novel, Not Without My Daughter” and the issue of children deaths in Iraq is irrational – you’ll have to read the book to comprehend the underlying meaning, forget about trying to digest the clear message right now and unnecessary troubling your feeble stomach. In simple words, it was just the ‘panoramic view’ portrayed in the book mingled with the sheer agony of a mother, her daughter and the time – which, of course, is depicted without any correlation with any specific event above.
You can buy the book here
Second, as far as Bhopal gas tragedy image is concerned – that too is symbolic of ‘burying life’, which of course the writer is discussing in the article.
Unfortunately, too many people are stuck at the grade-school level of human interaction, focusing on ‘hitting first’ and ‘never playing nice’ like a mantra ... and in their myopia, trying to focus their anger (and even imposing restraints) upon the biggest ”issue” on the block – people are dyin and the worse has followed as Pooja puts it “Choking the life within.” Can anyone show some sanity?
“How can you co-relate the US, UK with the number of children dead in 90s because of Saddam’s own policies at some extent?”
Is this an emotional call or do you really believe that!
I realized that, unfortunately, you misunderstood what the writer is trying to bring up … Pooja is trying to make most of us clear with the fact that after the “US led Misadventure in Iraq” the situation has only gone worst from worse.
Although it won’t be possible for me to give a clear explanation of the off-track issues raised by few of the readers above. However, let’s try to take it one by one. First, it doesn’t make any sense in pointing out that the relation between the “panoramic view of Mahmoody’s novel, Not Without My Daughter” and the issue of children deaths in Iraq is irrational – you’ll have to read the book to comprehend the underlying meaning, forget about trying to digest the clear message right now and unnecessary troubling your feeble stomach. In simple words, it was just the ‘panoramic view’ portrayed in the book mingled with the sheer agony of a mother, her daughter and the time – which, of course, is depicted without any correlation with any specific event above.
You can buy the book here
Second, as far as Bhopal gas tragedy image is concerned – that too is symbolic of ‘burying life’, which of course the writer is discussing in the article.
Unfortunately, too many people are stuck at the grade-school level of human interaction, focusing on ‘hitting first’ and ‘never playing nice’ like a mantra ... and in their myopia, trying to focus their anger (and even imposing restraints) upon the biggest ”issue” on the block – people are dyin and the worse has followed as Pooja puts it “Choking the life within.” Can anyone show some sanity?
Thanx for bringing back the real discussion but I think, Pankaj you skipped someone who was really amused and wanted this to continue for a loooooooong, looooooong time for the sake of some cheap entertainment as he puts it, ignoring the real agony that continues in Iraq. I’m really frightened to see the numbers who don’t g-e-t-i-t! and it’s even bleak to see the word ‘Cheers!’ that I don’t get how can someone write after going through the post.
Pankaj, Thank you very much for telling the world about the drawbacks of the political blogosphere that would ignite people’s mind for sure ;). I am still not aware who were at the left side and who were at right side ( I request to take the word ’Right’ and ’Left’ as ideological concept not as personal concept). You said you were prompted to exchange your ideas after reading my comment, but dear friend where are your ideas, I didn’t find.
You wrote that...Pooja is trying to make most of us clear with the fact that after the “US led Misadventure in Iraq” the situation has only gone worst from worse.
OK... But my point is still the same, How can u co-relate the US, UK (Take it as US President George W Bush, his ally Tony Blair, and their domestic and foreign supporters, this is what the author wrote in the post) with the number of children dead in 90s because of Saddam’s own policies at some extent.
You wrote that...Pooja is trying to make most of us clear with the fact that after the “US led Misadventure in Iraq” the situation has only gone worst from worse.
OK... But my point is still the same, How can u co-relate the US, UK (Take it as US President George W Bush, his ally Tony Blair, and their domestic and foreign supporters, this is what the author wrote in the post) with the number of children dead in 90s because of Saddam’s own policies at some extent.
Pratyush,
You didn’t find my ideas anywhere in my comment...oh! sorry for that inconvenience, i forgot to tell U that i mistakenly wrote with a mixture of lemon, apple and orange juice that happens to be an invisible ink. Dear friend i hope u’ll forgive me for that quandary in disguise.
Let me start by saying that if you’re expecting subtle humour, you’re in the wrong theatre. It’s low-brow and heavy-hitting. Yaa one more thing I am not going to tickle your funny bone and my comment was aimed at someone who’s super intelligent not for u that i am sure...forget the RIGHT - LEFT theory that might instigate u to fiddle with the unseen (in all passiveness).
but ur point is still the same BUT all i can say is somethings never change.
You didn’t find my ideas anywhere in my comment...oh! sorry for that inconvenience, i forgot to tell U that i mistakenly wrote with a mixture of lemon, apple and orange juice that happens to be an invisible ink. Dear friend i hope u’ll forgive me for that quandary in disguise.
Let me start by saying that if you’re expecting subtle humour, you’re in the wrong theatre. It’s low-brow and heavy-hitting. Yaa one more thing I am not going to tickle your funny bone and my comment was aimed at someone who’s super intelligent not for u that i am sure...forget the RIGHT - LEFT theory that might instigate u to fiddle with the unseen (in all passiveness).
but ur point is still the same BUT all i can say is somethings never change.
Hey Pankaj, Get some brain Dude. Pratyush raised here a serious point. Avoid commenting if You have no valid points to answer. I usually find here great posts and excellent comments. Don’t force me to change my mindset. Pooja is good writer I must say.
i guess, rather then taunting each other, you guys should come to the serious issue we are dealing with...
Yeah! arguments and counter arguments should be welcomed on relevant points related to the article...
Such a mess can be created when grown-ups start acting like KIDS.....So, GUYS stop being Kiddish!!!
Yeah! arguments and counter arguments should be welcomed on relevant points related to the article...
Such a mess can be created when grown-ups start acting like KIDS.....So, GUYS stop being Kiddish!!!
For the benefit of the readers and the commenters here, I would like to make the following abundantly clear :
a) I do not comment on every story, much less to stories that are not backed by proper research.
b) Instablogs Live writers generally pick up very good issues. However, they tend to make a complete mess of the exercise. The writings are skewed towards self-righteous ramblings - packed with little or no facts, plagued with an overdose of hyperbole.
c) Those who appreciate good writing, I take that this is the criteria for stories appearing in the Live section, will know that good writing means you show, you don’t tell - you prove your arguments with hard facts and examples.
d) In the above piece, for example, the writer seems to have picked up a good issue, but she runs the risk of being found out short - 1. The image above is not from ongoing Iraq tragedy, and 2. Betty Mahmoody’s book’s ’Not without my Daughter’ is about an American-Iranin mother and her real-life escape from her husband in Iran. A film was made upon her book way back in 1991.
It is obvious the book has nothing to do with any of the two wars in Iraq - the Gulf War in 1991 and the present one, which started in 2003.
None among my fellow commenters who seem to take umbrage at this so called ’Super Intelligent’ commenter who revels in ’low-bro heavy hitting’, have cared to do the research before taking part in what is obviously an incestuous talkathon.
The way to earn your writing chops is to be passionate, not about how you sound but how well you have presented the case.
I sincerely hope that none of the writers consider writing for the Live section as a big ego trip - it is just supposed to be plain, good writing, that’s all!.
Don’t you find it odd that most of the comments in the Live section are from the same pool of Instablogs writers?
I would hazard a guess and say that it is because of the verbose and rambling nature of an overwhelming number of writeups here, which doesn’t attract more outside readers and commenters, the Live section is getting reduced to a insiders’ slanging match.
The reader keeps wondering, ’when will the writer come to the point?’ But sadly, that point never arrives and reader goes away disappointed after all that promising start.
I feel that if this practice of ’write first, think later’ is allowed to go on for long, the reader might presume Instablogs has no editing guidelines to speak of. In case of the Live section, this means checking and rechecking your posts for the veracity of facts.
We all must not forget Instablogs is still a news organization and that makes it imperative that we have proper guideines.
Having been a fan and enthusiastic supporter of the Instablogs Community from the very beginning, I would be a very happy person indeed if everyone starts writing and reporting well, especially in the very important Live section.
Here’s to a better and more interesting Live section.
a) I do not comment on every story, much less to stories that are not backed by proper research.
b) Instablogs Live writers generally pick up very good issues. However, they tend to make a complete mess of the exercise. The writings are skewed towards self-righteous ramblings - packed with little or no facts, plagued with an overdose of hyperbole.
c) Those who appreciate good writing, I take that this is the criteria for stories appearing in the Live section, will know that good writing means you show, you don’t tell - you prove your arguments with hard facts and examples.
d) In the above piece, for example, the writer seems to have picked up a good issue, but she runs the risk of being found out short - 1. The image above is not from ongoing Iraq tragedy, and 2. Betty Mahmoody’s book’s ’Not without my Daughter’ is about an American-Iranin mother and her real-life escape from her husband in Iran. A film was made upon her book way back in 1991.
It is obvious the book has nothing to do with any of the two wars in Iraq - the Gulf War in 1991 and the present one, which started in 2003.
None among my fellow commenters who seem to take umbrage at this so called ’Super Intelligent’ commenter who revels in ’low-bro heavy hitting’, have cared to do the research before taking part in what is obviously an incestuous talkathon.
The way to earn your writing chops is to be passionate, not about how you sound but how well you have presented the case.
I sincerely hope that none of the writers consider writing for the Live section as a big ego trip - it is just supposed to be plain, good writing, that’s all!.
Don’t you find it odd that most of the comments in the Live section are from the same pool of Instablogs writers?
I would hazard a guess and say that it is because of the verbose and rambling nature of an overwhelming number of writeups here, which doesn’t attract more outside readers and commenters, the Live section is getting reduced to a insiders’ slanging match.
The reader keeps wondering, ’when will the writer come to the point?’ But sadly, that point never arrives and reader goes away disappointed after all that promising start.
I feel that if this practice of ’write first, think later’ is allowed to go on for long, the reader might presume Instablogs has no editing guidelines to speak of. In case of the Live section, this means checking and rechecking your posts for the veracity of facts.
We all must not forget Instablogs is still a news organization and that makes it imperative that we have proper guideines.
Having been a fan and enthusiastic supporter of the Instablogs Community from the very beginning, I would be a very happy person indeed if everyone starts writing and reporting well, especially in the very important Live section.
Here’s to a better and more interesting Live section.
There goes Jonty Again .... Have to remind to u that cricket interests all the readers of our community and the way the Aussies World Cup Victory Story Was written is until date the worst live story ever . If you mention research that story lacked it awfully. Futile to mention who compiled it.
Regarding the same pool of writers commenting on the Live Section, it is credible that the writers atleast make a constant/regular effort to leave an opinion. Interestingly there is another pool which leaves a comment only to sprout an argument and not to leave their opinion on the story. Using baseless symmetries to support there uselessly augmentative comments they make sure that everything doesn’t end on a healthy note. ’Many’ may tend to disagree but to judge ’it’ just wait for the comment to follow!!!
Regarding the same pool of writers commenting on the Live Section, it is credible that the writers atleast make a constant/regular effort to leave an opinion. Interestingly there is another pool which leaves a comment only to sprout an argument and not to leave their opinion on the story. Using baseless symmetries to support there uselessly augmentative comments they make sure that everything doesn’t end on a healthy note. ’Many’ may tend to disagree but to judge ’it’ just wait for the comment to follow!!!
must say...that atul’s point...regarding the same pool of writers commenting on the live section is true...and right...
it si not abt the same pool of writers but more abt leavin an opinion on the important issues...well put...atul...
it si not abt the same pool of writers but more abt leavin an opinion on the important issues...well put...atul...
Pooja grabs the readers attention by using this old photograph, the death of any child is a tragedy. To argue over its validity in being used concerning the Iraq invasion and subsequent upheaval is moot. As Kushi points out though, behaving like kids during discussion is unnecessary and achieves nothing but hostility.
Iraqi people are being forced to live in a very hostile environment at present; war is an ancient, uncivilized way of dealing with conflict.
We all know it yet; we still make excuses for it being used to take control of a situation.
Jonty makes an excellent point regarding, it being odd most comments on Live are from the same pool of Instablog writers.
I too, have noticed this and so, have removed myself from the sidelines of silent reader to voice my opinion, for what its worth.
I believe we should all be striving for excellence and should leave our ”mud-slinging” where it belongs, outside! #postcomment
Iraqi people are being forced to live in a very hostile environment at present; war is an ancient, uncivilized way of dealing with conflict.
We all know it yet; we still make excuses for it being used to take control of a situation.
Jonty makes an excellent point regarding, it being odd most comments on Live are from the same pool of Instablog writers.
I too, have noticed this and so, have removed myself from the sidelines of silent reader to voice my opinion, for what its worth.
I believe we should all be striving for excellence and should leave our ”mud-slinging” where it belongs, outside! #postcomment
Atul:
Since you have mentioned about the Live article that I wrote on the ICC World Cup, I would like to say that I have not distorted facts and given my own opinion that a score and half appreciated.
If you do not know the difference between opinionated editorial writing and plain yellow journalism, it is your problem and not mine. Yellow journalism means biased opinion masquerading as objective fact. Moreover, the practice of yellow journalism involves sensationalism, distorted stories, and misleading images for the sole purpose of boosting newspaper sales, TRP ratings or website hits (as in this case) and exciting public opinion. [Read more and educate yourself by clicking here.]
I never wanted to use the ’Y’ term here despite being mightily tempted to do so during the course of the day, but then people like you have taken it too personally and I had been left with no other option but to drive the nail in. If this is still short of convincing your myopic observance, I have nothing more to say other than advice you to get an education first before making a complete fool of yourself.
The world is watching this thread, so be cautious for your own good.
Since you have mentioned about the Live article that I wrote on the ICC World Cup, I would like to say that I have not distorted facts and given my own opinion that a score and half appreciated.
If you do not know the difference between opinionated editorial writing and plain yellow journalism, it is your problem and not mine. Yellow journalism means biased opinion masquerading as objective fact. Moreover, the practice of yellow journalism involves sensationalism, distorted stories, and misleading images for the sole purpose of boosting newspaper sales, TRP ratings or website hits (as in this case) and exciting public opinion. [Read more and educate yourself by clicking here.]
I never wanted to use the ’Y’ term here despite being mightily tempted to do so during the course of the day, but then people like you have taken it too personally and I had been left with no other option but to drive the nail in. If this is still short of convincing your myopic observance, I have nothing more to say other than advice you to get an education first before making a complete fool of yourself.
The world is watching this thread, so be cautious for your own good.
The world is really watching this thread of comments on one good story. I found at least one valid point in every comment here except these two comments that look like a personal attack, I wonder why?
Pankaj
You didn’t find my ideas anywhere in my comment...oh! sorry for that inconvenience, i forgot to tell U that i mistakenly wrote with a mixture of lemon, apple and orange juice that happens to be an invisible ink. Dear friend i hope u’ll forgive me for that quandary in disguise.
Atul
There goes Jonty Again .... Have to remind to u that cricket interests all the readers of our community and the way the Aussies World Cup Victory Story Was written is until date the worst live story ever . If you mention research that story lacked it awfully. Futile to mention who compiled it.
Pankaj
You didn’t find my ideas anywhere in my comment...oh! sorry for that inconvenience, i forgot to tell U that i mistakenly wrote with a mixture of lemon, apple and orange juice that happens to be an invisible ink. Dear friend i hope u’ll forgive me for that quandary in disguise.
Atul
There goes Jonty Again .... Have to remind to u that cricket interests all the readers of our community and the way the Aussies World Cup Victory Story Was written is until date the worst live story ever . If you mention research that story lacked it awfully. Futile to mention who compiled it.
pretty right..these were indeed personal attacks which should not be scribbled here in this section ....
Also, the comments mark hint of unprofessionalism...which indeed isnt right at all...
Few things should be considered while commenting and also personal issues should be kept aside...
Also, the comments mark hint of unprofessionalism...which indeed isnt right at all...
Few things should be considered while commenting and also personal issues should be kept aside...
I agree with jonty when he comments about the participation ethics and relevance of mentioning ’Not without my daughter’ in the context of the ongoing topic initiated by pooja.In any of the live forums if we loose the focus and go on for mud slinging and try to be super intellectuals or start focussing too much on language...we loose the very purpose of journalism and crative positive thinking ,which intends to suggest some vital solutions which can be helpful in the given scenario.Topic is genuine and needs our honest opinion and views for the help of affected community and humanity in the erstwhile Iraq.#postcomment
Distortion of facts that’s what Jonty talks about but the fact is that he didn’t mention facts there ... he wants to educate me but the fact is that Jonty interprets education as a blasphemy that what fools thrive on. I read the best authors in the world and as per Jonty he finds himself above them which for me is distortion of education.. ’a fool seldom recognizes anyone’s wit barring his own..
Participation ethics that’s what Jonty needs to be educated on provided he understands the meaning of ’education’.
‘In any of the live forums if we loose the focus and go on for mud slinging and try to be super intellectuals or start focusing too much on language...we loose the very purpose of journalism and crative positive thinking, which intends to suggest some vital solutions which can be helpful in the given scenario. Topic is genuine and needs our honest opinion and views for the help of affected community and humanity in the erstwhile Iraq but for Jonty education is the Focus here’ that’s Jonty for me in a paragraph... thanks for that definition Rimjhim and the next one I want u to cater too is ’education’ for my friend desperately needs it.
Over smartness is a synonym for education and who says it, is futile to mention.
Even if u dub this story as under researched the creditable fact was that Pooja tried to build a focus but Jonty mentions Aussie Hegemony and then tries to uselessly incorporate the India Pakistan exit. The head is Aussie hegemony but then Woolmers death creeps in all of a sudden.
Full Credit to him for mentioning Hegemony in the head but then he needs to be educated enough to comprehend that Aussie hegemony or the Asian Giants early exit had nothing to do with it.
To sum it up Jonty the fact is that you need to get educated to comprehend the meaning of yellow journalism coz that’s what you practice but then considering your potential its beyond doubt that if you get educated you would definitely understand what opinionated editorial writing means.
Participation ethics that’s what Jonty needs to be educated on provided he understands the meaning of ’education’.
‘In any of the live forums if we loose the focus and go on for mud slinging and try to be super intellectuals or start focusing too much on language...we loose the very purpose of journalism and crative positive thinking, which intends to suggest some vital solutions which can be helpful in the given scenario. Topic is genuine and needs our honest opinion and views for the help of affected community and humanity in the erstwhile Iraq but for Jonty education is the Focus here’ that’s Jonty for me in a paragraph... thanks for that definition Rimjhim and the next one I want u to cater too is ’education’ for my friend desperately needs it.
Over smartness is a synonym for education and who says it, is futile to mention.
Even if u dub this story as under researched the creditable fact was that Pooja tried to build a focus but Jonty mentions Aussie Hegemony and then tries to uselessly incorporate the India Pakistan exit. The head is Aussie hegemony but then Woolmers death creeps in all of a sudden.
Full Credit to him for mentioning Hegemony in the head but then he needs to be educated enough to comprehend that Aussie hegemony or the Asian Giants early exit had nothing to do with it.
To sum it up Jonty the fact is that you need to get educated to comprehend the meaning of yellow journalism coz that’s what you practice but then considering your potential its beyond doubt that if you get educated you would definitely understand what opinionated editorial writing means.
As it is mentioned in one of the above comments about the Live article that the flawless (rather professed great) writer has written on the ICC World Cup, especially his ‘mega’ expert comments on jumbo sports event, is in any way less than any faultless piece of work.
I can’t resist but dare to address – as it takes a lot to speak reality in the face – if you (the impeccable writer) have despair or some other cerebral sickness, what should you do about that? Hope no one notices? Disclose your illness or insecurity – what people consider or think about you – early on and wish that other people won’t recognize it?
I‘ll prey on behalf of the ‘same pool of writers’ as well as other, May God bring concord to the lost soul…….. Oops, the grrrrrrrrrrrreat soul!
I can’t resist but dare to address – as it takes a lot to speak reality in the face – if you (the impeccable writer) have despair or some other cerebral sickness, what should you do about that? Hope no one notices? Disclose your illness or insecurity – what people consider or think about you – early on and wish that other people won’t recognize it?
I‘ll prey on behalf of the ‘same pool of writers’ as well as other, May God bring concord to the lost soul…….. Oops, the grrrrrrrrrrrreat soul!
this has become more of a ’cold war’...which involves individuals from the organisation itself...
Also, i wud like to remind ’rigidindian’ that where he has mentioned pankaj and atul for making personal comments...even jonty has done the same...
however, he has given his reason of doing so-
”I never wanted to use the ’Y’ term here despite being mightily tempted to do so during the course of the day, but then people like you have taken it too personally and I had been left with no other option but to drive the nail in. If this is still short of convincing your myopic observance, I have nothing more to say other than advice you to get an education first before making a complete fool of yourself.”
But i guess, it wud have been more professional of him to slide his personal views to back...rather then prtrayin them like this...
However, not to be reminded, that its trnin out to be more of a -’JONTY-ATUL’ war....
we have left the main issue far behind...
Also, i wud like to remind ’rigidindian’ that where he has mentioned pankaj and atul for making personal comments...even jonty has done the same...
however, he has given his reason of doing so-
”I never wanted to use the ’Y’ term here despite being mightily tempted to do so during the course of the day, but then people like you have taken it too personally and I had been left with no other option but to drive the nail in. If this is still short of convincing your myopic observance, I have nothing more to say other than advice you to get an education first before making a complete fool of yourself.”
But i guess, it wud have been more professional of him to slide his personal views to back...rather then prtrayin them like this...
However, not to be reminded, that its trnin out to be more of a -’JONTY-ATUL’ war....
we have left the main issue far behind...
Interesting to note....... the comments start off on the SUBJECT ”WAR” and now becomes ”WAR OF COMMENTS” by the commentators.....GUYS, what are we trying to prove here?
Pooja, u have done a great job by focusing on a sordid story of human suffering of which Iraq is a definite and true example in stark n pervasive terms. You r right to some extent in quoting Mahmoody’s novel, Not Without My Daughter, as it was based on the civil strife and human sufferings in Iran aftermath the Khomeni led revolution in 1979. The tormenting Iraqi society is almost identical to the Iranian society of that time.
Bhopal gas tragedy photo has become an international theme often surfaced in Brazilian ethnic crises of 1988, African civil strife and tribal wars in Congo, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Niger, Morocco, Chad and Somalia to showcase the gravity of human sufferings. It was even referred to by Noam Chomsky in his speech at American nations meet two years back to showcase the effects of the US unilateral policies by George WMD Bush administration on the world civilization. Even the WTO protesters used the same pictures to protest western economic dominance over the third world at Hong Kong meet. The seventh world social forum executive meet at Nairobi had branded the picture as the most important expression of present day human suffering.
Indeed, I also favor the arguments accusing the US and its allies as the main culprits for creating the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. First their unhindered support to the Baath regime to counter Iran – then Gulf War I- then economic sanctions crippling food supplies and health care in Iraq- then Gulf War II bringing total devastation – now failure to stabilize the situation and compounding the humanitarian crises and aggravating the problems.
I would like to request all my community fellows to refrain from targeting guns on each other and take a sense of the stories. Finding a mistake is easy. But to get a constructive theme out of the story and highlight the total sufferings of mankind is our real responsibility. The live story section of the instablogs cant be judged on journalistic paraphernalia like yellow journalism or sensitive journalism, as the opinion matters most here to cause forward thinking and greater participation. To be true, I never found any misrepresentation in the live story section. It is rather amusing and touches my conscience to ensure greater analysis in logical, critical and constructive way.
I wish Pooja to continue her writing and I beg her to highlight such causes more and more. Her stories may not have facts or figures, but look judicious enough suffused with a strong sense of thinking and opinion. Live story is not the living story based on factual measures or textual correspondence. It is to bring a sense out of the event and make readers feel the theme.
Bhopal gas tragedy photo has become an international theme often surfaced in Brazilian ethnic crises of 1988, African civil strife and tribal wars in Congo, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Niger, Morocco, Chad and Somalia to showcase the gravity of human sufferings. It was even referred to by Noam Chomsky in his speech at American nations meet two years back to showcase the effects of the US unilateral policies by George WMD Bush administration on the world civilization. Even the WTO protesters used the same pictures to protest western economic dominance over the third world at Hong Kong meet. The seventh world social forum executive meet at Nairobi had branded the picture as the most important expression of present day human suffering.
Indeed, I also favor the arguments accusing the US and its allies as the main culprits for creating the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. First their unhindered support to the Baath regime to counter Iran – then Gulf War I- then economic sanctions crippling food supplies and health care in Iraq- then Gulf War II bringing total devastation – now failure to stabilize the situation and compounding the humanitarian crises and aggravating the problems.
I would like to request all my community fellows to refrain from targeting guns on each other and take a sense of the stories. Finding a mistake is easy. But to get a constructive theme out of the story and highlight the total sufferings of mankind is our real responsibility. The live story section of the instablogs cant be judged on journalistic paraphernalia like yellow journalism or sensitive journalism, as the opinion matters most here to cause forward thinking and greater participation. To be true, I never found any misrepresentation in the live story section. It is rather amusing and touches my conscience to ensure greater analysis in logical, critical and constructive way.
I wish Pooja to continue her writing and I beg her to highlight such causes more and more. Her stories may not have facts or figures, but look judicious enough suffused with a strong sense of thinking and opinion. Live story is not the living story based on factual measures or textual correspondence. It is to bring a sense out of the event and make readers feel the theme.
Juxtaposition is not unjustified if the author uses it in the right context. It is then assumed that the readers will understand, appreciate and sympathize with author’s viewpoint. One may not necessarily agree with it but one must criticize it only after a careful interpretation of the underlying sense.
So I fail to see any fault of Pooja’s in trying to draw comparisons between the agonies of an Iranian mother and the unfortunate mothers in Iraq. So is the case with the image which is intended to portray the unborn victims. True enough, the image might be of the 84 tragedy but the underlying feelings are the same. Read more than that into the ‘choice’ of this image and you are doing a serious disfavor to the writer.
Without going into the war of words, amidst which the substance of the argument was lost, I must disapprove terming this story as ‘journalistic poignancy.’ If writing with passion about an issue which one cares deeply about is poignancy (for those looking to pick up an argument for the heck of it) then so be it. To blame the author for trying to draw attention towards an issue that is ignored while due consideration is paid to bombings and Shia-Sunni schism is again most unfortunate. All she’s done is tried to shift focus on a topic that is never a part of debate with reference to Iraq.
Then comes the whole argument of whose fault is it? Yes things were bad when Saddam was in-charge, but now the buck is in US court and it must justify its claims to improving things. Improving the lot of womenfolk can be a great starting point. To argue the case for Bush & Co. after all their misadventures is nothing short of political ignorance and naivety. To come in order to put the house in order and then failing in that quest is a reason enough to demand serious condemnation. As I wrote initially some blame must lay on the strife between the sects which is not giving any chance for improvement.
Having written some Live stories myself, I’m really appalled with your views that the journalistic integrity is rarely maintained. It is sad to see someone (read Mr. Jonty) say that we fail to research. How about going to Reuters if you’re only looking for plain facts, devoid of any opinion? More often than not, live stories try to portray arguments and opinions rather than only the news. We might not present both sides of the coin in all the cases, but that is only done when one of the sides lacks any real substance.
How can one even hold a writer responsible for lack of comments from the readers is beyond me? Editorials are about opinion and everyone is entitled to have one. So one is welcome to criticize the writer for failing to argue his case properly but to criticize the author for having a case shouldn’t be accepted. Also to use Y-term with regards to an opinion-based article is pathetic. In trying to give our opinion we often present facts and figures or alternatively links and leave to readers to develop their own opinion. So please don’t criticize the team here!
(“I do not comment on every story, much less to stories that are not backed by proper research.”- I can only thank the Almighty for your concession!)
World Peace!
So I fail to see any fault of Pooja’s in trying to draw comparisons between the agonies of an Iranian mother and the unfortunate mothers in Iraq. So is the case with the image which is intended to portray the unborn victims. True enough, the image might be of the 84 tragedy but the underlying feelings are the same. Read more than that into the ‘choice’ of this image and you are doing a serious disfavor to the writer.
Without going into the war of words, amidst which the substance of the argument was lost, I must disapprove terming this story as ‘journalistic poignancy.’ If writing with passion about an issue which one cares deeply about is poignancy (for those looking to pick up an argument for the heck of it) then so be it. To blame the author for trying to draw attention towards an issue that is ignored while due consideration is paid to bombings and Shia-Sunni schism is again most unfortunate. All she’s done is tried to shift focus on a topic that is never a part of debate with reference to Iraq.
Then comes the whole argument of whose fault is it? Yes things were bad when Saddam was in-charge, but now the buck is in US court and it must justify its claims to improving things. Improving the lot of womenfolk can be a great starting point. To argue the case for Bush & Co. after all their misadventures is nothing short of political ignorance and naivety. To come in order to put the house in order and then failing in that quest is a reason enough to demand serious condemnation. As I wrote initially some blame must lay on the strife between the sects which is not giving any chance for improvement.
Having written some Live stories myself, I’m really appalled with your views that the journalistic integrity is rarely maintained. It is sad to see someone (read Mr. Jonty) say that we fail to research. How about going to Reuters if you’re only looking for plain facts, devoid of any opinion? More often than not, live stories try to portray arguments and opinions rather than only the news. We might not present both sides of the coin in all the cases, but that is only done when one of the sides lacks any real substance.
How can one even hold a writer responsible for lack of comments from the readers is beyond me? Editorials are about opinion and everyone is entitled to have one. So one is welcome to criticize the writer for failing to argue his case properly but to criticize the author for having a case shouldn’t be accepted. Also to use Y-term with regards to an opinion-based article is pathetic. In trying to give our opinion we often present facts and figures or alternatively links and leave to readers to develop their own opinion. So please don’t criticize the team here!
(“I do not comment on every story, much less to stories that are not backed by proper research.”- I can only thank the Almighty for your concession!)
World Peace!
I want to say only one thing what some of the big names of the world of journalism taught us (in my classrooms way back when we were learning abc of the profession and in the desk where I have burnt my oil for four years both in print and electronic media) that If you could not satisfy the audience with your writing and if you need some 30-40 paragraphs of justification from fellow writers to prove what you actually wanted to write and why you used this picture and that thing in the article, you are failed. The basic thing is that do write that much as the writing could satisfy the audience, because if someone invest his or her time to read your article, it will be better for you to make them habituated to read your writing every time. Don’t give space to the people to raise the questions regarding the content of the post. I know this is a tough work and it needs better thinking, conceptualization and analyzing capacity, but if you would succeed to enhance the capacity within you, you would never need a group of people to support you to answer the group of the people who are against you.
I hope people would understand my point what I want to say. I read the article and one question raised in my mind. I asked in Comment no. 6 and 14, on first question I got the answer from author, but after the comment no. 14, every gentleman discussed everything including the World Cup post except the above post and its content. I found answer of my question only in comment given by Amit Mishra after too much useless talks done here those were unnecessary to write in this space. We are a growing news organisation and people are watching us with great surprise and they badly want to know how we are growing with such a great pace. We should take care of that progress with great dignity in commenting on any story.
I hope people would understand my point what I want to say. I read the article and one question raised in my mind. I asked in Comment no. 6 and 14, on first question I got the answer from author, but after the comment no. 14, every gentleman discussed everything including the World Cup post except the above post and its content. I found answer of my question only in comment given by Amit Mishra after too much useless talks done here those were unnecessary to write in this space. We are a growing news organisation and people are watching us with great surprise and they badly want to know how we are growing with such a great pace. We should take care of that progress with great dignity in commenting on any story.
Journalism as I learnt from my student career and four years of media experience must ensure accuracy and fairness in reporting, editing, feature writing and obviously commenting.
In journalism, there is no room for error. After all, journalists are human beings, so it is natural that error may be committed despite utmost care as it happened in the current live story in picking up the image (that particular image raised international attention towards Bhopal Gas Tragedy). I guess the writer might have hurriedly picked up the image to draw readers’ attention without crosschecking. The book referred in the story, has not properly analyzed to give it Iraqi connection.
In these days, leading media organizations have news ombudsman (readers’ editor whose task is mark the post-publication errors and readers comments), though the trend is slowly picking up in India.
It is quite disheartening to note the fact commentators have divided into pools to defend the writer and drag the writer without any reason. No doubt, editorial writing as well as commenting is subjective concept, but there must be some objectivity-connotation.
As Amit Mishra tries to draw a comparison between a popular uprising against the Iranian Shah at that time, which was not as bloody as he tried to portray. In any case, the Islamic Revolution in Iran was not because of an alien invasion and certainly not as dramatic as ”Deep sense of uneasiness, sounds of thumping feet, dust strewn atmosphere, where every moment of a second becomes harbinger of violence & bloodshed… rattling of weapons, sounds of thudding bullets, the very atmosphere...”
It seems that the attack on Jonty for pointing out the valid ’journalistic poignancy’ resembles canine rabidity.
In journalism, there is no room for error. After all, journalists are human beings, so it is natural that error may be committed despite utmost care as it happened in the current live story in picking up the image (that particular image raised international attention towards Bhopal Gas Tragedy). I guess the writer might have hurriedly picked up the image to draw readers’ attention without crosschecking. The book referred in the story, has not properly analyzed to give it Iraqi connection.
In these days, leading media organizations have news ombudsman (readers’ editor whose task is mark the post-publication errors and readers comments), though the trend is slowly picking up in India.
It is quite disheartening to note the fact commentators have divided into pools to defend the writer and drag the writer without any reason. No doubt, editorial writing as well as commenting is subjective concept, but there must be some objectivity-connotation.
As Amit Mishra tries to draw a comparison between a popular uprising against the Iranian Shah at that time, which was not as bloody as he tried to portray. In any case, the Islamic Revolution in Iran was not because of an alien invasion and certainly not as dramatic as ”Deep sense of uneasiness, sounds of thumping feet, dust strewn atmosphere, where every moment of a second becomes harbinger of violence & bloodshed… rattling of weapons, sounds of thudding bullets, the very atmosphere...”
It seems that the attack on Jonty for pointing out the valid ’journalistic poignancy’ resembles canine rabidity.
Bhagwan, I don’t agree with your comment that popular uprising against the Iranian Shah was not as blood as Iraq. Infact, it is caused much more hardship to human beings in Iran than anywhere at that time. It is often viewed as the greatest bloodshed in the Middle East till Gulf War II.Your point lacks experience in international politics. Iranian revolution is also an offshoot of alien dominance on Iranian society. The upheaval was primarily aimed at uprooting western vestige in Iraq and much support came from the former USSR. People were butchered on the basis of suspicion, liberty was looted, equality was strangulated and freedom was chocked there. Violence against humanity aftermath the revolution failed to reach the news desk because of severe restrictions on press. Please do some research on the topic. And even the US sanctions post-revolution caused much hardship for the people increasing infant mortality rate to 72% in 1980- higher than present Iraq. How can you forget Contra deal and deny foreign involvement in Iran.
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War smoke has strangulated the living beings and its soot is blocking the nasal cavity of the unborn. This is what the Iraq war is all about? Miseries all the way… without a single moment of respite. When this mess will be over? Well, sitting miles away we can only pray for it to be over.