What would you feel, if being Pakistan's President, the director of CIA puts before your eyes the detailed drawings of Pakistan's nuclear centrifuges? of course, you would be shocked to see one of the highest guarded secrets of Pakistan in the hands of the head of US intelligence agency. That is what exactly happened between Pakistan's president Mr Pervez Musharraf and CIA's director George Tenet in 2003 (see chapter 27, "In the Line of Fire" by Pervez Musharraf, 2006) when the whole issue of leaking nuclear secrets from Pakistan came to fore. Being the president of the country, Mr Musharraf's writings have been really revealing on the issue. The leaking of centrifuge technology involved North Korea, Iran and Libya. Its clear right from the list of these three countries (North Korea being a non Muslim country), that the motive of Dr AQ Khan for sharing his genius was not based on ideology, he just sold it to the highest bidder. Dr AQ Khan sought official pardon in 2004 for his doings after his secret dealings were made public following a thorough investigation. The pardon was granted to him, but he has been restricted to his house since then.
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One of the most important steps taken by Mr Pervez Musharraf is to institutionalize the custodial control of Pakistan's nuclear assets and facilities. He has formulated a National Command Authority (NCA) that includes the President, the Prime Ministers, all three service chiefs, key federal ministers and senior scientists. This apex body is responsible for taking all decisions regarding strategic weapons. The inclusion of military service chiefs makes sure that no matter what kind of government comes up, no unwarranted decision could be made, neither is the push button given to any one man. Working under the NCA is the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) working under the military, which is primarily responsible for the execution of these decisions. This whole system ensures that Pakistan's nuclear assets remain safe, and away from the whims of any single being. The person responsible for leaking Pakistan's nuclear assets has been removed from his appointment and he is now gone. A stable government, a professional army and a well balanced head of state are factors which put Pakistan's nuclear assets out of the danger zone for now. However, the headache seems to have shifted towards more unstable states, including Iran and many Central Asian States which possess nuclear capabilities in addition to the weapons to employ them.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness
Man by nature is a positive being. Its the circumstance that makes him what he is today. Of the 6 billion humans living on earth today, 2/3 are living below poverty line. A vast human population lives below subsistence levels and hunger and disease are their biggest enemies. Are we, the privileged, supposed to shed a tear on the plight of the majority, blame the system and sit quiet, or are we to look up, gather our act and make our contribution? This brings me to the short speech I am going to make on this topic which is so fundamental to give us a direction of life.
I would start with the example of Dr Muhammad Younis of Bangladesh, who has been awarded the Nobel prize for economics in year 2007. Dr Younis felt that the poor people of his country need small amounts of loan to pull themselves out of poverty, but no bank would give them any loan. He sensed this acute need of the poor people of Bangladesh and took an initiative. He started ‘Grameen Bank’, a bank which would give poor people loans without any guarantee. His theory was simple: the poor people always give their loans back!! He started small in 1976 without any government support. But by 2006, the entire world had recognized as to how effective Dr Younis has been in pulling millions of people out of poverty! Major financial donors started supporting the initiative, and Dr Younis was awarded the prestigious Nobel prize in recognition of his efforts.
What I have just related is a fine example of creating a small island of change in the vast darkness that always surrounds every one of us. It is always easier to blame someone else or the system and continue being part of the problem, and its very difficult to tread the path of change, to stop being part of the problem and be part of a solution, to create your own small island of improvement in the sea of status quo, to be the harbinger of success for the entire mass of population you are related to.
This path of lighting a candle in the darkness is difficult, and thats why I am standing here before you trying to induce what it takes to make this difference. The candles in the darkness are susceptible to the strong blows of wind, to the utter darkness of the atmosphere and to the length of the night. But there is always a morning to every night. Candles are just a way to encourage us and change the darkness to light.
The US poet Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950) translates this view into a beautiful verse when he said:-
My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light!
Yes, for those who light a candle in the darkness do not live to see the light of the day. But their efforts go a long way in bringing the light closer to all their fellowmen. Yasir Arafat has died fighting for his cause, but his efforts have made their mark, and millions of Palestinians are now mobilized for their freedom. Che Guevara gave his life for the cause of his people, and made a change which would last forever. Our own leader Quaid-e-Azam did not live long enough to see Pakistan prosper, but he became the ultimate liberator for this nation of millions. Others agents of change include kamal Ataturk, Nelson Mandela and many other leaders, but the list of these leaders should not discourage the common man as if he cant be an agent for change. The entire philosophy of lighting a candle in the darkness is aimed at the ordinary people like you and me. It doesn’t take a national leader to make an island of change. You and me can do it, and initiate what others hesitate to do. It only takes an idea, and a small amount of inspiration.
There are numerous examples of people who lighted their small candles, and flooded the darkness with the combined strength of their individual efforts. An example in point is Abdul Sattar Edhi. His ambulance service started small, but when people started to see how honestly this man is working, they contributed whole heartedly and today ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ states Edhi as the largest ambulance service of the world.
What keeps the man from these noble actions is himself. Our own pride, our societal barriers, our class image and our false aims prevent us from doing what we know is right. We are the biggest impediment to ourselves! I would call upon all of you to look into yourselves, and find out what is it, that is keeping you from fulfilling your dreams. Is it your self-imposed limitations or your own perception? Is it the society or the atmosphere? Yes, you can do it, man is the most enigmatic machine on earth, capable of achieving what he himself cannot fathom, but easily withered away by the set of ideas and thoughts imposed upon him by society. Please tell me, are you afraid to put the garbage bag outside your home because someone would see you carrying it? Are you afraid of polishing your shoes because it is supposedly done by a servant? Are you afraid to study because you are too old for that? Are you afraid to learn from your son? Are you afraid to point out a smoker in a public area? Are you afraid to water your plants yourself? Yes, we are afraid, and that is exactly why we have not changed.
The change must come into yourself before you go on to apply change elsewhere. By changing yourself, you are creating that island which others can see, admire, appreciate and follow. By changing yourself, you are going to lead the change in the entire society. This lighting of the candle is yourself. You are the candle, you have to light yourself, and see how other follow you and the light spreads all over.
I end my speech on this note. I am sure that I have brought home my point. Together with our candles lit, we can become such a formidable force which simply would change the entire nation waiting for our initiatives. I would quote the American President Ronald Reagan here:-
“We meant to change a nation, and instead, we changed a world.”
I would start with the example of Dr Muhammad Younis of Bangladesh, who has been awarded the Nobel prize for economics in year 2007. Dr Younis felt that the poor people of his country need small amounts of loan to pull themselves out of poverty, but no bank would give them any loan. He sensed this acute need of the poor people of Bangladesh and took an initiative. He started ‘Grameen Bank’, a bank which would give poor people loans without any guarantee. His theory was simple: the poor people always give their loans back!! He started small in 1976 without any government support. But by 2006, the entire world had recognized as to how effective Dr Younis has been in pulling millions of people out of poverty! Major financial donors started supporting the initiative, and Dr Younis was awarded the prestigious Nobel prize in recognition of his efforts.
What I have just related is a fine example of creating a small island of change in the vast darkness that always surrounds every one of us. It is always easier to blame someone else or the system and continue being part of the problem, and its very difficult to tread the path of change, to stop being part of the problem and be part of a solution, to create your own small island of improvement in the sea of status quo, to be the harbinger of success for the entire mass of population you are related to.
This path of lighting a candle in the darkness is difficult, and thats why I am standing here before you trying to induce what it takes to make this difference. The candles in the darkness are susceptible to the strong blows of wind, to the utter darkness of the atmosphere and to the length of the night. But there is always a morning to every night. Candles are just a way to encourage us and change the darkness to light.
The US poet Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950) translates this view into a beautiful verse when he said:-
My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light!
Yes, for those who light a candle in the darkness do not live to see the light of the day. But their efforts go a long way in bringing the light closer to all their fellowmen. Yasir Arafat has died fighting for his cause, but his efforts have made their mark, and millions of Palestinians are now mobilized for their freedom. Che Guevara gave his life for the cause of his people, and made a change which would last forever. Our own leader Quaid-e-Azam did not live long enough to see Pakistan prosper, but he became the ultimate liberator for this nation of millions. Others agents of change include kamal Ataturk, Nelson Mandela and many other leaders, but the list of these leaders should not discourage the common man as if he cant be an agent for change. The entire philosophy of lighting a candle in the darkness is aimed at the ordinary people like you and me. It doesn’t take a national leader to make an island of change. You and me can do it, and initiate what others hesitate to do. It only takes an idea, and a small amount of inspiration.
There are numerous examples of people who lighted their small candles, and flooded the darkness with the combined strength of their individual efforts. An example in point is Abdul Sattar Edhi. His ambulance service started small, but when people started to see how honestly this man is working, they contributed whole heartedly and today ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ states Edhi as the largest ambulance service of the world.
What keeps the man from these noble actions is himself. Our own pride, our societal barriers, our class image and our false aims prevent us from doing what we know is right. We are the biggest impediment to ourselves! I would call upon all of you to look into yourselves, and find out what is it, that is keeping you from fulfilling your dreams. Is it your self-imposed limitations or your own perception? Is it the society or the atmosphere? Yes, you can do it, man is the most enigmatic machine on earth, capable of achieving what he himself cannot fathom, but easily withered away by the set of ideas and thoughts imposed upon him by society. Please tell me, are you afraid to put the garbage bag outside your home because someone would see you carrying it? Are you afraid of polishing your shoes because it is supposedly done by a servant? Are you afraid to study because you are too old for that? Are you afraid to learn from your son? Are you afraid to point out a smoker in a public area? Are you afraid to water your plants yourself? Yes, we are afraid, and that is exactly why we have not changed.
The change must come into yourself before you go on to apply change elsewhere. By changing yourself, you are creating that island which others can see, admire, appreciate and follow. By changing yourself, you are going to lead the change in the entire society. This lighting of the candle is yourself. You are the candle, you have to light yourself, and see how other follow you and the light spreads all over.
I end my speech on this note. I am sure that I have brought home my point. Together with our candles lit, we can become such a formidable force which simply would change the entire nation waiting for our initiatives. I would quote the American President Ronald Reagan here:-
“We meant to change a nation, and instead, we changed a world.”
Software Houses In Karachi
It was a peaceful area of Defence. The quiet of the area did not disclose whether any work or activity was taking place inside the house. But there were many vehicles standing outside the house. The door used to open automatically when someone approached, and people carrying black leather bags were going inside. I also approached the door, and rang the bell. I introduced myself through the small, wall-mounted speaker and the guard inside opened the door for us electronically. Passing through a metal detector, we went inside the building. Right from the main entrance it was clear that latest technology had been put to use here. As guests, we had to go through various security procedures as well as a long wait at the guest room. Finally, we were called. In a large, well decorated room, an officer was sitting, doing some work on his laptop. Without looking up he motioned for us to sit down. He kept fiddling with his laptop for a long time, and then finally said in a cold voice “So you are his brother! What reservations do you have against this job?”
This story began a few weeks ago. In a leading English newspaper, a very attractive advertisement was published by a software house. They required people studying computer science at university level, and in the final year of their studies. Only outstanding students were asked to apply. The most attractive aspects of the job offer were that no prior experience was required, and a pay package was offered which no other software house could offer. According to the advertisement, every employee would be given Rupees 50,000/- per month, an 800 cc car and 100 litres of petrol per month too. Such an advertisement could be the realization of the dreams of any computer science student who pay heavy fees and concentrate on their studies for want of a better future. Amongst such students was an intelligent boy who was studying computer science at one of Karachi’s leading universities, and had successfully got this job after his interview with this software house. He was trying to learn driving so that he could get the car that the company had offered him. However, earth moved from under his feet when he was informed about the ‘actual job description’ after a few days. The boy belonged to a poor family, and his weak heart made him continue the work quietly. However, his heart was full of fear because he knew that the job he was doing, was simply unacceptable in the society, and in real life, no one looked at such work with an approving eye. Some of the work could be included in the list of cyber crimes. The boy quietly told me about his new job, and sought help. Upon my suggestion, he told his manager that his brother has some reservations on his job, and wanted to meet him. It was a result of this conversation that I was sitting across this suited and booted manager who was asking me about my reservations in his cold voice. All this while I was quite upset by the deep quiet around the place and the movement of mysterious people there. Whoever we came across, met in a mechanical way, without any smiles or talk. Those who talked were having a very cold and coarse attitude. In addition, various security cameras installed all over the place made the atmosphere even heavier. Thats why when the manager asked me the question in his cold voice, I already had drops of sweat slipping across my forehead. I made my tone very humble and said:-
“Sir, we are religious people, as is evident from our dress and attire. Then how is it possible that my brother makes websites that are not considered ‘good’? He is too young, if he indulges into such things, how badly would it affect his own character?”
The manager replied angrily,
“You are implying that we are not Muslims, we are not good, we are the society’s vice?”
What all we had to listen to, what threats we received and what embarrassment we had to face to get rid of this man of black suit, black heart and black tongue is not important. What the manager said was that they are so powerful, that they can kidnap anyone from their homes and no one can dare do anything against them. Another interesting thing was the use of high technology just like it is shown in movies. For example, when we got up to move out of the room, we had to face another difficulty. The door through which we had entered was no more there. For a few seconds we kept looking around for a door and the manager enjoyed this moment, and then suddenly a wall mounted painting moved aside silently, and the door appeared.
After getting the boy out of the software house, I investigated the matter further and found that neither the boy is alone in his predicament, nor such a software house is unique. There are dozens of computer engineers in Karachi, who have been black mailed by such software houses. These computer engineers from Karachi who are now settled in different parts of the world, have made a forum on the internet and discussing as to where are we heading. I am providing the link to this forum so that the readers can themselves see the details and names of these software houses:-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19718
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19739
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19744
To have access to this forum of Pakistan’s computer engineers, it is necessary to get yourself registered here, only then would you be able to access to this strange discussion.
The reason that boy wanted out of that dream salary and from the software house of the posh area of Defence, was adult websites, commonly known as ‘nude websites’. These websites on the internet are run by companies of the West, and the filth contained in them also belongs to the West. These websites are updated on a daily basis, and if this task is performed in the West, quite heavy expenditure would accrue. That is why hundreds of companies which run these websites turn to Asia, where the material is provided and it is put on the internet by the cheap Asian labour force. It was India which took the lead in this regard, but as Pakistan is also appearing on the IT scene, it is also treading this path to make profits. The software houses pick fresh computer engineers right from the universities. It is not a legal crime to run adult websites in the West, but it is still morally wrong. Therefore, any computer engineer working on such a project would also demand additional money. West has special rules for such websites, which show that this is not work as usual, therefore the cost of carrying it out is also higher. Whereas in Pakistan, such projects are done on quite cheaper rates. Even these cheaper rates are a dream for the poor Pakistani engineers. If the matter was restricted to adult websites, it might have been digested, though this is also a crime under Pakistani rules. But there is another side of this business which eats up the smiles of the employees and keeps them under constant anxiety. Software houses carrying out such work usually hire the brightest of the lot, and then enter into a one year contract with them. The employees cannot leave until they have completed one year at their job. When the employee is fully engaged, he is first put to the task of updating adult websites. People who argue are convinced, telling them that its perfectly legal, and that they cannot hope to get such a lucrative salary elsewhere. It is true that their salaries are truly high, and are paid timely. It is not difficult to update adult websites or to develop a new one, but these tasks are given at the beginning. Afterwards, different types of essays are also assigned to them. The ‘business’ of writing essays is also strange. On the internet, there are hundreds of websites which offer essays or theses, getting paid through credit cards. The college and university students of Europe refer to these websites. Whereas the European companies running these websites refer to the Asian companies running software houses which can perform these tasks. In Karachi, these tasks are performed by the same software houses which also update and develop adult websites. The Pakistani students developing adult websites are then given these essay projects in the second phase. To meet these Pakistani IT professionals busy in doing such jobs against their will, you need to log into this forum:-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19808
http://www.itouchp.com
Involved in wrongdoing, these software houses in the third phase get people to do something which makes people sweat. This involves hacking other peoples’ IDs, stealing information from the internet and stealing corporate information from the internet and delivering it to their business competitors. The clients requesting such tasks do not belong to Pakistan, instead they belong to the West. The aim of all this is to gain advantage over business competitors after knowing their business secrets, or to harm these companies. It is a serious crime in the financial world, and tops the list of cyber crimes. Software houses performing such tasks are always in need of manpower because their workers, in spite of drawing heavy salaries, escape at the first opportunity. The affected Pakistani computer engineers say that the employees of such software houses are strictly monitored, and their actions and movements are observed. Their phone calls, emails and their computers are constantly checked. Every employee is briefed about the policy of ‘live and let live’, and if someone tried to act smart, he would face severe consequences. I also had to listen to similar threats when I had gone to that software house posing as that student’s brother. There are software houses in Karachi which have more than one offices, and every office carries out a different job. Some of these offices do exist physically, but not on papers. Some of such software houses have been sealed in the past, the details of which are given in the following link:-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19739
This story began a few weeks ago. In a leading English newspaper, a very attractive advertisement was published by a software house. They required people studying computer science at university level, and in the final year of their studies. Only outstanding students were asked to apply. The most attractive aspects of the job offer were that no prior experience was required, and a pay package was offered which no other software house could offer. According to the advertisement, every employee would be given Rupees 50,000/- per month, an 800 cc car and 100 litres of petrol per month too. Such an advertisement could be the realization of the dreams of any computer science student who pay heavy fees and concentrate on their studies for want of a better future. Amongst such students was an intelligent boy who was studying computer science at one of Karachi’s leading universities, and had successfully got this job after his interview with this software house. He was trying to learn driving so that he could get the car that the company had offered him. However, earth moved from under his feet when he was informed about the ‘actual job description’ after a few days. The boy belonged to a poor family, and his weak heart made him continue the work quietly. However, his heart was full of fear because he knew that the job he was doing, was simply unacceptable in the society, and in real life, no one looked at such work with an approving eye. Some of the work could be included in the list of cyber crimes. The boy quietly told me about his new job, and sought help. Upon my suggestion, he told his manager that his brother has some reservations on his job, and wanted to meet him. It was a result of this conversation that I was sitting across this suited and booted manager who was asking me about my reservations in his cold voice. All this while I was quite upset by the deep quiet around the place and the movement of mysterious people there. Whoever we came across, met in a mechanical way, without any smiles or talk. Those who talked were having a very cold and coarse attitude. In addition, various security cameras installed all over the place made the atmosphere even heavier. Thats why when the manager asked me the question in his cold voice, I already had drops of sweat slipping across my forehead. I made my tone very humble and said:-
“Sir, we are religious people, as is evident from our dress and attire. Then how is it possible that my brother makes websites that are not considered ‘good’? He is too young, if he indulges into such things, how badly would it affect his own character?”
The manager replied angrily,
“You are implying that we are not Muslims, we are not good, we are the society’s vice?”
What all we had to listen to, what threats we received and what embarrassment we had to face to get rid of this man of black suit, black heart and black tongue is not important. What the manager said was that they are so powerful, that they can kidnap anyone from their homes and no one can dare do anything against them. Another interesting thing was the use of high technology just like it is shown in movies. For example, when we got up to move out of the room, we had to face another difficulty. The door through which we had entered was no more there. For a few seconds we kept looking around for a door and the manager enjoyed this moment, and then suddenly a wall mounted painting moved aside silently, and the door appeared.
After getting the boy out of the software house, I investigated the matter further and found that neither the boy is alone in his predicament, nor such a software house is unique. There are dozens of computer engineers in Karachi, who have been black mailed by such software houses. These computer engineers from Karachi who are now settled in different parts of the world, have made a forum on the internet and discussing as to where are we heading. I am providing the link to this forum so that the readers can themselves see the details and names of these software houses:-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19718
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19739
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19744
To have access to this forum of Pakistan’s computer engineers, it is necessary to get yourself registered here, only then would you be able to access to this strange discussion.
The reason that boy wanted out of that dream salary and from the software house of the posh area of Defence, was adult websites, commonly known as ‘nude websites’. These websites on the internet are run by companies of the West, and the filth contained in them also belongs to the West. These websites are updated on a daily basis, and if this task is performed in the West, quite heavy expenditure would accrue. That is why hundreds of companies which run these websites turn to Asia, where the material is provided and it is put on the internet by the cheap Asian labour force. It was India which took the lead in this regard, but as Pakistan is also appearing on the IT scene, it is also treading this path to make profits. The software houses pick fresh computer engineers right from the universities. It is not a legal crime to run adult websites in the West, but it is still morally wrong. Therefore, any computer engineer working on such a project would also demand additional money. West has special rules for such websites, which show that this is not work as usual, therefore the cost of carrying it out is also higher. Whereas in Pakistan, such projects are done on quite cheaper rates. Even these cheaper rates are a dream for the poor Pakistani engineers. If the matter was restricted to adult websites, it might have been digested, though this is also a crime under Pakistani rules. But there is another side of this business which eats up the smiles of the employees and keeps them under constant anxiety. Software houses carrying out such work usually hire the brightest of the lot, and then enter into a one year contract with them. The employees cannot leave until they have completed one year at their job. When the employee is fully engaged, he is first put to the task of updating adult websites. People who argue are convinced, telling them that its perfectly legal, and that they cannot hope to get such a lucrative salary elsewhere. It is true that their salaries are truly high, and are paid timely. It is not difficult to update adult websites or to develop a new one, but these tasks are given at the beginning. Afterwards, different types of essays are also assigned to them. The ‘business’ of writing essays is also strange. On the internet, there are hundreds of websites which offer essays or theses, getting paid through credit cards. The college and university students of Europe refer to these websites. Whereas the European companies running these websites refer to the Asian companies running software houses which can perform these tasks. In Karachi, these tasks are performed by the same software houses which also update and develop adult websites. The Pakistani students developing adult websites are then given these essay projects in the second phase. To meet these Pakistani IT professionals busy in doing such jobs against their will, you need to log into this forum:-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19808
http://www.itouchp.com
Involved in wrongdoing, these software houses in the third phase get people to do something which makes people sweat. This involves hacking other peoples’ IDs, stealing information from the internet and stealing corporate information from the internet and delivering it to their business competitors. The clients requesting such tasks do not belong to Pakistan, instead they belong to the West. The aim of all this is to gain advantage over business competitors after knowing their business secrets, or to harm these companies. It is a serious crime in the financial world, and tops the list of cyber crimes. Software houses performing such tasks are always in need of manpower because their workers, in spite of drawing heavy salaries, escape at the first opportunity. The affected Pakistani computer engineers say that the employees of such software houses are strictly monitored, and their actions and movements are observed. Their phone calls, emails and their computers are constantly checked. Every employee is briefed about the policy of ‘live and let live’, and if someone tried to act smart, he would face severe consequences. I also had to listen to similar threats when I had gone to that software house posing as that student’s brother. There are software houses in Karachi which have more than one offices, and every office carries out a different job. Some of these offices do exist physically, but not on papers. Some of such software houses have been sealed in the past, the details of which are given in the following link:-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ku-dcs/message/19739
Low Aim is a Crime
“Greatly begin! Though thou have time But for a line, be that sublime- Not failure, but low aim is crime.”
James Russell Lowell wrote this in the 19th century, but the power of these words has brought them to our lives and is as valid today as it was centuries ago. Ladies and gentlemen, before shooting, one must aim. And here in a short speech I would only dwell upon the abstract meanings of this word. We as humans have an innate desire to achieve and aim in life, be it personal, societal, work oriented, religious or any other form. But all of us carry an aim in our lives. The point of my speech today, is to impress upon the audience just how important is aiming higher to achieve more and more.
Life is guided by the aims of us humans. Be it religious, personal, social or societal, aim is one factor which makes us achieve much more than we could ever hope for. It is also a common observation, that all aims are centred at success. As we like success, we hate failure, and this is where the problem starts.
It is well known that for 28 years Abraham Lincoln experienced one failure after another. In 1833 he had a nervous breakdown. When he ran for speaker in 1838 he was defeated. In 1848 he lost re-nomination to Congress and was rejected for land officer in 1849. These failures didn't stop him from battling on. In 1854 he was defeated for the Senate. Two years later he lost the nomination for vice-president and was again defeated for the Senate in 1858. Yet, despite it all, in 1860 he was elected president and went down in history as one of America's greatest presidents.
Obviously, success isn't the absence of failure. It is having the determination to never quit because "quitters never win and winners never quit."
Almost every person who has achieved anything worthwhile with his or her life has not only experienced failure but experienced it many times. Lincoln experienced innumerable failures, but he was never a failure because he never gave up.
Walt Disney was the same. He went broke several times and had a nervous breakdown before he became successful.
Enrico Caruso failed so many times with his high notes that his voice teacher advised him to give up. He didn't. Instead, he persevered and became one of the world's greatest tenors.
Albert Einstein and Werner von Braun both failed courses in math. Henry Ford was broke when he was 40. Thomas Edison's school teacher called him a dunce, and later he failed over 6,000 times before he perfected the first electric light bulb.
Demosthenes, the famous Greek orator, failed before he became famous. His father died when he was only seven, leaving him a wealthy estate. At age eighteen, through public debate, he sought to claim his estate from his dishonest guardian. Unfortunately, not only was he shy and retiring, but he also had a speech impediment which caused him to fail in trying to prove his right of ownership.
Without doubt this failure provided the motivation that gave him the determination to persevere until he became the most famous political orator in antiquity. Nobody knows who received his estate but 2,300 years later students still know about Demosthenes.
No matter how badly or how many times a person fails, he is never a failure providing he gets up just one more time than he falls down. Furthermore, like a high jumper, one never discovers his full potential until he reaches his point of failure. As one person said, "Low aim, not failure, is crime." Remember, too that failure is an event, not a person.
It is actually the fear of failure, not failure itself, that cripples people. As Baudjuin once said, "No matter now hard you work for success, if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavor,and make success impossible."
Lincoln, who hated slavery, overcame his many failures to eventually abolish slavery because he had determination, a noble cause to believe in and live for, and the courage to fight for that cause regardless of failures and setbacks. A cause to live for doesn't have to be as mighty as Lincoln's, but does need to be meaningful. Everybody needs something bigger than himself to live for.
Rather than having no goal, it is, as it has been wisely said, "far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
It is interesting to know that Lincoln was also a very unhappy and melancholy man. His first sweetheart died before he was able to marry her. And his marriage to Mary Todd would have been enough to destroy any man with less courage and determination than Lincoln. However, historians agree that had Lincoln been happily married, he would never have become president. Out of his failure and unhappiness in marriage he was able to give his life to a great and worthwhile cause.
John Wesley, the father of the Methodist church, was another man whose marriage was a failure. He, too, was able to rise above his circumstances to build a work that has helped millions of people around the world.
The Apostle Paul was another person with a determination to win. His goal was to proclaim God's message of love and hope to all people. As a result he was thrown into jail several times, and faced death again and again. Five times he was whipped by the Jews and three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned, three times shipwrecked. He faced grave dangers from robbers and mobs. He lived with weariness, pain and sleepless nights. He was often hungry and cold and was criticized for his less-than-perfect looks and speech. But did Paul ever feel that he was a failure or that God had forsaken him? Never!
Unwaveringly he kept his eye on his goal.1 The problems, setbacks and failures along the way strengthened him for the journey. Paul's attitude was: "It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling his Good News to others], and so we never give up."2
Perhaps there is no greater way to overcome feelings of failure than to know what God wants you to do with your life. He wants you to achieve something worthwhile S not necessarily spectacular. When you are living in harmony with God's will, you can know that you have God on your side and that he will give you the faith, courage, and determination to go on.
As God said to Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."3
As far as following God was concerned, Jonah failed hopelessly. He defiantly did the opposite of what he knew he was supposed to do. But did God reject him? No. God allowed him to experience failure. This brought him to his senses. When he was ready to listen, "the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time."4
And so it is with us. No matter how many times we feel we've failed, God will continue to call us to himself.
If you feel you have failed, be encouraged. Now's the time to give God a chance. "He'll mend even a broken heart if you'll give him all the pieces." God calls us all to follow him, so why not respond to his call and, if you haven't already done so, ask him to come into your life as Lord and Savior? He can make a much better job of your life than you can if you will trust it to him.
For those who trust in God, failure is never forever.
James Russell Lowell wrote this in the 19th century, but the power of these words has brought them to our lives and is as valid today as it was centuries ago. Ladies and gentlemen, before shooting, one must aim. And here in a short speech I would only dwell upon the abstract meanings of this word. We as humans have an innate desire to achieve and aim in life, be it personal, societal, work oriented, religious or any other form. But all of us carry an aim in our lives. The point of my speech today, is to impress upon the audience just how important is aiming higher to achieve more and more.
Life is guided by the aims of us humans. Be it religious, personal, social or societal, aim is one factor which makes us achieve much more than we could ever hope for. It is also a common observation, that all aims are centred at success. As we like success, we hate failure, and this is where the problem starts.
It is well known that for 28 years Abraham Lincoln experienced one failure after another. In 1833 he had a nervous breakdown. When he ran for speaker in 1838 he was defeated. In 1848 he lost re-nomination to Congress and was rejected for land officer in 1849. These failures didn't stop him from battling on. In 1854 he was defeated for the Senate. Two years later he lost the nomination for vice-president and was again defeated for the Senate in 1858. Yet, despite it all, in 1860 he was elected president and went down in history as one of America's greatest presidents.
Obviously, success isn't the absence of failure. It is having the determination to never quit because "quitters never win and winners never quit."
Almost every person who has achieved anything worthwhile with his or her life has not only experienced failure but experienced it many times. Lincoln experienced innumerable failures, but he was never a failure because he never gave up.
Walt Disney was the same. He went broke several times and had a nervous breakdown before he became successful.
Enrico Caruso failed so many times with his high notes that his voice teacher advised him to give up. He didn't. Instead, he persevered and became one of the world's greatest tenors.
Albert Einstein and Werner von Braun both failed courses in math. Henry Ford was broke when he was 40. Thomas Edison's school teacher called him a dunce, and later he failed over 6,000 times before he perfected the first electric light bulb.
Demosthenes, the famous Greek orator, failed before he became famous. His father died when he was only seven, leaving him a wealthy estate. At age eighteen, through public debate, he sought to claim his estate from his dishonest guardian. Unfortunately, not only was he shy and retiring, but he also had a speech impediment which caused him to fail in trying to prove his right of ownership.
Without doubt this failure provided the motivation that gave him the determination to persevere until he became the most famous political orator in antiquity. Nobody knows who received his estate but 2,300 years later students still know about Demosthenes.
No matter how badly or how many times a person fails, he is never a failure providing he gets up just one more time than he falls down. Furthermore, like a high jumper, one never discovers his full potential until he reaches his point of failure. As one person said, "Low aim, not failure, is crime." Remember, too that failure is an event, not a person.
It is actually the fear of failure, not failure itself, that cripples people. As Baudjuin once said, "No matter now hard you work for success, if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavor,and make success impossible."
Lincoln, who hated slavery, overcame his many failures to eventually abolish slavery because he had determination, a noble cause to believe in and live for, and the courage to fight for that cause regardless of failures and setbacks. A cause to live for doesn't have to be as mighty as Lincoln's, but does need to be meaningful. Everybody needs something bigger than himself to live for.
Rather than having no goal, it is, as it has been wisely said, "far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
It is interesting to know that Lincoln was also a very unhappy and melancholy man. His first sweetheart died before he was able to marry her. And his marriage to Mary Todd would have been enough to destroy any man with less courage and determination than Lincoln. However, historians agree that had Lincoln been happily married, he would never have become president. Out of his failure and unhappiness in marriage he was able to give his life to a great and worthwhile cause.
John Wesley, the father of the Methodist church, was another man whose marriage was a failure. He, too, was able to rise above his circumstances to build a work that has helped millions of people around the world.
The Apostle Paul was another person with a determination to win. His goal was to proclaim God's message of love and hope to all people. As a result he was thrown into jail several times, and faced death again and again. Five times he was whipped by the Jews and three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned, three times shipwrecked. He faced grave dangers from robbers and mobs. He lived with weariness, pain and sleepless nights. He was often hungry and cold and was criticized for his less-than-perfect looks and speech. But did Paul ever feel that he was a failure or that God had forsaken him? Never!
Unwaveringly he kept his eye on his goal.1 The problems, setbacks and failures along the way strengthened him for the journey. Paul's attitude was: "It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling his Good News to others], and so we never give up."2
Perhaps there is no greater way to overcome feelings of failure than to know what God wants you to do with your life. He wants you to achieve something worthwhile S not necessarily spectacular. When you are living in harmony with God's will, you can know that you have God on your side and that he will give you the faith, courage, and determination to go on.
As God said to Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."3
As far as following God was concerned, Jonah failed hopelessly. He defiantly did the opposite of what he knew he was supposed to do. But did God reject him? No. God allowed him to experience failure. This brought him to his senses. When he was ready to listen, "the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time."4
And so it is with us. No matter how many times we feel we've failed, God will continue to call us to himself.
If you feel you have failed, be encouraged. Now's the time to give God a chance. "He'll mend even a broken heart if you'll give him all the pieces." God calls us all to follow him, so why not respond to his call and, if you haven't already done so, ask him to come into your life as Lord and Savior? He can make a much better job of your life than you can if you will trust it to him.
For those who trust in God, failure is never forever.
Its The Character And Not Resources Which Build A Nation
Nations we all know, have evolved to be strong identities of human beings. We all are associated with our nations in quite an inseparable way. A common culture, a common language or a common creed was what used to make a nation. But today, the nation has morphed into nation – states, where territory controlled by a single government and inhabited by a distinct population with a common culture that shapes the identity of its citizens. Though religion also plays its role in making a nation or a nation – state, but the modern boundaries across the world have pushed it under other major factors such as colour, creed, economy and national interests.
What makes a nation great, is the topic of my speech today. Is it its resources or its character? What makes or breaks a nation? I am sure, that by the end of my speech, my audience would be fully convinced that its always the character of a nation which matters.
The resources of a nation come in various forms. A brief history of the world tells us that resources right from the inception of the human civilization have been the major source of conflict. The fertile region of Mesopotamia was the central attraction which brought the Sumer and Akkad civilizations towards this region. In the middle ages, it was the control of gold, natural resources and satellite states which drove nations towards their ends. Trade of spices, fertile lands and slaves impelled nations for major wars in history. The colonization of much of the world was also a step in the same direction:- resources, both material and human. Major conquests, starting from Alexander the Great to the explorers and exploiters of Africa ravaged much of humanity in search of gold, diamonds and fertile land. The major turn in history, however, came after the industrialization of the world, when coal, and then later, oil became the engine of the commercial world. Oil was however, later discovered in the Muslim countries, and the world continues to depend on oil as a major source of generating energy.
But the world is changing very fast. Though resources are dominating world politics today, the material resources are fast changing into intellectual resources. The western world is shifting its physical capital into intellectual and technological capital. The routine and the mundane jobs are increasingly being outsourced to the third world, and the first world stands at the cutting edge of technology going further by means of research and innovation. On the other hand, the countries with the richest of resources are also the poorest. Take the example of Democratic Republic of Congo. The largest producer of diamonds, gold, cassiterite and other minerals is one of the world’s poorest countries. The reason is simple:- the people of this country are not empowered enough to take charge of their own resources! These massive resources all get exported but nothing goes to the people because they are being exploited not only by their own lot, but also by western and other countries. This makes it clear, that resources exactly do not make a country great. Its the people of that nation which make or break a nation, and these people collectively form the character of that nation.
The Middle East is full of oil, and countries like Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, KSA and others have been enjoying massive revenues in the recent past, but compared with the Asian tigers, their progress seems dwarfed. Why is this happening? This is due to a problem known as the ‘Dutch Disease’. When countries start depending too much on any one product such as oil, the value of their currency balloons, and they are not able to export any other product as that doesn’t remain feasible anymore. Under such conditions, progress gets mired, and periods when oil prices or demand is low, also creates problems for such countries. So its more than obvious, that mere resources do not take countries anywhere.
On the other hand, the countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia have little integral resources. All they have is their talented manpower. They followed the already tried and tested policies of the west, and they gained success in less time than even the west itself. Those nations avoided war, and when war was imposed on them, fought bravely and showed resilience. Here I would quote British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) when he spoke about his nation, Great Britain:-
“They are the only people who like to be told how bad things are—who like to be told the worst.”
Such resilient nations have not bowed before pressure, adversity or crises. Rather, the great nations have become more and more strengthened when conflicts came. Conflicts have been the recipes of greatness for many nations of this world. And this is because conflicts bring out the character of the nation. If the people of the land are brave, courageous, sincere to the soil and the required zeal, the nation cannot be failed. Resources come and go, just like money, but the character of a nation always makes it great or small.
When it comes to our own country, I would say that Pakistan is one of the greatest nations of the world. This is manifest from the fact that under testing times, our nation has always united. During our wars with India, during the Kashmir movement, during the recent Earthquake tragedy, the people of Pakistan have proved time and again, that they are sincere to the soil. That they can rise upto the occasion. That they can face crises like real men. The lack of any large resources under Pakistan’s belt, and the progress this country has shown despite this fact speaks volumes of this nation. The only impediments are the red carrots shown to us by the West, in the terms of loans and aids, which make us diseased by the “Dutch Disease”:- depending on one aspect so much that all others become meaningless.
Let us take charge of ourselves. Let us throw away the shakles of aid and loans, and I can guarantee you one of the strongest nations to this world in the form of Pakistan. Nations would never progress with oil, diamonds or gold. Nations would progress with education, character, and loyalty with their soil.
What makes a nation great, is the topic of my speech today. Is it its resources or its character? What makes or breaks a nation? I am sure, that by the end of my speech, my audience would be fully convinced that its always the character of a nation which matters.
The resources of a nation come in various forms. A brief history of the world tells us that resources right from the inception of the human civilization have been the major source of conflict. The fertile region of Mesopotamia was the central attraction which brought the Sumer and Akkad civilizations towards this region. In the middle ages, it was the control of gold, natural resources and satellite states which drove nations towards their ends. Trade of spices, fertile lands and slaves impelled nations for major wars in history. The colonization of much of the world was also a step in the same direction:- resources, both material and human. Major conquests, starting from Alexander the Great to the explorers and exploiters of Africa ravaged much of humanity in search of gold, diamonds and fertile land. The major turn in history, however, came after the industrialization of the world, when coal, and then later, oil became the engine of the commercial world. Oil was however, later discovered in the Muslim countries, and the world continues to depend on oil as a major source of generating energy.
But the world is changing very fast. Though resources are dominating world politics today, the material resources are fast changing into intellectual resources. The western world is shifting its physical capital into intellectual and technological capital. The routine and the mundane jobs are increasingly being outsourced to the third world, and the first world stands at the cutting edge of technology going further by means of research and innovation. On the other hand, the countries with the richest of resources are also the poorest. Take the example of Democratic Republic of Congo. The largest producer of diamonds, gold, cassiterite and other minerals is one of the world’s poorest countries. The reason is simple:- the people of this country are not empowered enough to take charge of their own resources! These massive resources all get exported but nothing goes to the people because they are being exploited not only by their own lot, but also by western and other countries. This makes it clear, that resources exactly do not make a country great. Its the people of that nation which make or break a nation, and these people collectively form the character of that nation.
The Middle East is full of oil, and countries like Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, KSA and others have been enjoying massive revenues in the recent past, but compared with the Asian tigers, their progress seems dwarfed. Why is this happening? This is due to a problem known as the ‘Dutch Disease’. When countries start depending too much on any one product such as oil, the value of their currency balloons, and they are not able to export any other product as that doesn’t remain feasible anymore. Under such conditions, progress gets mired, and periods when oil prices or demand is low, also creates problems for such countries. So its more than obvious, that mere resources do not take countries anywhere.
On the other hand, the countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia have little integral resources. All they have is their talented manpower. They followed the already tried and tested policies of the west, and they gained success in less time than even the west itself. Those nations avoided war, and when war was imposed on them, fought bravely and showed resilience. Here I would quote British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) when he spoke about his nation, Great Britain:-
“They are the only people who like to be told how bad things are—who like to be told the worst.”
Such resilient nations have not bowed before pressure, adversity or crises. Rather, the great nations have become more and more strengthened when conflicts came. Conflicts have been the recipes of greatness for many nations of this world. And this is because conflicts bring out the character of the nation. If the people of the land are brave, courageous, sincere to the soil and the required zeal, the nation cannot be failed. Resources come and go, just like money, but the character of a nation always makes it great or small.
When it comes to our own country, I would say that Pakistan is one of the greatest nations of the world. This is manifest from the fact that under testing times, our nation has always united. During our wars with India, during the Kashmir movement, during the recent Earthquake tragedy, the people of Pakistan have proved time and again, that they are sincere to the soil. That they can rise upto the occasion. That they can face crises like real men. The lack of any large resources under Pakistan’s belt, and the progress this country has shown despite this fact speaks volumes of this nation. The only impediments are the red carrots shown to us by the West, in the terms of loans and aids, which make us diseased by the “Dutch Disease”:- depending on one aspect so much that all others become meaningless.
Let us take charge of ourselves. Let us throw away the shakles of aid and loans, and I can guarantee you one of the strongest nations to this world in the form of Pakistan. Nations would never progress with oil, diamonds or gold. Nations would progress with education, character, and loyalty with their soil.
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