AoA !

I can sit here and write and write but due to the severe shortage of time that I am facing these days, I will just cut to the chase. I just came to know that the squad for the T20 World Cup has been announced. The irony is there is no Junaid Khan in the  squad - even after what he did to the Sri Lankans in Sri Lankan conditions. He can rip apart any batting line-up in Sri Lankan conditions. You can’t just leave him out because he has had one or two bad instances in T20s in the past. With the form and rhythm he is in these days, he is an automatic choice in the playing eleven. The selectors need to re-think about this. And I just hope and pray Imran Nazir does justice to his talent. Personally, I rate Imran Nazir above Shahid Afridi; it is sad how both of them have wasted their talents! I hope this time they make all of us proud.

Osama Rashid Qazi

Spare the rod…

Dear Editor,

Reading Us is one of the great things I do every Friday, as I love it and waiting for it is one of the most difficult things for me. You people are just doing great work. I loved the article of Sirajuddin Aziz ‘Spare the rod and save the child’ (July 20). Children should be given some freedom in their life and they should also be given the right to decide for their future life. Parents should not enforce their decisions and choices on their children; instead, they should listen to their children and should encourage them to make correct decisions. Teachers should not  be ‘too’ rude and strict with the students too, and should have a friendly relationship with them. I really hope that this article would help teachers and parents in changing their attitude. Keep up the good work writers! :)

I also wanted to suggest that you give two pages to the letters section, so that my mail can be published. Ramazan Mubarak to every one! :)

Amna Rizwan, Karachi

Feedback

Hey Ed,

Us is going great, as always. The poetry issue (July 6) was just awesome. It was a treat to read. Being a poetry fan, I enjoyed it a lot. Manal writes really well. I am one of the biggest fans of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Faiza did complete justice to her article. Thumbs up, Faiza, you simply rock. I would like to convey my heartiest congratulations to my friends: Muzhda, Saba and Mashal for showing an outstanding performance in the HSSC Anual Examination in Peshawar Board. Special felicitations to Muzhda for being so consistent in her great performance.

The issue of July 27 was worth reading. The poems by Mehreen Mujeeb and Gul Bano were simply outstanding! The cover story on Olympics by Nabeel Naqvi was well written, too. Knowing about the young and extraordinary talented people of our country          always gives great pleasure and honour. The youngest MCTS Shafay Thobani has made us all proud. Hats off to this little record holder.

Last but not the least, I am looking forward to some of the poetry work from my favourite Zunaira Afzal and Manal Farrukh Khan. (Not to forget Tazeen and Namra too:p)

Keep up the good job. Us is always a delight for its readers.

Hira Nazir, Peshawar

Assalam-u-Alikum!

I am writing to you after a long time. Hope your fasts are going well. The magazine is going great. All the articles are very well written and worth reading. ‘When the King arrives in England’ in the 20th July issue was amazing. Thumbs up! I like the On Campus issues, especially. Us and Us team rocks! Au revoir!

Awais Arshid, Abbottabad

Faster, Higher, Stronger

Reverend            Editor,

My letter is with reference to Nabeel Naqvis ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ which was ... uh ... a  bit sarcastic. Now don’t get me wrong, but the article just upset me. The writer almost praised every player from every country of the globe except Pakistan. The words he used were no less than a treat. They hit me like kunais and shurikens and we, the readers of us, are not chunins. We know that Pakistan is a populous country and sending only 23 members to Olympics is not worthy, but what can we do? Pakistan is in a precarious state ... it’s unsteady. This sarcasm and criticism comes like a Rasengan blow to our country. Finding French words to depict its chances of winning is as         embarrassing as ... whatever! It’s easy to blame, it’s easy to criticise and it’s also easy to develop a cynical approach towards your own country, your own nation, but this   pessimism is all in vain. It is only optimism that can give us back our lost honour  and self-respect. This country has given us the freedom due to which we are able to write like this. So the best way is to use our freedom, writing abilities and art in the best possible way to make surreal real; just like the way Sai, from Naruto Shippuden, does. In the end, I would like to say that don’t forget to enjoy Ramazan’s blessings.

Humera Maryam, Islamabad

Uh, actually it is Latin…

Reflection

Narrated Abu Huraira (R.A):

The Prophet (S.A.W) said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”

- Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127