US Open 2009 women's semi-final. Tennis rules need to be altered. Why? Consider this, if you hit your own racket on the ground, and break it, you get a warning (code conduct violation). If you yell and threaten a line umpire, you also get a warning... what? I think the later is more serious, and should get higher penalty.
We all lose temper while playing, agreed, its part of sports. But, first of all, yelling and threatning an umpire should get a higher penalty (as in soccer, a referee can show you a red card, end of game for you). However, the biggest disappointment, rather shame, was on Serena's part, when she did not apologize during the after-match press conference. She didn't think that she had over-reacted. I was furious. She showed that well, she might have great skills to play tennis, but does not have enough character to be called a great player.
BTW, the argument that a foot fault should not be called in the first place is completely absurd, reminds me of "a bad workman quarrels with his tools".
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Is Pakistan not a victim of terrorism?
*Recent updates to this are at the end of the post*.
Apparently, no. If you listen to western media, there is a lot of talk about countries like US, UK, Spain etc being victims of terrorism. Lately, India has also been included in the group. Agreed, thousands of civilians have lost their lives in terrorist attacks in US (9/11), UK (7/7), and India (Mumbai). But, how about the thousands who have died in Pakistan only in terrorist attacks since 9/11? Does the media not count those attacks as terrorist attacks? I guess these attacks are considered a day-to-day matter?
To quote from one of the related articles: "THE statistics are numbing and mind-boggling and should make any Pakistani sit up: in 2008 the country saw 2,148 terrorist attacks, which caused 6,825 casualties — 2,267 of them fatal. Suicide attacks alone killed nearly 1,000 people — 967 to be precise — and wounded or maimed for life over 2,000."
update: Another news story on terrorist incidents in Pakistan.
Apparently, no. If you listen to western media, there is a lot of talk about countries like US, UK, Spain etc being victims of terrorism. Lately, India has also been included in the group. Agreed, thousands of civilians have lost their lives in terrorist attacks in US (9/11), UK (7/7), and India (Mumbai). But, how about the thousands who have died in Pakistan only in terrorist attacks since 9/11? Does the media not count those attacks as terrorist attacks? I guess these attacks are considered a day-to-day matter?
To quote from one of the related articles: "THE statistics are numbing and mind-boggling and should make any Pakistani sit up: in 2008 the country saw 2,148 terrorist attacks, which caused 6,825 casualties — 2,267 of them fatal. Suicide attacks alone killed nearly 1,000 people — 967 to be precise — and wounded or maimed for life over 2,000."
In 2007, 1,503 terrorist attacks and clashes, including all the suicide attacks, target killings and assassinations, resulted in 3,448 casualties and 5,353 injuries, according to this wikipedia article (it refers to various sources).
The world may have a problem with Pakistani government, ISI, or Taliban, but, I think Pakistani people need the most sympathy and support on terrorism. I think Pakistan is the biggest victim.
Latest update: One news story puts the total death toll in "war against terrorism in Pakistan" to be about 30,000. That's a really big number; Pakistan has not lost so many lives even in the two full-scale wars against India fought in 1965 and 1971.
update: Another news story on terrorist incidents in Pakistan.
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