May 30, 2013

How Bradley Manning and Julian Assange Changed My Mind


Born and raised in Iran – where my mind was bombarded that Iran is the Promised Land – I was looking for freedom, of any kind at the ideal level, but I was told that you have freedom because you are a Muslim.
Upon return to Afghanistan being introduced to social media tools, particularly Facebook, and the advent of new free media, I was told that Afghanistan has the most liberal media networks in the region.
After 2008 and the official launches of information by WikiLeaks, I was wondering what real freedom is; is it the Promised Land or access to the most liberal media networks in the region or something else. Since then, freedom has been scratching my mind and I today claim that I have found what freedom, and freedom of speech in particular.

To let you know how I see freedom of speech and how I found it, I need to tell you a story. Two years ago, for the first time, I read an article and watched a movie released by WikiLeaks. I ponder over with myself that how the administrator(s) of a website can have access to the information that have shocked me, and maybe the world. My curiosity began beeping and I went to internet to find more about WikiLeaks, who is/are administrating it, how they got access to so-called unclassified information.


Reading articles, watching documentary and art movies and contemplating over the importance and role of what WikeLeaks have done (unleashing 2 million letters and documents), once I said to myself “hey Basir, you have been looking to breath someday in a free world in where you could experience the government accountable and transparent to you and to your dreams. Now you have it. But how? By accessing to information; access to real and out of box information is the fundamental piece of real freedom.” My mind blossomed and got happy. “Yes Basir, that’s what you have been looking for. This is FREEDOM”.



Now, despite the fact that I am far away to Bradley Manning and Julian Assange – two young guys that helped me find my everlasting dreams – I want to send my heartfelt message to both of them. I want to say “thanks Bradley brother and Julian brother for what you have been doing. You saved my life by turning my mind; now, it is my turn to try to save your life. I am with you and I love you.”


May 27, 2013

Hunger Strike and 6 Corrupted Parliamentarians


Today is the 8th day of hunger strike in Kabul. Yesterday and the before, different student groups  announced their support from this newly civil movement by commencing hunger strike in other provinces of the country like Bamian, Daikundi, Herat and Balkh. So far, the health condition of a dozen of students reported deteriorating, being hospitalized.

One of the, ridiculously interesting, characteristics of Afghans is that if somebody did something, other would do the same without any logical contemplation behind his/her action. Now too many Afghans are joined or joining hunger strike while central government has started distributing election cards for citizens.


From one hand my Facebook wall and the walls of most of friends of mine is scribbled away by photos and pieces of writing depicting the hunger strike and what is going on second after the second. From the other hand, a dozen of days ago, Minister of Finance addressed six parliamentarians from different provinces as corrupted high rankings. However, this call turned to a controversial topic for a few days.

Now, I am writing this demonstrating that we shall not chase only one specific social or political issue while parliamentarians are still freely walking on the streets teasing Afghan citizens in their hearts. When we face to an issue, we should not turn our back to another issue – that might be more important than the other one.

I believe that this is a well-organized short term plan from parliament and even central government aiming at draw public and media attention from corruption to civil movements. 


Mar 25, 2013


To The Next Generation by Basir Bita
رویاهایم تنها در چشمان تو به واقعیت می پیوندند
I can only find my dreams real in your eyes
با حسی از امید به دیدن آنها
With a sense of hope to see
بلند شدم و تو دستانم را فشردی
I got up and you hold my hands
قلبم را با عشقت فشار بده
Squeeze my heart with your love
خونم را به عطر مبدل کن
Turn my blood to perfume.
دیگر زمزمه نکن
Stop whispering,
با من حرف بزن
Talk to me
تو اولین برف در بیابان منی
You’re the first snow of my desert life
گریه تا من پربار شوم
Weep until I get fruitful
و آنگاه که پر بار شدم
And when I am fruitful
تو در زیر سایه ی مرطوبم در تابستان زندگی ات بیاسای”
You will rest under my wet shadow in the summer of your life

Mar 17, 2013

Still Love

Based on the cultural values of my country, white and black make an ancient contradiction. Here is a contradiction of two black and white hearts in which you still find love. 

Last night I was asked to visualize my imagination, I came up with this painting. Thanks my friend who invited me. 

Humanity is still alive.


Mar 16, 2013

International Funds Keeps Me Uncreative


International Funds Keeps Me Uncreative

In this small text, I would like to share one of my thoughts concerning all money and funds that have been flowing to Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is only one example. What I am trying to say here is based on my experience, what I have seen and read. I cannot say for sure that how much money the USA and its allies have spent in Afghanistan to so-called reconstruct it. But, what I can say for sure is that one of the reasons superpowers care about is rising of new global geniuses who would deform “new world orders” and construct them into new form.

Superpowers spend lots of money in their countries, exploiting researchers, scholars, theorists on HOW TO BE MORE CREATIVE and all those guys build up new theories, technologies and etc. They don’t know that their governments only care about to find the holes and gaps inside and outside the creativity aiming to, first, fill them up preventing other countries.

Here, what I am trying to bring up is that superpowers, through funds, deposits, gratuitous money to developing countries, want to keep developing countries uncreative. All these monies stop residents of developing countries dependent on floods of free-of-charge money. And researchers have proven that financial dependence stops human brain’s capacity to ponder over. When a boy just like me in Afghanistan is busy enough with making money, ridiculous politics, senseless Free Market, global democracy mottos and too many other preoccupations, how am I going to be creative thinking of how to build my world the way I desire?

No way! All the people I know in my country are stuck with making money; for them, money speaks first. “2014 has become a nightmare from which we cannot wake up safely” this is what they think. Friends of mine are fleeing the country, businesspeople are withdrawing their money investing in other countries, politicians are dealing over a vague and unclear future for Afghans.

I think that if we Afghans were allowed at the beginning of scenario to think creatively, or we were taught and guided how to think constructively creative with an aim to help each other to join the world to forward-look, we would have a better status quo. 

Mar 2, 2013


Karzai's Usual Political Game

I can vividly remember last presidential election in Afghanistan.

Karzai has started a huge new political game in Afghanistan. Now Karzai has ordered that international forces shall leave Wardak province, while annual Kochi-Hazara battle is going to be flamed by earlier new solar year. Hazara leaders, all media outlets and Hazara intellectual will be geared and involved with this yearly issue.

From the other hand, now there is going to be a big issue with so-called(?) Kankoor,, entry exam for university. Some say that Hazara committed fraud in Kankoor. Karzai is utilizing this opportunity for his political interests.

Since a couple of days ago, Karzai ordered that we have to publicize and develop our own franca-linguas (Farsi and Pashto). I have seen in modern and traditional media that they have started covering this issue and taking stand against or for this president's decree.

Moreover, a new wave of suicide attacks have been committed and are on the way aiming to keep media and public busy with stale and banal stuff like abovementioned issues.

Then, he will fulfill his huge plan. This plan has been commenced since two years ago.

Letter to Zuckerberg

Last night at 9 o’clock I was watching the Militarization of Science and Space, a nicely intellectual speech by Noam Chomsky at Auditorium of Massachusette Institute of Technology. I met a close non-Afghan friend of mine last night discussing with two more Afghan friends, a little bit, on social media and its impacts on mobilizing youths through social media tools and what Afghan friends of mine have been campaigning and doing through Facebook in particular to reach their voices to international community. Chomsky lectured about how economy and tycoons are using military sphere to dominate science and space.

Meanwhile, this idea came to my mind that “how Zuckerberg, as the founder of Facebook, can help Afghans bring a remarkably big social change in Afghanistan; of course I mean peace which is from my point of view Afghans’ current greatest wish?” I came to the conclusion that Zuckerberg can send a daily message expressing his interest in peace-building in the world, particularly in Afghanistan, to all Facebook users. He can build a fan page making everyone on the Facebook a member and mobilizing them to campaign for peace activism. I assume that if he sends all Facebookers a message in daily basis to take a step for peace, then we will be reminded of the importance of peace in the world, and Afghanistan specifically.

If you have any other idea(s), please share it with me to establish a globally effective and useful idea. Or you can share this post on your Facebook account and other social media tools to reach our voices to Zuckerberg. On that time, his attention might be drawn to peace and peace-building, although I am pretty sure that Zuckerberg, as a young man in the US, has already had this idea, but he was looking forward to hearing from the people around the world how they feel if he starts sending only one message per day to all Facebook users.

Maybe it is out of his personal/financial interests, but his name will be shining in the history of humanity and non-violence just like Mahatma Gandhi . Please jot down your ideas, concerns and solutions to get this goal. We need to reach our voices to Zuckerberg that “Mr. Zuckerberg, please us and it is your human responsibility to assist the people of the world to live a more peaceful globe. 

Feb 7, 2013

Communing With Grandpa


Communing With Grandpa


I was just thinking to myself about my children and grandchildren.

When I was 18, I was always criticizing my grandfather who made his youngest daughter marry a blind, disable man telling my mom "Mom, if my grandpa was still alive, I would chop him."

Now, I am the father of a daughter who is 9 years old. I am wondering how my daughter and her children would ask me when I am 65 years old. I am pretty sure that they would say "dad/grandpa the USA and its coalition flooded billions of dollar and the government at that time was identified as the most corrupt government of the world. You had, to some extent, a good and safe country.

Why didn't you and your friends do anything to make a better, safer and more prosperous country for us? Now we have nothing. You and your friends saturated yourself and didn't care about us. How are you going to answer all my questions? It is time for me to put forward my question.

ANSWER ME GRANDPA".

How am I going to respond my grandchildren?

I am facebooking and writing this to you and doing nothing for them. Don't you think I should do something for them?

Please help me!!!!

Share it with your friends please. They may have something for me.

Feb 3, 2013

The Colors Have Come


The below is half of my newest short story translated by a friend. Remained half is going to be translated by the end of the week."

To ALL LADIES WHO HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF CHANGE, INSPIRATION OF CHANGE AND CHANGE AGENT.

"The Colors Have Come
The world color came to the tribe’s minds when tribal population found dean’s cloth dotted. At that time, the tribe had another name whose contemporary meaning is “grief and loneliness”. That happened one hundred years after Great Father founded the tribe. Everyone was interested in knowing why dean’s cloth has been tainted. Taint/dot had different senses for them, but since they have heard in their ancient stories that “if you saw someone from the tribe whose cloth has been transformed, you shall know that his life has come to the end.” It was oversensitive for them. He would lose his life.

“What does transformation mean?” a girl asked herself the question who transformed dean’s white cloth. Getting up in the morning, the girl went straight to the room in which her father left two little goats for her to raise. The two goats had different ages; the smaller from one mother, the bigger from another.

Her mother took her from the room making her sleep in her bed for many nights. The goats became her friends and fellows. She talked to them, fed them, hiked with them and went back home with them. She dressed the goats.

For the first time, she found her goats’ cloths dotted. They were passing the river. The girl jumped. The river was the only dirty place. Other places were all clean. The small goat barely jumped but the slope of its cloth got dotted and some big dots were found on it. At the same time, the bigger goat bounced toward the smaller goat robbing its cloth to the smaller’s. They robbed and kept robbing until their cloths’ color was changed. The girl starred at them in wonder. “You shouldn’t make your cloths muddy.

Now your cloths are untouchable and they shall be burned.” She shouted.

As she intended to catch them, they ran away. She got amazed. She went after them they never run away from me. Maybe they are playing with me. She ran after them in hurry. The closer she approached them, the faster they ran and the more they got away. Her doubt turned to certainty; they were escaping from her.

All of a sudden, the smaller goat stopped. Maybe it thought that it was the girl who raised them. The girl slowed down and reached the smaller goat. The bigger one stopped too. A telepathy between two peers. She immediately embraced the smaller goat. She squeezed it and felt cold and warmth of the smaller goat. Suddenly, she trembled and kept the goat away. She looked at her cloth and found her cloth muddy. She got upset. Now how she could tell her mother that three cloths have become unclean and untouchable? Looking more meticulously at her and the goats, she found that their color has been transformed. What was this color? Was it a color at all or that was just a dot?

On the way back to home, she just sought for an answer for the question. Later one, the answer led to make dean’s cloth dotted.

***

Dean invited the girl’s father time and again. He told him “the power inside your daughter’s eyes kills me.” Took a deep breath and went ahead “make your daughter my wife. Your grandchild would be the next dean. Make your daughter my wife and enjoy prosperity as long as you are alive.”

After many begs and threats, the father made his daughter dean’s wife. In the first night of marriage, the girl already burned dean’s all cloths except one he had on. The dean came to the room and shut the door behind the daughter and himself. He walked slowly to the girl, sat on the mattress and starred at the girl. His lip corner bounced once a while due to oldness. He sneezed and looked at the girl smiling.

The more he approached the girl, the more the girl moved back. As the dean found the girl did not subdue, he prolonged his hand grabbing the girl’s sleeve. The girl slapped the dean’s hand throwing out. Dean just smiled. He snaked a bit to the girl, but she didn’t move this time.

“honey, why do you want to stay away?”

She didn’t reply. Heading down, she didn’t look at him.

“raise your head up and look at me. We have an important work tonight. You are supposed to give birth to next dean.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. Her temperature accelerated. She felt cold although she already swelled. Dean’s hand was heavier than her father’s. She would weep if her father was next to her.

Suddenly, she came up with the question for which he could not have found the answer yet. What  color would it be if dean’s cloth was mudded? She just intended to ask the dean, but she changed her mind. “Did you want to say something? Tell me, now you are dean’s wife.” Dean said.

The girl started speaking gradually. “just wanted…” she said moving on the mattress. She paused and suddenly came up with something. “I ask you not to spend our first night on the mattress.” She said.

Dean’s lip corner bounced. “Do you know somewhere better?” he said smiling.

“hmmm… I assume it is nice out there. What about next to the river and trees?”
Dean paused a while. Why there?

“Why there?”

“I have loved there since childhood. I want to spend first night with my child’s parents there.”

“Agree. Let’s go.” He said with a big smile.

They both headed and got there. Both sat and laid down. There were not distant from the river. “Do you know that we should not undress except there?” Dean said.

She spread her hairs on the grass. “Yes, I know.” She replied.

Dean pillared his hand around the girl’s shoulders. She could smell stinky and disgusting exhale when dean breathe out.

“you ready, honey?”

She nodded.

Dean started. The girl even did not ouch.

Feb 2, 2013

Letter to International Friends of Mine


Second Letter to International Friends of Mine

In my first letter to international friends I brought up few points such as building friendship with Afghans,
Today I would like to share some other imprtant points by which Afghans and internationals can have healthy and constructively positive relationship. One of the piont is that Afghan intellectuals believe that our international friends have a up-down view. In other words; when a foreigner talks and treats an Afghan, s/he has a up-down look, meaning that the international friend consider the Afghan peer as someone who lives in society less developed and less civilized land whom are a burden to international’s country.

They look at Afghans in a way that Afghans are reponsible for any evil things happening in their country and Afghan government is the source of all curses.

Please international friends, change your view and look at your Afghan peers, only if you do not want a hell is generated out of their wrath.

The second piont that I would like to piont out in this letter is that I have witnessed and heard that our international friends tease, mock and make fun of Afghan traditions, beliefs and even appearance. And it is disgusting.

Someday ago, I went to an international friend’s for volunteer purposes; translation, finding connection and some other stuff. In there, there were some other cool internatioanl friends. They already had fun before I came up. But, after a while, they began making fun of their Afghan friends(?) that they are such stupid, they are lazy guys, look at their primitive belifs and etc. and in order to get approval, they told me “isn’t it right, Basir?” “you are an open minded guy, Basir and you don’t give a piece of shit to such fucking ideas.”

Though I really don’t give a penny to destructive ideas and beliefs, even trygin to restrcture those ideas and beliefs to a constructive ones in the best possible ways, I pondered over such selfish behavior.

Come on, international friends. Change your idea; look at us in a more human-centered way and treat your Afghan colleagues better if you want to stay with them peacefully. No more up-down view, no more teasing each other’s ideas, beliefs, traditions, appearance and etc.

We love to be in touch with you; we love to have friends out of you; we love to build our homeland (the earth) together and enjoy our lives together.

I don’t review what I am saying in order to be pure and express what I feel, think and concern about. 

Jan 24, 2013

Dr Sarmast's Music School

Afghanistan's Institute of Music helps revitalise a ruined culture and gives children a chance to transform their lives. Source Al Jazeera




Filmmakers: Polly Watkins and Beth Frey
In 2001, when the Taliban was toppled from power, Afghanistan's musical culture was left in ruins. Music gradually came back onto the streets and into people's lives, but by 2009 there was still no orchestra capable of playing the Afghan national anthem.
In that year, renowned musicologist Dr Ahmad Sarmast returned from exile in Australia, and the Ministry of Education charged him with establishing the first National Institute of Music (ANIM). Based in what had been Kabul's School of Fine Arts, ANIM got off to a slow start: the building was a ruin and there were virtually no instruments.

Dr Sarmast's Music School follows ANIM's progress over two years as, gradually, the school is repaired and made habitable. Fine instruments - many donated by foreign sponsors - flood in, and the school's 150 pupils gradually learn to play to professional standards.
Perhaps, most importantly, ANIM offers hope to some of the country's most deprived children; those snatching a meagre income from working on the streets who find - through music - a way to transform their lives.

Jan 21, 2013

Why Taliban targeted Department of Traffic?


I guess Taliban attacked Department of Traffic following the below aims:

1. Department of Traffic have recorded various information regarding the cars that Taliban have been using. 

2. This department have tracked what kinds of car, with what plate, color made by what countries and where they have enter through in Afghanistan. 

3. Department of Traffic has recently passed new law on plates, license and other stuff to not only control traffic jam, but also find terrorists much better.

Since we don't have electronic professional storing and recording systems, we might have lost bulks of information and records. That's why Taliban/insurgents targeted Department of Traffic, although it is said that they were aimed to fire on Border Police Department (that I doubt). 

Please share it if you think I evaluate well.

Jan 19, 2013

A Letter to my Joint Afghan and Non-Afghan Friends


A Letter to my Joint Afghan and Non-Afghan Friends

Here, I want to express my idea about foreigners and their existence in Afghanistan.

As an Afghan, who is concerned about his national territory and national independence, I am worried of international political interferences in my national political affairs. It is the same in any other country and has to be like this.

But as someone who is passionate for the future of his country, we need to have internationals and foreigners with us not only for broader communication and international relationship, but also to interact with them more friendly rather than diplomatically.

In almost all of Afghans minds, foreigners have a military face and appearance, since the US and its coalition have come to bring security through weapons and war against terrorism.

I believe that what foreigners need to know is "changing their face" from a POLITICAL and MILITARY one to a friendly, helpful and passionate one. I personally need foreigners to help me more academically. I want to find and visit them mostly as academicians, musicians, actors, peace-makers, poets, novelists, philosopher, theorist, filmmaker.

To my Afghan friends, even we should try to help them change their face; we shall ask them to be in a more favorite and friendly way (as mentioned above).

My foreigner friends (whoever you are, where ever you live, and whatever you do), if you want Afghans be your friends, change your face and grab my hand kindly.

I want to be your brother not your sworn enemy.

PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU FOUND IT INTERESTING!

Jan 17, 2013

Sabrina Saqib speaks at Harvard Kennedy School

The Tipping Point: Elevating Women for Global Security
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Rahaa Altalli from Syria, Wafa Bugaighis from Libya, Julia Duncan-Cassell from Liberia, Ja Nan Lahtaw from Myanmar, Sofi Ospina from Colombia, and Sabrina Saqeb from Afghanistan sit with Ambassador Swanee Hunt to discuss their experiences participating in the peace building process. This event was co-sponsored by the Center for Public Leadership, the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, and the Women and Public Policy Program.

Source: Harvard Kennedy School website


Dear friends,

We all know that Afghanistan is the country of problems and troubles. There have hypothesized different theories on how to RECONSTRUCT(?) Afghanistan, democratize it and find best solutions to solve her problems.

It is always believed that Afghans themselves can be the core element to solve the problems. And we have brought so many tangible changes in our daily lives. One of the means through and by which we have experienced the changes was SOCIAL MEDIA and particularly Facebook.

We have witnessed since last year the following changes brought through Facebook:

1. Shariati Professor
2. Two Hazara pilot girls
3. Hazara genocide in Quetta (Hazaras strike in Quetta made provincial governance collapsed)
4. Shojaee and Uruzgan
5. Taqi Bakhtiary
6. Number 39
7. Shakila murder (sexual abuse) and some others

Bringing changes need commitment, hardworking and financial as well as time energy. We Afghans have proven that we are committed, hardworkers and ready to spend our life time to have a secure and prosperous country.

As a friend, my concern, which looks like a question and recommendation, is that "why do not we take action seriously and well-planned for a while consecutively in order to bring desirable changes?" We just random write about political stuff and then stop it. We post and advocate for corruption one day, and after a while, we stop it.

Let's committed campaign for women rights to get it. Let's campaign for peace all of us to bring it. Let's campaign for "Transition Decade" all of us together and turn this nightmare to a nice and fruitful dream.

Jan 14, 2013

Hazaras Are Always Being Played By Their Politicians


Again we Hazaras went to a nightmare; the nightmare that has stopped us pondering over other important issues that have more dangerous and longer impacts on our lives.

Our president, Hamed Karzai, travelled to the US and made his final decision that would have potential and actual effects on generation after generation of, not only Hazaras, but also other ethnic groups. 

Why don’t we now pay attention to that? It has always been a political trick to make Afghans busy with issues like Hazara genocide in Pakistan in order to make their final decision: slavery of Afghans. 

Please get up, raise your voices in this issue and advocate as good as you have done for Hazaras in Pakistan.

Do not you think that Muhaqiq and Khalili are calm because they have dealt over our future? 

Think a bit about it and then leave your comments.