*kiran muses » World News

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Kiran — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:31:32 +0000

Today is National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which also commemorates the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre in 1989. I am honoured to have been asked to read one of my poems at the Toronto Candlelight Vigil to mark the anniversary of this tragic event. The fact is that violence against [...]

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a post from: *kiran muses

Tragedy in Pakistan

Kiran — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:40:39 +0000

My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the victims of the Margalla Hills plane crash in Pakistan. It’s always a tragedy when something like this happens, but I’m sure that’s no relief to those who lost someone they love among the 152 who died in this tragic incident. May they rest [...]

Tragedy in Pakistan is a post from: *kiran muses

The Burqa/Niqab ban controversy

Kiran — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:01:28 +0000

This was written as part of a response to Martha Nussbaum’s opinion piece found here: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/veiled-threats I’d like to share my personal view on the burqa (face mask) controversy. My views are not based on the black-and-white, binary, false dichotomy presented too often by both supporters of the face-mask ban and those who wish to [...]

The Burqa/Niqab ban controversy is a post from: *kiran muses

Nazanin — “Someday”

Kiran — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:20:33 +0000

Came across this beautiful, articulate and talented Iranian-Canadian singer and activist, Nazanin Afshin-Jan: and a *MUST WATCH* interview with her from AlJazeera English: Nazanin — “Someday” is a post from: *kiran muses

Nazanin — “Someday” is a post from: *kiran muses

The best analysis of the Aafia Siddiqui case.

Kiran — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:59:39 +0000

If you haven’t seen this yet, here’s your chance It’s a well researched critical analysis of this current hot-button issue. Aafia Siddiqui VS (Jews, Zarina Mari, Shazia Khalid and others) by Anas Abbas The best analysis of the Aafia Siddiqui case. is a post from: *kiran muses

The best analysis of the Aafia Siddiqui case. is a post from: *kiran muses

Scientists think dolphins deserve “non-human person” status

Kiran — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:17:09 +0000

Thanks to a Facebook friend, I came across this article in the Times Online which reports on zoological findings that dolphins’ brains, cultural and emotional complexities, and behaviours are close to those of humans. I think this is significant because there are more and more people waking up to the realities of how we treat [...]

Scientists think dolphins deserve “non-human person” status is a post from: *kiran muses

Profiling: Pros and Cons?

Kiran — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:43:10 +0000

A British MP has caused some controversy by publicly stating that profiling of Muslims is to be expected in the light of recent events: He said: “I think most people would rather be profiled than blown up. It wouldn’t be victimisation of an entire community. What I like is that Muslim organizations and Muslims with [...]

Profiling: Pros and Cons? is a post from: *kiran muses

It is time…

Kiran — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:12:32 +0000

to convert mannequins and bring those dirty little kaffirs into Dar-ul-Islam. “Using unusual mannequins exposing body curves and with heads without hijabs [Muslim veils] are prohibited to be used in the shops,” police said in a statement carried by Irna. Correspondents say that in the past such campaigns usually only lasted throughout the summer, but [...]

It is time… is a post from: *kiran muses

A true American Hero

Kiran — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:24:18 +0000

From Funny Or Die! Gus Porter gets mauled by a bear, but he won’t let the socialist Canadian health care fix him up, so he’ll hike back to America. A true American Hero is a post from: *kiran muses

A true American Hero is a post from: *kiran muses

Cultural Relativism = White Man’s Privilege.

Kiran — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:06:32 +0000

Terry Eagleton is suffering from the racism of otherwise-liberal privileged, white, westerners too afraid to speak up against barbaric religious practices and beliefs. That state is not too bothered about what you believe, as long as it does not thwart the right of others to their beliefs. <snip> There should be laissez-faire in the realm [...]

Cultural Relativism = White Man’s Privilege. is a post from: *kiran muses

Victim or Survivor?

Kiran — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:48:11 +0000

Japanese man certified as double A-bomb victim Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug. 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He suffered serious burns to his upper body and spent the night in the city. He then returned to his hometown of Nagasaki just in [...]

Victim or Survivor? is a post from: *kiran muses

Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji — Moral Courage Conversations

Kiran — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:48:44 +0000

A long but highly insightful conversation between acclaimed authors Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji on the nature of belief, Islamism, the history of Islam and Quran, and what to do in a world full of crazies on both the Islamist side and the racist westerner side. Rational, thinking people of all varieties will enjoy this [...]

Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji — Moral Courage Conversations is a post from: *kiran muses

Thank You Sarah Palin

Kiran — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:32:27 +0000

There’s been so much negativity surrounding Sarah Palin’s VP candidacy, I thought I’d try and find something to thank her for…. ————————————– Thank you, Sarah Palin for taking women – and men - back a few notches so fast we all got whiplash. Thank you Sarah Palin for proving feminism right; For showing that men [...]

Thank You Sarah Palin is a post from: *kiran muses

Long time no blog! (Or R.I.P. Hazrat George Carlin)

Kiran — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:37:49 +0000

So many things to occupy time, so little time for them to occupy. Here’s an interesting interview I came across with author Salman Rushdie For the other geeks among us, you might find PC World’s list of the Top 50 Tech Visionaries inspiring. Here, you can listen to an audio version of a Q&A between [...]

Long time no blog! (Or R.I.P. Hazrat George Carlin) is a post from: *kiran muses

Small voices calling in China

Kiran — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:49:13 +0000

The Economist has an article about the small but growing movement of people concerned about cruelty to animals in China. Small voices calling in China is a post from: *kiran muses

Small voices calling in China is a post from: *kiran muses

Look what the catfish dragged in

Kiran — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:59:43 +0000

You never know you’ll find on just another ordinary stroll… A huge, unknown container of something unidentified washed up on a Scottish beach recently. The tank, which is 27m high, has no markings and is thought to have fallen from a ship before being washed up on the west of Benbecula. It was discovered by [...]

Look what the catfish dragged in is a post from: *kiran muses

Benazir Bhutto 1953–2007

Kiran — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:13:54 +0000

original image © Reuters Imran Khan voices the question on many people’s minds about the lax security provided by the government. Graham Stewart provides an insightful historical perspective on dynasties and assassinations. Amir Taheri presents the chief reasons why religious extremists in Muslim countries despise democracy. more to come… Benazir Bhutto 1953–2007 is a post [...]

Benazir Bhutto 1953–2007 is a post from: *kiran muses

The Children of Climate Change

Kiran — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:31:11 +0000

Children play in a flooded street after rising sea levels in Penjaringan subdistrict, North Jakarta. (The Globe and Mail) My generation grew up accepting things like AIDS, cell phones and DVDs as part of our reality. For the generations growing up today things like Climate Change will be part of their framework when they think [...]

The Children of Climate Change is a post from: *kiran muses

Stephen Colbert and the End-Of-Year Awards

Kiran — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:27:38 +0000

AP has selected Colbert as its Celebrity of the Year, which makes a lot more sense than the former KGB officer chosen by Time magazine. “It is truly an honor to be named the Associated Press’ Celebrity of the Year. Best of all, this makes me the official front-runner for next year’s Drug-Fueled Downward Spiral [...]

Stephen Colbert and the End-Of-Year Awards is a post from: *kiran muses

Stephen and Jon are back!

Kiran — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:12:06 +0000

Industry insider blog Deadline Hollywood Daily, among others, is announcing that The Colbert Report and The Daily Show by Jon Stewart will be returning to the air starting January 7, 2008. Finally I can start paying attention to the news of the world again! Without these two around making regular commentary on world events, watching [...]

Stephen and Jon are back! is a post from: *kiran muses