tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358148998045555545.post4426411897262134403..comments2024-03-28T04:27:27.713-05:00Comments on May Day Books Blog: A Prison-House of NationsCoreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629684440934461513noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358148998045555545.post-64209385502826926232014-05-19T16:16:21.110-05:002014-05-19T16:16:21.110-05:00"The format of the talk was such that informe..."The format of the talk was such that informed discussion could not be raised."<br /><br />That's just complete nonsense, and a flat-out lie. Everyone was welcome to offer any sort of question, comment, or critique. I chaired this discussion, and I made certain to scan the entire audience several times, and gave several opportunities for any sort of rebuttal or comments from anyone and everyone. You had an entire room full of people who were there to learn about Pakistan and the struggles there. If you are so certain that this was the "among the worst talks at Mayday", wouldn't you, as someone who has lived there, have some sort of obligation to "set the record straight" so that the audience doesn't come away with a bunch of error-filled information (according to yourself)? Instead, as John stated, you chose to take to the internet with disrespectful and arrogant comments.<br /><br />We're quite confident in our ideas and perspectives and surely would welcome any counter-arguments from a supporter of such a humanly disastrous policy as partition.Marcus Mayohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01061211426331217792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358148998045555545.post-14170993140534430682014-05-16T21:16:22.190-05:002014-05-16T21:16:22.190-05:00The format of the talk was such that informed disc...The format of the talk was such that informed discussion could not be raised.<br /><br />This is World Bank data on the GDP, which gives it at $1,290 a year:<br /><br />http://data.worldbank.org/country/pakistan<br /><br />The class structure of Pakistan is partly "comprador capitalism" -- the leading Pakistani business families operate as junior partners to transnational capital (I myself worked for such business houses for some years). The Habibs, Dawoods, Adamjees, etc. are such families, as is that of Nawaz Sharif's Ittefaq Group. And partly is large landowners -- a feudalistic structure. This combination of urban industrialists and feudal landowners, along with the armed forces, rules Pakistan. Multinational capital and Western governments call the shots from abroad.<br /><br />The MQM represents people like me -- Mohajirs, immigrants from India. It is Karachi-based. The PPP draws its support from Sindh and ML(N) from Punjab.<br /><br />The drug trade is partly army, partly Pathans, partly early smugglers (such as Seyt Abid). <br /><br />Old World Bank figures estimate the black economy as roughly four times the size of the official economy -- though its doubtless greater now.<br /><br />I speak, read and write fluent Urdu and lived and worked in Pakistan for 11 years. AAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13242448989166177843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358148998045555545.post-22596106810135988042014-05-16T15:03:14.030-05:002014-05-16T15:03:14.030-05:00Nice write-up, Mr. Frog! There were a couple small...Nice write-up, Mr. Frog! There were a couple small factual errors in your notes which you may consider updating: Remittances account for $1 billion per month—not per year. Pakistan is imperialism, local capitalism, feudalism, and even more ancient forms all layered on one another (I suppose pastoralism is included!). The revolution was 1968-69.<br /><br />As for the largest human migration, China may be larger in sheer numbers, but that's been over the course of 30+ years; partition was 15+ million people forced out over a few days / weeks, with a million slaughtered. I'd say that counts for some kind of record.<br /><br />AA, I never asserted that Swat is <i>the</i> agricultural heartland—it is known as the "Switzerland of the Subcontinent," and does in fact produce some marvelous and renowned produce. <br /><br />GDP per capita in 2013 was estimated at $3,100 by the CIA: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html<br /><br />The 85% defense budget was for the year 1958.<br /><br />These are all simple facts.<br /><br />As for your assertion that this was one of the "worst" talks at Mayday, were you even there? If so, why did you not raise some objections or correct the errors and enlighten me and the audience? I would have been more than happy to be corrected on any factual errors. I would have also been happy to debate with a supporter of Partition! No offense, but only political cowards scuttle away without a word and then take to the internet. Keyboard political quarterbacks are a dime a dozen.<br /><br />I make no claim to be an expert, but being from a country doesn't make one an expert—especially if you don't bother opening your mouth to engage in a friendly and educational political debate.<br /><br />Thanks again for the concise summary, Frog, nice to see you again!Socialist Appealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132056902436973158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358148998045555545.post-31928232465651588752014-05-11T08:49:15.837-05:002014-05-11T08:49:15.837-05:00We'll, we've listened to many 'bad'...We'll, we've listened to many 'bad' right-wing comments by you, too, AA.<br />A supporter of Partition - really? As a good nationalist yourself, who looks down on the working class, you might be able to make factual comments, but political ones are useless.<br /><br />The error on the Swat is mine and I will change that, as I was taking notes. <br /><br />Red Froghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14757809604839647508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358148998045555545.post-17151099787707280872014-05-11T08:39:56.447-05:002014-05-11T08:39:56.447-05:00Too many errors in the talk. I've listened to ...Too many errors in the talk. I've listened to many bad talks at Mayday but this was among the worst. For starters, GDP per capita is around $1300 -- not $3000. There was nothing inherently wrong with Partition -- Congress Party and Muslim Leaguers couldn't agree on a power-sharing arrangement and the partition of British India was the consequence. Swat is not a rich agrarian area -- that would be the Punjab province, which is the breadbasket of the nation ("Punjab" means "five waters," since it is irrigated by five rivers). 85% of the defence budget is not on defence. See the following for a more accurate analysis:<br /><br />http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-246627-Defence-budget<br /><br />And the errors in the talk just go on and on and on. Someone who has spent two weeks in the country cannot have the foggiest idea about it.AAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13242448989166177843noreply@blogger.com