HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Date: Friday, 22 Jan 1993 00:28:20 PST
From: Walid Majid <WALID@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
Subject:     afghan passports

salam,
i was wondering how someone can get an afghan passport.  is the embassy
issuing passports to afghans who live here in the us?
i would very much appreciate if someone can help me out.
ba ehteram,
walid
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
From: mhanafi@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Mahmoud Hanafi)
Subject: The Holy Prophet
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 03:55:33 GMT

The Holy Prophet said "Prayers will be neglected, carnal desires will be pursue
d, transgressors will become leaders.  It will not be possible to distinguish t
he truthful from false, telling lies will become desirable, payment of Zakah wi
ll be taken as burden, the believers will be deemed disgraceful and he will be 
pained at seeing evils (all around) and his heart will melt as salt in water bu
t he will not be able to say anything. Rain will do no good, and it will fall o
ut of the season. Males will commit adultery with males, and females with femal
es. Women will dominate. The offspring will disobey their parents, friend will 
treat his friend badly, sins will be taken slightly. Mosques will have external
 decorations and beauty and there will be worshippers too but there will be hyp
ocrisy and (mutual) enmity in their hearts. Then will appear a people from the 
West (Maghrib) who will dominate the weak amongst my people. People will produc
e (copy of) the Holy Quran in Letters of gold but will not act upon it. The Qur
an will be recited in melodious way. Usury will become rampant.  Human Blood wi
ll have no value, religion will have no helpers.  Singing women will be on the 
increase.  The rich will perform Hajj as pastime, the people of the middle clas
s will do so to conduct business and the poor to beg (for charity)."


Ibn Abas. The Mudkhal of Ibni Alhajj.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
From: jhardono@ucs.indiana.edu (JUMAHADI HARDONO)
Subject: Secular, Muslim brotherhoods and Changes
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 10:00:03 GMT

Dear netters,
     What is happening to our muslims brothers and sisters around
the world shows to us that our brotherhood and our sensitivity
among muslims are not too strong. Maybe some of muslims
themselves are not concerned on the muslim issues around them.
maybe they only realize the importance of the sensitivity and
brotherhood when themselve are getting suffered.
     We must force strongly our government to assist these
suffered sisters and brothers in any mean that is necessary. We
cannot let our government ignore the suffer of our muslims around
us. If they do ignore it, they will be unforgiven. 
     Sometimes, muslim countries which are far from Bosnia and
Iraq wonder what the muslims around these countries are doing.
Have they done something better?... Did they know that their
brothers and sisters who are living close to them are being
murders, tortured, bombarded and raped?
     Unfortunately, most of current muslim countries are being
ruled by western puppets or beggars . So, we need changes... The
solution is there... We have to replace our secular government.




hadi... 
     
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
From: endevour@next01epsl.wam.umd.edu (Afghan)
Subject: Re: Afghan Passports
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 18:25:27 GMT

In article <93022.002820WALID@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> Walid Majid  
<WALID@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> writes:
> salam,
> i was wondering how someone can get an afghan passport.  is the embassy
> issuing passports to afghans who live here in the us?
> i would very much appreciate if someone can help me out.
> ba ehteram,
> walid

I think you can. But I am sure it has to be cleared by Pakistani embassy  
who by the way have a long list of those Afghans who demonstrated in front  
of their embassy in late August of 1992. 

Also as you know Uncle Gulbudin is shooting down anything that flys over  
Kabul and so most peaple travel to Afghanistan via Pakistan either through  
Peshawar or Quetta. 

Now if you have been clean :-) and have not infuriated our new bosses in  
Pakistani embassy then you stand a good chance of getting a passport.

In Washington the Afghan embassy is open but is basically run by stooges  
of one of the Peshawar seven  ( I am not sure if it is Rabanies peaple ). 

But if you really need more info write to me and I will try to get some  
more substantial information about it. 
Xref: sparky soc.culture.afghanistan:1619 soc.culture.african:7814 soc.culture.arabic:6876
From: chao6@husc11.harvard.edu (James Chao)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan,soc.culture.african,soc.culture.arabic
Subject: Model United Nations in the Czech Republic
Date: 23 Jan 93 00:40:48 GMT
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

(If possible, please print out and post for people who might be
interested)

To all those interested in international relations, politics, and the
United Nations -- WorldMUN is a great forum for the discussion of 
current issues being debated by the United Nations today: 

Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) is an international
conference that brings together university students and young
professionals from around the globe to siimulate the workings of the
United Nations.  The second annual WorldMUN conference will be held from
March 28, 1993, through March 31, 1993, at the Hotel Diplomat in Prague,
The Czech Republic.  

Ten committees, representing the General Assembly, Economic and Social
Council, and Specialized Agencies of the United Nations, will discuss
issues from the actual UN agenda.  In addition to the formal debate of
resolutions, committee sessions will be augmented by presentations from
politicians, businessmen, scholars, and activists who have helped shape
the dramatic world events of recent years.

In this era of momentous political change, WorldMUN seeks to assess the
role of the United Nations in a new world order.  WorldMUN marks the first
truly international simulated United Nations where participants play the
roles of their own nation's ambassadors.  WorldMUN strives to teach
tomorrow's leaders about the United Nations and its methods of conflict
resolution.  It aims to foster skills in negotiation and debate, in order
that delegates may formulate resolutions on topics currently discussed in
the real United Nations.  These resolutions will be sent to the actual
United Nations committees.

WorldMUN 1993 will take place at the Hotel Diplomat in Prague,
The Czech Republic.  The Hotel Diplomat is Prague's most modern conference
center.  Prague is both one of the most beautiful metropoles of Europe and
an ideal location for debating current world politics and the changing
role of the United Nations.

The Hotel diplomat is a luxury resort that offers restaurants, shops, a
night club, and fitness and spa equipment.  Delegates will stay at the
Hotel Diplomat for the reduced rate of 130DM/day double occupancy, which
includes two meals a day.

Delegate registration is $US60 per delegate.  For more information, please
reply to this e-mail address or write/fax:
Joshua A. Salomon, Secretary-General
Harvard World Model United Nations 1993
Suite 23, 1430 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138-3810
UNITED STATES

Telephone:  001-617-493-6995
Fax:  001-617-493-6995

James Chao
chao6@husc.harvard.edu
Organization: The American University - University Computing Center
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:20:51 EST
From: <SAYED@auvm.american.edu>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
Subject: Re: afghan passports



In article <93022.002820WALID@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>, Walid Majid
<WALID@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> says:
>
>salam,
>i was wondering how someone can get an afghan passport.  is the embassy
>issuing passports to afghans who live here in the us?
>i would very much appreciate if someone can help me out.
>ba ehteram,
>walid

Salam bar hama dostan

The last time I went to get an Afghan passport was last March and
it costs $104.00 in cash, you need your green card or some form
showing you are residing legally in the US and you need your
Tazkira or something that shows you are an Afghan,  & 2 pictures.

I called the Embassy in June or July to get a passport
for my grand mother, they were out of passports so I will call them
on Monday and see if they have the new passports yet and I get
all of the details and let you all know....

Until then....
Khuda Hafiz
Sayed W Hussaini
From: fbahrami@ucselx.sdsu.edu (Farhad Bahrami)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.afghanistan
Subject: music
Date: 26 Jan 93 00:23:23 GMT
Distribution: ca
Organization: SDSU Computing Services

salaam doostaan,

I know these are difficult times in Afghanistan, and music may not seem
that important now - however, my name is Farhad Bahrami, I'm an Iranian
musician desperately looking for info on Afghani music (tapes, CDs, live
concerts, musicians living in California especially San Diego, book, etc).

Please send email if you have any such info - after all remember: music heals.

Sepas,

Farhad
From: gordon2@hulaw1.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Names
Date: 27 Jan 93 17:19:17 EST
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

This is a response to Kamie's posting regarding the use of "cross-over" 
names.

I am an American engaged to a Lebanese, whose name is Fadi.  Never in a
million years would he, nor I, ever consider "crossing over" to Freddy,
Fred, or any other name.  Yes, we get the occasional "fatty" jokes, and
almost all my American friends call him Faah-dy instead of Fadi. 
I plan to take his very-difficult-to-pronounce (for us 
Americans, that is!) surname upon our marraige, and we plan to
name our children using Lebanese names (My current favorite: Yasmeen)

Kamie, I agree with you that Lebanese (nor any other culture) in the
U.S. should not _have_ to change their names.  However I don't think it is
fair to catagorize us Anglo-Saxons so negatively.  Face it - the Arabic
language is full of sounds that aren't replicated in the English 
language.  Khalil turns into Kuhleel, Ghassan turns into Hassan.  My
'ains and 'ghains will never be perfect.  Just as I don't mind when 
I am called "Cattie" instead of "Cathie", I hope you don't mind if
your name is not pronounced right 100% of the time.   

I guess that's it.  Just putting in my two cents.

				- Cathie
From: zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Visiting Lebanon: More Questions
Date: 21 Jan 93 11:38:02 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre CGU

In article <C15Cty.2pF@ccsun.strath.ac.uk>, ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz") writes:
> I heard (from some Tripolese freinds here in the UK) that Tripoly is rich  anD
> full of historical buildings. I knew that it has the finest examples of islamic
> architecture in Lebanon. I have seen some photos of mosques but did not
> know that a near complete Mamluk city does exist there. 
> 
> Do you have any more information about this ancient quarter? Any idea about the
> structure of that quarter? For example, apart from the market and the mosques,
> does it include houses, palaces, barracks, old hospitals...?

I know that it containes Mosques, hospitals, khanat ie motels, a souk that
streatches for about a mile, I am not sure if there are palaces. I know that
there are some reference books on the subject, regretably I do not know them.
But I know a man who does :-] ( British Advert Line ) He has just finished a
PhD in architecture from London. He was interested on the effect of Islamic
Sharia on the architechture of Islamic cities. His case study was Tripoly. If
you want I can get you both in contact.
 
> What is the state of the ancient quarter now? I hope it is not that bad.
> I think all historical and archaeOLOgical sites in Lebanon are in danger. FEW
> years back, I was doing some work in the old part of SAIDA and found some
> rocks on the side of the road. The locals said these rocks came from the castle
> some 1 or 1.5 km away...It is going to be a disaster if nothing is going to be
> done soon.

The situation is bad. Three factors contribute to the deteriorating state.
Govenemantal neglect, There is nothing to force the people to conserve the old
quarter, inhabitants ignorance of the importance of their city, and the civil
war that distroyed many places, these places were restored in most ugly way to
look like the rest of the modern Architecture of Concrete jungles.

> If you have any photos of the old part of Tripoli and have a scanner, please 
> post them if there is no trouble.

Sorry no scanner or even photos. Having said that I will contact that friend
and see what we can do. It might take some time as you can guess I am in
Manchester while he is in London. 
        
> I. BallouZ
> -- 
> *******************************************************************************
> * IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
> * ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
> *******************************************************************************


Kamie
From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Visiting Lebanon: More Questions
Date: 25 Jan 93 09:40:49 GMT
Organization: University of Strathclyde

In article <1jpnmcINNler@life.ai.mit.edu> steel@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Nick Steel) writes:
>In article <C15Cty.2pF@ccsun.strath.ac.uk> ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz") writes:
>
>Indeed,  I just visited Tripoli (where I was born and raised).  I went
>and prayed in a mosque (al jami` al kabeer) near Bab Arramal (or
>Souk Al juma`),  I have always known that mosque, but did not 
>realize it was about 800 years old, until I read the ancient arabic on 
>its walls, and its history.
>
I am not familiar with the city at all, I live in Beirut and my visits to the
city are numbered, 3 or 4 times only.
The information I have are from History of Architecture books and from freinds
who come from Tripoli. I have seen some Mamluk buildings in other Arab 
countries but not in Tripoli itself. 

BTW, salat maqboula, Jhon.

>BTW, I had lots of Halawt Aljuben,  bread from Almeer, food at
>Seer, fun in Ihdin @ Mar sarkees spring, ..etc
>
>I have to admit that the food quality in Lebanon has dropped drastically.
>Especially the pastries at Al Hallab.  The Qatr they are using is
>awful now adays.

Here, there was no shortage at all and the quality was more than exellent.
In this place, I knew a Lebanese Lady from Tripoli. She was very good in making
all sorts of sweets. 
I could do better than her with cooking but she was always better in
making sweets. I think it is an innate talent with people from Tripoli.
>
>jle

I. Ballouz


-- 
*******************************************************************************
* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
*******************************************************************************
From: masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Names
Date: 25 Jan 93 19:57:48 GMT
Reply-To: masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University


One of my favorite names is my husband's sister's name: Moniya.  He tells
me it means "my wish" and it should since she's the only girl in a family
of boys and his mother wanted a girl so badly.

debbie
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: bh437292@longs.LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Basil Hamdan)
Subject: Re: Plays by Ziad al-RaHbani
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 19:30:51 GMT
Reply-To: bh437292@lance.colostate.edu
Organization: Engineering College, Colorado State University

In article <1993Jan26.162932.11418@bnr.ca>, wshaib@bnr.ca (W. Shaib) writes:
|> hello all,
|> 
|> A friend who has just come from a trip to Beirut
|> brought with him a recording of a play written
|> by Ziad al-raHbani (Fairuz' son) which is 
|> supposed to be a parody on the "typical
|> RaHbani-Brothers' plays". The play is called
|> 'shee fashel' (or 'Failure'), and is utterly
|> hilarious. The height of the parody comes 
|> towards the end of the play when the chorus is
|> singing this 'typically pre-war lebanese' song,
|> and a tough biker (Abou ezzelof) interrupts the
|> 'festivities'.
|> This was my first exposure to Ziad al-RaHbani's
|> work. The play, I understand, is a few years old.
|> Does anyone know of any other plays he has made
|> recently? Also, does anyone have a recording of
|> his other play "A Long American Movie", (or
|> "Film Ameriki Tawil") ?

I don't believe Ziad has written any plays recently,
he is concentrating on his Arabic jazz music arrangements.
I have recordings of some of his other plays, Nazl l Surroor
and Bil Nisbeh La Bukra Shoo ??   These are older plays
that he made in the seventies and early eighties.
I like these the best especially Nazl l Surroor, 
it is almost prophetic because it was written before 
the civil war and was right on the mark in its vision of
of a disintegrating Lebanon.  
Bil Nisbeh La Bukra Shoo ?? is a commentary on the futility of
the social "elite" and their distance from the sufferings
of the working class.
Since you are visiting Lebanon this summer, I would
strongly recommend these two, they should be widely available
at the music stores.This last visit I bought my
Fairuz CDs at Shaheen Bros, they seem to have a big
selection and you might find the plays there as well.

|> 
|> As a footnote, here are the (approximate) lyrics
|> to the song from Shee Fashel.

[...]

|> ============================================================================
|> Wadih J. Shaib                     |   "BNR And I Don't Necessarily 
|> BNR - Ottawa, Canada               |    Share The Same Opinions..."
|> ============================================================================
|> 

Basil

My favorite lines:

_______________________________________________________________
Khaleel... Keefak Khaleel.

Aal shoo, Sakarjeh w byal'ab bil saba', lak lak malla hijje!!!!
_______________________________________________________________
From: bh437292@longs.LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Basil Hamdan)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Names
Date: 27 Jan 93 22:39:16 GMT
Reply-To: bh437292@lance.colostate.edu
Organization: Engineering College, Colorado State University

In article <1993Jan27.193122.4444@news.cs.brandeis.edu>, masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu writes:
In article <1993Jan26.095801.1@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk>, zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk:

|> > I find the need for crossing over foriegn names quite repulsive and disturbing.

[complaining about the "arrogance" of Anglo-Saxon 
 "culture" and some mild and unnecessary gay-bashing deleted].

[...]

|> In response to Kamie's post about names, (sorry I don't have the ability
|> to copy the text) there are two factors here:
|> 
|> 1) I agree with you that one shouldn't have to change one's name but the 
|> sad truth is -- you do. 
 
[...]

|> 2) The second point is that I don't think you understood the reason for the
|> list in the first place.  It wasn't for adults to be able to find an "Ameri-
|> canized" name for themselves.  It was for people of Arab heritage who plan
|> to live in the U.S. (or who are married to Americans) to find names for
|> children which fit in well in BOTH cultures. For example, I'm Irish-
|> American and my husband is Lebanese.  We wanted our child to have a name 
|> that reflected both heritages.  We chose "Iskander" (to be pronounced 
|> "Alexander" here and "Iskander" in the Middle East) for a boy and "Hana"
|> for a girl (which is similar to "Hannah" in English).  Now we have 18 month
|> old Hana and both sets of grandparents are able to understand and pronounce
|> her name.  

[...]
 
|> This was not meant as an exercise in eradicating one's culture, rather 
|> an attempt to bring together two cultures.

Very well said.  I guess Kamie should have refrained from giving 
his opinions when it is obvious that he is not aware of the reasons
the lists of cross-cultural names were compiled for in the first place.
I would only add that, if Kamie still finds that choosing children names that
could cross-over cultural boundaries to be so "repulsive  and disturbing",
I would urge him to use whatever names he wishes on his own children, 
we are certainly free to use whatever name we find convenient for ours,
and I will certainly do so regardless of his proclivity  to be "repulsed". 

|> Debbie Masri

Basil
From: fakhoury@eng.umd.edu (Hadi Fakhoury)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Names
Date: 28 Jan 1993 16:43:40 GMT
Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park
NNTP-Posting-Host: antares.eng.umd.edu

Name:
Hadi, AKA:  Heydi, Haydi, Haadi, Heyday, and the best one: hajji.

Just this morning I spent 5 minutes trying to get a fellow who was calling
me Haydar, to say Hadi instead of Haydi. I failed miserably.
I'll let you use your imagination with my last name: Fakhoury.

I find it more entertaining than annoying.

Hadi.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: philo@athena.mit.edu (philo)
Subject: Re: Visiting Lebanon: More Questions
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:17:43 GMT

I visited the fort of Tripoly this past summer. 

Before getting there, no one I had asked knew if it was open or not, and a
surprising number of people from outside Tripoli didn't even know of its
existence. But as I braved my way up the worn out stairs, I found myself
confronted by a syrian barrikade. 

"Excuse me, I said, is the forteresse open for visitors?" (I almost said
tourists, but saved myself at the last moment)
"SURE! hold on just a second"

The soldier went in, and soon called us in, telling us that his friend would be
out in just a second. (At that point, I started wondering where the "oubliettes"
were). Soon enough, another young man came out, wearing military pants, but a
yellow tee-shirt. He said he would give us a tour of the big structure, and
started by telling us a bit about its history, with a heavy syrian accent. We
followed the man around, listening to fascinating stories about how the fort was
built under 3 different occupants. First it was the crusaders, then the mamluks,
then later the turks. One can actually see the different layers of architectural
styles in the building. 

In the 50/60/70s, a part of the fort was transformed into a hotel, which actually
looked like a very nice one. There was a terrasse on the roof, on which Fairuz
and others had performed. And the soldier also went on telling us about how the
"different militias" had occupied the forteresse, and how the "army finally
liberated it". 

After a quite extensive tour which kept me fascinated, the soldier walked us back
to the outside gate, bidding us farewell, and probably expecting some kind of
tip. But all my friends and I had very little money on us (as well as very little
money in general), and we made believe we didn't understand what he was
expecting, thanked him, and walked back to our car. 

It's a beautiful castle, full of wonders new and old. There's also a big fig
tree, and a small tower, and a lot of good history for those of us who love
to hear a good story.


-philo.
-- 
.....................
men abl maa Saar sh-shajar @aalii
				(Talaal Haidar)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: 9999sc01@dt3 (Alexandre Khalil)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Lebanese culture?
Date: 27 Jan 1993 00:04 CST
Organization: University of Houston-Downtown
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41A   

In article <26JAN93.24878115.0059@VM1.MCGILL.CA>, CXYB@MUSICA.MCGILL.CA 
(CXYB000) writes...

>Could someone provide some info about Lebanese culture?

  Would you be more specific: the topic is quite vast ?

  I am quite honored to make your acquaitance, but would you have a clearer
name -though probably less romantic- than CXYB000 ?

  Yours truly

alex khalil
U. of Houston-Downtown
alex@dt.uh.edu