{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Drishtikone","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone","author_name":"Desh Kapoor","author_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone\/author\/drishtikone\/","title":"Samad Khurram - a show of convinction for his country","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"cgs7L9ysNl\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone\/2008\/06\/samad-khurram-show-convinction-his-country\/\">Samad Khurram &#8211; a show of convinction for his country<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone\/2008\/06\/samad-khurram-show-convinction-his-country\/embed\/#?secret=cgs7L9ysNl\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Samad Khurram &#8211; a show of convinction for his country&#8221; &#8212; Drishtikone\" data-secret=\"cgs7L9ysNl\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"My friend Rubab told me about an incident in Pakistan where the alumni of a famous private school were being honored by the US Ambassador in Pakistan. When the turn came for a young man named Samad - who studies law at Harvard Law School - he walked past the US Ambassador and went to the microphone and declared he refuses to receive the award from the lady.. it was an act of defiance. He gave his reasons and stood up for himself and his country. I think irrespective of where we live.. it is a very impressive sense of convictions that Samad showed and should be respected. Rubab has agreed to share that article with drishtikone.. so, thanks to her. She discusses her talk with Samad over the phone. ============= Some individuals change destiny of nations, some redesign the future, some rehabilitate economy, some strengthen but few are those who rebuild image of a nation. Samad Khurram is the one who revived in real terms what has been the Bhuttoism-meaning strong Pakistani nationalism. His one act restored Pakistan\u2019s image which has been mutilated by those who claimed to be patriots but for US visas, American scholarships for their children sold national interests. He set a model for the entire nation. He fired no bullet, did not raise any hatred-loaded slogan but simply registered his protest in a civil manner convincing people of the world that he belonged to a self respected nation. Bravo we need more people like you. His phone was continuously engaged; I tried several times and always had a reply the number you have dialed is on another call. He called me back as we knew each other for last few months. He along with his friends has been moderating Emergency in Pakistan group, where they use to email to hundreds of people to activate against the unstable position in Pakistan. He has been playing his vital role in making people politically active through his emails and his blogs. Few days back he told me he is coming to Pakistan to attend Long March. He plans to keep lawyers movement alive till judges are restored and Pakistan gets rid of dictatorship. Samad Khurram was so humble when told he has become a celebrity and being treated as National hero and everyone is discussing Samad Khurram. After appreciating his attempt to get his protest registered; my first question to him was, \u201cwas this deliberate attempt you made in front of US Ambassador?\u201d He told me he was about to boycott ceremony organized to honor Roots School alumina, but \u201cI would get nothing if I do not attend that ceremony, I thought I must attend and get my protest registered in a way that should be noticed all over the world\u201d he added, \u201cI had grudge over the murders of our innocent people in Mohmand agency and unprovoked American violation of Pakistani airspace, we cant be shameless anymore to bear these immoral acts against our countrymen, some one has to take initiative\u201d Despite the fact his career can be on stake due to this nationalistic gesture, even then he made his presence on occasion and rebuked the U.S. ambassador in the full glare of the media where he knew Ambassador\u2019s activities would be covered by national and international media. He had courage to refuse for his great satisfaction, as an individual he proved he is the youth of Pakistan. While reading responses on blogs about Samad Khurram I concluded that everyone has adored him in Pakistan because this gesture was the voice of their hearts."}