[nukkad] Badge

["HOMI KAIKOBAD" <>]

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THE YELLOW BADGE OF DISHONOR

Some inaccurate imaginings and meandering about the Kabul debacle which lead
nowhere but may make sense anyway:

Q. What does this infamous badge look like?
A. It's made of cloth on buckram to make it stiff, it's stitched and then
embroidered. It hideous, bulky, silly and a horror to wear.

Q. Isn't it like the Star of David the Jews wore in Germany and Poland?
A. Yeah. And like the yellow ribbon the Moslem Persians made the Zoroastrian
Gab'rs wear in nearby Iran.

Q. What does the badge say, is there some text?
A. Probably. In Arabic or Persian quoting something, maybe some law.

Q. Like what for Pete's sake?
A. Like the wearer is from a faith which is not Ahele-Kitab.

Q. Ahele-what?
A. That he follows an unrecognized form of faith.

Q. Give me a break, Hindu dharma was around long before the Semites came to
be?
A. Yeah, but try telling that to the Talibans.

Q. Is that so difficult?
A. Sort of, they usually pack a Kalashnikov and a side arm Mauser.

Q. So what does the badge say?
A. That the wearer follows an unrecognized faith, sort of second class.

Q. Gee, what does that mean?
A. That he or she is fair game if you want to loot or kill.

Q. That's anarchy!
A. Not really, that stands in a court of law.

Q. Yeah? How?
A. The Hindus are soon to be disenfranchised and their property taken away.

Q. Like that? They have been there for centuries!
A. That's OK. They lose because of what their dharma says, not by merit.

Q. Can they appeal in a court of law?
A. Nope, their witness is inadmissible by law, they are legally and socially
non-persons.

Q. Is thsi only for Hindus or all Indians?
A. Only for Hindus. A Moslem Indian is OK.

Q. Sounds bad. So what's next?
A. Their shrines and the idols in them.

Q. Geeze, what do you mean?
A. It's curtains for Krishna and Radha and Ram and Sita and also old
Hanuman.

Q. And?
A. And a replay of Mahmud Ghazni looting Somnath and running away with the
door.

Q. But why Krishna et al, they are Gods?
A. Being God did not protect Buddha. And the Talies don't like marble and
clay Gods.

Q. Maybe the Hindus had better pack the Murtis and bring them to India?
A. Maybe, but then there is the Afghan custom officers.

Q. So what? This is exasperating!
A. So they may forbid the exit of idols, which may contain jewels or have
intrinsic value.

Q. I've never heard of a more crappy catch 22.
A. Yup. That's Talibanland. Leave logic behind when you leave home

Q. So what's the government babus doing in Delhi?
A. Zilch. Afghanistan is a mainstream trading partner and backed by Saudia.

Q. So what?
A. So they already have maybe several hundred kooks in the country ready to
blow things up. And the babus don't want to buck the delicate dollar bucket
which Saudia sustains.

Q. So what do we do essentially?
A. Lets leave guests and the Talies be, and maybe they'll just see the Taj
and go home.

Q. Aren't the folks trapped there citizens of India?
 A. Sure, but Moses is Moses and money is money.

Q. You know you are a little sick. Did you know that?
A. Geese, it's not me! It's the Taliban, remember?

Q. Well can't we do something?
A. You can try. Personally I would hide the Gods in the wall Like they did
1947 and wait for the weather to turn.

Q. Meanwhile do nothing?
A. Sure. Wait for the Balitans to take over.

Q. Who are Balitans?
A. Those who historically follow Talibans and are usually pro-Western
powers.

Q. I'm sort of feeling sick.
A. Grab a beer and hire something from Block Busters. Life's like that.

Q. Well, thanks for noting.
A. Yeah. May we never meet again.

Q. Rab Rakkha.
A. That too.











































































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