Memorial Day May 25 2009

Memorial Day celebrated as federal holiday in United States of America (USA). When is Memorial Day in 2009? And the answer is that it is May 25th 2009. It is generally observer on the last day of the May month every year and this year last Monday is on 25th May. Earlier, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day (still some people call this important Day as Decoration Day). In this particular Day (Memorial Day), citizen of United States commemorates to those U.S. men and women who died while in the military service like in World War I.

Here are the Memorial Day Dates till 2015 year:
2008 - May 26th
2009 - May 25th
2010 - May 31st
2011 - May 30th
2012 - May 28th
2013 - May 27th
2014 - May 26th
2015 - May 25th


History of Memorial Day

After the end of the World War (Civil War), so many communities came together and set aside a special day to mark the end of the killing war. Or it is a day to tribute to those who had died in the war. According to the official reports, the birthplace of Memorial Day is a place called Waterloo situated in New York. Late General John Logan officially announced the Memorial Day on 5th of May 1868., national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, Nowadays, most of the Americans citizen have forgotten the actual meaning, value and traditions of Memorial Day. We can easily find that at many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are being ignored and neglected in large numbers. The problem is that most US people (specially younger generation people) seems to be no longer remember the actual flag etiquette. But still there are many towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades.

Traditional observance

Many US citizen (most of them are senior and middle aged) observe this day by visiting their nearby memorials & cemeteries. Another important tradition is to fly the flag of the United States of America at Government offices and headquarters from dawn until noon local time. They also put the flag in the cemeteries. Some of the Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other own family members or their closed one who have died. Memorial Day is day of holiday in all parts of the country so it is also used as a time for picnics, family parties, family gatherings, and other sporting events.

Here is the list of public holidays for the employees of US people. When the holiday falls in weekend like on Saturday or Sunday then they celebrated it on Monday.

Thursday, January 1 ==> New Year’s Day
Monday, January 19 ==> Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16* ==> Washington’s Birthday
Monday, May 25 ==> Memorial Day
Friday, July 3** ==> Independence Day
Monday, September 7 ==> Labor Day
Monday, October 12 ==> Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11 ==> Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 ==> Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25 ==> Christmas Day

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Taliban captures Swat Valley Pakistan

Swat Valley in Pakistan is known as Mini Switzerland in Pakistan. It used to be attracted thousands of tourists from all part of the world every year but now after Taliban presence not only the foreign tourists but all also the local Pakistani fears to visit Pakistan. Swat Valley has the natural beauty in Pakistan. It has beautiful mountains, lakes and environment free fields. Pakistani people living in other areas like Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore are fearing that Taliban will also capture their place.

Taliban militants has already implemented the Islamic law (Shariah Law) in the Swat Valley. Pakistan wants to talk with Talibanis and make a peace deal with them but world has criticized Pakistani decision to have a peace deal with them after all Talibanis are responsible for 9/11 World Trade Center Attack, which shocked the whole world. No one can trust Taliban that's why it has become a become concern in the West countries. Right now, cease fire is going on but the question is till when???

Taliban Activities in Swat Valley, Pakistan
Here is the picture in Swat Valley, Pakistan where Talibanis and Taliban supporters are spreading sweets after implementing Shariah Law (Islamic Law) in Swat Valley. Talibanis have asked girls not to study anymore and threatened them not to go to schools and colleges. Taliban have already destroyed 13 schools in Swat Valley. A famous journalist from Geo TV has been killed there while he was covering there for the peace process. First, he was shot by a bullet then his neck was separated from his body. The whole Pakistani journalists and lawyers are protesting this but yet Pakistani Government has not made any comment regarding this brutally attack.

Newly elected United States of American President, Mr. Barrack Obama has expressed his concern over the present situation in Swat Valley. He has decided to send more troops in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Here is an Youtube video shot taken in Sawt Valley of Pakistan. This video shows the pictures of earlier Swat Valley and now the present condition of Swaat Valley after Taliban capturing the place.


What is Shariah Law (Islamic Law)?

Answere : Please visit this Wiki Link to know about Shariah Law Wiki.

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India Pakistan Relation

India => Kashmir <= Pakistan

India Pakistan Relation

The relation of India and Pakistan have a long and very complicated history background with each other. Truly speaking, India and Pakistan simultaneously became independent country from Britain in 1947. When British people left India, it was supposed to be divided the country into two parts. It was decided that the area that consists 75% or more Muslims would be the part of Pakistan and the rest of the part India. But unfortunately, this proposal did not include the Princely States, one of which was Kashmir. The Princely were left at liberty to decide their own future whether they want to be the part of Pakistan, part of India, or just want to remain as a separate state (Sloan). At that time, The Maharaja of Kashmir named Hari Singh Dogra, decided that Kashmir will neither be part of India nor Pakistan. In the mean while, Pakistan had also sent some tribal Lhakars to discuss to Kashmir about their decision of autonomy. Then Indian government realized Pakistan's action as a sign of invasion and then Indian Government also sent their troops to help defend the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

India Pakistan Tension after Mumbai Attack

Indian and Pakistani soldiers have always stamped each other feet and they postured in goose step at the time when they lower their flags every evening at their border post between the both India and Pakistan. The body language has changed totally, now we can watch more aggressive as talks of war are going around. In this photo, Pakistani soldier in black uniform and the Indian border guards use to shake hands during the "Beating the Retreat" ceremony at the Pakistan and India joint border check post of Wagah Border near Lahore city of Pakistan. The Tensions between both nuclear-armed Pakistan and India have risen up high over the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26th December 2008. Indian are blaming that they have got some proof that suggest that Paksitan has supported Terrorsits Group but Pakistan has denied it totally and added that Pakistan is also the victim of Terrorism. The Pakistan Government has promised to cooperate with Indian Government, but has also remarked that it has yet to share any evidence with it.

Here is an Youtube Video of India Pakistan Tension at Wagah Border.



Pakistan Birthday : The Partition of India
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The World has seen the birth of a new Islamic Republic country called as "Pakistan" on 14th August 1947. The very next day India won its freedom from British rule after almost 350 years of British rule in India. British people came to India for business purpose and they started their first big company in Calcutta as "East India Company" they started ruling all parts of the India. Before Independence, Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital of India but now it's New Delhi. British left India divided in two parts - India and Pakistan. The two countries were distributed on the basis of religion (i.e Hindu and Muslims), with India as a secular one and Pakistan as an Islamic state.











It's a still big debate that whether the partition of India and Pakistan was done too soon and whether it was wise or not. Everyone and everyone country did their best to stop the conflict between India and Pakistan. British divided India in two parts but unfortunately they did not resolve the border issues and causing three wars between two countries. Those three were occured in the year 1965, 1971 and 1999 Kargil War causing thousand of soldiers from both the countries died.

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