First Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah, whichever is appropriate. I hope you’re having a wonderful time with your families and I’m sending you lots of love and prosperous thoughts for the coming year.
I would chalk this post up to being lazy, but I have serious issues with not feeling good, right now. That’s my excuse.
Below is a five question interview sent to me by the lovely Sheila of Charm School Reject. I find that name ironic, by the way, as Sheila is actually very charming. Here it goes…
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Disclaimer : I just recently started reading the fabulocity [yeah - I pretty much just made that word up] that is Faiqa so forgive me if my questions cause her to repeat information or stories that all of you already know!
1. Your family is from Pakistan and your husband’s family is from India. Did this cause any problems or tension between the two of yours families?
Not really. My husband left India when he was about eight years old to live in Saudi Arabia. When his family lived there, they associated with a lot of Pakistanis. And, of course, since my parents lived here, they also associated with a lot of Indians. My parents love my husband dearly, and are very attached to him. If it does bother them that he’s Indian, they’ve never really let on.
2. You recently announced some pretty big news. Was this a planned blessing and you were just faking sick or were you totally surprised and really thought you were sick?
I was totally surprised, and really thought I was sick. And it is a blessing, but I’m something of a planner. This has kind of floored me. Plus I didn’t feel this crappy last time, which is another surprise.
3. Are you always as hot as you were at the Halloween party or did you try extra hard to make every woman there feel inferior? Seriously, I was not surprised to learn that you were in a beauty pageant but I was completely floored by the fact that you were a runner up.
I would never try to make another woman feel inferior!! I don’t view myself as being in competition with other women. And I’m genuinely apprehensive of women who do view themselves that way. Furthermore, I think the approval of women is far more important to me than the approval of men, in general. I’m all about feminist solidarity, not that I don’t think men are magnificent in their own way. I’m just wary of women who say they don’t have women friends or that they prefer the company of men over women. As for being “hot”, I’m always surprised when someone describes me that way or as “beautiful.” I always feel like turning around and saying, huh, who are you talking to? Not me? I know that’s cheesy, but I swear it’s true.
4. We both asked Avitable to interview us. Do you think he is ever going to work his way down the list to our names or should I just stop holding my breath? Seriously – my lungs are starting to hurt.
Honestly? I’m thankful for the respite from his interview. Ever since I hit the “Submit” button, I’ve been on edge about the questions his dark mind would come up with.
5. If you could go on vacation to any location in the world, where would you choose and why?
I have wanted to visit China for as long as I can remember. Why? Because it’s old. I like old places.
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And that concludes this year’s Christmas special on Native-Born. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. I’m off to drink my fifth can of Ginger Ale today.
Oh. And if you want me to send you a five question interview, just e-mail me at faiqa[at]native-born[dot]com.
So, everywhere but in these here United States, Miss World is kind of a big deal. OK, at least, it’s a big deal in India and Pakistan.
This year, a Berkeley PoliSci grad competed on behalf of her “homeland,” Pakistan. (According to these guys, I’m too lazy to verify… what am I? A journalist?)
I really hate stereotypes. Especially ones that diminish the female intellect. Particularly ones that conflate beauty and stupidity.
That said, ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Miss Pakistan 2008, Natasha Paracha.
Wait.
She has to get her earpiece in. (So her brains don’t leak out).
OK, now you can say hello.
I mean, come on, just because a woman is unrealistically aesthetic, prances around in a bathing suit in front of a panel of judges and dances in an evening gown like a monkey in order to entertain a crowd who only values her on the basis of her physical appearance does not mean she’s not intelligent.*
And just because a woman says “condone” instead of “condemn” TWICE in an interview with CNN when discussing terrorist attacks on a neighboring nation doesn’t mean she’s an idiot.
And just because she keeps calling herself an “ambassador to” Pakistan doesn’t mean she’s stupid. (Hi, yeah, you’re Miss Pakistan, which would make you a representative to other nations, see? I know. It’s complicated and hard to remember with you having a COMPLETELY American accent and all.)
And just because she’s a political science major and chooses to diminish completely the rising tensions between two nuclear capable states doesn’t make me want to gouge out her well lined eyes. (Did you see the eye make up, though? It was good.)
Being from the “homeland” myself and married to an Indian man, I particularly enjoyed when she rolled her eyes and said that Pakistan and India aren’t enemies. Did anyone else expect her to say, “Well, like, uh, duh?”
Hey, Miss “Condone”? Try getting a Pakistani visa for your American kid whose dad is Indian, and then you can talk about friendship and alliances with some degree of credibility. You know, after the Pakistani visa officer says, “Remind me, American born woman, why should we let your three year old half breed child into our country again?”
Until then, do me a favor and don’t… talk.
More than the “swimsuit” competition, beauty pageants irritate me because they give ditzes like this airtime.
Instead of brilliant women like me. 
Know anyone at CNN?
I’m extremely available.
*OK, so if you’ve ever competed in a beauty pageant, I’m not talking about you. I once competed in a beauty pageant. I was 3rd runner up. Clearly, I have repressed anger issues with the winners. No bathing suits were involved.
From the monthly archives: December 2008
