Mr. Mayor, The last time I was in Calgary (Winter Olympics 1988) the town looked like an outdoor garage sale helter sklelter, as if managed by a drunken city planner, apparently without zoning bylaws. Thanks to the Oil Rush, the city has grown, become more sophisticated and less of a hick town, I am told by Calgary boosters. In fact, the election of someone with your racial and religious background has been cited repeatedly as evidence that the city is no more Red Neck Corral. However, the drum beat that claims Calgary has matured falls silent in light of your ignorant recognition of the Khojali genocide. Since when have you become an expert on a battle which took place 10,000 miles from you twenty years ago? Where did this sudden geopolitical intelligence drop upon you? You were elected to work for Calgarians not even for Albertans living outside Calgary city limits. Stick to what you were elected to do. I'm wondering whether your ignorant statement has something to do with your Pakistani and religious background. I say this in sorrow because it's a fact that many Muslim countries (with Pakistan at the forefront) seem to determine their foreign policies according to religion affiliations. They are quick to form Muslim blocs wherever there's a political/military conflict. Pakistan is the among the first nations' other than Turkey (the perpetrator of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians) to be guilty of recognizing the Khojali attack as genocide. And like Turkey, it was quick in portraying the Armenian/Azeri conflict as a religious conflict: Armenian Christian/Azeri Muslim, Armenians wrong/Azeris right. Thus Khojali is a genocide.I understand the corrupt oligarchs of Lahore have promised Baku Pakistan's support in case of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I am also told you're Ismaili. If you are, then shame on you for writing that Khojali letter. As a member of a persecuted religious minority on the subcontinent (even if your parents came from East Africa) you should be more sensitive about Armenians'a nation which has suffered persecution from its surrounding nations'Turkey and Azerbaijan' for a long time. Then again, your bias could be based on commercial interests. Calgary's and Baku's blood is black gold. Did Azeri oil interests whisper something into your ear? It's ironic that the person Calgarians use as Exhibit A to prove that they are no longer red neck racists turns around and makes the city seem Birmingham, Alabama North. Since Google is replete with solid articles which prove that the Armenian attack was no genocide, I will not provide you with redundant, yet factual, information as to what happened in Khojali or if you're too busy, tell one of your more intelligent aides to do some serious research before shooting off the mouth. Friendly advice: rather than pontificate ignorantly and with prejudice about something you don't know, why don't you invest some time dieting? Your picture shows an obese young man. Your excess avoirdupois might make voters wonder about your lack of discipline and self control. Control your weight, control your mouth, Mister Mayor.

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