From the Editor

Hi all,

Let's start this week's editorial with a riddle. Guys, can you guess what was small, very colourful, had lots of comics, fairytales and recipes and actually had an 'art corner'? Do we hear someone saying 'it must be a kids' magazine or whatever'? Well, whoever you are, you are absolutely right. We are talking about a kids' magazine that started publishing in 1991. With the passage of time, this magazine grew just like its readership and is now called 'the magazine for the youth'.

Yes, we are talking about your favourite magazine, Us, which (many of) you have been reading for so many years. It wouldn't be wrong to say that many of its devoted readers have grown up with it. They have been a part of this mag and the mag has been a part of 'their' lives.

We were very excited when Kanza came up with the idea of doing a cover on how Us has changed over the years. It was an interesting experience in itself reading the comments of readers who have been reading this mag for a looooong time. In fact, there are comments by readers who have been reading Us since it started getting published!

They talk about the changes Us has gone through – from layout to the stuff that used to get printed, from articles to recipes to greetings and what not. You will surely get a detailed analysis of what Us used to be. 

When we had the cover story in our hands and we started gathering pictures to go along with it, we came across some really interesting things – like, in older days, Us actually used to be called 'the magazine for kids' and that it had 32 pages, the drawing sent by kids used to get printed in Us and things like that…

Readers, we definitely enjoyed Kanza's walk down the memory lane, and we hope you'll enjoy it too!

Happy reading :)

Tata!

Dear Editor

I agree, I don't agree…

Hi Ed,

You guys are doing a nice job! I loved the cover story by Saad Javed, though I do not fully agree with his choice of personalities. Jasir Javed was absolutely right. Parents should draw a line of limit. Being too careful about one's kids can prove harmful. We all are proud of Ayesha Jabeen. She is indeed a bright student. Salman Qureshi's article was also informative. No doubt cramming is just a waste of our precious time and talent. I completely and absolutely disagree with Shabina Gul. If she's fed up of posters and comics, it's her own opinion. It doesn't mean that everyone else is fed up of these pages, too. I mean, come on girl, liking celebrities and comics doesn't mean that we are acting like kids. Please don't spoil the fun of being a teenager. Drooling over celebrities, collecting their posters and reading tons of comics are some of the things which we cannot leave at any cost. Anyway, I am still in favour of better quality paper and good posters. Guys, keep rocking!

Sehr Rushmeen, Quetta

Please tell me

Hey Ed,

I do not need to say that your mag is fantastic. Or do I? It is always a treat to read. The 'Poets' Corner' is going super-duper fantastic. 'Graffiti' is also doing great. Coming to the real topic, I wanted to ask you the word count for the cover story as well as the other topics. Please tell me.

Tahreem Rasul, Peshawar

The word count for cover story is 1600-2000. While that of a one-pager is 650-700 words.

Saad, you forgot something!

Dear Editor,

Saad's cover was very good, yes (as expected!). It had people from politics and religion and Hollywood and technology but hey, Saad forgot about sports!

Majid Naqvi, Sahiwal

Can I?

Hey Ed!

I have been reading The News for the past few years and I am a fond reader of Us magazine. But for the past few weeks I have been noticing that the 'Music Page' is missing from the magazine. I am very much into music and love to listen to it, comment on it and criticise on it at the same time. So I would be more than delighted if I get a chance to contribute for the page.

Maryam Shabbir

You can surely send your views and reviews for the page, Maryam!

Saad finally comes under criticism

AoA Editor,

The May 2, 2008 issue was very entertaining. Although never can reading your magazine classify as wastage of time, there are some issues that leave you with a sense of satisfaction once you are done reading them. To put it in other words, these issues are a bit more erudite - if I may use that term - and less superficial. The referred issue fell in this category.

Saad's work is always unique. His writing style can easily be distinguished from that of others because there is a special, undefinable element to it. Hence, I was disappointed with his cover story this week. It lacked that element and uniqueness. It's not that it was bad, but I don't measure Saad's writings with my usual yardstick. Also, the list itself disappointed me. How could it have space for the likes of Simon Cowell and Anna Wintour, but none for people like Dr Zakir Naik? This is not to mention the controversy surrounding the very existence of Osama bin Laden. The West aside, even we have begun to see the world from the characteristic Occidental eyes. The world isn't confined to the Western pursuits and interests only. A greater part of humanity is driven and influenced by ideals different from theirs.

Iqra Asad's story was good. The expression was stronger and better than the storyline. Jasir Jawad's article was quite entertaining. It managed to extract quite a few laughs from me.

The way Awais and Saad write on a common theme in their poems is very interesting. This time too they did a good job of spinning their poems around Moses' rod.

The rest of the issue was also good except the 'Graffiti'. And I agreed with most of the suggestions presented by Shabina Gul in her letter.

Nadia Khaliq, Islamabad

Clearing the ambiguity – though quite late…

Dear Editor,

I am a regular reader of Us Magazine. A week ago I was going through the past issues of the mag and I saw the issue of January 4, 2008 in which a reader, Meraj Hasan, from Islamabad, wrote a letter to you regarding my cover story 'High Voltage', which was published in Us magazine's issue of December 14, 2007.

He stated that I had plagiarised the material from Wikipedia. I did gather the information from Wikipedia, but I hadn't copy-pasted it. I had written the entire article in my own words after gathering the information. I would have cleared this ambiguity months ago, but I am pleased that I have done it now.

I would never do such an act that would disgrace the name of Us Magazine.

Muhammad Omar Iftikhar, Karachi

Omar, we hope all of Us think the same way!

Comments

AoA Ed,

Thanks for publishing my letter. The cover story of May 2, 2008 was wonderful. Jasir Jawed, Iqra Asad and Ayesha Pervez made my day wonderful. The 'Feline Diet' kept me laughing all day long even with the tension of examination. And please publish that 'Comic Relief' section more clearly. I couldn't understand what was written in the comics. Dear Ed, please answer this question: can someone younger than 18 write an essay for YLC or not?

Unsa Athar, Sheikhupura

Of course Unsa, there is no age limit for participating in the essay competition. But the sponsors need the CNICs of the participants, or their B-Form. But you must be above 16 at least! 

Art work, where art thou!

Hi Eddy,

I am a huge fan and avid reader of Us and since Us readers have become so vocal lately I, too, thought about giving it a try. Saad's list of 20 most influential people was a very cool piece. I was glad to read how he comprehensively justified his nominations. And clearly, you cannot 'measure' influence through a formula, for everyone would have his/her own list. So it was a very 'global' and apt list Saad compiled. Good work!

Iqra Asad's story was mediocre at its best. I thought she could do better. Jasir did a nice, cosy piece but I had such a nice over-protected childhood; I now thank my parents for being so caring. The article on cramming was predictable. With our examination system, I am sorry we are left with little options.

Guys, please, please stop printing these celeb posters. It would be cooler to see movie and music album posters instead. Your last page goes fruitless. You can easily use the back-cover for art-work sent by your readers.

Have fun!

Rimsha Awan, Lahore

Good suggestion, Rimsha, but the Art Corner supporters are yet to send Us anything we can include in the mag! Except their letters, that are always welcome.

Wrong choice, Saad!

Dear Editor,

I read your special report on the 20 most influential people in the world. You chose Mr. Asif Ali Zardari from Pakistan as an influential person. I would rather say that the most influential person in Pakistan is still Mr. Pervez Musharraf. He raised several serious issues including war on terror, judicial crisis, inflation and dearth of electricity. All his policies led Pakistan to some or other crisis.

Mr. Zardari has spent much time behind bars and has recently appeared on the political scene and has done nothing much other than appointing the prime minister and signing the Murree Declaration. Time will tell what he will do for the real development of the country.

Mubasher Jamil, Rawalpindi

Life without…!

Hey Ed,

I just want to say, we can not imagine Us without Saad's cover stories and Saad's Heart-to-Hearts and Saad's cute poem.

Keep it up!

Minahil Tareen, Gujrat

I agree!

Dear Ed,

Great issue again! What a drastic change Saad displayed in his style! The moment we thought he was turning into a mushy, Oprah-ish writer, he came up with this unique idea! I think I kind of agree with his list.

Jasir Jawed on the other hand, was clearly trying to follow Saad's foot steps, and was quite successful! Iqra Asad's story was interesting and suddenly turned berserk at the end. The rest of the issue was fine.

I think you really should start a poll on 'Greetings' page. It's high time!

Binish Sarfaraz, Rawalpindi

Give space to LOTR!

AoA Ed!

I'm a silent reader of Us. It really is an awesome mag... It is informative and worth reading. I don't need glossy paper to enjoy its material. And about the 'Greetings' page, well, I guess it's not that bad, but something better can definitely take its place and the comics. After all, Ed, we are not kids anymore.

And the last thing is that I seldom see anything about our all-time-favourite movie Lord Of The Rings. Rather I have never seen anything about it... Why so?

Anaum Riaz, Rislapur