Eid Mubarak! And welcome to the 3 day long Muslim celebration of Eid-ul-fitr, at the end of Ramadan. Muslims are celebrating around the world, but what are they celebrating in Pakistan and Palestine, two world conflict hotspots? Join the Optimistic Muslim, Dr. David Liepert, as he talks to Khadeeja Balkhi, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility in Pakistan, and Hala Qubbaj, a teacher at Ramallah’s Creativity Centre in Palestine about what’s happening, and what lessons they’ve learned from Ramadan, in Pakistan and Palestine.

Returning to The Optimistic Muslim for the second time, Khadeeja Balkhi, has moved up in the world!  She discusses her newly appointed position, and all of the wonderful things she’s been involved with since she was last on the show 8 months ago.  But what has been happening in Pakistan as a whole?  As we near the Founding of Pakistan, looking forward to Eid, only a year after the floods that devastated their lands–How is Pakistan doing?  Is there still something worth celebrating?  Khadeeja Balkhi’s answer will enlighten you, and maybe even surprise you.

Dr. David Liepert asks the tough questions: What is Pakistan striving for?  Is President Asif Ali Zardari truly in charge?  Where does the power lie?  How do Pakistani people feel, as a whole, toward their current leader?  What is the status of the current government?  How was the death of Osama Bin Laden viewed?

In the second half of the show, Dr. David Liepert speaks with Hala Qubbaj of Palestine.  How have the complicated politics in Palestine affected Ramadan?  Hala shares her feelings toward the celebrations and gives some key thoughts on Palestine’s feelings (not their President’s) toward Gaza and the West Bank.

What lessons can be taken away from this past month of Ramadan?  Where do we go from here?  Tune in!