Pakistan: “Hey Dude! Why Google is being Nasty to us?”
Pakistanis are using blogging as a medium to raise their voice about an important issue regarding the technology giant Google’s biases. The issue what we are talking about is Google Doodles for Pakistan. Google Doodles refers to the Google’s logo designs project that Google does occasionally. Google celebrates and tribute certain festivals, events and personalities using these doodles. But never have we seen doodles for famous Pakistani or Muslim festivals. Some famous festivals like Eid and Ramadan are celebrated across the entire Muslim world.
Bloggers are having different views and opinions regarding reasons and suggestions. The voice was first raised by Bites85 at ProPakistani, later supported by many bloggers. Let’s see what Pakistani bloggers are saying:
Sohaib Athar at ReallyVirtual writes:
I personally think that Google not showing any Doodles for Islamic events has something to do with their “Do No Evil” policy
Seriously though, while Google can not be forced to cater to each segment of their customer base, especially since doodling is the secondary responsibility of the guy who creates them, but given that
- Google has doodles for other religious holidays
- Muslims form a huge chunk of their customer base - much larger than, say, Pakistanis, or people who like Escher
- Google has doodles for birthdays and other days that only a tiny portion of the world celebrates
- Google is a PUBLIC company (which does matter)
… by not having a doodle for a single Islamic event/holiday so far, the message they are sending out, to many Muslims, says something like ‘We are the biggest website around and are a global company, but we don’t really care about the Muslim culture and won’t even consider it to be worth a doodle’ - really bad marketing.
On the other hand, some bloggers are bit polite and expressing their views that it might be the reason that Google doesn’t want to get into any cartoon controversy.
Here is what Dr. Awab at Teeth Maestro has to say:
What has been seriously missing in its endless inventory of hundreds of Google Doodles is any logo commemorating a Muslim celebration, be it Eid or any other Islamic celebration, that said I am sure there maybe a little hesitancy on making a graphic image of an Islamic event and not fall into a potential cartoon controversy, but I assure you there are way to ensure that these innocent efforts dont back fire. If Islamic events are too hot too handle then we also fail to see Google honoring a National day of a Muslim country like Pakistan. Pakistan has been on the Google map for sometime but we have yet to be honored with an Independence day google graphic on Google.com.pk, our neighbors India instead has instead been on the receiving end of quite a few celebratory doodles gifts from Diwali to even an 15th August doodle on Google.co.in website. But we here in Pakistan sit doodling our fingers in jittery anticipation.
I urge Google to seriously consider our humble request it wont hurt if they surprised Muslims or Pakistani with a customized doodle, I assure you it wont hurt a fly, but only will go to uplift the morals of a nation and indirectly develop a level of trust and understanding with people on this side of the border.
I personally acknowledge that Google services have won the hearts of almost every Pakistani or Muslim internet user. People prefer Google’s services over its competitors. Therefor I believe it doesn’t go with the Google’s image to be biased to any community. So I hope Google will listen to over voice and will place an Eid Doodle this time 
why do we see towards Google doodle?
why don’t we create circumstances that Google looks at us to doodle?
Thanks man for joining the revolution.
[...] Maestro:, Buzzvines, Really Virtual, Pakistani Guppu, [...]
For you and all the muslims.Eid doodle:
http://www.propakistani.com/2008/09/26/eid-ul-fitr-google-doodle-for-the-world-muslim-community/
Google probably isnt making doodles for muslim religious holidays and other stuff bbecause muslims right now just dont have a very “friendly” public image.
P.S Nice blog
pakireport.blogspot.com
@ The Last Pakistani
Thanks for commenting and joining the bloggers movement. I have added your blog in our PBM page
If I had the artistic talent I would do Eid Doodles for all our sites first…forget Google ! Why should they bother if we don’t?
Does anybody has contacts in the media? Get this matter positively in the print? We should make a case logically why Google should consider it and how it would help it gain more respect in the Muslim world.
Can anybody help highlight this and the Kashmir Mapmaker issue [ http://www.buzzvines.com/Google-Earth-Maps-Azad-Jammu-Kashmir-Google-MapMaker-Kashmir-India-Kashmir-Map-Google-Street-Maps-Road-Map ] to conventional media?
And, once again, please be positive in creating a voice in whatever medium you can!
@ Buzzvines hey great idea dude. I have a few contacts,let me try if i can do something…!
why do you want google doodles anyay?
Staff at Google are concerned that they may be subjected to terrorist attacks as muslims have shown themselves to be intolerent and lack a sense of humour.
When did you last see a cleric laughing?
why would google risk riots,murder,bombing for a bunch of people of PAKistan who call themselves pure but are one of the most morally corrupt.
They are bigoted..cannot tolerate religious differences…hate the science,technology and the west in general…and worship suicide bombers.
they are both jealous and resentful of progress.the muslim taliban has bombed 252 schools in pakistan.
islam is a mental staritjacket from which they can never be free.
it is not that they muslims are actually holy or pious or honest individuals…
islam is a name only religion which can be used by anyone to commit any atrocity in its name.