Saturday, August 14, 2010

Happy Independence day...?

So a lot of statuses are popping up on facebook saying things like 'I am disappointed with Pakistan'. I mean it's one thing to say that you're sad about what's happening, like the floods and the corruption. But to say that you're disappointed with 'Pakistan' is kind of... dumb.

Let me tell you why: Pakistan itself is not a Quaid-e-azam that can go around brandishing the swords of unity, faith and discipline. It's actually just a piece of land, and what makes it a nation is the people like you and me that populate it. So to say that you're disappointed with Pakistan is actually just to say that you are disappointed with yourself. So only you can do something about it.

And just because Pakistan has been hammered by a sausage-string of disasters (most of them, admittedly brought about by us) doesn't mean that there is no cause to celebrate the day of independence. Of course I'm not saying that we should be in a super-festive mood because that would just be heartless and disrespectful considering the troubles half our nation is plunged in. But what I am saying is; the independence itself was one of the best things that has happened to the Muslims on this side of the world. And no amount of corruption can change that.

I think one of our greatest faults lies in the fact that we take intangible entities and blame them for our problems. So if the Taliban are screwing up Afghanistan we say that we are disappointed in Islam; when to be perfectly reasonable it's not 'Islam's' fault. It's the fault of a couple of narrow-minded fundamentalists. Ultimately, the fault of humans. The same goes for Pakistan. It's our fault. We, who can't even let go of our extravagances for this one month of Ramadan. We, who talk about the bombs and the killings and the floods in our beauty parlors while eerie romantic music plays in the background. I mean the least we can do, is just admit our mistake. Because if we don't, someone else will just exaggerate them and then you'll see Pakistan's name plastered all over BBC and it'll get thrashed like some kid who stole the candy. I mean becoming rich and refined and looking down your nose at Pakistan won't really do much because the soil isn't going to stand up and fashion itself into men who will change everything. Pakistan will only ever be what we make it.

9 comments:

  1. thats very true,but no one understands that bt only very few. nation of pakistan is so divided into sects of political parties and religious groups .their thinking is perpendicular to each other. corruption, source thats what all they need. THESE PEOPLE DONT WANT TO CHANGE.
    ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN. whats islamic in it ? :)

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  2. Mistakes.... accepted. Now??? I have changed my self. How to change people in the country??

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  3. @ bluestocking and hadeeqa: yeah I agree :(

    @ Anonymous: you're very right, maybe they don't want to change but then sometimes a handful of people can bring about a revolution. I mean Ghandi and Jinnah were just two people leading entire nations.

    @ Aazar: Everybody has to change themselves.

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  4. i agree.. do you see anyone today like them ?
    or we can do something for our country or to change its people ?

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  5. @ anonymous: you see, you don't have to have excellent leadership qualities to do something for your country. Gandhi and Jinnah are just an example. Any knowledge or talent is valuable. Most of Pakistan's intellectual assets are lost to foreign countries. I mean, instead of staying and building our country, doctors, engineers, architects, all go abroad because they can prosper over there. So stop worrying about the general term 'people' and start thinking about what you yourself can do. If you're studying something, how can your studies benefit your people. If you're talented at something, how can you use your talent to benefit your country etc. So, you don't have to see anybody like them. Are you like them?

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  6. u r optimistic and m pessimist :) but some point in time in practicle life you lose hope from the people of this country.those people who have authority are corrupt you can not even get a job without a source. . a criminal having a source can easily go and police can't do anythiing about it even if some of them are willing to.. if a person wants to help any victim of accident on the road no hospital is ready to admit them without FIR even if the person dies ,only 2 government hospitals accept such cases. what we did to DR abdul qadeer khan, there are many examples .. no m not like them. but m willing to do something for my country

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