Loyal to Pakistan? Why?

Another true pakistani piece of work, the author criticises pakistan, although oft repeated words, the readers pounce on him, in the usuak condescending way, oh, my son you have lost the way.

Not even single `reader` showed the caPACITY TO ACCEPT THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR WITH OUT A `BUT`.

Then the usual question, if you think pakistan is that bad what are you doing about it. Look, he has at least written about it, he is a critique. It is your job my friends, the proud pakistanis to improve the great land.

For once, dont try to accept and accomodate the author as a show of your great magnanimity, there are elements of truth in what the man is talking about, accept it , let it sink into the minds.

testing ...

If you don`t like someone; you have a right to ignore them. If you don`t like a place; you have a right to leave. But you don`t have a right to bad-mouth those people or places. This holds true for those Pakistanis who live in America, and bad-mouth America. It also hold true to people like you have used a Pakistani passport to get to America, and now have nothing but criticism for Pakistan.

You are just trying to find your identity. Currently, the American culture seems the best to you. Perhaps, tomorrow you will find something better, or you will have bad experiences in the American society. Will you then start bad-mouthing America?

Dear Ahsan,

I totally undersdtand your dilemma .. and i would be the last one to criticise you for the bitterness you feel over Pakistan not having done anything for you .. America is a great nation and accepts everyone as their own but America does not have Gujranwala, and Nathia Gali, and Thatta, or Nowshera. These are in our blood and nothing will change that, so that explains your pain even though you`ve never lived in Pakistan ..

You are a true and loyal Pakistani .. where ever you live .. God be with you .. !

I read all replies and have a feeling that whenever someone tries to point out the truth what we do is put our filthy face buried right in the sand. We`ve a tendency to always get away from the truth and hide, instead to envisioned from it we bashed the fellow (or messenger). Why is that because the inferior complex we`ve, when this will be end? When we will start soul searching and look our selves in the mirror and point out the weakness we have.

We`ve to go a long walk home. Please, don`t bash Americans, look, where this nation which once had the large numbers of slaves has gone. Today they`ve equal rights for very same descendant of the slaves. Can we said same thing about ourselves, of course not, we`re busy making minority non-Muslim, killing our women for sake of our macho manhood honor, laboring and abusing our young kids, spreading and letting loose intolerant fanatics religious hordes? Sure, we`re proud of all these.

Time is still in our hands yet, so don`t fool ourselves by the blind patriotism, because by doing it we`re killing the same thing we`re blind about.

Your criticism of Pakistan seems a verbatim repetition of the stereotype in Western media. Your observations of Pakistanis is informed by associating with expats. Period. You are entitled to your opinions but I suspect what motivates your frustrated jab at all issues Paki - is the need for identity. That need too is valid, but in trying to articulate it, you seem to lapse into anecdotal expositions of women`s rights, police corruption, politicians - your usual laundry list. The sad part is you don`t have any countervailing positive experiences of Pakistan, probably because you have hardly lived there. It seems the adopted identity of a Nat. American, healthcare provider and living with a beautiful fiancee, is what you savour most out of life at this point. However, since you have `made it` on all counts that matter to you, it seems a bit peevish to turn around and sneer at any link with Pakistan. You may be content with what you have achieved, and feel that this qualifies you to speak on larger issues of identity, politics, culture and all other things Paki. It may. We`ve been listening to the moneyed class in Pak for the last 50 years, so your voice is one more in the griping, pining & clamouring.

Let me recap your life. Always the outsider where you`ve lived, whether its the Middle East or US. Never lived anywhere long enough to put down roots or connect with the locals. Yearning to identify with universal core values of honour, pride, compassion, but lumped into this tenuous extended community called Paki. Hounded at every turn for your Green passport. Press reports on Pak are embarrassing. You finally decide that you`ll internalize all the negativity, work singularly towards achieving career success, and then ... suddenly rear up to chop the umbilical cord. Again that`s your right. But don`t dismiss all the slams you are getting as more of those ``Pakistanis who have the audacity and cheekiness to tell me how I should feel about THEIR country.`` I`m sorry, but you just don`t get it!

Wishing you and your live-in, all the happiness Western money can buy.

Random

There seems to be absolutely no screening of articles on Chowk. Maybe there should be a separate kids section for articles of this mental level. There is no reason to be proud of any country...such nationalistic feelings are some what misguided and lead to more destruction than they are worth. However, this great land of opportunities that you are so proud to walk on, once in a while, look at you feet and see that you are walking on the blood of millions of American Indians, blacks, mexicans, striking workers, poor whites, cubans, filipinos, people from central america, vietnam, laos, iraq...the list ofcourse goes on. And even these great many opportunities that you talk about, ask the 36 million americans who live below the povery line how many of these do they have. Ask the kids who are victims of racist New York police, why arent they using these ``equal opportunities``. Opportunities which are so equal that the top 1 percent has as much wealth as the bottom 95 percent. I am not trying to say that conditions in Pakistan are better...but maybe if you knew the present state of the country and its glorious history better, you would probably think twice before beating your chest and showing off your newly acquired blue american passport.

Mr. Ahmed:

Judging by this sophomoric trash you have got ways to go.

If the I.Q. you display here is the temprature in this room I would have to turn up the thermostat.

Hope you are not offended by my not hurling any epithets or four letter words.

For your fiance`s sake, if not for some country--any country`s sake-- please grow up and smell the roses.

no regards
no dice

I guess everybody has a right to an opinion. But I can understand where the writer`s angst is coming from, years of growing up in the Persian Gulf, receiving hard toffee from the watani habibi there and saying shukraan shukraan has taken its toll, never mind the dirham-dollar education while Daddy kept his ego in a pocket of his shalwar back home! Next he goes to Seattle with his little Paki (or Indian) passport and is made to stand in a little separate queue to cross over and back to/from BC, so that hurts. Sure Pakistan (And India. And Bdesh. and Sri Lanka etc) are not the heavens but then, is Stanley Park after dark any better?

But maybe it is better for Pakistan (here I speak as an observer) if such people stay on wherever. It may be better for me as an Indian if such chumps came back to Pakistan, they would dismember the country in three hours flat. Or try!!

Grow up kiddo!! and talk some sense and showsome manners and respect. I think the word ``s h i t`` is a curse that normal educated people don`t use in ``normal`` writing. Your American fellas can tell ya that. By the way, about being the land of opportunities, just read the US history kiddo and get yourself famiiarized with Civil Rights movement! And better yet, visit the great South and you`ll find out the land of opportunity when u are treated like a sand nigger!!

Well, it`s never too late to get some self respect for yourself!!

Grow up kiddo!! and talk some sense and showsome manners and respect. I think the word ``s h i t`` is a curse that normal educated people don`t use in ``normal`` writing. Your American fellas can tell ya that. By the way, about being the land of opportunities, just read the US history kiddo and get yourself famiiarize with Civil Rights movement! And better yet, visit the great South and you`ll find out the land of opportunity when u are treated like a sand niger!!

Well, it`s never too late to get some self respect for yourself!!

This is a reply to Mr Ahsan Ahmeds point of view on his feelings towards Pakistan.

Congratlautions Mr Ahmed, on your Americian upbringing. It is supprising how Pakistan has survived so long being the state that you claim it is. I am sure that they must be some good people living there who are trying to do the best they can in the best way possible. I wonder what you would have done if you had to live in Pakistan? would You be a person who would start a movement for (lets say) womens rights? or would you be a person responsible for a rape?... I wonder.

The eaistest thing to do (as you have) is to sit on your back and critise. I find that Desi people from the UK, USA, Canada etc are mostly doing this, because of some perverted self justification trip that they may be on, rather like you Mr Ahmed. If you have such sincere feelings, (even about yourself)than I suggest you do something about it. Make a difference, Try to make a difference? Instead of the usual bullshit that may impress your friends.

After reading this you will no-doubt become defensive; but you really need to think about your statements and may be grow up and mature a little before you start embarking on some pesoudal-intellectual trip that you are having at the moment.

Billoo Khan.

I agree with Ahsan`s view-point. A lot has been said about this topic but I don`t see any hope until the corrupt politicians are in power.

Everyone just complains about everything these days. Ahsan i respect ur opnion and decision to never live in Pakistan but please do not gripe about something u r not willing to help. I am a Pakistani and regardless of her faults i am proud. After all the U.S herself excelled upon the back of its people. People who were willing to work for her and build her up, not by individuals constantly expressing their personal woes.

Ahsan, read your piece and I think you are entitled to your opinion. I think your views are a bit jaded about the US and Pakistan. You talk about the US being the land of opportunity regardless of sex, creed, and sexual orientation. I don`t think you have been to Watts or South Central in LA or Hell`s Kitchen in NY. I don`t think you have been pulled over in downtown LA just for being dark. Nor have you taken a road trip through the mid west or the South. Land of Opportunity? for who? Go to an Native Reservation and give them a talk about opportunity, freedom and Liberty. Oh yes, take a troop from the 1st Cav when do that.

As for Pakistan, well you are right about most of the things you said. And I am ashamed for all the intolerance, religious/political and otherwise. Actually its people like you and I (and most ppl at Chowk) who are to blame for what`s happening in pakistan. Until people with brains, voices, and resources don`t do anything don`t expect any change. Live a little, see a little, and then form an educated opinion...it`ll be more readable

the sad part is that you will never be considered an American nor a Pakistani. So where does that leave you ?....no where. No matter what you have in the states, you will still be considered a foreigner. As far as Pakistan goes, i studied in Amrika, and had a very good opportunity of working over there, but i chose to come back and have a stable and prospering career here. My friends who chose to stay there have everything material they could ever want but they are not happy.