Pak Tea House » People's Pakistan » Pakistan Bashing: Our Favourite Pastime
Pakistan Bashing: Our Favourite Pastime
By D. Asghar
You get a few Pakistani families gathered for lunch or dinner, here in the US and there you have it. A perfect afternoon or evening in ruins, as someone will take a seemingly straight forward discussion to a unabashed, full scale, Pakistan bashing rampage.
You have your usual start from the current political situation, or any event at hand and soon you will notice the discussion turning into a major heated debate on the Pakistan Resolution and the major blemishes committed by the founding fathers.
No one is denying that a debate is necessary on almost any and everything to enhance understanding and resolve the discourse. But the constructive criticism often turns into ludicrous and base less rhetoric. This speaks a lot about our decaying mental state, where some of us associate all ills of the world to only one place, you guessed it, Pakistan.
Pakistan may not be the most tolerant, or most educated or the most technologically advanced country of the world. Yet it is a home for millions of people and not all those millions of people are Taliban sympathisers or ruthless beasts. The fact is a great majority of our people abhor the misguided and inhumane lifestyle, being imposed on them by these cowardly creatures.
The Pakistani people here in the US, occasionally tend to forget that they have made it to the US, based on the education and learning which was provided to them by Pakistan. The education may have not been so “advanced”, but most of us get into prestigious learning or professional institutions, here in the US, based on that “impoverished mode of Pakistani education.” We tend to excel in almost all walks of life here in the US, based on that “murky foundation.”
Undoubtedly, Pakistan has a myriad of problems, some of those were inherited from the days of its independence and some were created by its leaders, who ruled with or without people’s consent. It may not be the best country of the world. Despite all the odds, some inherited and some self created, it is a place which has fine poets, great artists, unparalleled educators and commendable philanthropists.
Its not all doom and gloom that often our media, electronic or print, tends to portray. Some of our friends here tend to criticise the inception and the idea of our nation. To them, I have always said, not all ideas are perfect. Even if for the sake of argument, the “two nation theory”, was flawed, it is pretty much said and done. The Pakistan, whatever it is, no matter how flawed it is, it is our identity, it is the home of our elders. There is an anti Pakistani element, constantly disseminating lies, half truths and severe misconceptions. Agreed, that we have flaws and we have a lot of way to go and grow. The “Islamisation Project”, of Zia has done the greatest harm to our country. All of this is true, but to call it worst place on the face of earth is a far cry.
As patriots it is our right to express our constructive criticism, but it should be meaningful criticism. Just hollow ignorant rants or completely down playing our national existence is not the smartest move on any one’s part. Pakistan may be lagging behind in a lot of areas, when compared to India. But the question that remains unanswered most of the time is, “why compare it to India to begin with?.”
Written by dasghar
D. Asghar is a Pakistani American. A Mortgage Banker by profession who loves to write as well. He blogs frequently at popular South Asian websites. A repository of some of his scribbles is http://dasghar.blogspot.com/. He can be reached at dasghar@aol.com.
Filed under: People's Pakistan · Tags: Pakistan, Pakistani, people, US
24 Responses to "Pakistan Bashing: Our Favourite Pastime"
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Thank you for writing a pro-Pakistan article and that too on PTH.
As you probably know that majority of the Pakistan-origin doctors in USA got their basic medical degrees from Pakistani medical colleges at a fraction of the cost an American gets his, plus in lesser number of years. They have with hard work and dedication have built upon that foundation and got specialization from USA, but they can not refute the advantage they got from Pakistani system.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Swat Crisis, GPS Pakistan. GPS Pakistan said: Pakistan Bashing: Our Favourite Pastime http://bit.ly/emIbh4 #Pakistan [...]
Compare Pakistan’s today to Pakistan’s yesterday. That will tell you if you’re making progress. Bringing any other party into the picture merely confuses the issue. E.g., if India is mentioned perhaps blood pressures rise too high and the brains overheat.
Good article. Indian party chatter is similar, although it mostly doesn’t go beyond corruption. One comment on the last line: “But the question that remains unanswered most of the time is, “why compare it to India to begin with?.”” The answer to that must be in Pakistan’s DNA. Either it was Islam or it was competing with the Hindus (which to most Pakistanis is synonymous with India). You cannot take away both.
@MNoor. Touche’.
Undergard doctors in Pakistan are required to sign a bond stating that they will work for sometime in the rural areas. However like all other things, this rule is not strictly implemented and they leave for abroad as soon as they earn their degrees.
@ D Asghar. Let us not forget that those criticizing Pakistan have left their country for ‘greener’ pastures. It is so much more convinient to analyze the situatiion from afar. Had they been that ‘patriotic’, they would have stayed back and contributed their part in sorting out the problems that we face today.
I’ve never in my entire life met a Pakistani I did not like! There is something most infectious about the Pakistani personality! But, then again, I’ve never been exposed to one of those Taliban “fellas”; don’t wanna be either!
[....debate on the Pakistan Resolution and the major blemishes committed by the founding fathers....]
Actually, this is a good thing – a sign of progress for pakis… the fact that atleast some pakis are finally questioning their found fathers and founding principles (two nation theory) is to be welcomed and hopefully mindsets will change based this introspection…
So I don’t know what the writer is complaining about…
Good summary, there is a lot more to this in Pakistan that needs to be put out in the world arena. Get the country on track and watch our people make us proud. Ahmed Ali
[...] Pakistan Bashing: Our Favourite Pastime [...]
I would be very proud if Pakistani business men were taking over global brands such as Jaguar / Tetley etc.. as the Indians have done , Or even more so if we had some of our home grown Pak brands in major cities in the world employing Americans and Europeans – the Indians have Tata, Tech M, and Relience to metion a few. One day we will get there as well but first we need to deal with all our politicians , mullahs and tribals , Kill em all let God sort them out
Winter Games: Skiing sisters from Punial make history
http://tribune.com.pk/story/121156/winter-games-skiing-sisters-from-punial-make-history/
God bless the amazing Pakistani girls!
Humanity,
The silver medalist is quite cute. Please convey my best wishes to her..
..my dear you are unnecessarily whining hard. Much of the “Pak bashing” is not a ridicule but a desperate concern and helplessness among diaspora as they cannot influence the events back home. A number of my professional friends that include doctors, engineers, financiers and industrialists have not forgotten their roots, rather they return frequently to help in education, medical clinics, and social uplift endeavors. It will be a very short memory to forget the great work done by the same Pakistanis during the earth quake and flood relief efforts.. this work continues to date.
Thank you thank you thank you.
So much nice you say for my favourite nation! It is very nice Place, well and Truly. Why to Criticise? Only Praise and you will see the Good-Good side.
With full appreciations
You are so Correct when you say: Please don’t spoil my tea party by saying Pakistan is not very VERY Nice!
Your article is weightless and reveals nothing but a frustrated tea party that had a melange of views….
In case you have drawn the curtains from your American Dream life, Pakistan continues to make a difference in whatever capacity. Perhaps, it would be wonderful if you actually returned to Pak and help with many facets that plagues the country in education, health, development, et al… What is the point in acquiring education from “prestigious” US institutions and not help the marginalised who can only dream of holding a pencil, let alone write a dream…. Do yourself a great honour and return to your country to help — seems you are in a position, yes?
The question at the end on comparing Pak to India — baseless.
@ Anwer — in solidarity with your view.
Cheers,
Shaheen Sultan Dhanji
@Mnoor: Totally agreed!
Mustafa
Totally agreed. Only 1000000 per cent.
Pakistan is NICEST. So happy to be able to say that.
Apropos the rhetorical question at the end-’ Why why compare it to India to begin with?.”
Why are growing children compared to older parents?
Mashmond
@ Question I would be very proud if Pakistani business men were taking over global brands such as Jaguar / Tetley etc.. as the Indians have done , Or even more so if we had some of our home grown Pak brands in major cities in the world employing Americans and Europeans – the Indians have Tata, Tech M, and Relience to metion a few.
@answer One day we will get there as well but first we need to deal with all our politicians , mullahs and tribals , Kill em all let God sort them out.
Wow KILL EM ALL
Your answer is called sanity followed by insanity.Gaddafi’s revolution in Libya followed by his insanity.
The writer states “why compare it to India to begin with?.”.
What the writer meant to say is that Pakistanis should “now stop comparing Pakistan to India”. Because Pakistanis have been comparing themselves to India from the beginning and it was fun. India was poor, hungry and had social religious conflicts while Pakistan was richer, well fed and somewhat peaceful. It was true until the end of 1980’s but not anymore. Therefore, we should not compare it India anymore. Whom should we compare it? Bangladesh, Afghanistan? Or Congo and Haiti? Please tell us. And while you are at it, please also give us some positive points that we can discuss in my next get-together with friends while here in the greener pastures.
What about the bashing that Pakistan inflicts upon others?
D. Asghar,
You have surprised me, and thanks for restoring some faith.
you are right, Pakistanis should start caring for their people and start loving their country. A begining can certainly be made from just about any point in life. Why not now. For too long you have hated and all this hatered has only given you losses. Like a gambler your people have gotten hooked.
You guys will no doubt suffer for the bad karma that you have been a part of, but accepting the suffering as a justice would raise your estimation of yourself. This is one equation where the ‘other’ is absent. So your cycle, with which you guys are all too familiar, will get busted.
To tell the truth this is a wonderful advanced article nonetheless as with most fantastic writers there are many factors that might be worked after. Yet never your much less it turned out intriguing.