Dreams and Promises

Re : Greed

How much is enough? Indeed such a question can lead to an existentialist debate accomplishing nothing in spite if jewels of arguments supporting either side.


Indeed You mentioned some thought provoking ideas, and it does touch one to see such sentiments expressed, but the next question is the one which i find very difficult to answer. Where to from now?


Its the lack of action and honourable words, which create a dichotomy in any discussion about tyhe betterment of a debilitated society such as ours. I ma not casting criticism of your heartfelt system, i am merely criticising myself, for having seen what you describe, and having left it behind, in order to pursue a better, and more promising finanicially and ethically rewarding life.. but wait... i have the weight of such burdens often pulling my chest, when i try to sleep at night, in my warm comfortable bed, seeing my wife, already asleep, breathing softly next to me, all peace an slumber... Its aty moments like this i am not at ease with myself. A thousand images flash by my side. The poor beggar boy, barely 6, clutching his bowl saying, as we wind up the automatic windows of our new car, ``bhai gee, thori madad kur do, mein ne din bhar se nahin khaya``, the poor girls, the respectable peon not letting anybody see the big boss, a government officer, unless and until we cross his palm with a piece of paper, seeing the look of disappointment on the young educated minds of today, unable to get a job, having a family to raise or provide for, young pretty girls, with sadness in their eyes, as yet another possible suitor backed away from accepting her, just because her father was not ``industrial`` enough to provide him with a microwave oven, as well as a suzuki 800, the reprehensible treatment of women specially in the rural areas as third rate citizens of a 4th world country, the rampant abuse and mistreatment of women under the immoral banner of islam, the shambles of the education system of such a country, the supposed tolerance of others who happen to be different at an all time low, the persecution of religious minorities, the use of child labour, and so much more...


yes, indeed where is one to start rebuilding a nation which has gone from conception to the dark ages in a mere 5 decades...Indeed i can excuse myself from it as i am the lucky one who got away, the one who is looked up to by his family in pakistan as being capable, and highly itelligent, allegedly, that he made something out of his life. I am not so suRe at times...particularly late at night when the stirrings of the norwegian insects at night, cause me to think while lying unasleep.....


And it is then i make my resolutions to do something... to make enough money to go and start a business there... but when will i have enough money!!! yes indeed, i want to get a nice house, a nice Audi A6,i want to send my kids to the best public school in UK, and later send them to US to the IVYleague coleges,,,, where is all that funding going to come from... when will i have achieved all my objectives... when can i safely return to pakistan, for not being shot at for expressing sentiments such as the dissatisfaction above... like the question how much is enough, i donmt have the answer, but i am hanging on to that thought and hope that once day, i shall wake up and my mind will ,be made about doing the ``right`` thing, and returning back, inspite of everything....


To others i might just be rambling on, indeed perhaps i am, but i am getting my resolutions written here on the printed word, so that i may not forget them one day, such that the chowkwallahs will hold me accountable to these words, to which i have to abide, indeed if i am ever to be called a gentleman.Perhaps more of us need to at least have a plan to do something...


Perhaps then we can all answer within our heart of hearts how much is enough for us?, and then start to think about the people, and the images that flash by about the land that had so much associtaion with us, (eighteen years for me), and to which we ultimately shall owe for having given us the wings to fly away for better climes....


Regards


Asim

Re: Hassan

I completely agree. Of course, as we all know, it is much easier to SAY something is wrong than to actually work towards correcting it. However, my response was just a comment on the piece as literature, not an attempt to right all the wrongs of Pakistan. We may need a bit more time for that.

Re: Raaj and Aasim,
I would definitely agree with both the gentlemen`s point of view. There definitely are two Pakistans, but I fell that those who were born in the ``right`` Pakistan should do something about the people in the ``wrong`` Pakistan, instead of lamenting what happens to the poor we try to justify our staying away from Pakistan in foreign lands. The only way change will ever come into Pakistan is when we do something about it from within Pakistan. Putting money into Pakistan`s begging bowl only to buy a new luxury plane for the PM is not going to solve anything. It is the action which will prove to be more useful to Pakistan then handouts ever will be.

Of course I am not making any judgements on the two who replied to the article or upon anyone specifically. This is just my opinion, and if I am wrong, I would appreciate it if it be corrected

Regards
Hassan

Re: Raaj and Aasim,

very moving and touching tale.

Indeed its the sheer hypocrisy of lip service on one hand in the name of betterment of a service, and the resolute detrminednes to just forget about the problem at its earliest thats become part and parcel of our service induatry.

The fact that ordionary mere mortals dont know about their rights as consumers in an illiterate society, the service providers be it telecoms, electricity, water, or amotor mechanic, all feel ever invincible in their power over the common man. Even if the service they attempt to provide goes wrong, there is never an apology, or a humility-filled remorse attitude from these heartless salesman (thats a good one.... is it not, salemen having a aheart), instead expect the outrage, the sheer anger at being called in to do their job, and the arrogance goes through the roof, if you happen to remind them that it is their job to serve us, that we the taxpayer are footing his salary and perks.

Accountability for anything is at an all time low. From the customs clerk to the lowly Peon in governement office weils his power over any and everybody, save the ``special`` ones who walk in and within minutes are sweeped straight over into the top man`s office... Of course Green Paperback, is the ultimate VISA one needs to get things moving, effortlessly like an orchestrated performance. I understand theu openly ask for ``foreign`` money these days, when begging at the airports and at the special offices....

Kind Regards

Asim

Excellent stuff. Truly, a modern Pakistani parable. There are two Pakistans, unfortunately, and Barkatay was born in the wrong one.