The Third Pasture

I totally agree with ZaraJ. Chowk was chaoking with Dr.Qadeer and hijab articles. This sure is a breath of fresh air, something many of us have come to expect from Paracha. As usual passionate and sardonic, I too will like to ask Paracha as to what should the young be doing if not sucking up to their corporate jobs or finding salvation in relegious groups? Student power and protest died with the sixties or may be seventies, and now young people hardly reach their twinties when they are offered lovely perks by multinationals. This numbs them, but as you have mentioned, those who start feeling this numbness see no other alternative but to join equally numbing relegious cults. It`s become a vicious circle. Don`t know if it can ever be broken now. The thought sure is depressing.

#5 by kaurasach ~I hope (i know it is false hope) that somehow the `me` generation doesn`t ruin India and her thousand year old culture. They are being taught by both the media, captialists, and yes even parents that happiness=materialism=me=.... and image and reality are the same. ~

My sentiments exactly. I think we in India are facing a bigger `me` onslaught.

Ref:#7 saminasha
Yes the 70s were also about women`s lib, black power and all but these were usually the climaxing of what was in essence the work of the ``We generation`` in the 60s. The ``me`` generation Paracha is hinting at was about stuff which eventually gave us the yuppiefied ``Gimme generation`` of the 80s and what has now evolved into this numb consumerist gen Paracha is talking about.

Just when I thought Chowk is publishing repetitive themes, old thoughts with new cosmetic outlook, boring nonsense....I found something interesting. I just skimmed through this article and I must mention I liked it.

Thank You.
This is nice.
It needed to be more caustic.
It`s way too mild for what it`s trying to convey.

On a similar note, after many many years something hit me very hard on my recent trip to Pakistan. How and where does the youth utilize its energies and ideas? What are the extra-curricular? Constructive Activities? Since this was the 1st time after almost 5-6 years that I have gone back to Pakistan not to attend any wedding shedding therefore I was just asking all the spontaneous questions to myself and the people in my surroundings. My dilemma: I could neither eat all the time...could not stand shopping...could not be on the same roads that I have seen upside down and inside out throughout my childhood. So what`s new? I questioned one of my male cousins who is in his mid 20s and his response was amazing. ``Can you believe that we have to work from 9-6?`` He complained. ``What are your extracurriculars?`` I asked. ``I play squash every day`` He told me very proudly. ``But if you won`t work what would keep you productive?`` I cross-questioned. ``Still, 9-6 is a killing routine`` he commented. Now I am hoping a GIK graduate would not like to sit idle. But still talking to him and a very few other younger cousins who are still in Pakistan, it was evident that there was no desire to initiate anything that may be outside of their realm of duties.

``Who/where/how do you bounce off your creative ideas(provided you have any)? How do you change your current job if you are not happy with where you are ? Where do you meet like minded people or people who can serve as your mentors/industry peers or someone you can discuss an idea with and take it to fruition? ...`` I further questioned. Apparently, this very smart cousin of mine had no answers to the above questions. To top it all, some of the mailing lists he is a member of include nothing but Bush Jokes, How the west is ready to kill all the Muslims and a number of other ool jalool. I have requested anyone I know of to Allah Kae Wastae take me off such lists. What purpose do they serve? Probably, it`s my own m.y.o.p.i.c view on how I evaluated the above scenario. But talking to a few others, my arguments were not way off.

On a completely different stride, how the hell can the mindset upgrade when the whole conversation about someone who comes back from Pakistan revolves around the Food Street. The view from Cuckoo`s Nest/Cave. Then there is this unlimited obsession about Indian Film Acrobats. Urmila was in Pakistan at the time I was visiting. I guess every Lahore`s Party had Urmila in it. All the newspaper had devoted a section to Urmila and her findings about Pakistan. I understand the desire to redevelop and harmonize the communication links but there is no need to completely dullo-fy on the showbiz figures. Had it been someone from IIT visiting Pakistan then it would have made sense to give him/her a decent coverage. But Pakistanis as a nation are not appreciative of men and women who have anything to contribute in business, technology, sciences and other professional fields. Don`t be surprised if tomorrow you hear all the weird things about Dr Khan like he had two horns or 6 legs that were in hiding. Professional courtesy is the last thing that Pakistani Nation is capable of displaying. The best example is Pervez Hoodbhoy`s comment about Dr. Khan a metallurgist vs. a scientist or technologist (on those lines). There was a different technique used and it may be intentional vs. inadvertent. Still it was derogatory.

On a different note: While attending a dinner for the polo players at the Forte, I exchanged a few observations with one of the Australians. The very interesting part was that he was taken to the hub of Pakistani Culture. The famous place with a special view. Turned out no where else but the ``Cuckoo`s Nest/Cave - Whatever.`` ``The food was just ok. I could not digest what I was eating, but I guess it was the view that the place is famous for.`` He added. ``Unfortunately/Fortunately I have not had the honor of going near the vicinity but I have read a few things here and there.`` I remarked.

What is there to take pride in?

Excuse my language, what a $%^&*nation that takes pride in the view from that window on the one end and demolishes anything with a face of a woman on the other end. Extremes...Extremes...Extremes. How damn disgusting!

Now, if someone comes forth blaming TNT and other after effects of Islam on this nation, with due respect that fellow and his cohorts deserve proper spanking. The culture has enough d.e.f.e.c.t.s that some refuse to acknowledge. The culture itself creates hinderances...

Before I continue further with my flow of thoughts or laundry list of things that really ticked me off this time and drove me to many conclusions and reaffirmed many things that I had made decision on almost a decade or so back...I will stop my train of thoughts.

#5:

The ``Me`` Generation in the US may have been about finding your own bliss, but it was also about empowering Black Americans, people of color, women and the working poor. Just look at all the grassroots, union and academic movements that emerged from that time.

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Dear Mr. Paracha,
What`s wrong with being selfish? Human beings are selfish. If you cannot understand that i don`t what can you. Tried socialism, communism, but didn`t work. When all work for thier own needs and desires the society as whole benefits. All the criticism, regarding what one works for is beyond me.

I, generally, agree with what NFP has to say. Having said that, I would like to pose a question to him: Do you expect the youth to take to the streets and start protesting against the perks/priviliges provided by the corporate sector? In Pakistan where we have the super rich and super poor, considering that the middle-class would virtually non-existent in the next few years, everyone wants to feel safe and secure because everything depends on stablility, prosperity etc. Although I appreciate your spirit and the fact that you were very active as a youth, in standing up to an oppressive regime, but the disparity makes one wonder whether we have the guts left to actually do that now. In a dog-eat-dog world everyone wants to be at the `protected end` rather than being vulnerable just because they have certain beliefs. I guess we as a nation have learnt very well how to suppress our true feelings and desires and to follow the lead to perks and privilieges and becoming a babu jee and looking down upon these supposed underclasses. Atleast inside we know that we are not one of them. Blame the system not the youth. Indeed it is upon the youth if they want to maintain the status quo or not but in the absence of something attractive optionl to the contrary nobody would like to risk their life just because they feel that it is morally or intellectually unsustainable.

The prob with NFP is he`s always spot on in pin-pointing the problems, and does it with great rethorical flourish, but never bothers to offer solutions. Okay this generation is clueless and being brainwashed by the multinationals and relegious freaks, but how to change all that?

Paracha is addressing youth in both Pakistan & India. And I being an Indian sure feel that ``taunt`` as well, inspite the fact I`m in my early thirtees. I see todays Indian youth and all I can see is that ideological aimlessness Paracha is talking about. And yes most of them are also full of ``me``, a ``me`` which is not the real them.

Makes a young Pakistani like me quite helpless. This piece stings me like a taunting bee.