You Can’t Strip The Army

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what i norticed is that this article does not claim to be previously published in TFT. is it true?

Farzana begum,
``It is a fact. Women get turned on by men in uniform. I have never understood why. ``.....

``I cannot stand the sight of a man in uniform. ..... Yet, why are women attracted to such men? ``

Till now I was under the impression that you were a woman!

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Far,

Bad timing for this article, all of the interactions will go to Pervez Hoodbhoy`s article.

You should let Chowk staff know never to put your article against him.

Hello FV,
There is only one dimension of this article. Do you ever try to think about the other side of the coin or even third probably even fourth?
Below are your statements that makes no sense even though they are written in english.
``The whole idea of a Nobody being transformed overnight into something special only because he can march in a straight line is silly.`` Is this what you think of any Army.
``what happens when the man is out of it, say at home or in bed, stripped off medals, bereft of his beret? `` This question is so silly. You like someone for his/her particular quality, do you change your feelings or attitude when (s)he is not exhibiting that.
``Very few of them are in this field for patriotic reasons; it`s just another job opportunity.`` Please provide something to support your facts. Sure it is a job but person doing this job requires much more respect.
``In their dreams women love the idea of a man bleeding to death for a cause.`` This statement again is so idiotic that makes your article absurd.
``Men of action are not supposed to think.`` There is good possibility that if you do not think at this job you might quickly become a ``hero or shahid``.
``How many individualists are there in this world who will stick their necks out and seek their own course? And how many people are there to find a criterion to judge them with?`` I would like to know whether you would answer `Yes` to these questions.
``Do civilian men lack all these qualities? Can they not be powerful heroes and belong to a section of society that has enough respect?`` Again a dimensionless statement. I think you like to generalize everything in life. Everything is black or white, coward or courage, etc. There are situations when someone can be a coward and other situations when one can be courageous.
``The women who marry such men fall into three categories:`` Can women marry an armymen for his sense of humor, his looks, etc?
``Besides, men in uniform represent the nasty face of society. Dealing with dirt, blood and tears does not in any way elevate them.`` For every nasty acts done by few armymen I could quote ten sacrifices done by armymen. Why are they not elevated by dealing in blood and tears, doctors also work with blood and tears of patients and I believe the occupation of army and doctor are much elevated.

And finally a very personal question:
Have you ever been attracted toward any person sexually? If so, what has attracted you toward him/her and if not what do you fantasize that other person would be? I am betting that it is more than one quality that intrigued you in other person not just one like because he is a profession.

I don`t think women are attracted to men in uniform, as such. The biggest thing that women are attracted to is economic power, i.e. money. A civilian with more money than a guy in the Army will be more attractive for a women. And vice-versa.

``How are you Papa? Are you feeling OK?``
``Don`t worry beta everything under control.``
The next day was like other Sundays. Tombola and lunch, and in the evening watching the movie on the Television. When the heart attack happened at 4 in the morning, he was still calm and composed. My cousin and our neighbour, the retired eighty year old officer got ready to take him to the hospital. With a wave to my mother he was off expecting to be back by lunch. But he never came back.
My father - the man in the uniform. The man who volunteered for a mission when at back home his wife was due to give birth to their child. The man who bought back six tanks from Pakistan but never talked about it. An officer with the same name had died on the day of the ceasefire but they did not know it was him. I was born a day after the ceasefire and they did not know about his whereabouts for three months. A father who took a transfer to the Ministry of Defence, forsaking his seniority so that his heart patient son could receive better treatment. An engineer, a MBA but also an artist. A painter, a musician, a man who played the violin and the flute. A yogi, a perfectionist in all that he attempted to do. And a grandfather. A grandfather so patient and loving that he could spend hours playing the same game with a four year old, again and again and again. So when he died the six year old told the three year old `that you will never know how much fun Dada was``.

There is more to men in uniform that you will never get to know.

``Women get turned on by men in uniform. I have never understood why.``

Farzana - I can offer some insight :) I think it all goes back to the oldest profession. No, not that of women - which is prostituition. But that of men - which is waging war. The first war in the history of world was waged when there were only three men in this world - Adam, Kane and Able. Kane killed Able (or was it the other way around? sheesh!)

Now, if you read through history - history of ANY civilization, you will notice that the warrior class easily mixed with the ruling class. In fact, during ancient times, women of child bearing age would mate with the returning soldiers to improve the genes of their offsprings. A man in uniform is a protector. It is for nothing that women, before men made the mistake of educating them, used to call their beloveds as ``my knight in shining armor``.

Before the advent of WWF (World Wrestling Federation), women used to look at men in uniform as the ultimate symbol of bravery. By nature, a man is hunter and women is a nurturer. She cannot do the nurturing well if she feels threatened. If a woman is presented with 2 options of marriage - one is a rich man but weak in protecting her from the dragons of the world; while the other is an average man who would kill the dragon and then take her into his tent to make love to her, she would pick the later.

hope that helps :)

Farzana

Some very small men hide behind a big Uniform. They feel reduced as a human being without the Uniform.

In Pakistan (and probably in India), the retired officers continue to use their Rank with their name and identity quite unike in the developed cultured societies. The military culture itself is so strong that their mannerism continues well past their retirements. Their posture is upright, their gait has a firmness and their voice authorotative. These mannerisms are milder in Air Force and Navy as compared to Army.

As for the respect of Uniform, this varies. Where the militaries are apolitical, they are held in esteem because the concept of sacrificing life for a cause is hisorically considered noble. Where the militaries indulge in politics, the people may fear the Uniform but respect is certainly down.

I do not think military is now considered the best profession worldwide as in the centuries gone by - and the brightest do not go to the military. In fact, the Inter-Services selection Board turns down boys of very high IQ. Air Force requirements are of a higher IQ because of the nature of the Job. It is no surprise that when Air Force Cadets who can not make flying, when go to the Army, they invariably do extremely well.

Those days when girls got excited with Uniform are gone. Now they are more sensible and less emotional. They prefer solid professionals with an inherent potential of steady high income.

nhk

I think it is best for women to lower their gaze when they see a man in uniform.

Subroto,

You make a good point.
If you have noticed, Ms.Versey has no ability to think through any issue.
Her knowledge of most things she writes about on chowk is shallow.
It is possible that she has more deep knowledge in other areas but that is not
visible on chowk.
All her writing is full of abuse of one thing or another. Maybe she should pay
a visit to counsellor and work on her frustrations.

an article about her hero mushy...why a hero for her?....because he killed hindus in kargil....viva musharraf

Farzana,

Pakistani women are not at all attracted by men in Uniform. People who have struggled for Democracy in Pakistan are being Educated, Socialist Men n Women. There had been scenes when Bhutto was hanged then raged women attempted to attack on Men in Army Uniform and snatched their badges in protesting rallies.

Military profession in Pakistan is considered a very reliable profession in previous decades There were times when Whole villages men were in Army. So traditionaly women used to remember them in songs...I am talking about World War 2.
Still then the trend is that most army men are from small towns like Talla Gang, Chakwal, Attock, Mansehra etc. So Army has emerged a kind of Baradri. they have their small nuclei bases as Cantonments where they enjoy liberties among themselves. Educational Campuses, Departmental Stories are in their high reach. So their community is on real life basis a strong status in Pakistan. As compared to a civilian who has to work extra to get a car/ educate his/her child and maintain social categories.
Therefore Army people among themselves are economically strong enough as they enjoy handful budjet of Pakistan.
Civillians have to work in their casual costumes real hard... And to avoid comparison Army Cantonments are always a way off city, secured and protected.
There was a trend in Pakistan in which people were so much overruled by army that by seeing any army officer they would say: ``Pak Fauj ko Salam``
Why women love men in uniform?
Reasons are sense of security of job , money and family .
So its money society...

In Zia Regime they gained popularity by name of Islam, Zia did the referendum by saying if you are with Shariah vote me....A Yezeed Slogan Infact if we peep into History.
Therefore people were inclined towards fundamentals for their religious survival which is the only basic aim.
Army men are religiously fanatics therefore they are highly praised and people have an idea that if Army comes to play they will be a religious rule. So thats another reason of their popularity.
Well If somebody has read Hamud-ur-Rehman Commission Report then there would be shocking waves that at what level the Army was playing with women. God Bless Bhutto who didn`t publish it then.
Now Musharraf is another case. There is a big game of survival now. Its War against terrorism and this has no space for democracy...So people are relying on Musharraf`s hold with America.

Miss FV, your article deviates all over. I fail to understand:

Is it the women you are worried about who marry army men?
Is it the women who are married by army men that disturbs you?
Is it just that you’re not much impressed by Musharraf’s attire and are waiting for him to ward it off?
Is it what the meager minority of army personnel engage in undercover, by taking advantage of the ‘uniform’?
Or is it the male ego with special reference to the armed forces that upsets you so much?

It is true. The servility and cringing submissiveness to Army men is like a social custom- especially in the sub continent. But the civil can and will never understand. Period.
It seems you carry ugly experiences with the Males from the armed forces and hence, find it convenient to sit and lash out at them just because a few obnoxious came your way.
But don’t expect to be confronted and justified to the discriminatory remarks you have made…they are trained to rise above it all...

Subroto is right in stating “There is more to men in uniform that you will never get to know.”

I feel sorry that you were destined to taste the worst apple from the bad ones of the good lot.

Cheers-

Well, i would like to add one more aspect to all this

Moustache + uniform = Demon

These are times of startling revelations and amazing discoveries. First, we were told, to our utmost surprise, that 96 % of Pakistanis prefer to be kicked around by fauji boots than to be beaten by civilian chappals. Then came a lesson in history with all its illusory analogies interpolating similarities between French general Charles de Gaulle and the incumbent indispensable desi saviour.

To start with, ordinary mortals have little interest with historic parallels and wishful resemblances of our messiah(s) with other towering political personalities of the world, factual and fictional alike. Second, with my limited knowledge of the history and imperfect understanding of politics, it would be immodest on my part to deliver gratis opinion both in general terms as well as endeavour to debunk one specific grand claim or the other.

I am writing this note to humbly draw readers’ kind attention towards a couple of superficial factors common among majority of dictators. Obsession for uniform and shaggy facial design.

Please, observe. Internationally, Hitler, Saddam Hussein and Stalin - the worst of worst human race has ever produced. On home turf, Ayub Khan, Zia ul Haq and Musharraf - the best we have cursed with so far. Distinguished company, indeed. Juxtapose them and even amateur would discern some pretty obvious common denominators. Yeah, uniform and moustache together would turn out to be a lethal combination.

With due respect for countless brothers in uniform worldwide, exhibiting their masculinity through this particular mode, I would like to accentuate one bizarre observation: very true, not all uniformed men sporting moustaches are demonic dictators but a bitter fact remains that most of the repugnant despots humankind have ever had are nonetheless men with moustache- and wardi.

As a socio-political research project, it would be very interesting to observe the transformation of personality or changes in character by methodically removing/shuffling these variables, wherever possible and applicable. To check whether it is moustache, uniform or both parameters working in concert that makes one self-serving, callous and manipulating tyrant. Locating answer to this riddle would be a great service to fellow human beings.

Thanks