A Day in the Year 2030

I thought the writer was trying to address the Third World`s sense of alienation from the technological and scientific advancement`s of the First. Since, S& T seems to be THE way to fulfill economic needs of a larger number of people and is a source of much grief for the rest of the world, the writer just seemed to be saying that all is not lost and tomorrow may be far better than we imagine. I don`t think the article was trying to address other sociological issues like, gender, poverty etc. Well, that is for Amir to confirm. Please comment Amir and clarify the central point of your story. (In my view, it is about hope and the a bit about urooj o zawal, which should motivate us to KEEP TRYING:-). the replies were, very interesting though, and the varied points of view added immensely to the story.

Re: Amir Hussain

I think Sohail Rabbani:

1. lauded your vision for Pakistan and your narrative,
2. took exception to the US-bashing and suggested that it may be a symptom of impotent rage (sabre-rattling) [as did Moe].

But he never said that your dream for Pakistan was also just ``sabre-rattling``, nor did anyone else.


In any case my point is that people who would call a sincere thought or ambition or idea or dialogue ``sabre-rattling`` or ``all show and no go`` unless previously or currently backed by action or advocated by someone with a ``proper resume`` are despicable.

No one is accusing anyone of trying to put a ban on intellectual thought but the bumbling defence and subsequent sneer are still, I fear indefensible.

Re: Ashar Nisar

Actually no, there is nothing to be gained by knowing what Amir was upto at 19.

His article, compelling or otherwise, stands the same.

I have met many a morons who think that only people who have acted vigorously and well have the right to speaking out ambitious thought. Or that ONLY people well-versed in and possessing acceptable credentials (usually inane labels such as degrees and designations) for a particular subject, should dare to speak out. It has happened in several interactions here on Chowk as well.

It is interesting that all interaction on this article has been encouraging of Amir for having this dream for Pakistan (he has gotten shafted for his soothsaying about the US but that is an orthogonal issue) WITHOUT anyone knowing whether he ``deserved`` to speak such a dream because he did impressive relevant charity work early on.

What we desperately need is to get rid of people who would have taken him to task for ``baseless optimism`` or ``talking through his hat`` but at the same time ``really undertood his article`` once they heard he has dedicated his life from early on to improving IT in Pakistan.

My intellectual thought of the day:

Public Enemy #1: All meagre brains who think no one should have a dream unless one ``is/was actually doing something`` about it.

Thank you Amir Hussain. That was lovely. may we indeed re-affirm our selves and endeavour.

Let`s momentarily open our eyes for a reality check ...

``Every nation of ACTION has a strong dose of egotism, pride, hardness and cunningness. But all those things will be forgiven that nation, indeed, they will be regarded as high qualities, if that nation can make them the means to achieve great ends``. (Charles DeGaulle)

Let`s keep this in perspective as we go about lambasting the Great Satan. It ain`t gonna make one hell of a difference in the greatness of good ol` USA ... as a people or as a nation!!! Now go
ahead and make our day :)-

Very enthusiastic and extremely optimistic. Excellent drammatization.

There is an old Chinese saying, ``its better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.`` You have lit such a candle in your heart and hopefully others will draw inspiration. Perhaps, it was people like you about whom Iqbal wrote, ``Mohabat mujhey oun jovanon say hae, sitaroon pay jo dal-tay hain kumand`` (I love the youths, who attempt to rope in the stars).

The only thing about your ``vision`` which concerns me is your ill-will towards the future of the US. The problems of America, though formidable, are minute compared to those of Pakistan. If your optimistic future can lift that country from a heap of rubble to the stars, then what, I wonder, prevents you from extending similar hope for the rest of humanity, including the ``Great Statan``? I wish you would have been more generous and imagined that the evil forces in the US also changed to humanitarian ones for the greater good of the planet.

Is it frustration at the ``unfirness`` of the success of the US power? Akbar Allahabadi once wrote (about the Jauhar Brothers who were active in the Kilafat movement when Italy invaded the Turkish possessions in North Africa), ``Na zoor, na hathyaar kay Turkie kay dushman say ja kar larayn; bus dil he may kostayn hain kay Italy key toopoon may keeray parayn,`` (possessing neither strength, nor weapons to go fight Turkey`s enemy, they can only curse in their hearts that may the cannons of Italy be infested with vermin).

...SR