Re: Freedom of speech & Western hypocrisy.
Who is preaching?!?!? If it protects its interests, then it is at no more fault then Pakistan. The way in which Pakistan has sought to protect her interests have left us all shaking our heads in shame. The reason you perceive the US as such is because its power gives it influence. Its like an elephant, it cant help but crush everything in its way, its the nature of the beast. America is a much larger beast then Pakistan obviously, so its influence and range are also magnified. Pakistan however, is still a regional power. Ask the Afghans how they feel about Pak for example. Is their opinion of Pak so different from your opinion of America? The difference between Pak and the US in terms of the impact on the lives of those they influence, is only in terms of scope and degree. In fact, I would think that even within its limited range, Pakistan’s influence has generally been more negative then the America’s.
One thing is true. Those who have experience, who have their life in order, are those who we consider worthy of emulating and worthy of respect. That America is where it is, means Pakistan has much to learn from it. Words like barbarian are your words, not theirs, however i WOULD say that such words are not completely unjustified. We Pakistanis often look upon our own people as Jahil and Barbaric. What else would you call a society that arrests an illiterate handicapped girl, and accuses her of blasphemy?!?! Where else would a killed become glorified as the protector of the prophet himself?