So today I attended a Veteran’s Day Event at my daughter’s school. They had a parade of Boys Scouts and some other youth groups, the pledge, national anthem, some national songs and children who educated us on the various defence services in USA, the wars that have passed and Veteran’s Day. Then we had the Veterans who were present in the audience stand up and we all clapped and saluted for them.
But the most moving tradition that I found out today was the “America’s White Table.” There’s a book that explains this tradition and one of the teachers read it out aloud while these kids actually put together a white table cloth over a small table with a single chair, a vase containing a red rose, a white plate with some salt sprinkled on it and a lemon wedge, and a black napkin. Each of these items represent the mindset of a soldier lost/imprisioned at war, or one who died at war, the sacrifice, the solitude, the pain, the bitterness.
To tell you the truth, I was really moved. Families were encouraged to set up a similar table to honor the veterans of war, and I can bet you that most families that were there, will do that.
My question to you all is that why are no attempts to raise the spirit of patriotism made in our countries to little children? How many elementary school kids back home even know the national anthem? My 4 year old knows the pledge of allegiance by heart. Who’s fault is it?
Also, is it wrong to feel patriotic towards a country you now live in?
I remember 1971 war (kind of) and the patriotism that kicked in after the war. Now, unfortunately our army has lost its respect because of being involved in power hunger, corruption and what not.
In Pakistan, I think its part army generals, part corrupt politicians and part ungrateful public's fault. We still feel great about our soldiers when we see plays like alpha bravo charlie, but that is once in a blue moon kind of deal.
Media has a huge influence on us. Unfortunately Media is abusing that power. They could certainly bring the attitude of gratitude in people, but problem is that media in not lying, they might be over hyping a truth but army herself is responsible of bringing its image down.
I am not sure how many mothers of Paksitan want their sons to be Air force Pilot or Army Captain anymore. There was a time when every second mother of a son in Pakistan had this wish (mine included).
All the core problems of Pakistan begin with the lack of education. Properly budgeting education in Pakistan would have very likely prevented the continuous influx of corrupt politicians, police, military, maulvis, and the general public. Need I not to mention that poverty, loadshedding, and domestic crimes (above many, many other examples) would have also been severely reduced?
bhai - people in countries like US, UK etc. support their armies, hide their financial misdemeanors & heinous war crimes, and eulogize even their cowardly acts as acts of bravery. At the same time, the International media hammers our heroes (A. Q. Khan?) and our protectors, and us being the mental slaves, sycophantly agree with them and hammer them even harder. What patriotism remains then? We have become a nation of apologists.
Pakistan military is also just like landlord system.......the few privileged generals (who get promoted don't know how) have all the goodies, they are corrupt,they screw the country over n over again, and its the jawans and the junior ones that get killed.....why? because of the incompetence of their superiors.....
so all respect to those who died and are willing to die......but unless there is some accountanbility for the generals .......i don't like them one bit.
Crimes of Pak army are only a fraction of what armies of other countries do. The problem in Pakistan is that people get fooled by journalists and politicians who are paid to speak and write against the army.
Crimes of Pak army are only a fraction of what armies of other countries do. The problem in Pakistan is that people get fooled by journalists and politicians who are paid to speak and write against the army.
paid by israel and amreeka, yes.. how patriotic of ya pal....