Re: Proud Pakistani?
Let’s get a few things straight right off the bat. This is not a Pakistani forum or website. This is an expat-Pakistani website or forum. Please don't confuse the two. So views expressed are naturally skewed and unrealistic. Secondly being Pakistani is not an ethnicity. It is a nationality. Meaning you either hold the nationality or you don't. Just because your parents are Pakistani does not mean you are. Those of the expats that constitute a majority of this site have grown up (in some cases were born) in the west and visit Pakistan during the summer.
I am sorry but that doesn't make you Pakistani. Hell I should be considered, Indonesian, Egyptian and a national of the UAE if going for the summer constituted right to being from that nation or ethnicity. Now that we have that cleared up, lets point out the fallacies in the issues regarding being a Proud Pakistani.
You as an expat Pakistan can be proud of your country can be extremely protective. But frankly you don't know much about the nation as you haven't lived there, gone to school there etc. Your source of information is based on knowledge derived from a biased system that produces more opinion than fact. Case being internet forum, the media and what your chachi or mamu said over the phone yesterday.
Think of it this way. You have spent what 4 months out of 10 years in DRC (Congo) I hardly think you will find yourself to be competent to discuss the local political/economic/social issues in the country. The same applies to Pakistan. Just because your skin is brown or your parents are from Pakistan does not make you competent to discuss the issues and more importantly gives you special insight into the country. Rather it is a hindrance.
Then comes the issue of living in the country and how that is important. Honestly yes it is very important. Living in an area gives you special insight. It gives you more than just stories. In my case I have been in Darfur for 1 year. I eat members of the Save Darfur Coalition alive in debates, because I am on the ground. I don't speak in abstract notions and theory. I speak from real life experience. I always butcher quotes and sayings, but there is one that says something along the lines of books and education are no replacement for real life experience.
The same applies to Pakistan and the feelings and emotions conjured up from living there. If you don't live there you have no idea what I am talking about. It’s like saying you don't live in Israel border towns. You don't know the feelings people have when they hear that there was a rocket attack from Gaza near your child’s school. You don't live there. You can only assume this stuff. You can not feel it acutely like they do. Living in a location is very important. Since you don't, your opinions aren't as valuable or equal.
Being a proud Pakistani means different things to different people. But the underlying factor is being proud of your heritage and defending what you consider your own. You will find many expat Pakistanis on this forum and Pakistanis in Pakistan who don't do that. It’s the new age western philosophy. Pick on Islam and Pakistan for the fault of a few people. It’s very evident on this forum, esp. from the guys who run the show. That is not being a proud Pakistani. That is actually a hidden desire to be someone from another country.
Real Pakistanis feel shame when they hear negative news about Pakistan. Hearing the news in Pakistan is depressing. I don't bother reading Pakistani news papers anymore. Others take it and move on. Hell there are some news pieces on this website, when linked, I just shut off the internet and head out to an IDP camp so that the situation in Pakistan doesn't seem so bleak. But hell you will never hear me or my friend mocking Pakistan and its leadership or insulting it. I hate the Bhutto clan, but in the office I defend Zardari.
Regardless of what others say I am a Pakistani, he is my President. I will defend whatever I bloody well can.
I will illustrate an example that Proud Pakistanis miss. Americans will mock Bush. They will ridicule him, but like hell they would mock or ridicule their people or their nation. Expat-Pakistanis who live in the West admire this trait yet don't have the wisdom to implement it. That of course being based on the fact that you don't live in Pakistan and are largely disconnected from Pakistan.
Lastly if you think the Government of India or Indians will be happy with ever lasting peace with Pakistan, I have a bridge to sell you in the Darfur desert. Interested?