Kumar I am in Karachi and I wanted to write something for SI.. I hope you will enjoy this, actually Ghostrider article prompted these thoughts..
Generally the impression is that Pakistan is a country where we cannot speak, much as it is far from truth, I am able to speak my heart out when I am here and not only that I am not violently opposed. People see a merit in my point of view ands I speak far more openly in this society than I write on SI. Last night I was with a friend of mine visiting a slum area of Karachi ( Kaharadar), we wanted to see how food has changed and how prices are affected over last few years. To my pleasant surprise the restaurant we visited was appropriately called the ‘Pride of Islam.’ Amidst hundreds of flowing beards to have lintels fried in deep butter and open discussion on how evil Brits and US has been was most informing. I came out of that 24 hour restaurant renowned to be visited by port manual workers with one strong feeling they all were very misinformed. They all thought that Osama is their friend and little did they realize how much misery he has heaped on collective Islamic states, we have been ostracize for being insensitive on his adventures and right so. . No one suffers from these wars more than innocent uneducated masses trapped in the sway of the fringe political Islam. Nothing but more education and more openness will usher them into new age of reason and logic, short term removal a cancers like Saddam is only a beginning of the end of this cancer of hatred so richly sown in the entire Islamic world. From poorest districts to richest I reach everywhere that is how I live dangerously.ggg
From rich to poor my nation is trapped in a classic lock of ‘Rage of impotence’ if one has an erection but he cannot perform he is bound to have a very sad life. I see the Islamic world caught in the classic case of impotence, they are caught in this trap because the failures of their leaders to exploit the resources for betterment of their populace.
The other day I saw six ladies who were very interested in my streak of argument. Three of them had halter neck blouses in the chick district of Karachi, however all of them had serious reservation about US. This rage of impotence of the Islamic societies is based on inability of the 1 billion strong nation of Islam to be meaningful in any way on the global political or economic scene. The nation collectively has squandered every opportunity, I made a blind bet with all the six ladies I challenged then that if US is such a big problem I am sure that your kids would not be there, but I am ready to take you all on that, let me suggest that if out of six of you five have siblings n USA I will take from you 100 dollars but if only four has siblings in US I will pay you 10,0000 $ , the six were desspite of their disliking of America were not prepared to accept this lop sided bet who won of course me. I also told them that I am prepared to make it sweeter if any had any kids who are going to religious maddarassas I would pay 10,000 $’s none had any offspring’s in any of religious schools. On one hand we have this lack of love for US on the other everyone emulates US from ‘Pizza Hut to McDonalds’ the entire city craves on Pizzas and big Mac.
Karachi and Lahore and many other city are notorious for big balls, tonight is one in a Club, a colonial club set in century old traditions I stay their when I am in Karachi sometime. 1600 couples will celebrate belated Valentines ball and dance the night away. Lip service to cause of political Islam is one thing to do anything about it is a big no. Pakistanis want to have their cake and eat it too, not many demonstrations here, they all realize how much of their stakes economic and standard of living are associated with the USA. Badmouthing USA is fashion not
USA with all its best allies could not find a better ally in the region an ally who dislikes US but likes to be in their pocket all the time. An anti USA government would not stay one day the business interest would throw them out, for business the parity with $ is more important than political Islam empty slogans those things are only after dinner talks only over some brandy or lassi.
The US sphere of influence in every day life of this nation in incredible. Even the greatest of the critics send their sons to Harvard, out of top 600 officers of the armed forces every single one of them has ambitions to send their offspring for higher studies to America, nearly all of them end up like Chishti. The modern face of Pakistan, we will live with dichotomy, one day may be we come out of this self-imposed contradiction. From basant to Kharadar Karachi hustles and bustles lead me to thing how important it is for mankind to understand each other, these all are children of God. They all need equal opportunities some misguided people in name of God lead them to disasters and tragedies for which generations would have to suffer. Building bridges between man is the best game in the town I do it all the time that keeps me on the high, with love Ike |
