I am a patriot. Through and through. I get very emotional when 14th August nears and i see Pakistani flags flying high and bright from rooftops. I listen to patriotic songs and watch Jinnah every year. I even say i would die for my country. Die for a country run by who? Die for just a piece of land? Die for the ideology that was or the country that is?
These are the questions that haunt me when I lay awake at night after watching the local news. To be sure, when Jinnah fought tirelessly for a separate state for the Muslims, he did not have this Pakistan in mind. What is Pakistan? What are Pakistanis known as in the world? We are just a small, poor country with corruption and terrorism as two of our most famous attributes. No one cares about the 'real' Pakistan. When people hear the name Pakistan, the first thing they think is terrorists. Everyone forgets our beautiful geography, our rich culture, our delicious and mouthwatering food, our artists, our true identity. Is this fair? Not to us, it's not. By us I mean, the youth of Pakistan. When it is finally our turn to shine bright in the world and put our mark on it, we have already been branded as something we are not.
The problem is not just how we are looked at by other countries but how we are treated by our own people. Whenever I speak up during a heated political or social debate and give an opinion I think would help improve our situation, I am either laughed at because 'Pakistan is beyond repair' or I am very arrogantly told that 'I would not understand these matters because I am nothing but a child'. Aside from being extremely embarrassing, it is also very frustrating.
GIVE US A CHANCE.
If there is one thing that the Pakistani youth has in common, it is our loyalty and passion that we feel for our country. It is our unity that we should be proud of. We should use it to be better. Become one of the strongest nations.
'Ask not what your country gave you, but what you gave your country'. Pakistan has never asked much of us, maybe it's time we put down the guns and put aside our differences and do something for her good and her prosperity. Maybe it's time to try something new and someone new. Maybe it's time to let the youth take charge and show the world that there is still hope for us, there is still hope for Pakistan.
Just give us a chance.
These are the questions that haunt me when I lay awake at night after watching the local news. To be sure, when Jinnah fought tirelessly for a separate state for the Muslims, he did not have this Pakistan in mind. What is Pakistan? What are Pakistanis known as in the world? We are just a small, poor country with corruption and terrorism as two of our most famous attributes. No one cares about the 'real' Pakistan. When people hear the name Pakistan, the first thing they think is terrorists. Everyone forgets our beautiful geography, our rich culture, our delicious and mouthwatering food, our artists, our true identity. Is this fair? Not to us, it's not. By us I mean, the youth of Pakistan. When it is finally our turn to shine bright in the world and put our mark on it, we have already been branded as something we are not.
The problem is not just how we are looked at by other countries but how we are treated by our own people. Whenever I speak up during a heated political or social debate and give an opinion I think would help improve our situation, I am either laughed at because 'Pakistan is beyond repair' or I am very arrogantly told that 'I would not understand these matters because I am nothing but a child'. Aside from being extremely embarrassing, it is also very frustrating.
GIVE US A CHANCE.
If there is one thing that the Pakistani youth has in common, it is our loyalty and passion that we feel for our country. It is our unity that we should be proud of. We should use it to be better. Become one of the strongest nations.
'Ask not what your country gave you, but what you gave your country'. Pakistan has never asked much of us, maybe it's time we put down the guns and put aside our differences and do something for her good and her prosperity. Maybe it's time to try something new and someone new. Maybe it's time to let the youth take charge and show the world that there is still hope for us, there is still hope for Pakistan.
Just give us a chance.
Quaid's secular country, what a beautiful idea that was, what a peaceful land that couldve been, unfortunately years and years through, it didnt become what the leaders wanted. And it's what a land we are so patriot about became in the end or is it the end afterall. where do we stand with the current leaders running this piece of land which merely soil and sweat and nothing more than that. the blood of our ancestors wasted.
ReplyDeleteThe notion gives us a very vague idea about the condition or the advantages of being the youth of a country like Pakistan. We need to understand what patriotism actually means since the term has a very vast meaning to it. Its not just about listening to those Mili Naghmas on every 14Th of August; Its not about flying those green flags all around the city. Theres more to it .
ReplyDeleteIt should not be just about 14th August or any date that you celebrate independence or you decorate a flag on the rooftop, it should be everyday day you are in Pakistan. Pakistan is a reason to celebrate, a reason to be happy, a reason to smile, a follow whatever religion you want. Never forget that our forefathers sacrificed their blood, money and almost everything for the existence of this nation.
ReplyDeleteAs Quaid-e-Azam said: ''Pakistan is proud of her youth, particularly the students, who are nation builders of tomorrow. They must fully equip themselves by discipline, education, and training for the arduous task lying ahead of them.''
My sacred Motherland!
ReplyDeleteHow our ancestors shed their blood and worked day and night to acquire this piece of land for generations to come and what we as " Pakistanis" have done to it!
We claim this land just to get a mere identity for ourselves,have roof over our heads and foods on our plates.We have done nothing for it in return.I get to see love among people for Pakistan only on particular dates like 14th of August,23rd of August etc but that is not true love towards a country that is not only our national identity but gift from our forefathers afters so many struggling years.Nations who do not work for the betterment and prosperity of the society and country at large face downfall.I do not see equality,justice,brotherhood in my fellowmen.We are ruled by people who are more interested in their personal gain rather than the people of this country.Love for country is an emotion which lies within and empowers an individual to bring a change for the entire nation.I want to breath freely,see my country prosper,justice prevailing in society,voices of people being heard and considered!I being a youth love my country as it is a part of me and can do anything to make it better not just for myself but a number of people who are deprived of basic necessities life.
Pakistan has been torn down by terrorists. A country that was made after so much struggle has lost its true identity. We blame the government for everything but even the citizens are not loyal to their country. Celebrating only a day for it does not show your love for the country. Pakistan deserves much more than just a day,it came into being after a lot of blood shed. Many people lost their lives,people left their homes so that we Muslims could have a safe and secure homeland. It is our duty to look after it,to be loyal to our country. We'll have to fight for it,we'll have to show real, deep-rooted patriotism throughout our lives and not only for a day. Superficial patriotism like this which only lasts for a day is a real threat to our country.
ReplyDeleteWe're like, yayyy it's 14th August, we are all independent, let us all just update our Facebook defaults proving that we all bleed green, and how it is our duty to post a longgg status about the love we all share and devotion we all have towards this country. We do this every year, and while we do it, we feel all that patriotism running through our veins, the feeling that nobody deserved this country more than we do. And that's it, we're done. logging out happily with million likes and comments by million other Pakistani's sharing the same idea. Man i love this country. I don't really care what a mess it has become or even if I do I know I cant do anything about it now with all these years we're surviving anyway. What's the point now?
ReplyDeleteWe say we're independent, we say we're free, from the tyranny and oppression of British and Hindus, we thank our leaders for giving us this piece of land. We say freedom is good, we feel it daily,but what we feel is not freedom at all. This feeling is nothing but a weak emotion. We are in fact tired. very tired and lost. We know we're slaves, we know we're caged and we can't do anything about it. We're puppets and we despise it. We're angry, there is so much wrath and yet we do nothing about it. Government tamed us this way, we're robots, and that's how they toned us down. It's within our systems, to listen, obey and survive...