Idealists in realist-speak
Zirgham Nabi Afridi
Often one finds the words realistic and idealistic being used in the context of the myriad problems facing Pakistan and their suggested solutions. It is undoubtedly preferable in our society to be known to be realistic even if that has become synonymous not with practicality, pragmatism or rationalism, but with inaction, defeatism, an extremely low measure of our self-worth; extreme cynicism in the assessment of our capabilities to chart our own destinies and utter hopelessness that things can change for the better. A round-up of some of the major events and incidents this Ramazan and the reactions of politicians, media-pundits and large segments of the society have proven that when it comes to being realistic in the context of Pakistan, we are at the zenith of this national talent.
Almost all of the worldly benefits that are to be gained from the Islamic rituals we regularly observe have, over time, proven too idealistic for our liking. Ramazan is not different when it comes to that. Any notion of love for the fellow man, especially the down-trodden, along with any nudge towards living a more austere life with a sense of compassion and impetus for positive action in support of the weak, hungry, needy and poor is given the realistic treatment well before Ramazan starts. This, when the price of the basket of goods of the average Pakistani shoots up to an extent where they almost wish this holy month had never arrived.
Our government and politicians, in true spirit of keeping Ramazan real, did not even pretend to try and control the price hikes this time around. In fact, they were busy purporting their real politics with their contribution and instigation of the unrelenting and ruthless violence in Karachi. Ramazan was just background noise in the political contest in the city of lights where gaining leverage over opponents was commensurate with ones ability to take innocent lives.
And while other idealistic non-believing, non-fasting and non-worshipping statesmen and politicians in developed and rapidly developing countries strive to create egalitarian and just societies; our realistic Pakistani politicians and leaders seem to have left large segments of the populace to fend for themselves. Compare Hurricane Irenes damage control and evacuation protocol with how unprepared we were despite being flooded yearly in dealing with the floods in Sindh and one gets to see our political realism in its full glory. The security of the lives, dignity and property of impoverished Pakistanis in the inundated villages is not high on the list of realistic government priorities. Close to the bottom is also the convenience of millions of Pakistanis who travel by rail.
In the month that the ruling elite and common Pakistanis fasted, we were treated to the sight of new and unique methods that our government employed in an effort to frustrate the Supreme Court, its verdicts and the due process of law. And most of us sat and watched while, in our neighbouring India, one man fasted for 12 days and tens of thousands, under the spectacular national and international glare of the media, thronged to his support and successfully brought about a victory our fasts, our worship, our pilgrimages, charity, mehfil-e-naats and tasbeehs have failed to achieve.
[HI]Those hoping that like the Arab Spring, Anna Hazares success may be the start of our own Sub-continental Spring, that would envelop us and other corruption-ridden countries in the region in a hurricane of change need to come out of their idealistic reverie. Here Imran Khan probably the only clean man in our politics and his idealistically named party movement for justice organised a protest against the government and its realistic ways in the heart of the capital only to be welcomed by an almost complete media-blackout.
In doing so our media is actually doing us; the idealistic Pakistani youth supporting Khan, a favour. It is trying its best to ensure that myself and the estimated 35,000 others who thronged Constitutional Avenue during the Independence Day Dharna do not get carried away and become spoilers of the realistic politics that is our rightful inheritance from the previous generation. Media heavy-weights and political pundits wish for us to realise that politics in Pakistan is a game that changes hands only between one old and tested political party and its leadership to another set of spent-bullets. And in this game, anyone who would like to be taken seriously should be aware that there is no room for idealism. [/HI]
Thus, the role of the youth in politics will remain a subject of the plethora of talk-shows when they sometimes need to record fillers during lulls in the otherwise realistic newsworthy events and incidents taking place in our country. While statistics firmly place the support of us young Pakistanis behind a particular leader and his brand of politics, the media will endeavour to keep it real by trying to show us as a naive and youthful political force that should know better.
Therefore, when one sees Aamir Liaquat continuing to host Islamic entertainment shows for multitudes of admirers, one need not waste time cringing in anger and frustration at ones TV screen. As Pakistanis, rather than taking his presence on our airwaves as an affront, we should accept that he is, in fact, a true reflection of what it means to be realistic in our society.
The writer is a freelancer based in Rawalpindi with an interest in social, cultural and educational policies. He blogs at zirghamnabiafridi.blogspot.com
Zirgham Nabi Afridi
Often one finds the words realistic and idealistic being used in the context of the myriad problems facing Pakistan and their suggested solutions. It is undoubtedly preferable in our society to be known to be realistic even if that has become synonymous not with practicality, pragmatism or rationalism, but with inaction, defeatism, an extremely low measure of our self-worth; extreme cynicism in the assessment of our capabilities to chart our own destinies and utter hopelessness that things can change for the better. A round-up of some of the major events and incidents this Ramazan and the reactions of politicians, media-pundits and large segments of the society have proven that when it comes to being realistic in the context of Pakistan, we are at the zenith of this national talent.
Almost all of the worldly benefits that are to be gained from the Islamic rituals we regularly observe have, over time, proven too idealistic for our liking. Ramazan is not different when it comes to that. Any notion of love for the fellow man, especially the down-trodden, along with any nudge towards living a more austere life with a sense of compassion and impetus for positive action in support of the weak, hungry, needy and poor is given the realistic treatment well before Ramazan starts. This, when the price of the basket of goods of the average Pakistani shoots up to an extent where they almost wish this holy month had never arrived.
Our government and politicians, in true spirit of keeping Ramazan real, did not even pretend to try and control the price hikes this time around. In fact, they were busy purporting their real politics with their contribution and instigation of the unrelenting and ruthless violence in Karachi. Ramazan was just background noise in the political contest in the city of lights where gaining leverage over opponents was commensurate with ones ability to take innocent lives.
And while other idealistic non-believing, non-fasting and non-worshipping statesmen and politicians in developed and rapidly developing countries strive to create egalitarian and just societies; our realistic Pakistani politicians and leaders seem to have left large segments of the populace to fend for themselves. Compare Hurricane Irenes damage control and evacuation protocol with how unprepared we were despite being flooded yearly in dealing with the floods in Sindh and one gets to see our political realism in its full glory. The security of the lives, dignity and property of impoverished Pakistanis in the inundated villages is not high on the list of realistic government priorities. Close to the bottom is also the convenience of millions of Pakistanis who travel by rail.
In the month that the ruling elite and common Pakistanis fasted, we were treated to the sight of new and unique methods that our government employed in an effort to frustrate the Supreme Court, its verdicts and the due process of law. And most of us sat and watched while, in our neighbouring India, one man fasted for 12 days and tens of thousands, under the spectacular national and international glare of the media, thronged to his support and successfully brought about a victory our fasts, our worship, our pilgrimages, charity, mehfil-e-naats and tasbeehs have failed to achieve.
[HI]Those hoping that like the Arab Spring, Anna Hazares success may be the start of our own Sub-continental Spring, that would envelop us and other corruption-ridden countries in the region in a hurricane of change need to come out of their idealistic reverie. Here Imran Khan probably the only clean man in our politics and his idealistically named party movement for justice organised a protest against the government and its realistic ways in the heart of the capital only to be welcomed by an almost complete media-blackout.
In doing so our media is actually doing us; the idealistic Pakistani youth supporting Khan, a favour. It is trying its best to ensure that myself and the estimated 35,000 others who thronged Constitutional Avenue during the Independence Day Dharna do not get carried away and become spoilers of the realistic politics that is our rightful inheritance from the previous generation. Media heavy-weights and political pundits wish for us to realise that politics in Pakistan is a game that changes hands only between one old and tested political party and its leadership to another set of spent-bullets. And in this game, anyone who would like to be taken seriously should be aware that there is no room for idealism. [/HI]
Thus, the role of the youth in politics will remain a subject of the plethora of talk-shows when they sometimes need to record fillers during lulls in the otherwise realistic newsworthy events and incidents taking place in our country. While statistics firmly place the support of us young Pakistanis behind a particular leader and his brand of politics, the media will endeavour to keep it real by trying to show us as a naive and youthful political force that should know better.
Therefore, when one sees Aamir Liaquat continuing to host Islamic entertainment shows for multitudes of admirers, one need not waste time cringing in anger and frustration at ones TV screen. As Pakistanis, rather than taking his presence on our airwaves as an affront, we should accept that he is, in fact, a true reflection of what it means to be realistic in our society.
The writer is a freelancer based in Rawalpindi with an interest in social, cultural and educational policies. He blogs at zirghamnabiafridi.blogspot.com
