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Pakistanis have an almost instinctive tendency to deflect and escape an ugly truth with an equally ugly fantasy. Most of us jump into fantastic, muddy rabbit holes when confronted by the reality in which groups of unhinged men go about inflicting some of the most atrocious acts of terror and carnage in our bazaars, places of worship and shrines.
We allow ourselves to fall further down the hole when indigenous extremist organisations proudly own up to their atrocities, as we freefall our way down the fissure in stunned silence. But as we hit the ground of the imaginary world that lies beneath this hole, the great fall triggers in us an incoherent series of babblings about ‘foreign hands’ and assorted conspiracies against the Islamic republic.
Decades of engineered ‘education’ and propaganda that the state of Pakistan, the media and schools have dished out has conditioned us to at once become vocal and animated when words like India, Israel and United Sates are spoken, but we simply have no clue or indication about exactly how to respond to the terrible deeds of people and organisations who are doing so in the name of religion and a so-called ‘jihad’.
Many Pakistanis can be seen jumping and shouting and going hoarse in the throat discussing India and the United State’s nefarious designs in the region, but the same people then go all quiet (if not downright sheepish), when some psycho flag wavers of faith and jihad take responsibility of an appalling act of terror. As most of us then go about like zombies spouting meaningless pearls of delusion, such as ‘it can’t be us’ or ‘these can’t be Muslims’, the many monsters that clearly lurk among us and are Muslims, go about their business thriving and planning their gruesome acts in our mountains, hills and cities.
Though we are ready to keep a constant eye on lofty drawing room topics like ‘geopolitics’ and ‘corruption’, and exercise our minds through all sorts of mental gymnastics while talking about such issues, a thick murky glaze suddenly descends upon the same constant eyes when it comes to talking about terrorism and faith-based extremism. Then all we can see are certain delusions that lurk like shadows in our own conditioned heads.
Busy bouncing about in our own heads (the rabbit hole), and constructing diabolical conspiratorial fantasies, we thus fail to recognise and accept a stark external reality pregnant with evidence that yes, these merciless monsters who blow up our markets and places of worship are very much the consequence of our own follies and arrogance. Created to first safeguard the pious, innocent Islamic republic from the godless ways of communist invaders, and then to look after our so-called ‘geopolitical interests’ in Afghanistan and Kashmir, these men-turned-monsters now run amok in our own streets and mountains, treating every other Pakistani as an infidel deserving the most gruesome destruction and death.
How can a people who so proudly boast of being so brave and manly, react like a whimpering wind in the face of a local extremist and sectarian organisation claiming responsibility of a terrorist attack? Are we simply cowards who are ready to go all ballistic about the corruption, misdeeds and ‘blasphemous’ ways of people who we know cannot retaliate, but look the other way when the time comes to confront the truth about demons posing as our faith’s true manifestations?
Like cowards who when bothered by pangs of shame and double standards, we then start with all our lofty, empty boastings and muscle flexing, bowing at the altar of our proud nuclear arsenal, and how we are ready to go to war with anti-Islam forces.
It is amazing how we seem to know exactly what is happening in Gaza, Kashmir and Iraq, and exactly why convicted felons like Aafia Siddiqui are ‘innocent,’ but begin sounding like a confused lot when it comes to the violence and destruction taking place in the name of religion in our own country.
But, of course, it is not only the confusion and the denying state of mind of the Pakistani people that continues to provide various openings for extremism to rudely penetrate our society and politics. Certain powerful state institutions are perhaps among the culprits. Shaken by the collapse of the ‘two nation theory’ after the disastrous 1971 civil war in the former East Pakistan, the state began a concerted campaign to erode and destroy everything that it blamed for Pakistan’s break-up: democracy, pluralism, secularism, liberalism, socialism, etc.; everything but the truth or the fact that it was not these but the state’s own incompetence, adventurism and myopic ideology that undid the ‘old’ Pakistan.
geez….how come , when I asked 2 remove my comments you guys print it, while my real comments are awaiting Moderation, I hope Dawn's editor is not IRISH …lol…if he is…he is the only Irish without sense of Humour (hahahaha)
have a nice day
of couse
my best wishes & regard
again lol ( PS no disrespect for the Irish) lol
Excellent article by NFP. Very forceful and to the point.
Thank you and please continue on this track. People like me do not care how many times you write on the same subject, because as a nation we need someone to remind us all about the stark realities.
Please can you , remove my comments…..I reckon Mr Nadeem F.Paracha article is not worth commenting….its real Pathetic , plus he is smoker & preaches it by naming his colunm Smokers' Corner
so………….ya please remove my comments
thanks
best wishes & regard (lol)
thanking you in anticipation
I have changed my MIND , come 2 think about , it is a great article
Really Pathetic Article…………….very sad
Pathetic Article ….. Really Sad
'Humain manzil nahi rahnuma chahiyay, was chalked on Karchi walls during formation of MQM. Same spirit of nostalgia is at work for religion. To change the mentality, a few religious and political leaders will need to preach skepticism on religion. With blasphemy laws in place that is not possible, latest victim being Asia of Lahore and Ahmadi community.
It will take three decades of continued democracy, 10 fold increase in education budget to even think of separation of church and state. Question is, will the state last long or is there any determination on the horizon ?
great article , well done
I believe ban all religious parties specially JI things will start to get better.
LONG LIVE NFP
As on a clue from NFP, Rehman Malik has just announced that there are no external forces to be blamed for voilence in Pakistan and the sole responsibility on LEJ,Taliban, and Al quida.
This absolves India of any wrong doings. I wish people ofPakistan notice this statement and know reality. We are as closest as two peoples can get in the world. India-Pakistan-Bangladesh three countries but they are close enough for being good neighbours.lets trade guys. lets have cricket and music.
No matter how much you try you cannot achieve the status of a spy of a enemy of Islam.
good luck
From your comment is it clear that no matter how many times you read this article, you will not understand it. You have no clue how much you need to grow to reach that state.
Great article Nadeem. Some serious points need to be addressed:
1. No government should preach hatred, at least in shools. If kids are filled with hatred (real or otherwise), they will be a shaky foundation. Arabs/turks invaded India and the nation went through un-speakable atrocities and genocide. But nothing is mentioned in our textbooks.
2. There should not be many laws. Only the law of the land should hold good. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Every tom, dick and Harry with some power will start making his laws.
3. It is easy criticising India, USA, Israel, bahamas, etc. But truth is it takes guts to criticise a monster like Taliban. Everybody has a family to take care, I guess.
All said and done, Pakistan should make a start somewhere. To stop extremism. If the majority agrees, it can be done, even though it is difficult.
I love this dude. Agreed with each word.
Be careful, society has not tolerated such things
Ah yes, NFP's back on his usual course, a tried and tested formula of speaking of the virtues of "democracy" and blaming suicide bombers and religious extremism as the root of all evil in this country (not a bad idea per se, but NFP uses it as a medicine for his writer's block) – out of ideas again, sir? We're not deaf, we get your point (at least if you've made it a few hundred time already), now give us something new.
Yes, Ali S is right, NFP. Stop saying the truth over and over again. Give us something we can escape through and feel good about. Give us a fantasy. Sheesh.
Nadeem am too happy to hear at least a sane voice. I wonder when will this society of the dead awake. Simply the best peace of work. We are with you. Thanks
Forceful article once again, NFP.
it's amazing how easily you switch from writing biting satire to writing forceful and well thought out observations on faith, politics and society.
Way to go NFP! I absolutely agree with you.
NFP, you are absolutely right!
You are right, NFP.
"Pakistanis have an almost instinctive tendency to deflect and escape an ugly truth with an equally ugly fantasy."
My sentiments exactly when I watch the talk shows on various television channels. One in particular – a group discussion with students from a college called Nust in Islamabad – here the maximum applause was reserved for Zaid Hamid who was talking about going back to basics and Iqbal's poetry among other things. With him was a very sensible lawyer by the name of Babar Sattar (I think) who spoke of letting democracy take its course and how as the people seek more accountability democracy will bring in corrections and better people to the fore. He was a lone voice it seemed in the hall with the bearded speaker next to him advocating Islamic inquilab and the students talking of an Islamic Caliphate. When you have people like Zaid Hamid enjoying such a response from the youth it is no surprise that the Raw/cia/mossad mantra remains the most popular one to explain away Pakistan's terrorism problems.
good article Nadeem.
NFP, how do you manage to write with so much force and such rationality? Indeed it is pleasure to read an article that challenges introspection to anyone who dares to read it with some honesty. Being a regular smoker at this corner I can only salute your writings. Hats off.
You are selling mirror in the city of blind. Good luck.
NFP….I Dont know about ground support for your thoughts in Pakistan.But from outside Pakistan your work seems to be very Brave.In India Private investment and Exposure to competetion in world helping to achive tolerance society…..but still there is long journey to become 'DEVELOPED' society.
Selling comb in a city of bald people