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There is something about the way our world is set-up that makes it clear that people with the uniform have the power. While standing in front of a uniformed individual, you as a person amount to nothing. Your word has no value, your argument no reason and perhaps your being, no existence. The uniform represents the system. And behind that system stand rules, structure, and discipline of which you are not a part.
And the people in the uniform are very aware of their power. They enunciate each word that comes out of their mouths as if they are talking to an imbecile.
“Ma’am,” says the uniformed security agent at Chicago O’hare International airport. “ARE YOU UN-DER-STANDING WHAT I AM SAYING TO YOU?,” she says , breaking down syllables … and my very spirit.
You reply, thinking there’s the off-chance of a possible conversation that will help us both arrive at a mutual agreement. But that is a mistake on my part.
Never assume they will deign to talk even if there is no one waiting behind you in the line and the airport is deserted. And as I walk away, trying to grasp why the encounter bothers me so much, I am reminded of similar situations faced before.
When I used to live in Malir Cantt in Karachi I had to deal with uniformed people every day on the way home. And even though I had an authorized ID card for myself, and a permit for my car, there was hardly a day when I was not stopped and questioned.
“You live here?” asks the uniform.
“Yes Sir,” I reply, the meeker the better.
“Your car registration number is not on your ID card,” he observes grandly.
“Sir, there are 5 cars numbers on there, they put the one I use on my father’s card.”
Silence
Then, sometimes I would hurriedly say: “Sir please, I come here everyday, I live right over there, you can see it from here, please let me go home. Please I would really appreciate it, sir, thank you.” He would nod as if granting me the biggest favor ever allowing me to go to my own home.
At other times I questioned: “I have an ID, I have a car permit, why are you stopping me?”
“Ma’am, please take your car to the side,” he would say with a dismissive hand gesture and disdain in his eyes. And from that moment on I became invisible. There was nothing I could say that he heard and there was nothing I could do that he saw.
As a working woman, I deal with difficult issues and people all day. But somehow these incidents break me down – they have the power to reduce me to tears. As I walked away from the security checkpoint at O’hare today, I pondered over why this repeatedly got to me and as bad as it did. It made me realize how in these moments, all that I am, all that I have worked hard to become, all the knowledge I have gained and all the struggles I have overcome, is negated just like that.
Perhaps this is reading like an extreme reaction to something that we have come to accept as mundane in a post-9/11 world. Regardless, it is apparent that our dignity has been stripped. And it is this loss of dignity that hits profoundly, wounding our being. Adding a disrespectful “ma’am” and an impatient “please” only makes the situation worse. It is not as if we do not understand the necessity of security and safety. But is living in a world where you are reminded not only of all you have to fear but also that you are reduced to feeling worthless, really worth it to you?
I recently met a young man from the Gaza strip. He told me what it takes for him to move around in his own homeland and to travel outside. At every turn he is met with barriers that he has to take in stride. He has had to wait for hours before being allowed to pass through a security checkpoint. He has been thrown into a back of a truck to prevent him from getting out at an unauthorized location. He has been stopped from boarding flights that will take him home. When I compare my occasional experiences with his ongoing ordeal, I shudder. It is impossible for me to imagine what damage this incurs on his sense of self.
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There is something wrong with this set-up. Maybe this is a drop in the bigger ocean of troubles that plague the world order. Nevertheless it is poignant and demands a change.
Nadia Zaffar is a former Senior Duty Editor at DawnNews and is currently a Presidential Fellow at Emerson College, Boston.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
The argument is not convincing enough and probably hypocritical. It is us and the policiy makers who are doing wrong to ourselves. Why don't our policy makers implement the similar policies for the US citizens or others as they have for us? Why do you purchase a land or a house in a cantonment area. On one hand you ask for more security and on the other hand you critisize the same thing. I think that they should not let you in with different card and number. As far as the general dignity is concerned, we as a nation do not try to show it.
If you put the Uniformed Persons in the US on the same platform as the Uniformed Men in Pakistan I conclude that your observations are Only of Academic Interest. ( Presidential Fellowships in the US are offered by the Presidents of individual schools and universities not by the President of the USA.)
Pakistani police is not professional, no doubt. However, the only thing that touches my soul in your argument is the life of a person in Gaza strip. That is really heartbreaking and sad that Zionist who have suffered at the hands of Nazis treat their Palestinian subjects in such a disgraceful and hateful manner. Man, that is sooooo sad.
I wonder, with so much security in Pakistan (ID being checked everyday et al..), how can a few terrorists enter a secure naval base, create havoc, and even manage to escape?
Nadia Zaffar, it seems your dignity in general but self worth in particular has been violated because of your experience at O,Hare, Chicago along with other related experiences in U.S. Please, do not forget that this country because of its generosity and largess opened its doors for you, awarded you with full scholarship to study and people accepted you. Now, it is your turn to appreciate them and accept their values and be happy and thankful. Remember, we as Muslims are responsible for the creation of ISLAMOPHOBIA here. Islam teaches, : Go, even to CHINA for knowledge." Islam does not teach that go to China and stay there and forget your origin. Please, go back to Karachi and reform the culture of uniform, corruption, nepotism, religious discrimination and child slavery. God bless you. Zia Mahmood
Zia SMahmood I agree with you. We as Indians or Pakistanis want to eat the cake and keep it too.
If they do their duty and ask us for identification we label them bad and if they do not stop anyone we blame them for insufficient security. Why the hell are we always in such a rush. The whole process does not take more than 5 minutes ….. suck it up and stop complaining
You dont understand the fact that there is lot going on on this planet. Police officers at the US airport are very good professional, they would treat you with respect. if they don't, you have the right to take them to the court. But as far as pakistani police is concrened, they have zero professionalism, therefore people in pakistan should let them dictate. they must realize their responsibilities, checking/searching or questioning one indvidual every day is a crime. pakistanis must stand up.
So many comments here, but do you really think that the guy in uniform, whether he is in Pakistan/US or Gaza strip, enjoys standing in middle of the road in all weather and ask everybody tough questions to make sure ppl's lives are saved from some destructive minded people? i am sure everybody will blame the guy in uniform as well if he doesn't check everybody thoroughly.
Nadia: I live in your neck of the woods and travel often. I cannot say your experience with people in uniform in the US is a common one. If nothing else, you must have noticed how the same people in uniform help ease traffic when there is a snarl. While I would concur that at times, it is not easy to have a conversation with such people, your basic story is more germane to the developing world as others have mentioned here. Btw, Presidential Fellow sounds impressive! Good luck with academic work.
what are your trying to say ???
Uniform is the symbol of the "Guardian" in socity. Guardian, rulers, workers etc since the beginning of human socity and they will exists as long as human socity exists. The only difference is how they are trained. In developed socities they are trained on scientific bases while in barbaric socities they are trained as barbarians.
Nadia, I totally agree with you about the security at american airports. If you are from India and your name is Mohammed (or not), then they will make u un-der-stand-each-friggin-word and the computer randomly chooses you for a serarch etc.
I usually have my wife tugging at my jacket pleading – dont argue , dont argue. I now feel the only way is to ignore them and think they are doing their job.
But interestingly you have chosen to put both the amrikan and desi security in the same pile. I guess amrikan wins. idher pehle they give a you thapad. at least that is not happening there.
well presented blog , its not the fault of uniform or system, its just our dilemma. Changes come through the force of masses , well, we just write and say good words everywhere but till no body has taken any action…angels ll never come to change our miserable situation, only we can do that…..i think its the time to decide and act…not just beat the bushes, we have beaten it for more than 64 years , enough literature like this is present in our books, magazines, newspapers…Or be like it 4ever.
Do you think it has something to do with your beautiful look. I go around and lived in multiple countries and had never experienced such checks. Karachi was the best ever where I was stoped once after arriving from Germany and I refused to get off the cab and they actually let me go. All the best
it is very difficult situation for pakistan, we feel that our unity shall provide strength for pakistan
I am sorry to read this.
On the other hand, in the UK the policeman on the street corner is quite polite.
Is ours a ex-colonial police system. Can be changed !!
how does one fight for one's self respect , one's soul without giving up so many precious other things – livelihood, family, work. It could be standing up to our own near and dear ones, our bosses, collegues – etc. and this could be anywhere. You are a brave person – take it on the chin and ove on, this shall also pass.
ive lived in karachi, yet ive never seen any police officer ranging from Sepoy to Inspector General ever stopping a women for an ID card or driving permit etc.they dunt even stop you for illegal things like tints. ive also audited national highways and moterway police, ul be suprised at the ratio of man is to women traffic challans.
In Pakistan, all you need is a Press Card and you can get away with anything. Its like the best "Taweez" ever, the uniformed people just step back and politely let you through!
This indeed is very disturbing at times – Really takes the patience, you have built throughout your life, out in just a matter of minutes – I usually come across an Army Security Check Post officer having big mustaches – Whenever he stops me, he gives me a lecture on myself keeping a beard quoting "Sir you should get rid of this beard – Its not as per teachings of Islam" – I always used to look at him calmly and suggest him removing his mustaches first – I mean it has started to give me an impression that hey listen Mr Gari Walay this is my area and I am the boss here so you better listen to me – He laughs and then lets me go – I mean after so much tight security, still we encounter security lapses! This really stuns me and leaves me speechless !!!!
Nadia,
There are those in power and there are those without it. Only two kinds of people. Everywhere. That is the way it always has been and always will be. People can always demand change. Sometimes they can get it…. at a high price. And then they get a new set of people "in power" and new rules.
At least in your case, you currently live in a place where you have a shot at a better life. So thank the Almighty and get on with it. Read, listen to music, pray, enjoy life. Good luck!
Nicely Written! The heart breaking point is in our own country our situation and standard is worthless. How could we think of being dominant on any other country.
Secondly, today's miserable situation of terrorism among Muslim countries – (specially Pakistan) makes the uniform men more strong in putting their control on neutral citizens.
It is very easy to criticize but to difficult to resolve the issue. So be positive and try to resolve the issue. We are living in a very dangerous phase we have a lot issues most of them are debts burden, insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy. The time has come we should be united and only think for the betterment of the country. We will pay our share to the prosperity of the country which is due since a long time. It is only possible when we act instead of criticizing others.