We are a nation of naysayers: critiquing everything is an integral to our character. This comes in addition to two other very useful qualities: turning a blind eye to one’s own shortcomings, even if they are the very same that we choose to critique; and disparaging anything attempted by those we disapprove of. That is not to say that criticism is in itself not useful. “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism,” according to Norma Vincent Peale.

An old tale of Mullah Naseeruddin that most of us are familiar with neatly encapsulates this tendency to critique. The tale which some people ascribe to Aesop’s Fables is about a father and son travelling with their donkey. Whether either the father or the son rides the donkey, or if they both ride it or both walk along it; people are not content and in each case criticise them. The Mullah and his son are left with no option but to carry the donkey.

Each of us has his donkey to bear. In case of the new government the immense flak faced is perhaps inevitable. A function of the enormous expectation associated with it and due to the many promises made while in opposition. The latest incident involves the appeal for funding of dams for a soon-to-be water starved nation. To be fair the ball was set rolling by the Chief Justice and he has already managed to accumulate Rs1.8 billion.

But back to the toxic talk. The media and opposition are in an uproar over the appeal. The main criticism falls in three categories: massive infrastructure projects like this require international institutional investment – it cannot be done on appeals alone; the projected expatriate population levels are wrong and most of them are not in a position to donate the requested US$1,000; and this is not how a government operates: all childish and churlish arguments of those with a bone to pick. One might be wrong but somehow, with the Sept 6 celebration, one is caught up in all the euphoria. Perhaps it is time we can as a nation come together and achieve what was deemed impossible.

While this goes in the credit side of the ledger, the removing of a minority member of Economic Advisory Council, a professor of economics at Princeton, certainly goes to debit side. Caving in to public pressure goes entirely against the grain of the new Pakistan envisioned and promises of an inclusive and purely merit-based dispensation.

According a popular religious scholar, we have no right to judge anyone if he claims to be a Muslim or what his fate will be in the hereafter. That is for the Creator to decide. Let us not bow to pressures that have continually been a bane for the country.

On a lighter note: in Lahore there is an interesting weather anomaly. There is an actual spring and then there is a mini-spring prior to winter. Or perhaps it is the fact that the fauna lets out a sigh of relief, providing a glimpse of its splendor, having survived another merciless onslaught of summer. One particularly pleasing expression is the flowering of the Jacaranda Tree. The sublime purple blossom framed within the lush green are literary a sight for sore eyes.

Looking at this beauty, who would not be moved to preserve it? The building of dams and planting of trees then do not appear to be so outlandish. Instead of criticising we can try to be part of the change. We might not be able to pull off change as gracefully as the seasons of nature turn, yet attempt we must. — (AmLahori@gmail.com)

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2018