Express Patriotism - Today and Everyday
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Let my homeland be adorned with my existence
Just like a flower, that makes the garden rich
(Allama Muhammad Iqbal's 'The Prayer')
If every time you hear the national anthem, you end up
getting goosebumps; if you've never used your right to cast vote, but you hold
a reputation of a political analyst on FaceBook; if you love breaking traffic
rules while driving around in Pakistan (except for maybe in the Capital) but
you've the potential to become a traffic guru elsewhere; if, for you, swearing
has become habitual and synonymous with load-shedding (and let’s not shed light
on what load-shedding is); if you measure a person's level of literacy through
the fluency of their English; if while waiting in a long queue you reach a
level of impatience that makes you wonder why can’t they just
do it the ‘Pakistani’ way; if before doing anything in your life, the first
thought that hits you is what 'people' might think of it, then you have passed
a legitimate test of being a Pakistani, my friend. And this post is dedicated
to you!
Patriotism doesn't have to be something that burns brief and
bright, and fades after the 14th August every year. Meaningful acts of
patriotism, like obeying traffic rules or helping the less privileged, can
shine throughout the year. When patriotism is
heartfelt, it's possible for a person, or a group of people, to overcome great
odds, and this type of action is often witnessed during wartime or at the time
of natural catastrophes. We may lack tolerance and discipline, but in our own
unique and somewhat wild way, we have stood through the test of time, as a
nation.
Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do
for your country - J.F.Kennedy
Now, the question is how can we pay back our motherland for
everything that we have always taken for granted?
Become politically engaged and use your right to vote - At this, I'm
most likely to receive pessimistic counterarguments
asserting that there is nobody
worth your vote and
whatnot. I think actively participating in the democratic process is an
integral part of being a citizen of any country. When you rob yourself off your
right to choose, you're most likely to fall victim to despair. Either stop
complaining or start
voting!
Fuel your civic sense -
The other day, one of my friends told me how on finding a few expired sodas in
one of the most popular local chain restaurants, he actually took the pains of
going to the food inspector and registering a complaint on purely humanitarian
basis, no personal grudges. His civic sense amazed me. Why can't we all develop
such sense of
responsibility?
Be honest with
your job - Whatever the nature of
your job, whether you're a janitor or an engineer,
or a civil servant, commit yourself to it because that is the best way to
contribute to the betterment of the country.
Do not litter. Period.
Pay your taxes and file your returns !!! A strong tax
culture would help us all in an enormous way. Taxes provide counter-balance by softening extreme disparities in
wealth and benefits. This is how you can contribute to the progress and
development of your country. Money collected through taxes is the corpus from
which the state undertakes welfare activities to improve the living standards of the
citizens.
And filing
your return would help the state document your tax history - how is that a bad
thing? Don't fear, just file your return and if you need any assistance with it, contact me! I won't charge you a thing!
A terrifying reality of our country is the economic
imbalance. With so many of our fellowmen living below the poverty line, we must
join hands to grapple with this inequality. Standing for those who cannot stand
for themselves would not only root out the problem but also give us a great
sense of unity. You may very well be aware that philanthropy in Pakistan as
ratio of GDP is one of the highest in the world. No other country, in the
developing world, has so many non-profit organizations that help the
downtrodden on such large scales. There are so many providing laudatory
services such as the Edhi Foundation (the largest fleet in the world), or the
Shaukat Khanum Hospital (the largest cancer charity hospital in the world), and
so many others. Besides, there is a large community of virtuous and generous
private charity-giving citizens, which is incredible. So, participate in
charity (if you do not already)!
Buy Pakistani! When FIFA can use Pakistan-made footballs, why can't we trust our
products? Patronize homemade products and help build better economy.
Make it a point to spread the good news from Pakistan, no
matter how minuscule. There is so much negativity spread through media and the
internet, why not help the good news travel?
Dive into our nation's history - Learn about the sacrifices
that our ancestors have made for this motherland. There is no way we can
succeed in changing the future without having a firm understanding of the past.
We must make an effort to learn about the history in all its splendor and
horror. You certainly do not have to agree with every event and decision made
in the country's history to love it. Consider how the country recovered from
those mistakes or can recover in the future and what can you do to help.
We must work to disrupt racism, provincialism and other
prejudices. Think 'we' as opposed to 'me'. We as a nation cannot afford a
parochial consciousness, which prizes one set of people or race over others. We
are all interconnected and are as much a part of this country and as our other
countrymen. Developing a new consciousness that seeks understanding of what is
best for the whole community would help in the long run.
Support the Pakistani cinema - it's the age of information,
where having control over the media really counts. Since the cinema is in a phase of revival, our support could mean a lot. A powerful cinema
would portray the soft image of Pakistan and
let the world discover our beautiful culture.
Know your worth - there is no way this world could do
without us. Feel proud to be a Pakistani and carry your green flag with pride!
Here's to our motherland, which has
nurtured, sheltered, and fed us, despite our flaws and without demanding anything in return!
Happy Birthday, Pakistan! Happy
Independence Day, Pakistanis!
P.S Treat your ears with the beautiful national anthem of Pakistan; it ranks first in the list of top ten national anthems in the world
P.S Treat your ears with the beautiful national anthem of Pakistan; it ranks first in the list of top ten national anthems in the world
3 comments
Pakistan Zindabad!
ReplyDeletePakistan Zindabad !!!
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