Dil Dil Pakistan

Salaam

1. Pakistan Zindabad! Pakistan Zindabad! Pakistan Zindabad!
2. Pakistan Zindabad! Hindustan murdabad!
3. Pakistan Zindabad! Superpower Allah!

Well, to all my fellow Pakistanis a big, big Happy (59th) Independence Day today on 14-Aug-2006. We celebrate 59 years of freedom from British rule. :)

Before I start, I want to offer some clarification on the statements above: For the second statement above, especially to my Indian readers out there, don't take any offense. Saying Long Live Pakistan and Death to India (Hindustan) is not what I'm about. Rather, these are comments that you often hear from various types of Pakistanis. The ones I agree with is #1 and #3 above. Also, some of you may be asking right now, Superpower Allah? Well, for those that don't know, during the elaborate ceremonies held at the Indian and Pakistani border, you have crowds of people on the Indian side chanting Jai Hind! (long live India) and then people on the Pakistani side yelling Pakistan Zindabad! and Superpower Allah! (an obvious knock on Western powers for thinking of themselves as godly). It's also showing Pakistanis devotion to Islam and to our own country.

But on this independence day, where I would normally put up a post going "crazy" on my Paki Pride, I find a slightly sour taste in my mouth when I say Pakistan Zindabad...

To the staunch Pakistani out there or to my Hydro (Hyderabadi) friends, this may come to you as a surprise. Especially considering how much I do have Pakistani Pride in me and how much that nationalism (though always being cautious not to allow it to take precedence over other Muslims) is a part of my personality. I mean, I have this posting in white (with the green background) if that's any indication to you.

The reason for the bitter taste of Pakistan, as you can imagine, comes from recent and repeated incidents of Pakistani portrayal in the media. There are stupidly idiotic Pakis out there that are making it hard for us innocent, real Pakistanis (especially Pakistani-Americans) to fully embrace our Pakistani identity in our mainstream society. Specifically, it seems as though every time some sort of terrorist event unfolds, some f#$king fool with -- at least what's being conveyed to us -- a Pakistani heritage is behind it. And these fools claim that their acts are in the name of Islam while we all know that it's an act of cowardice; not to mention that it's an extremely pathetic and undisciplined acts of ignorance, desperation, and dishonor.

I'm glad that those people were caught in the UK. It obviously adverted a major catastrophe!

Anyway, since that and other recent events that now seem to second-naturedly equate Pakistanis and terrorist together, most Pakistanis I've spoken to are fed up and thoroughly embarassed. If someone were to ask me, "What's your nationality?" I think I'd nearly be inclined to say, "Oh. Umm. I'm Mexican, actually. Me llamo Roberto Rodriguez..." or something like that. At least that way they'll think that the worst possible thing I could be is someone who made a run for the border!

Earlier I mentioned words like "ignorance" and "desperation." The reason being is because these "Pakistanis" may feel -- I assume, anyway -- that the only way to do something to affect change is by killing thousands of innocent bystanders in a world that is factually anti-Islamic in terms of Western political philosophies. While an anit-Islam bias exists in, for example, Western media, how the hell do more acts of flippin absurdity and I-have-no-real-backbone-ness inspire understanding?! What the hell are these people thinking? AND WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS PAKISTANI?!?!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

It's frustrating. I'm sure you can tell because I'm writing this blog entry without giving it much thought. Just kinda letting my emotions go on this and so my thoughts are a bit here and a bit there...

Look, people. Pakistanis are an amazing people, mashaAllah. I mean, you know me. Some of you aspire to fricken be me ... a Muslim Pakistani American who is extremely hot, very nice, very funny, down-to-earth, modest, and sexy. I mean, I embody what it means to be Pakistani. Not these fanatics (= fanatics of stupidicity) you see on the TV that are causing us to be ashamed so say that "I'm Pakistani."

Seriously, this is very tragic. I hate getting looks from caucasian Americans who are probably thinking to themselves, "Is that guy gonna blow me up?" Well, to answer that, "NO, dammit!! I LOVE AMERICA! In fact, most Pakistanis do. Why the hell do you think we come here, man! I mean, you're not a REAL Pakistani until you come to America, folks! Let's be honest. How many doctors that you know in Pakistan say to themselves, 'I don't vant to end up in Amreeka vhere I could make a money and be a rich man'. That'd be heresey!!"

Alright. So I exaggerate on that one. But it's not a total exaggeration of the truth. Pakistanis like to have a nice cup of chai, good food, servants, drivers, bhangra, and hot cousins. Whether it's here or in the USA. Or in Dubai. Or in the UK. Or in India. Anywhere! LOL -- okay, just totally realized that those statements make us sound like Indians, which we're not. LOL, sorry...couldn't resist knocking on India at least once! ;)

One more thing to vent about Pakistanis: Why are we at times so scandalous? Like, forget the political stuff. That's an unfortunate reality. How about the day-to-day stuff? I've heard stories of Pakistanis screwing over one another by 1) stealing one's best friend's identity 2) people not being able to trust their own servants within their home -- if you can't be comfortable at home, then where?! 3) "honor killings" 4) incestual rape 5) throwing acid upon one's "enemy" and much, much more. Granted, I'm not painting a pretty pic, but from one Pakistani to another, I ask that we effect some sort of change. Pakistan needs education at ALL levels (academic to Islamic) for ALL people (poor to rich).

Via educationational reform comes inshaAllah an evolved sense of understanding and fortitude. Well, I'll save my wanna be doctoral thesis on this topic. But it's an important point and I say it with the best of intentions for a place I love dearly. I shouldn't be ever again hesitant to say that, "Yes, I am in fact Pakistani."

In summation of the above mess I just wrote, I want to recap some points:
1) I am Pakistan.
2) I am Punjabi. And Rajpoothi.
3) Kashmir is ours.
4) Kashmiri women, too.
5) "Balle Balle" is in fact an accepted greeting.
6) Abrar ul Haq should be our PM and President.
7) Junoon should head our Home Ministry Dept.
8) We miss Muhammad Ali Jinnah (rh).
9) Punjabis are the best Pakistanis.
10) Hearing "Pakistani terrorists," or "the terrorist are from Pakistani," or "Some Pakistani men tried to bomb...," etc. on CNN, FOXNEWS, etc. does NOT mean that all Paksitanis are like that. Those are the unfortunate and misguided ones who we will pray for and be cautious of inshaAllah.

Pakistan Zindabad