Diffident Pakistani Americans Akbar Tareen, Great Falls, Virginia Reference M. Faiz Rehman’s article entitled “Diffident Pakistani Americans” in the ’Link dated September 22, 2000. I have deep regard for Faiz Rehman’s intellectual honesty but I must disagree with him on several aspects of his article. And, let me itemize as follows:
- Why as Muslims are we surprised and stunned at the attitude of the western media towards Muslims? Is that a new phenomenon? Or, is it because Faiz Rehman’s generation is discovering it as they phase into the stewardship roles? This disoriented and dishonest western mind-set has existed all along! Undoubtedly, it has increased the concerns of the non-Muslim world now because the Muslims have excelled in all walks of life and in great numbers.
- Why are Pakistanis concerned about the West’s in general and in particular with the U.S.’s romance with the present Indian leadership? United States has always followed a policy that is in the profound interest of their country and what’s wrong with that policy ? It was expedient for the U.S. to cuddle up to Pakistan when it served its interest. Likewise, India is the darling of the U.S. today in particular and the West in general because they are the backbone of the “new economy” today in the U.S and the world over. India embarked on this national reconstructions and particularly the re-building of the infrastructure for the new economy some 10 years ago when Pakistani politicians and the functionaries were busy looting and plundering Pakistan. It is heartening to note that Pakistan has now embarked on the urgent task of nation building and re-tooling its economy to conform with the rest of the world. Pakistan will also become, once again, a darling of the world and the U.S.,in step with India, and there is no doubt about it. Pakistanis by nature have an encouraging attitude which translates into “What you can do, I can do better” !! In the meantime, Pakistanis must stop reminding the U.S. and the West about their past loyalties and services rendered beyond the call of friendship etc. It is insulting and it means a squat to the rest of the world because this argument is so outdated and today has no value. Those days of recognition of the “meritorious services” of the past are history now. Every country now eyes and values what is it the other can do to be useful to them and that really earns the favor and the friendship !
- It is incorrect and utterly unfair to identify the Pakistani Americans to be sucking up to General Musharraf during his recent visit to New York. Pakistani Americans are fiercely independent people and in general loyal to Pakistan. They have always backed every leadership in Pakistan in the hope it will serve that country well. So far, General Musharraf and his team have done quite well indeed. They might not have done every thing right and with speed but the important thing is that they have taken bold steps and are headed in the right direction. It is sad, in fact very sad indeed, to note it has become a habit with the thinkers , journalists and the so-called experts to seek prominence by ridiculing Pakistan. One does not have to read through the Indian papers and listen to the Indian broadcasts to learn about everything as to what is so very, very wrong with Pakistan.
The columns of the Pakistani newspapers (especially on the internet) are full of “horror stories” about Pakistan and its regime etc, etc. Yet in the same breath they point out about Pakistan’s “bad international image” ! Our beloved Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah must be turning in his grave to find that the last two prime ministers of Pakistan , one at home and the other one abroad, are spewing fire, so disgracefully , against Pakistan in order to please the West and especially the U.S. in their burning desire to return to power again. There is an American expression which goes something like this: If you fool me once, shame on you. If you fool me twice, shame on me! It will be shame and a curse on Pakistan to be fooled by the failed leadership of Pakistan for the third time! Let a new leadership emerge, honest and benign for the good of Pakistan. We the Pakistani Americans are right behind our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, the land where our dear ones live and some lay buried. The land where we grew up, got our early education which formed the basis for our success in this highly competitive and challenging part of the world called, the wonderful United States of America.
Mowahid Shah via e-mail
That was quite a comment on the sycophancy of Pak-Americans before the Hakim of the day in the latest ’Link. This is the Faiz Rehman I am hoping to see more.