Thread: Feedback from America

Feedback from America



Kamran Shafi

I write this from America a day before departing for London on my way back home. This has been a two-week stay in Amreeka Bahadur, a stay that started off with a little bit of trepidation for what I might face, given the typecasting of Muslim/swarthy/Middle-Eastern looks by the semi-literates of the Bush government, and ill-intentioned politicos who want nothing but to make a scared populace more afraid. In the event, fortunately, my fears were not well grounded.

I travelled twice to the Baltimore/Washington DC area, the first time to see relatives in Baltimore and the second for a day trip to meet a younger but treasured friend in DC. Despite the heightened security for Dubya's second inauguration there was ease of movement, no one harassed anyone, and except for some cordoned-off streets there was no trouble moving about. Well, good for the Americans, and good for the people who live here. I think I was always right: one, anyone, particularly a Pakistani who has no rights in his own country, has more rights as a law-abiding citizen in America. But now there is a caveat here, which we shall discuss later.

It is good to meet, and hear from, fellow compatriots who have made their lives in this country, a country in which they have become used to institutions and therefore can no longer accept the ad hocism that rules our lives. For example, while it was no surprise to most of us when just the other day the General asked Pakistan's strong-man Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to keep an eye on the Balochistan situation, and to keep the channels of dialogue open between the federal government and the Baloch leaders, it came as a rude surprise to most Americans of Pakistani origin. For Shaukat Aziz is ostensibly the "Prime Minister" of this poor country, is he not? But who cares for the man in Pakistan; who gives a toss for him? Wasn't he chosen only so that poor old bumbling, but political at any rate, Jamali, could be shown the door? Did Aziz's experience as a private banker and PR man have anything to do with his elevation? No, decidedly not, and as time goes on the General is letting him know this in no uncertain terms.

However, despite the fact that I am no great admirer of Aziz's I must say that a little courtesy should be shown him by the General and his buddies, for he is, after all is said and done, the so-called Prime Minister. The General must transfer some of the powers he has gathered unto himself and in turn bestowed upon his, what the fiendish Zia used to call 'Rufaqa'. For Aziz is fast becoming the butt of cruel jokes among the Pakistani community in New York and Baltimore and Virginia, even among people who had some respect for him when he was resident here. The General should also realise that when people laugh at his appointee they laugh at him too.

This is not the only bad news from here. People are greatly unnerved by the news that an FBI team will soon go to India to collect evidence against Maulana Masood Azhar, of the Indian Airlines hijack-to-Kandahar drama, and the man who was allowed to go about Pakistan along with armed-to-the-teeth guards exhorting his followers to attain new heights. Does this US government move not signal that it knows there are wheels within the many wheels of the State of Pakistan that are untrustworthy; that it sets great store by its strategic relationship with India vis-a-vis the fight against terror; and that if Pakistan is not careful it will soon find itself out on a limb, friendless once more?

Which reminds me, and many times have I asked this question -- will somebody please tell me why Pakistan is not a member of the security grouping consisting of China, Russia, the CARs and India? I mean China is our great friend. I mean, it is in our direct neighbourhood. I mean, even puny Afghanistan is a member. So why not Pakistan?

And now to the caveat to true liberty for all in the US. Whilst it is true that on balance this is still a fairer (more just) society than ours, the thoughtless and foolish actions of some functionaries of the American government have made the lives of our compatriots slightly harder, slightly more difficult. This is mainly due to the fact that senior figures in government talked down about Muslims in general, which in turn got the professional Muslim haters such as fundamental Christians screaming from their pulpits too, all of this resulting in a vicious, never ending cycle.

Just today there is a long story in The New York Times about certain Arab and Iranian Professors at Columbia University being criticised for even questioning the actions of Israel, with one of them saying he came to a completely different country in 1976, and that he just does not recognise the America this country has become. Which is a shame, an utter shame. For this country has given succour to countless millions of the world's poor and dispossessed; it has clasped to its heart those who were pained and hurting. It must now rise above Dubya and cohorts, and say to the world once more, that if America leads, it leads by example.

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jan2005-d...05/oped/o2.htm

The writer is a retired army officer

and a freelance columnist

Email: kshafi1@yahoo.co.uk

What is the guy trying to say?

That all is lost?

Pessimist.