This is with reference to the article “Pictorial bias” published in Pakistan Today on 14 February, 2011. It is seems that the writer has done a lot of research but only for the obvious reason, targeting the US to justify all the wrongs that we have in Pakistan. The question is: what else the Newsweek and the Time should have published? And what about the jingoism rampant in our media? Is there no extremism in Pakistan? What is the real picture of Pakistan?
The writer should also start conducting research about the political and social issues of the majority population and suggest solutions. Mere slogans would only result in more and more confusion. The state-controlled literature and “Google-search” research must be replaced with genuine and new academic contribution.
In our country, anti-West and anti-US rhetoric has been eulogised as intellectualism to divert the people’s attention and create fear for being consumed for justifying the hold of the decision-makers. That is, the tyrants in North Korea and Sudan are symbolised as heroes.
Our intellect, if it is still there, is utilised for fortifying the past structures. We have always rejected the change either in the name of religion or the national interest. The Muslim and the subcontinent history provide reliable proofs. And portraying the West as an evil is a ready-made tool.
M ARSALAN
Lahore
