Today, each one of us is busy in pointing out what’s wrong with this country. We crib, whine and detest every single thing there is to it. We hate the political setup, yet we are the ones who brought the ruling party in power. We despise the feudal hierarchy, but it’s precisely because of us that it continues to function. We detest the patriarchal nature of our society; even then we succumb to its old, tired norms and are unable to break free from the stereotypical beliefs. We just sit and complain and complain.
And, in the face of this perpetual state of adversity, we have stopped appreciating the little good things we have. It’s not an easy task, I know. In a country where our basic needs are far from being fulfilled, it’s really not that simple to be optimistic and look at the bright side. But we have to, in order to survive, in order to sustain and in order to progress. We cannot let go of our vibrant, vivacious, colourful side. We have to bask in the glory of having Oscar winning filmmakers the country is blessed with, the sportsmen who have awed the world with, and the actors who have stunned London and the world at large by performing an adaptation of a Shakespearean play.
We have to take pride in the educationists of our country who are toiling so hard to impart quality education. The Arfa Karims and all those students in Ivy League institutions abroad and reshaping the image of Pakistan. We have to applaud the youth for the initiative they are taking today in pursuing what they like and the talent which is simmering out of this country. We have to love Pakistan for its seasons, for its grandeur, its food, its love for art and celebrations and heritage. We have to be that country again that needed just an excuse to put on blaring speakers and dance in the streets.
It’s painful to see the disappointment and the resentment which we all have within ourselves for this country but no, we have to remember that we still have so many reasons to be proud of. We have seen disintegration at provincial level, we have seen war, we have seen terrorism and we have seen natural calamity and yet, we survived all of that. We will make it through this time as well.
Let’s vow to cleanse our country of every element that is sucking the blood out of it – be it internal or external. Let’s vow to make wiser decisions, to choose our leaders intelligently. To not be blinded by everything that sparkles from a distance. To be able to think for ourselves and stand united, no matter what. And most importantly, to always look at the bright side.
