If I Agree With Them, I Must be Stupid
From outside the country, Pakistan looks like a horrible place to be in; its a country marred with religious extremism, mostly uneducated people, highest level of corruption, dishonest politicians (or may be if I just write politician that would deliver the message), a heaven for terrorists, poorly administered or not administered at all, shaky governments, empty minded opposition parties, worst traffic in the world, dirty and dusty, a poor country with a lack of national identity let alone national unity. Yes, that’s the picture (may be even worst) that you get of Pakistan while you are not here and know it from a distance or even if from inside, know it little.
I am not going to deny all this, because with a sane mind and a true heart, I simply can’t reject such overwhelming facts about Pakistan. In fact, if I am to write on my country, I wouldn’t take a paragraph to describe its flawed characteristics, I would go on writing page after page.
But here, I would rather flip the picture for a while.
I have ‘personally’ known this person for more than 19 years now; he is not rich at all, not even much educated as he hardly finished school. He has worked as a postman all his life and after retirement is still working on his own. He has never taken more than what was his right, he has never held back what wasn’t his, he has always given way when others were in a hurry and always stood in patience while the men in front slowed down. He has always met everyone with a smile and departed with a prayer, he has always said thank you for even a smile and hurried on to an apology if he caused even an unintentional discomfort. He has listened with all his time and has given advice with all his heart.
His worst disapproval is his silence and he extends generous praise for every little effort. He has brought up his children (who are my dear friends) with fair money and gave them the confidence and knowledge to know and do noble deeds. His hands are all rugged and hard and his legs are all stiff due to long bicycle rides and long walks to his work but I am yet to hear him complain. He remembers God and never forgets his family, relatives, friends and even the people he hardly knows. He is humble when he talks, logical when argues, noble when decides and honest when he deals.
I can write page after page about this part of Pakistan I know. He is a real person in this real world; a living proof that life, the world and this place called Pakistan isn’t only filled with dishonest people; there is this soul of Pakistan that is still alive, breathing and at work. It never will quit.
There are people who ask for grounds to love their country, there are people who need reasons to be sane, there are people who have nothing but bitter words for their own country. I ‘personally’ know people (Pakistanis of course) who call Pakistanis stupid and I’ve never really argued with them; but when I look at that postman, I absolutely disagree with them.
Category: Ramblings
Wise words and observation, Amir.
It is easy to think of people as concepts or things.
They are politicians or accountants, doctors or poachers.
But all people breath, love their families and feel pain, even people most people would say are bad people.
Time changes our perspective too. Somehow, we don’t believe people in wars, years ago, felt like we do, feared like we do and loved and feared losing their families like we do.
Your article is excellent and reminds us that above all we are feeling human beings amongst other feeling human beings.
WOW Amir, That is a breathtaking article. I enjoyed reading it. Actually as i’m reading I could see that very same simple Pakistani postman here in Egypt striving for a living with complete satisfaction and submission to God, and not only in Egypt but in many other countries. It is all about those simple good people. That’s what I keep telling them here. Those simple dedicated loving people of the world who best describe thier nation away from thier corrupted governments or greedy dishonest politicians. It’s a shame to hear Egyptians calling Eyptians stupid and it’s a shame and a very sad thing to know they hold grudges against their own country and I would have to completey and absolutely disagree with them too.
Dear Amir,
I have just read ur amazing article … and for sure I agree with every word …
In each country you will find many ppl … some r just like those underestimating every life aspect and the power of the soul of the country … some will overestimate it … and some will, like the postman, live as every person who truly loves his country should … Yes, they can say Pakistan is the worst country on earth, the nest of terrorism and the role model for corruption … but on which bases do people build their judgment .. on economic researches, politician speeches or CNN newsreports ? … my friend, not even the most powerful nations on earth are flawless … it’s all relative .. we can argue that the US has more problems, more corruption and more extremism than Pakistan .. but it depends on who’s talking and who is listening !!! Are the American people content with their lives ??? Don’t they think that the corruption, crime and political lies have reached their highest level ever ???
And after all that … the postman keeps fighting peacfully, he sends us subliminal msgs on how this country can be better and he doesn’t care much what those people say about Pakistan ….
but what have those people done to Pakistan anyway? cause the Postman has already done much …
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful :
“Work (righteousness): Soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers: Soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden and what is open: then will He show you the truth of all that ye did.”
Surat Al Tawba – Aya 105