New tools of dominance
Arwa Al-Rikabi has in her article (Sept. 20) given a new dimension to the raging debate over the reactions on anything that is dubbed anti-Islamic and the way it is viewed in the Western societies which unfortunately sees the world through the eyes of the media.
A quick peek into the history will reveal that it is just the forms and tools of dominance which have changed over the times. The colonialism was well accepted and even encouraged in the name of furthering national interest and economies. Ironically, the country which was the first to free itself from the shackles of colonialism, has evolved itself into a position of being an unceremonious master of the international affairs. This imperialist hegemony has enabled it to formulate its state policy to have a continual command over the strategic locations and matters thereby ensuring or rather guaranteeing furtherance of its own political clout and economic interests.
What interests should an ordinary American citizen have in the affairs of the countries or people located thousands of miles away from his soil and why should he side with his government’s decision to put at risk the lives of his compatriots? Here, comes the role of the government in convincing him that the US soldiers will annihilate the aliens who are trying to penetrate and intrude the town he lives in.
On the other hand, the erudite and the informed communities encourage such a power-play and hegemony as they are made to believe that creating opportunities for outright invasions or sowing the seeds of violence and uprising at appropriate times will continue to serve the greater national interest. Besides, they feel proud and elated that their nation is emancipating the downtrodden and oppressed people from the tyranny of the dictators. — Safi H. Jannaty, Dammam
Karachi fire
The recent fire in a garments factory in a poor suburb of Karachi has wreaked havoc with the lives of the people there. Whether it was due to negligence of safety in the infrastructure or the ignorance of the workers of how to protect themselves in case of a hazard, or a lack of resources in place to quell fires such as fire trucks, insufficient water supplies and equipment or a dearth of ladders which can reach buildings beyond a height of 40 ft, at least two facts stand out starkly: The rampant corruption of the system; how did such a building pass the safety standards test and be allowed to operate? Secondly, the impunity with which the owners seem to get away scot-free even though the media is reporting that the owners of this factory have been arrested. By all accounts they have already been bailed out!
Perhaps the saddest part of this story is that the victims and survivors have been left to their own resources and at the mercy of private NGOs like Chippa, a rescue team which was seen at the site of the disaster. It begs the question: Where is the government? Are we to believe that the government really doesn›t care about its own people? In any country around the world, when disaster strikes, an important figure-head arrives at the scene, but in Pakistan? According to recent reports, Nawaz Sharif finally arrived, but was it a question of too little too late?
In the event of the recent floods owing to heavy rains during the monsoon, people were again seen making their own dams of mud against the vicious onslaught of the raging waters. Yet again, there was no help from the government for these poor displaced people who had not only to deal with trying to return to normalcy but also to avoid dangers of the aftermath such as electrical currents in the water for domestic use. One is hard-pressed to ask: Where are all these eminent personalities when one needs them most? Pakistan›s political shows have become big business but it is disasters like these which truly test how sincere a politician is with his country or his people.
There are questions galore but they all point to one fact and one only: The rulers of Pakistan, present or past, do not care for their people and simply don›t take care of their own. If Pakistan is still in existence today 65 years after Partition, it is only because of the strong will of its people. Indeed, governments come and governments go, but the people remain. — Ozma Siddiqui, Jeddah
Letters: New tools of dominance
