BY ARHAM RIZWAN
Our nation has paid for political polarization, ignorance, and personality cults since the 1970s. Certain Political Parties have sown discord for their own gain, simply to maintain political power for a few years. Those specific groups have fine-tuned the general masses’ brains through political manipulation to instill delusions, delusions that they will not relinquish. We have learnt to idolize romantic rebellion and those who endorse it. In short, we have learnt to hate realism in an age of romantic rebellion.
One is wrong when he says patriotism comes from equal rights. The feeling of patriotism, that love for one’s motherland, can never be conditional. Every day, a Soldier gives his life for this country unconditionally, which demonstrates that true patriotism is not dependent on material rewards or guarantees. For example, countless historical accounts testify that individuals in times of war have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nations, regardless of their personal circumstances or the specific rights afforded to them. Yet some go on to say that patriotism cannot be evoked in a man without material benefits. I am sorry, but it seems those who believe this have no true homeland and can never love anyone if they cannot love the country in which they retain all types of freedoms, a place where one can seek refuge when the world closes its doors on them.
Young Minds are free to express their beliefs; however, the claim that they understand what is happening is one that many would find unconvincing, because statecraft is a complex discipline that requires years of experience, institutional exposure, and responsibility — and the average citizen, especially young commentators, does not possess this expertise, yet speaks with unwarranted certainty, no one takes away his right, but when this critiscism becomes derogatory and questions the very foundations of the state and its well-being one must himself reconsider his position before becoming hostile to the state. The belief that Popularity is the indicator of success is wrong. Popularity does not mean that one is a great leader, nor does being unpopular indicate that someone is incompetent. History is filled with examples of unpopular leaders who were the very reasons their nations endured, like Abraham Lincoln, who was elected with limited experience. He faced deep divisions and early military struggles but emerged as a master statesman, preserving the Union and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, cementing his legacy as one of America’s greatest presidents. Winston Churchill, often seen as an old-fashioned, controversial figure, rallied Britain with powerful oratory during World War II, becoming a symbol of resistance against fascism.
Who are they to complain when they hoard their wealth, then go on to blame those in Government? They have embraced delusions to escape from reality, a reality in which they realize they are wrong. They will go on and rant on all day about The Military establishing the Fauji Foundation and them not paying taxes, citing the voices in their heads, oblivious to the fact that, according to an Op-ed at Eurasia Review, the Fauji Foundation is rendering welfare to nearly 10 million individuals, amounting to Rs 10 billion per annum. Yet a World Bank report noted that out of the 4.434 million active income taxpayers in June 2023, only about 2.32 million actually paid any tax; many filed “nil-income” returns. which seems a bit far-fetched when you are buying the latest models of your favourite cars, all of this seems a bit hypocritical, doesn’t it?
They will go on to talk about press freedom, their use of free speech on social media, ignorant, oblivious and heedless to the fact that uncensored media can be the undoing of states, something history is a witness to, especially in the 21st century, when for instance in 2011, following an initial incident, social media platforms like BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), Twitter, and Facebook were used to coordinate “flash mobs” and organize riot activities across various cities in the UK. This led to a debate about the role of social media in facilitating public disorder and calls for potential regulation or in Iraq where in some cases, false online news or rumors about specific individuals or events, which spread rapidly through social media, have prompted people to take “justice into their own hands,” with some online activists and civil society members facing violence or assassination in retaliation for their online speech. So when they claim that the Government curbs their basic rights, they forget that attacking one’s political opponents verbally is one thing, but to launch coordinated attacks on state institutions is treason. And then to lament the restriction on the very platforms used for such activities is injustice, injustice to the nation. Winston Churchill said, ‘The price of greatness is responsibility.’ We shall pay that price or any other that may be required to maintain the nation’s sovereignty, independence, and pride.
