Politics ... Sigh

Things up north are heating up and it doesn't look too good. Don't know much past that other than the amount of "Victim Food and Clothing" donation stations have increased.

I went to Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Monday and saw real politics at work. Outside of the glory of Karachi, I saw a lot of the real Pakistan. But the funny thing is that for all the people who think that Pakistan is nothing more than mud houses and dung patties on walls, there are more people who know of the class system and how the upper class live life. The disparity between the classes is so mind boggling that even the toughest of people are brought to tears.

While in Islamabad I saw flags of the PPP (People's Party of Pakistan- Bhutto's Party) on almost every lamp post on every Highway and the sad part is that it's a sick green red and black flag made of silk. Now think - all those flags used time and money and even more, material which easily could have clothed many many many people. My cousin Sidra and I were discussing the Feudal System and it's corrupt way of treating it's people and I really saw it come to life while in Islamabad. The amount of monetary aid coming to this country is beyond me but all I know is that there wouldn't be one hungry person on the streets if the money went to the right place. Unfortunately, the money goes to power hungry politicians and their family and friends and barely a quarter of the aid will ever reach the small villages who still do not have proper electricity and drinking water.

On my second day in Islamabad we decided to go to Sargoda (Also known as one of the hottest places in Pakistan) where my uncle (Father's elder brother (a lieutenant general in the Pakistani Army)) is the GOC (General of Commanding). Simply put, if there was a land within an empire, he would be the king of that specific area (in regards to the army). Make sense? Anyways, on the way there I did actually see people living in mud huts and dung patties on walls and I saw people in very bad conditions but the one thing that I can say about the Pakistani people is that they are very optimistic about it's future. In the last 60 years Pakistan has seen a number of wars and turbulent times but it's hope has never broken. For a country so young, Pakistan has seen a lot. ..............But I'm not taking sides. I love my country and will defend it but I also think that it won't go any where until we fix the corruption within the government and find a balance between the money and power within the country.

I'm going to go stuff my face with some Mangoes and some ice cold Coke now :) Will type more later.

(Please - don't start fighting on my blog in regards to politics - this is my blog and I have the right to post my opinions as to how I see things )

x0x0x0 =)

"Us and Them" by Pink Floyd