BY EMAN SHAHZAD
A few days ago, a video of a colonel’s wife went viral who violated all rules by bragging how she was superior over others because of her husband’s rank.
After this, everyone started sharing the video and commenting that army officers and their families consider themselves gods. Some spoke about how army officers of good ranks do nothing while soldiers give up their lives for the country.
Some said that our army runs on the public’s money and how our taxes pay their salaries. So basically what they meant was that the army families act proudly on the money that we pay them. What I said might be offensive to some people but unfortunately these are the exact comments that I encountered.
Among all this, I found this girl (Cdozz) on instagram who talked about this issue in the most appropriate manner. She talked about how we all should be humble because if we achieve something today, it is at the expense of our hardships and the effort we put into our work.
Now, when at one side general public was commenting about how our army is way too narcissistic, smug and full of themselves, the army brats came forth as well, saying how the nation is stupid and bashes one of the most supreme and loved people who are the heroes of this nation. I saw a lot of these kids calling out to the people and saying that this qoum is so jahil. The whole nation and the people are dumb, senseless and absurd with lack of education.
Well then what’s the difference because they saw a video and jumped up to lash at army families and these families in return started calling out these people illiterate and stupid. I feel like what we need is education. What we need is not for us to argue if someone argues but stay calm and bury the hatchet. What we need is to start talking about spreading respect and love even if we don’t receive it.
The most disturbing thing is I will call others stupid if I am educated but never really try to use my knowledge to help them clear their judgments and open their eyes to what I can see.
If you belong to a family where one or more than one member is in the army, you’d see them struggling to give time to their families just because they have to serve the nation.
If you want to be like other kids but cannot be, because your parent has to serve to provide for you and to help the country, then do talk about it. No one is going to know what you feel like until and unless you say it out loud. Yes, what that woman did was unethical and a disgrace but you know that not all families are like that. We should ask the authorities to take action against the act but we should not be quick to call out on someone’s family.
This is our duty to educate and by educate, I mean talk to the person who is passing disturbing comments. If he understands you it is an achievement but if he is stubborn, then it’s his failure not yours because you did your part.
We live in a country where most people cannot afford to go to schools but we who are privileged to gain education can help them. Maybe not help them in math or English or science but we can help them realize what is wrong and what’s not.
Education is not just about going to schools, it’s also about learning how to behave in a society. It means moral values, positive thinking, attitude of helping, attitude of giving to society and ethical values.
After writing about this I heard the news about the plane crash in Karachi. It was devastating and heartbreaking because most people on board were going back home to celebrate Eid with their loved ones. I pray they rest in peace and Allah grants them a high place in Jannah.
Many world leaders offered their condolences. Yet again a few people came forth with harsh and rude comments like this is what Pakistanis or terrorists deserve. I am blessed to have people to guide me and give me reasons to not respond to such rude people harshly.
I have a friend Hadia who posted a story where she explained how she wants the mothers of Pakistan to teach their children about how we are all human beings before being a Muslim or a Pakistani. How our mothers need to make us understand that hating someone will only disturb our peace of mind.
We can only rise as a great nation if we have empathy and a good sense of judgment. All lives matter. Lives of Black, Brown, White, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Transgender, Kashmiris, matter. So if I ever disrespect anyone, make sure to remind me of my mistake, not by cursing at me but by making me understand. This chain of all of us helping each other out by educating each other will surely help us become better versions of ourselves.
(Eman Shahzad is a student of BS English at National University of Modern Languages Islamabad. She can be reached at emanshahzad101@gmail.com)
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