Friday, January 30, 2009

Western countries and us*

A lot of people have asked me about my experience of living in a western world. It is a common preposition; we all carry about the western countries being developed, advanced and stable whereas, most of the Islamic world is ruled either by Monarchs, or the people who have mingled with the system to stay in power for years and years now.

From a general perspective, western countries are seen as more stable in terms of economics, social or politics. Whereas, in our countries are plagued with the lack of basic human rights, essential living necessities, and any kind of a social system to fall back.

Here, I would like to make two points, analysing the differences of the societies and the systems.

1. We lack the system! Any system is a good system as long as it is implemented with all its clauses and processes. Either it is the socialism, communism, capitalism, democratic, non-democratic, Martial law, or whatever it may is. Every system has its pros and cons. As long as it is fully implemented, there is something to get out of it.

The people of have lived in Middle East or is aware of how things work in those countries we see some kind of stability in here. Although, the countries are ruled by open Monarchs or Royal families, and dummy democracy such as in Kuwait, there is a lot of support in public to continue the way things are going. Although, one can debate the cons of the system, and argue Democracy being the ultimate system as adapted by the Western states, one can see the political stability, availability of basic necessities, internal and external security being the privileges enjoyed by the countrymen for some decades now.

Where as, when we analyse the countries like the Egypt or Pakistan, we cannot see ANY steady system being fully deployed in either countries. It is a chaos, for the people who are living in those countries or the countries who have to deal with them.

Politically, democracy is the default system to be followed, where as in both the countries we do not see that, political representative either comes from a political party which does not follow democratic rules within their organisations or elections are being engineered in a way to give unfair edge to the previous premier.
Economically, we still have not decided if the subsidies is a good way to protect the local producers or we want to go with WTO and free economy, hence the mix-match of different theories have brought more poverty and despair for the ordinary citizens of these countries.

Socially, as a nation, we still have not decided if the Islamic social laws are the best way forward or if western liberal laws suites us more. Diversity should have brought useful experience and maturity in the social systems of ours, but due the to lack of bonding or common values being followed, all we see is a huge discontentment among the society and lack of coherence adding to the be wilderness of the young generations.

I hope, I have made a point here.

2. This is my very personal observation I want to share with others. The basic difference I have observed between the Muslim nations and western societies is the difference of their believe. In a western society, a common man looks towards the Government, law enforcing agencies, health services, trade offices to provide the elementary coherence between their beings in this life. Whereas, whatever may be the political stance of a person may be, either it is a secular, conservative or ultra conservative, somewhere in a heart of a Muslim is the fear of God (Allah). Since, as a Muslim we believe in a life hereafter and everything being under His control, we judge our daily deeds from a God's point of view*.

The problem in this system is that, most of the time God's punishments or remunerations are promised for life after, dodging the local enforcing authorities, non payment of taxes, working the way round to get off the system is not a big deal, since they are man made systems, working our way off doesn't mean much.

Without going in to any more details, I will let you people to ponder upon any alternative reasons you may have had, or critical commentary is more than welcome.

11 Comments:

At 4:46 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with your first point about the lack of the system. Pakistan needs a few trials and errors before coming up with which system works for it. Regarding the second point, in general, in the US people have more respect for law than I have witnessed in Kuwait or Pakistan. The laws apply to everyone regardless of their religious or political values. In Pakistan, you have to declare your religion on your passport, and must check certain boxes on the application form and agree with the government's definition of "Muslim." What Pakistan really needs is a separation between religion and politics, and a constitution that is above both.

 
At 8:39 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey man , do u know adnan arib?

 
At 8:41 pm, Blogger Tauqeer said...

urmmmm adnan arib? naa dont think so..

do i know you? :O

 
At 10:23 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nops.

He is also in the same city, working as a telecom engg. As Kuwait is a small place, chances that you knew him, were high though.

 
At 10:56 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting observations. We do need a system indeed...

 
At 8:01 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually, I believe that the reason Pakistan has suffered so much is that there is no real commitment to the country by any political system that came to being after the death of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Each system has a doubtful tenure, in which a lot of questions arise, regarding their sincerity to their position.
When the law enforcing agencies are themselves not sincere to their jobs, how will they show the right way to the public?

In the Arab monarchies, at least the head of the state has an affiliation to his country and that sense of ownership is the reason they are trying to develop their lands and their people. Look at how far Dubai has come! Its the vision of it's Sheikh that made it happen - He loves his state - thats why. Patriotism and honesty are the two main factors usually missing in the political setups in Pakistan.

 
At 11:18 am, Blogger Tauqeer said...

Thank you Asmah ji for passing by.

Right so now we know the reasons*, what is the solution?

 
At 1:03 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

we judge our daily deeds from a God's point of view*.


ahan.

Regarding the topic... well.. yeah pakistan is a mess compared to most other countries..and i agree with asma to a point.. Its not that whoevers in charge isnt a saint.. because i doubt very few REALLY are.

i agree with the point about there being a system of some sort and there just isnt even a fake system where people can pretend that everythings not so bad..theres no hope shown.. only. things to get worse and a steady decline of pakistan shows this..

 
At 1:07 pm, Blogger Tauqeer said...

Thank you for sharing your views.

Would have been better if you actually did comment with your name/nick...

 
At 4:45 pm, Blogger Unknown said...

That was very good sum up of the ills that has been the bane of Islamic democratic countires such as Eqypt,Pakistan.
There should be mass movement mobilised and highlighting those ills of the communities.All political parties should their diff for a period of time so as to set the house in order.

 
At 2:58 pm, Blogger Tauqeer said...

Thank you Shah for leaving comments.

Do come by again. :)

 

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