Sunday, January 30, 2011

'We will never be silenced'



As an environmentalist, I'd usually be seen or heard debating and relating things like ‘Public Transport’ and ‘Clean Air’ to ‘Equality and Human Rights’ in our country. Yes, there is a strong relation over there which could be discussed sometime later. I dream about an 'Environmental Revolution' that could ever take place. That's rather a funny dream but hey, it could happen. We all have our perspectives to the way of life we'd like to live. They say extreme environmentalists tend to overlook the bigger picture while hissing away and sometimes shouting out to their respective government's lack of attention on earthly matters. I do not agree with this as 'WE' are actually the ones, most of the times, pointing at the bigger picture along with solid evidence in hands. We're pretty great in outlining a matter of life and death like that. And here I would say that we are only shushed under a scenario such as presented in the video above. (Got more important things to deal with than your happy-green-solar-powered-nerdy grimaces)

This is extremely inspirational: ‎"We will not be silenced. Whether you're a Christian, whether you're a Muslim, whether you're an atheist, you will demand your goddamn rights. And we will have our rights, one way or the other! We will never be silenced!"

As citizens of Pakistan, do we have a lesson to learn from this? Or do we have an advice to give somewhat like ‘maybe you should try blowing yourself up one by one?’ If that doesn't help, ‘dudes, let it go’? Maybe we’ve got comments like ‘we’re an impotent society, it’s cool to see you guys are potent enough to indicate a revolution, because fighting for rights is pretty awesome in itself. Our governors get shot if they talk about rights or try to use any of them. We’re kinda creepy like that.’ On the other hand, I asked a friend if she thinks any lessons wait to be derived from such an incident. She had a good point. If our government is toppled right now, the ‘Mullahs’ would get voted in by our population!

I read an interesting question from an individual the other day that was asked one of my favorite writers. We don't have choices in the circumstances that we are born under. True, but if in case, all of us are born under 'equal' circumstances, then would that account for the best system to live in? As far as the person questioning could think, along with his set of arguments, he would not be so happy to be ‘like’ everyone else, and to be on the same level as everyone else. He would like to be better off. Now, that is pretty ‘human’ of him to think in such a way. It’s true, we could be born under the best of circumstances, without having to choose, but when the time comes when we have to choose, we may still like to be better off than the rest. At the same time, equality is important and has its due weight in the system. The missing link is that not everyone decides to or gets to ace. Not everyone decides to strive for something better. And not everyone succeeds either in achieving something better. The point is was he given the opportunity? The ‘right’? Levels are automatically sorted out and defined. But the opportunity of an equal right is to be provided ‘in the system’ to avail. The rest is on the people. Fail or succeed. It all then depends upon who is trying and who isn’t. 

9 comments:

Aseela Haque said...

I couldn't agree more. I'm glad Pakistan has people like you. (: You are awesome and your words are an inspiration to me.

Amna K said...

Aseela: gosh, I'm almost blushing. You made my day by saying that! Now I don't want to spill hot coffee on my boss. Maybe tomorrow! I totally heart you!

:-)

Furree Katt said...

i read this late :O

i haven't come across many people in Pakistan who care much about the environment. your dream is awesome. like Aseela said, you're an inspiration.

i'm not a big fan of politics, but what guarantee do we have that the right decisions will me made even with a different government? :(

and you're absolutely right, everyone deserves an opportunity that they can utilize to ace and excel and be better off.

p.s. i changed my blog URL. it's http://furreekatt.blogspot.com/ now.
you're still following it, but you'll have to unfollow and follow again since the feed has changed.
i hope that's not too inconvenient for you! thanks sooo much.

Furree Katt said...

will be*

I ALWAYS HAVE TYPOS IN IMPORTANT COMMENTS. :P

Amna K said...

I'm like 'kinda blushing' now. Being an inspiration is like a mega compliment! Gosh.. :-D

I think that both of you are totally love-able! You guys are coming over to my humble abode whenever you visit Lahore. Bus.

An heyyy.. I'm glad to see the change. I hope Mr. Bhagnani is cool about it. I also think that your (future) husband would be so glaaaaad! ok, I'm gonna follow you now.

<3

Rija Yousuf said...

I LOVE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND YOU'RE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST. YOU SHOULD ADD ME ON FACEBOOK AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW AWESOME THE PLANET IS.

Don't freak out =[ I love Earth =[

Amna K said...

hahah! I WON'T FREAK OUT! I LOVE FELLOW ENVIRONMENTALISTS TOO! ADD ME AWAY DUDE!

AMNA KAUSAR (amnakausar@hotmail.com)


Talk to you soooon! :-)

p.s. If you can't find me, then mail me your id :-)

Rija Yousuf said...

I can't find you -_-.

Rija Yousuf :D
rijayousuf@hotmail.com

...I feel like I'm online dating. Sigh.

Amna K said...

hahah! Things we do the love of our Planet.

I couldn't find you too, so I sent you an invite! Yay! :-)