Ah memories! :D

[fd24]

This is a true story:



Every time I drink a glass of orange juice, I am taken back to Lahore in the early 80s, when I was a student there. I had gone to pick up someone from the bus station and had arrived early, so had a bit of free time. Feeling thirsty, I asked a rehri wala to make a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. He proceeded to make one, throwing the rinds into a heap by his rehri. As I was about to drink the juice, I noticed some movement down by the rehri and glanced down, expecting to find a dog to shoo away.

What did see? An old, frail woman, clothes in tatters, silver white hair all awry, picking up the rinds that made up the juice in my glass, trying to get the dirt off, and then suck the precious few drops left in them. I was so shocked and taken aback that I just could not bring myself to drink that juice.

I called out to her, and gave her my glass. She was at first surprised, but then accepted the glass. The rehri wala was upset at me for dirtying his glass by giving it to her. I shut him up by paying for the glass too, and giving whatever else I had left in my pocket to the poor woman. She only raised her hand once in gratitude, and slunk away. The bus came. I picked up my passenger, and went on with the rest of the day.

To this day, I cannot drink orange juice without remembering that poor woman, may Allah bless her soul eternally. Her image is still fresh in my mind like I saw her yesterday.






(I do not advertise what I still do to support the poor directly in Pakistan. But if anybody wants to have an idea, please see my flood relief donations for the last two years already in the public domain on PakWheels, as an example. I was ridiculed exactly the same as I am currently being here, but now I am regarded as a valued participant, both by the administration and by the members. One day I hope to replicate that acceptance here too if given half a chance.)

Thanks for sharing that story Mr Engineer. May Allah bless your soul eternally. Very moving.

 

[Don Jaguar]

Pakistan has betrayed me by becoming what is was never supposed to be - a sinking third world banana republic. People have come and gone, but they all stood for Pakistan and made it what it is today.

Remember, I grew up after the heady progress of the sixties, and saw first hand the disaster of Bhutto, Zia and the rest. During those time I was working in areas that I won't mention but it was work of the highest importance.

I have good reasons to say what I did.

Now there is no doubt that you hate pakistan.

If pakistan is a third world country and it is not becoming what it supposed to become then there is no need to do struggle to make pakistan better.

Just start insulting it.

Actually people like you made pakistan a third world country.

 

[VCheng]

Now there is no doubt that you hate pakistan.

If pakistan is a third world country and it is not becoming what it supposed to become then there is no need to do struggle to make pakistan better.

Just start insulting it.

Actually people like you made pakistan a third world country.

Please think about what I have said before flying off the handle, and you will see my point.

I do not hate Pakistan. I am deeply disappointed, yes.

Saying the truth is not an insult.

 

[iPhone]

Pakistan has betrayed me by becoming what is was never supposed to be - a sinking third world banana republic. People have come and gone, but they all stood for Pakistan and made it what it is today.

Remember, I grew up after the heady progress of the sixties, and saw first hand the disaster of Bhutto, Zia and the rest. During those time I was working in areas that I won't mention but it was work of the highest importance.

I have good reasons to say what I did.



Which is why I do not lie, even in the portion of the post above.

Yeah, but once again Pakistan became what it did not on its own though. It was the people who drove it that way. Countries by themselves are mere objects that are defined by its people. Good or bad its up to the people.

Countries don't have power to become good or bad on their own. But hey, what do I know, you're the smart one here, the think tank material. everyone else is too slow to catch up

 

[VCheng]

Yeah, but once again Pakistan became what it did not on its own though. It was the people who drove it that way. Countries by themselves are mere objects that are defined by its people. Good or bad its up to the people.

Countries don't have power to become good or bad on their own. But hey, what do I know, you're the smart one here, the think tank material. everyone else is too slow to catch up

Sarcasm aside, the basic fallacy in that logic is evident.

What is Pakistan? It is not the land or the rivers or the mountains. They were always there and always will be. Pakistan is what its people make of it. Hence, my statements are correct.

What is Islam? It is not the concept or the rituals. It is the implementation by its followers and how they live and behave.

Get it?

 

[iPhone]

Sarcasm aside, the basic fallacy in that logic is evident.

What is Pakistan? It is not the land or the rivers or the mountains. They were always there and always will be. Pakistan is what its people make of it. Hence, my statements are correct.

What is Islam? It is not the conceipt or the rituals. It is the implementation by its followers and how they live and behave.

Get it?

I get it. You took what I said, that countries are defined by its people, and made it your own with, Pakistan is what its people make of it. Quiet the opposite of what you said before with, Pakistan became.....

And then threw in a little Islamic reference to wrap things up and delivered a condescending, 'get it' at the end to put yourself on a pedestal.

 

[VCheng]

I get it. You took what I said, that countries are defined by its people, and made it your own with, Pakistan is what its people make of it. Quiet the opposite of what you said before with, Pakistan became.....

And then threw in a little Islamic reference to wrap things up and delivered a condescending, 'get it' at the end to put yourself on a pedestal.

It is only YOUR perception that I am "putting myself on a pedestal". NOT my problem!

I said it first, you only took my words and now are upset that I agreed. Get it?

 

[JonAsad]

i think its time to close this thread-

 

[Pfpilot]

This is a true story:



Every time I drink a glass of orange juice, I am taken back to Lahore in the early 80s, when I was a student there. I had gone to pick up someone from the bus station and had arrived early, so had a bit of free time. Feeling thirsty, I asked a rehri wala to make a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. He proceeded to make one, throwing the rinds into a heap by his rehri. As I was about to drink the juice, I noticed some movement down by the rehri and glanced down, expecting to find a dog to shoo away.

What did see? An old, frail woman, clothes in tatters, silver white hair all awry, picking up the rinds that made up the juice in my glass, trying to get the dirt off, and then suck the precious few drops left in them. I was so shocked and taken aback that I just could not bring myself to drink that juice.

I called out to her, and gave her my glass. She was at first surprised, but then accepted the glass. The rehri wala was upset at me for dirtying his glass by giving it to her. I shut him up by paying for the glass too, and giving whatever else I had left in my pocket to the poor woman. She only raised her hand once in gratitude, and slunk away. The bus came. I picked up my passenger, and went on with the rest of the day.

To this day, I cannot drink orange juice without remembering that poor woman, may Allah bless her soul eternally. Her image is still fresh in my mind like I saw her yesterday.






(I do not advertise what I still do to support the poor directly in Pakistan. But if anybody wants to have an idea, please see my flood relief donations for the last two years already in the public domain on PakWheels, as an example. I was ridiculed exactly the same as I am currently being here, but now I am regarded as a valued participant, both by the administration and by the members. One day I hope to replicate that acceptance here too if given half a chance.)

This is the very reason I struggle greatly every time I think about visiting Pakistan. Every time I choose to go, I am left with images of suffering and poverty that I find bone chilling to this day. To see people living on the edge of life, with no food, no place to live, nothing of value; there is nothing more helpless and terrifying.
Its the simple reason, I have a hard time seeing Pakistan's accomplishments in a positive light, because none of it ever helps the common man in the slightest. We are no better than our weakest brethren and they have payed the price for the failure of Pakistan. Those of us, who sit here on these forums, with access to internet don't have to worry; the world is such that we will always find light at the end of the tunnel. For those who don't have money to buy food...it is an endless struggle that will go on till the day they die...this is the depressing reality of Pakistan. For those who think Pakistan hasn't miserably failed, I ask you to go out on the streets and breath in the sights and sounds...if you still feel the same way, you must belong to the elite that has long forgotten the nation.

 

[VCheng]

This is the very reason I struggle greatly every time I think about visiting Pakistan. Every time I choose to go, I am left with images of suffering and poverty that I find bone chilling to this day. To see people living on the edge of life, with no food, no place to live, nothing of value; there is nothing more helpless and terrifying.
Its the simple reason, I have a hard time seeing Pakistan's accomplishments in a positive light, because none of it ever helps the common man in the slightest. We are no better than our weakest brethren and they have payed the price for the failure of Pakistan. Those of us, who sit here on these forums, with access to internet don't have to worry; the world is such that we will always find light at the end of the tunnel. For those who don't have money to buy food...it is an endless struggle that will go on till the day they die...this is the depressing reality of Pakistan. For those who think Pakistan hasn't miserably failed, I ask you to go out on the streets and breath in the sights and sounds...if you still feel the same way, you must belong to the elite that has long forgotten the nation.

I haven't yet told other stories that are even more heart-wrenching, but only because I was sworn to secrecy in many cases.

After personal attacks, now come the demands to close this thread, as expected.

Let the Mods and Admins decide whatever they do.

 

[JonAsad]

i think the poster here is not so important to keep discussing him- "attention seeker"- close this thread-

 

[Trucker]

i think the poster here is not so important to keep discussing him- "attention seeker"- close this thread-

cant digest??so close thread

 

[JonAsad]

cant digest??so close thread

Whats there to digest?- there is nothing apart from some 'personal glorification"- "i hv sworn-ed not to tell- but i am telling you this that i hv sworn-ed"-

 

[VCheng]

i think the poster here is not so important to keep discussing him- "attention seeker"- close this thread-

Well, you could choose to stay away. Ever think about that solution?

 

[53fd]

Please think about what I have said before flying off the handle, and you will see my point.

I do not hate Pakistan. I am deeply disappointed, yes.

Saying the truth is not an insult.

I think we are all disappointed on some (differing) levels, but there are some who want to rough it out through, & there are others who can't take it anymore, & run for 'greener pastures'. I don't blame you for 'escaping' from Pakistan, you had clearly 'had it' with Pakistan, you had become cynical of the country, so you felt you had to leave. Kudos to you. But there are still people that are hopeful of making a change inside Pakistan, whatever little it may be.