You see that in such minorities in the big cities and even in certain smaller towns. It's unfortunate that the majority of the so-called "elite class" thinks that modernization and westernization are the same thing. These people who think that if you want to look "cool", put on an "I heart NY" t-shirt with baggy shorts, and laugh at anyone wearing a shalwar kameez. They end up looking like "dhobi ka" doggy, neither here not there. You see this phenomenon eating up culture in Indian cities (as represented in Bollywood), and I'm afraid it'll take over Pakistan soon as well.
Pakistan seems to be represented only by its extremes, no matter how unpopular they are. There is one extreme that you see on TV, where people who are against any sort of socio-economic growth, technological or political advancement etc. are hell bent on destroying anything that represents modernism and want to plunge the country into pre-historic days in the name of religion. There is, however, another extreme, the one that is invisible to the outsiders but is very visible to us Pakistanis, and one that I personally find threatening to our country as well. This extreme believes that in order to achieve any type of growth, we must sell our values in the bazar. These are the so-called "enlightened moderates" and they represent stubborn secularism (i.e., not the secularism found in Canada, but the kind found in France, Germany etc.) to distance Pakistan from its founding ideology. These people want to be perceived as "enlightened", and hence, try their best to blend into foreign cultures when they are abroad. Unfortunately, once they've completely destroyed their identities ans self-worth, they import this thinking into Pakistan and pretend that "this is the way of life". In the name of freedom, they turn into non-Pakistanis. However, their farce is far from convincing and they are, generally, worthless to the rest of Pakistan. Both these extremes are recognized in our society as minorities, and I find it appalling that the middle ground, the one that the majority of Pakistan prefers, gets absolutely no recognition outside the country.
We can keep with the teachings of our religion and sustain our culture and modernize all at the same time. Lack of moral character is not a prerequisite for technological advancements and socio-economic growth, and neither is abandoning modernism a requirement in our religious beliefs. What we don't understand is that self-identity, culture etc. aren't just what foreigners can purchase at the corner-store, it is us. Absolutely no great nation became so by abandoning their identity or by sacrificing their desire for advancement. These things must go hand-in-hand.
I'm sorry for the rant. I generally don't speak on this issue because many here on PDF could find it offensive, but this thread served the best avenue for me to let my opinions known. Please feel free to disagree.
