(Note: The name of my previous post was changed from "Dictatorship..." to "Dictatorship: Not a curse..." This post is a continuation of "Dictatorship: Not a curse...")
As I mentioned in my previous post, our country, for the past 63 years, has experience both democratic and dictatorial forms of governments. But both have evidently failed to end the misery of the people of our country. What only a few have thought over is that the problem lies not in the form of the government, but rather in the system that has been existing in our country for the last 63 years. The system which is known as Capitalism.
So what is Capitalism? Capitalism originally is the system of economy in which the means of production (industries) are privately owned. The owners simply own the means of production but do not actively take part in the production themselves. Thus. these owners earn profits for which they did not work for and use their supremacy to exploit the employed labourer by not paying what he is entitled to or by not paying according to the work or labour he has employed. As a result, the owner gets the profit which he doesn't deserve and the labourer doesn't get what he truly deserves and thus, the exploitation of the labourer.
Capitalism isn't only restricted to industries. But it is also spread over the agrarian economic system (based on agriculture). Feudalism, which is an agrarian substitute of Capitalism, is one of the greatest curses that exists in our country today. The feudal lords have large amounts of land, thousands of acres, under their possession and thus, just like the industrialists mentioned above, owning the means of production, they are able to exploit the peasants and tenants who work on their lands resulting in their cruel and harsh treatment.
When these industrialists and land lords (feudal lords) have control over such resources they begin influencing politics, policies made by government concerning water, food, electricity, medical and educational facilities etcetera. They also have influence over the law enforcement agencies and take part in illegal activities without any problems. Since they use their influence on the above mentioned not for the welfare of the people but for their own interests, it is evident that they would want the masses to remain dependent on them for all sorts of commodities and remain uneducated so that they may not rise to challenge them. That is the reason why our country still faces problems like shortages of food, electricity along with other basic necessities and lack of education.
These high-class people eventually start taking part in politics and become politicians working on "behalf" of the people in our country. And this is how Capitalism spreads from the economic system to the political system as well. Because these politicians belong to the high class, they can not be expected to understand the problem of the lower class. In other words, they can not understand nor solve the problems of the masses since they do not bring themselves to their level.
What Capitalism actually does is that it creates a class difference. By making the lower class dependent on the high class it creates a difference between them. And this class difference breeds inequality which in turn breeds injustice. The oppressed remain oppressed as no one is able to question the oppressor. And slowly, this inequality evolves into inequality between genders, inequality between different races as well as religious discrimination and sectarian differences. This is all because one thinks that he is superior to the other.
The inequality between genders results into a society with male dominance because of which the women in our country, especially the ones living in rural areas, are treated harshly and are subjected to cruel treatment. Their rights are suppressed.
"We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live."
- Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Religious discrimination which is also a form of inequality also arises in this system. We have seen that for the past 63 years our country has been engulfed in clashes between various religious groups and sects. All these problems come to surface because of the inequality that is the result of Capitalism.
Capitalism is the reason our country divided in 1971. Why? At the end of Ayub Khan's rule, who pushed forward Capitalism, only 22 families controlled the entire economy of Pakistan which included industries, major banks, insurance companies etcetera. The lower class was dependent on these 22 families. Moreover all these families were in West Pakistan. So East Pakistan was dependent on West Pakistan. That eventually became the reason for development difference between the East and the West and resulted in the partition of our country.
"I have said it already, I am convinced that the way to build a new and better world is not capitalism. Capitalism leads us straight to hell." - Hugo Chavez
Therefore, one thing is certain. To end the misery of the people and improve their condition and the condition of our country, Capitalism should be and must be abolished. The politicians who are working currently under the Capitalist system can not be allowed to take part in the management of our country. Feudalism will be abolished. And all means of production will come under the state control.
What more we need is a sincere leader who understands fully the problems of the working people of our country. He must be the one that the people of the country should accept as a leader. He should be an authoritarian chosen by the people. In other words he should be a dictator of the people, by the people and for the people. He should be the dictator of the proletariat. This way there would not be multiple, conflicting authorities, but only one who will be answerable to the people.
Many would think that without Capitalism the country will falter, it will not progress nor develop. But this thinking is wrong, because the system that will replace Capitalism will bring equality for all people regardless of their social class, their race, their religion or their gender. Everyone will have an equal opportunity to advance which will mean even more development. The system that will replace Capitalism is called Socialism.
To be continued...
- M.S.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Dictatorship: Not a curse...
Dictatorship...when most of us hear the word "Dictator" we, in our heads, spontaneously imagine images of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein or any other ruler who was involved in mass killings and genocide. And thus, I decided to clarify the position of dictatorship and Bring A Change in our thinking.
Firstly, most of us confuse dictatorship and fascism as being one and the same thing. That is our misconception because both have a different meaning. In the modern world fascism is mostly related to a rule that is cruel, harsh and has at some point promoted or practiced widespread killings which might have included killing of innocents. Fascism opposes social justice and equality. Many people believe that fascism can only be brought through dictatorship. That is where they are wrong. Because on 31st May 2010 the whole world saw as a state, having a parliamentary democratic government, was involved in the killing of some innocent human rights activists. This very state, during the last 20 years, has been involved in the killing of over 5000 people in the region which included innocents, women and children. This only proves that fascism is not only restricted to dictatorship but extent is spread over all forms of government.
Now moving towards dictatorship. Dictatorship is a form of government where the whole power rests with a single body. Whether it be an individual or an organisation. Just like all other forms of government can be used for the welfare of the people as well as the opposite, same is the case with dictatorship. In the past the rule of a dictator has been used to rejuvenate nations, stabilize them, pull them out oppression and even make them a world power. On the contrary it has also been used as a platform for promoting racism, widespread discrimination and genocides. In short, just like everything else on this Earth, dictatorship too has both: its positive and negative aspects.
The rule of a dictator is commonly believed as the one in which the people have no rights to question. But dictatorship too has many forms like other systems of government. A rule in which people are deprived of their rights must be condemned in all ways. James Madison very rightly said:
"The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted."
Thus, dictatorship too has a form that supports the people, in fact in that form it is the people, or rather the working class of the country that place the dictator through revolution. And that form is named the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (Proletariat: The working class). A dictator such as that of the people, by the people and for the people. A perfect blend of traditional dictatorship and democracy. The dictator becomes fully answerable to the people. But at the same time he is has the full authority. It only makes sense that there should be a single ruling body, which holds all the power, as multiple ones can result in confusion and mismanagement.
For the past 63 years we have seen both dictatorial and democratic governments. Dictatorial ones failed because it was the Dictatorship of the Capitalist (opposite to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat/forced dictatorship in which the dictator is not answerable to anyone). And the Democratic ones fell prey to corruption, mismanagement and creation of a class difference.
Hence, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat is something which our country, Pakistan, needs at the moment. To stabilize it, to eliminate corruption, to end the misery of the poor and to bring social justice and equality. It is high time for the people of Pakistan to realise this and work towards achieving this aim.
-M.S.
Firstly, most of us confuse dictatorship and fascism as being one and the same thing. That is our misconception because both have a different meaning. In the modern world fascism is mostly related to a rule that is cruel, harsh and has at some point promoted or practiced widespread killings which might have included killing of innocents. Fascism opposes social justice and equality. Many people believe that fascism can only be brought through dictatorship. That is where they are wrong. Because on 31st May 2010 the whole world saw as a state, having a parliamentary democratic government, was involved in the killing of some innocent human rights activists. This very state, during the last 20 years, has been involved in the killing of over 5000 people in the region which included innocents, women and children. This only proves that fascism is not only restricted to dictatorship but extent is spread over all forms of government.
Now moving towards dictatorship. Dictatorship is a form of government where the whole power rests with a single body. Whether it be an individual or an organisation. Just like all other forms of government can be used for the welfare of the people as well as the opposite, same is the case with dictatorship. In the past the rule of a dictator has been used to rejuvenate nations, stabilize them, pull them out oppression and even make them a world power. On the contrary it has also been used as a platform for promoting racism, widespread discrimination and genocides. In short, just like everything else on this Earth, dictatorship too has both: its positive and negative aspects.
The rule of a dictator is commonly believed as the one in which the people have no rights to question. But dictatorship too has many forms like other systems of government. A rule in which people are deprived of their rights must be condemned in all ways. James Madison very rightly said:
"The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted."
Thus, dictatorship too has a form that supports the people, in fact in that form it is the people, or rather the working class of the country that place the dictator through revolution. And that form is named the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (Proletariat: The working class). A dictator such as that of the people, by the people and for the people. A perfect blend of traditional dictatorship and democracy. The dictator becomes fully answerable to the people. But at the same time he is has the full authority. It only makes sense that there should be a single ruling body, which holds all the power, as multiple ones can result in confusion and mismanagement.
For the past 63 years we have seen both dictatorial and democratic governments. Dictatorial ones failed because it was the Dictatorship of the Capitalist (opposite to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat/forced dictatorship in which the dictator is not answerable to anyone). And the Democratic ones fell prey to corruption, mismanagement and creation of a class difference.
Hence, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat is something which our country, Pakistan, needs at the moment. To stabilize it, to eliminate corruption, to end the misery of the poor and to bring social justice and equality. It is high time for the people of Pakistan to realise this and work towards achieving this aim.
-M.S.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
We just wait for God's Help...
This is something that happens very often with many of us. When someone sees something wrong, uncivilised or unjust, that person becomes shocked, and the expression is accompanied with the phrase: "Is mulk par Allah raham karay." (God have mercy on this country). And thats it. The minute we turn our backs, all is forgotten. Why does that happen? Why don't we do something about that uncivilised, unjust act?
What we do, is not enough. What we do is condemn the act in our hearts and forget about it. What we do is the weakest form of struggle against evil. Therefore none of us should expect to defeat evil with such a weak offence. Many of us have this illusion that if we just sit around and do nothing, God will directly solve all the problems and eradicate all evil. We ask God to have mercy and then forget about it. Some of us may also become frustrated when nothing seems to change. It's because God is helping us without us realising it.
God has given us the power to put things into words, through speech and/or through writing. Both being very powerful means of communicating, spreading awareness and condemning evil openly (the former being a much more influential). But unfortunately none of us use this method of struggling against the wrongs and instead we prefer to choose the method which is weaker and what I believe, not helping us to solve any of the problems
Why do we keep waiting for God's direct help when He is already helping us? He has given us the power and the sign that it is our duty to use the strength, He has granted, properly to keep evil at bay.
"God does not change the condition of a nation until they, themselves are not ready to bring a change."
- M.S.
What we do, is not enough. What we do is condemn the act in our hearts and forget about it. What we do is the weakest form of struggle against evil. Therefore none of us should expect to defeat evil with such a weak offence. Many of us have this illusion that if we just sit around and do nothing, God will directly solve all the problems and eradicate all evil. We ask God to have mercy and then forget about it. Some of us may also become frustrated when nothing seems to change. It's because God is helping us without us realising it.
God has given us the power to put things into words, through speech and/or through writing. Both being very powerful means of communicating, spreading awareness and condemning evil openly (the former being a much more influential). But unfortunately none of us use this method of struggling against the wrongs and instead we prefer to choose the method which is weaker and what I believe, not helping us to solve any of the problems
Why do we keep waiting for God's direct help when He is already helping us? He has given us the power and the sign that it is our duty to use the strength, He has granted, properly to keep evil at bay.
"God does not change the condition of a nation until they, themselves are not ready to bring a change."
- M.S.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Educated People
In our country the literacy rate, according to the United Nations, is about 50%. Thus, there is a 50:50 ratio between the "literate" and the illiterate people. So theoretically the literate and illiterate people are to be blamed equally for the problems that come into being because of the people's power.
Lets see what really happens. The educated people of our country very conveniently blame the uneducated and illiterate masses for choosing (electing) the leaders who eventually prove to lead the country towards no good. We deem them responsible for the problems by pointing out their lack of knowledge and consciousness. But are the illiterate masses really the one to be blamed? This question is for all the educated people. What have we, the educated, done to undo the mistakes of the illiterate masses? What have we done to rectify the wrongs made by the "majority" of the uneducated people? And what have we done to improve their condition?
Hmm...a difficult question, eh? Its because educated people like us do not realise the need for our voices be heard. We wait until we, individually, are threatened and only then raise our voices (sometimes). By that time its usually a little too late. So why not, correct the mistakes made by our uneducated masses through awareness. Although they may be responsible for some of the problems, they are not to blame as much as we are. They are illiterate so they have a lesser degree of understanding of the true motives of the politicians. But we are literate, and moreover, many of us are also educated. We have full understanding of what they don't. So it becomes our responsibility to make the corrections.
"A man can get discouraged and can fail many times, but he is not a failure until he begins to blame somebody else and stops trying." - John Burroughs
So from now on, we must stop blaming the illiterate masses and blame ourselves. And before others start blaming us, we must make a move...
- M.S.
Lets see what really happens. The educated people of our country very conveniently blame the uneducated and illiterate masses for choosing (electing) the leaders who eventually prove to lead the country towards no good. We deem them responsible for the problems by pointing out their lack of knowledge and consciousness. But are the illiterate masses really the one to be blamed? This question is for all the educated people. What have we, the educated, done to undo the mistakes of the illiterate masses? What have we done to rectify the wrongs made by the "majority" of the uneducated people? And what have we done to improve their condition?
Hmm...a difficult question, eh? Its because educated people like us do not realise the need for our voices be heard. We wait until we, individually, are threatened and only then raise our voices (sometimes). By that time its usually a little too late. So why not, correct the mistakes made by our uneducated masses through awareness. Although they may be responsible for some of the problems, they are not to blame as much as we are. They are illiterate so they have a lesser degree of understanding of the true motives of the politicians. But we are literate, and moreover, many of us are also educated. We have full understanding of what they don't. So it becomes our responsibility to make the corrections.
"A man can get discouraged and can fail many times, but he is not a failure until he begins to blame somebody else and stops trying." - John Burroughs
So from now on, we must stop blaming the illiterate masses and blame ourselves. And before others start blaming us, we must make a move...
- M.S.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Right Decision?
Assalamualaikum.
I am a Muslim Pakistani. Several times before I have thought of starting a blog to express my views when I used to see something said or done against my religion or country but didn't do it. But this time I decided that the educated people of our country should speak up and finally created one. Let me tell you that I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't seen this post http://faisalqureshi.net/dont-let-the-internet-blackout-scare-you-keep-blogging-your-voices-matter/
This post was created by Faisal Qureshi, a person whom I see as a person trying to awaken the sleeping, educated youth of Pakistan.
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today what I want to express my views about is the banning of Facebook and YouTube in Pakistan by government telecommunication authorities. A page was created on Facebook several weeks ago which promoted blasphemous content against Islam. Thus, Muslims from all over the world started criticising and reporting that page. Many took up a defensive attitude and defended their religion on that page. In view of the situation Pakistan's government telecommunication authorities decided to block Facebook as well as YouTube which had several videos promoting the same blasphemous content. What I ask: was it The Right Decision?
What these authorities did not realize was that banning Facebook and YouTube was never the solution to this matter. If we close our eyes to reality, it does not mean that others won't see it. By doing so, the authorities removed one of the most powerful sources the Muslims of Pakistan had to counter this page. If these sources weren't banned there is a good chance that the Muslims would have been able to counter this issue more effectively.
Please also note, that I am in no way supporting the blasphemous content. I believe racism and religious discrimination are one of the greatest crimes and people involved in such should be punished accordingly.
Presently this issue is mostly resolved but the telecommunication authorities still maintain the ban on Facebook and YouTube along with some other websites as well. Once again what these authorities don't understand is that putting a ban on Facebook not only disconnected Pakistan socially with all other countries, it also caused much difficulties for those using information technology as a source of earning. Those who used Facebook for advertising, for communication throughout the world, for educational purposes and for assisting their household jobs all faced losses. In addition programmers who were making custom applications for earning also faced much difficulty.
All in all, these social networking sites are not just to make friends because if used effectively, they promote the development of IT, open up new sources for income as well as creating awareness among people. Similar is the case with YouTube. YouTube in addition to being a very powerful video advertising source was also helping students living in Pakistan by providing education related videos. But now these students are deprived of such facilities.
Thus, by banning such sites the people of Pakistan are suffering. IT is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in Pakistan. It is providing employment opportunities to a large number of people. I urge the government telecommunication authorities to look into this matter and take appropriate steps to rectify it immediately. Because if this matter is ignored, Pakistan will face yet another sector becoming useless...and that being the IT sector. So, since the matter is now mostly resolved, shouldn't this ban be lifted? Or are there other reasons for banning such powerful sources of spreading the views of the people?
Since I don't have Facebook anymore I have lost one of the most powerful ways to express and spread my ideas. So I need the help of all of you to spread this message to everyone you know and create awareness among them. I would be glad if this is read by telecommunication authorities so that they realize the gravity of the situation and act with responsibility.
And once again I ask all of you, was it The Right Decision?
I am a Muslim Pakistani. Several times before I have thought of starting a blog to express my views when I used to see something said or done against my religion or country but didn't do it. But this time I decided that the educated people of our country should speak up and finally created one. Let me tell you that I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't seen this post http://faisalqureshi.net/dont-let-the-internet-blackout-scare-you-keep-blogging-your-voices-matter/
This post was created by Faisal Qureshi, a person whom I see as a person trying to awaken the sleeping, educated youth of Pakistan.
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today what I want to express my views about is the banning of Facebook and YouTube in Pakistan by government telecommunication authorities. A page was created on Facebook several weeks ago which promoted blasphemous content against Islam. Thus, Muslims from all over the world started criticising and reporting that page. Many took up a defensive attitude and defended their religion on that page. In view of the situation Pakistan's government telecommunication authorities decided to block Facebook as well as YouTube which had several videos promoting the same blasphemous content. What I ask: was it The Right Decision?
What these authorities did not realize was that banning Facebook and YouTube was never the solution to this matter. If we close our eyes to reality, it does not mean that others won't see it. By doing so, the authorities removed one of the most powerful sources the Muslims of Pakistan had to counter this page. If these sources weren't banned there is a good chance that the Muslims would have been able to counter this issue more effectively.
Please also note, that I am in no way supporting the blasphemous content. I believe racism and religious discrimination are one of the greatest crimes and people involved in such should be punished accordingly.
Presently this issue is mostly resolved but the telecommunication authorities still maintain the ban on Facebook and YouTube along with some other websites as well. Once again what these authorities don't understand is that putting a ban on Facebook not only disconnected Pakistan socially with all other countries, it also caused much difficulties for those using information technology as a source of earning. Those who used Facebook for advertising, for communication throughout the world, for educational purposes and for assisting their household jobs all faced losses. In addition programmers who were making custom applications for earning also faced much difficulty.
All in all, these social networking sites are not just to make friends because if used effectively, they promote the development of IT, open up new sources for income as well as creating awareness among people. Similar is the case with YouTube. YouTube in addition to being a very powerful video advertising source was also helping students living in Pakistan by providing education related videos. But now these students are deprived of such facilities.
Thus, by banning such sites the people of Pakistan are suffering. IT is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in Pakistan. It is providing employment opportunities to a large number of people. I urge the government telecommunication authorities to look into this matter and take appropriate steps to rectify it immediately. Because if this matter is ignored, Pakistan will face yet another sector becoming useless...and that being the IT sector. So, since the matter is now mostly resolved, shouldn't this ban be lifted? Or are there other reasons for banning such powerful sources of spreading the views of the people?
Since I don't have Facebook anymore I have lost one of the most powerful ways to express and spread my ideas. So I need the help of all of you to spread this message to everyone you know and create awareness among them. I would be glad if this is read by telecommunication authorities so that they realize the gravity of the situation and act with responsibility.
And once again I ask all of you, was it The Right Decision?
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