Adil Najam
I tend to be fairly conservative in my use of language. There are very few things that bothers me as much as the use of inappropriate language. Yet, I do not know what other title I could give to the two videos below.
What these people are doing is not just stupid and unsafe, it should be criminal because they are putting their entire neighborhoods in danger. Look at just how jam-packed this neighborhood is and imagine the possibilities of calamity.
Also, how old is that child (in the first video) who is allowed to fill his mouth with kerosene and through it into a flame of fire? Now look at the second video; is he trying to put the entire mohalla on fire or only trying to burn those people sitting on the road?
There are very few avenues aleast in Karachi for people to free their pent up energy…Cinema culture is dead, parks are few and far between, apart from cricket there arent opportunities for people to play sports, or be members of clubs/libraries…To be honest, apart from eating food, or visiting the beach theres nothing that poor Karachittes can do…Its no wonder they take the silencers off their bikes and roam clifton beach, or as Bilal pointed out lose control in a frenzy when given the opportunity…
Lack of civic sense,respect of fellow beings and law, and abundance of anarchy. Kids activity in the videos is only a sample of what is happening across the country in different ways. Entire nation, it appears, does not know where it is heading and extrapolation to future is even more depressing.
We need to focus on building institutions - a slow process but with promising end results.
Basant is not the only celebration where people easily get out of control. Just last weekend I happened to be at the Clifton Beach in Karachi. It was Eid and large groups of young men and women (mostly men)had assembled at the beach to ‘picnic’ together. The celebrations started with throngs of men dancing around Suzuki pickups blaring loud Indian music but it only took minutes before the dance turned into an all out kicking and fist fighting contest. Men were seen laughing and punching anybody in sight just to get their adrenaline rush going….and I was utterly embarassed (and worried about safety) in front of my non-Pakistani visitor.
Unfortunately, Safety is the last priority in our country!!
May be fine cops like these should be called to bring order to Basant:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007 1\10\story_10-1-2007_pg13_2
:)
All these behaviors are part of our character as a nation. Such acts will continue to happen during Basant or otherwise unless we recognize the continued deterioration and try to do something about it.
Pathetic behavior.
But what about the neighbours filming this. The ddo not seem bothered. Do theynot realize how much danger this is putting them in?
You are right in pointing out to the negative aspect of our national psyche. We misuse every occasion and opportunity and endanger other rights and lives in the process. I don’t think Basant is such a bad as it is portrayed by a section of our society but the way we celebrate it is wrong and unjustifiable.