We are tolerant

This refers to the letter, ‘The virtues of our culture’ by Dr Mervyn Hosein (February 16). The majority of Pakistanis detest celebrating Valentine’s Day. However, our society is more tolerant in many aspects when compared with the West. Here, everybody is completely at liberty to throw garbage on the roads. No one stands against a marriage based on mutual understanding, provided the couple maintains strict secrecy. Many Pakistanis resent music in marriage functions but people have absolute freedom in wasting food.

We have our own standards of joy and happiness. Violations of traffic rules give us the kind of thrill and excitement that no other activity can. Jumping a queue gives us a sense of pride. Accumulation of wealth through unfair means inflates our egos. Rituals, we believe, compensate for our ill deeds. Why should anyone impose happiness and joyfulness on us? After all, gloom and doom are our cherished social values and it is our right to remain alien to the concept of love.

Dr Najeeb A Khan

Islamabad