Why do we turn all patriotic in August? What about the rest of the months? Before 14th August.....
Note:
Folks, we have opted to forego our editorial note in favour of this letter from Zainab Shakeel
Dear Editor,
Like every year, Independence Day has come and gone with people celebrating it with enthusiasm and joy. Days before August 14, the important landmarks, buildings and streets were decked out in green buntings and lights. Roadside stalls offering flags, caps, badges and masks did a whopping business. Like every year the countrymen observed this 14th August in a terrible way. Some went around the city riding their noisy bikes without silencers, waving green flags, chanting slogans at the top of their voice to show their love for Pakistan. Girls dressed up in green and white. At offices, cakes were cut. So what’s wrong with it? Nothing and everything!
Why do we turn all patriotic in August? What about the rest of the months? Before 14th August, it seems we tend to forget we love our country. We don’t care how we destroy its beauty when we mindlessly litter around. We don’t follow the country’s laws and cut corners whenever we can.
And, as soon as August 14 is over, we find buntings and flags scattered everywhere. Merely after one day, we lose our passion.
We must change our ways of celebration and make them constructive. We have a right to celebrate by cutting cakes, singing and listening to national songs and having fun any other way we want, but we live in troubled times and our country needs a lot more from us. Our country demands our attention, care and love throughout the year. Let’s make our celebrations constructive and effective for the betterment of Pakistan.
This August let us not let this fervour fade away. Let us show love and care for our country in the rest of the months as well by not making it dirty, by not violating rules, by showing tolerance towards others, by respecting our citizens, by caring for those who are deprived and also by planting trees to make our country as green as our flag.
Being annually patriotic is not what we owe to our Land because it requires our selfless service throughout the year.
Zainab Shakeel, Rawalpindi
Reflection
Narrated by Abu Bakar (R.A)
Allah's Apostle (S.A.W) said thrice, "Shall I not inform you of the biggest of the great sins?" We said, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle" He said, "To join partners in worship with Allah: to be undutiful to one's parents." The Prophet sat up after he had been reclining and added, "And I warn you against giving forged statement and a false witness; I warn you against giving a forged statement and a false witness." The Prophet kept on saying that warning till we thought that he would not stop.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 7
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