Micro-Reform

First off, I apologize for being AWOL for a good 3 months or so. I never expected that moving to Karachi would be such a huge culture shock; mostly because of the economic and intellectual disparity that has the city visibly divided into the rich and the poor.

On the flip side, it gave me ample time to accrue content for this blog and reflect internally. More importantly, it gave me enough time to get a good barometer on what the common man's notion for reform is.

And its disturbing.

The overwhelming consensus was one of dismay: The "common" men that I spoke with (taxi drivers, shopkeepers etc) all seemed to be waiting for some giant gubernatorial reform to help the country. They firmly believed that they were completely insignificant in the grand scheme of things and essentially powerless in their struggle. Part of their arguments make sense; I can see how they have several of their own battles to fight everyday- just so that they can provide for their families. Worse yet, the common man has ZERO protection or respect from the law and the police. Money talks, and everyone listens.

But thats where these people are wrong! There is no magic messiah that is going to come and abracadabra them out of their misery. What the hell is a giant shift in government going to do? NOTHING. We, as a nation, are flawed at the core. Unless and until all of us implement our reform WITHIN ourselves nothing is going to change. Its a pretty simple formula: maximize your effeciencies at the micro level and watch that ripple effect turn into a massive tidal wave of reform at the end.

In plain speak, everybody needs to become the model citizen REGARDLESS of what anybody else is doing. It dosent matter if there arent any trashcans on the street because our municipal system sucks. No, as a model citizen, it is incumbent on YOU to hold on to your trash and dispose of it at home. You STOP at red lights regardless of whether anyone else does or not. It dosent say much about a person if he/she uses the old "but THEY did it too!" excuse to justify anything they did. Be your own person; strong and proud.

"Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why." - Bernard Mannes Baruch

Ask why. Everyday. To everyone you see.

Its scary: I see a country with millions of people walking around in a daze; asleep with their eyes wide open.

Wake up.

Please.