| November 04, 2008 | Tuesday | Ziqa'ad 5, 1429 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Impartial inquiry
Rising to the occasion
Govt failure to facilitate growers
Foreign aid worker willed burial in Kabul
Sherry’s job
Govt College protests
Channels’ freedom
Economic measures
Call of the needy
US living in denial
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
NO non-white could ever be elected as US president. That is the most conspicuous aspect of American history. The numerical majority of whites (about 68 per cent) alone couldn’t ensure all 43 US presidents since 1776 until now to be whites. Gerrymandering to affect apportionment of electoral votes, cumbersome process of scrutiny of party candidates by primaries/ delegates/committees and undeclared but avowed bias of whites for whites’ supremacy have actually hampered materialisation of an equitable power sharing formula between whites and non-whites. Given their size, non-whites should have 1/3rd pie in the power cake and hence every third US president should have been a non-white.
Nevertheless, the whites have been so averse to sharing power with non-whites that the latter had to wait as long as till 1870 to become a member of the House of Representatives (he was Jefferson Long from Georgia) or Senate (Hiram Revels).
Mere induction as cabinet minister was as late for non-white as 1966 when Robert C. Weaver became housing and urban development secretary. No US state had a non-white governor till 1990 when Virginia got Douglas Wilder as governor, Centre-staged portfolio of US cabinet couldn’t come to non-whites earlier than 2000 when Colin Powell was taken in there as a secretary of state.
Whether the whites are now willing to allow a non-white to become US president will be manifest on Nov 4 when polling for presidential electoral college will be held. The ‘electors’ thus chosen by people will elect president in Dececmber who will swear in on Jan 20.
That is why popular polling for ‘electors’ is the most decisive part of the entire process of presidential election there which spans over almost two years starting with selection by party primaries.
Hitherto, Americans voted for either of the two available options. That could only be ‘pro-life’, conservative Republicans or ‘pro-choice’, liberal Democrats — a ‘tossed-up’ scenario.
However, with the appearance of Sen Obama on the stage, the colour-factor has fully ‘coloured’ the traditional Republican-Democrat divide. That is how white Hillary (a Democrat stalwart) has recently joined hands with Sen McCain and non-white Colin Powel (a Republican proponent) switched over to Obama.
That is why Obama’s candidature scrutiny by party primaries and delegates lingered on for an abnormally long time till Hillary herself decided to quit the race.
Therefore, it is not difficult to assess as how many barriers non-white Obama had to cross prior to reaching the present high-rating position vis-a-vis white McCain. He was seen under spotlights through magnifying glasses but not even a semblance of blemish could be found on his personal character.
His personal qualities so far has neutralised almost the tirade. His innovative and down-to-earth ideas have made him the apostle of change. If non-whites are naturally affined to him, tax-ridden whites too see him as an antidote of the ongoing economic malaise.
Some observers also view unanimous support from Pakistani and Muslim community despite Obama’s stinging remarks for them to have been colour- generated. But, appraisal of the ground suggests that they are caught in a Hobson’s choice situation.
They don’t relish to go to Republicans who already have been bombing them for the last eight years. An untested person is always better than a tasted one.
Political pundits are now benumbed on their forecasts. Previously, they used to predict on the basis of opinion surveys of swing states as Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia because traditional stronghold states of either Republicans or Democrats are known to all. But, now every state looks in a state of swing.
While Obama may win over non-white votes of Republican states, he may lose white votes of Democrat states. This premise would not appear that baseless if incessant threats about ‘surprise for Obama’ from all Republican rallies are taken into account.
The last minute swing of white voters did happen in 1982 in California when Tom Bradly, a candidate for governor, turned out defeated despite his clear lead in all opinion surveys even till the polling date. Would the whites’ bias transform the hitherto ‘tossed-up American democracy’ into a ‘heads I win, tails you lose situation’ for non-whites this time?
If Obama gets elected as 44th US president, that would simply be recognition of his acumen. Otherwise, existence of American apartheid would be proved beyond doubt for all times to come. With such a racist face, America would be heading for a future never conceived by its founding fathers.
MUHAMMAD WAQAR ASLAM
Quetta
I WAS forced to write when I read the letter, ‘Plea for impartial inquiry’, by Dr Irshad Ahmed Sethi (Oct 26).
I am a doctor who worked with Dr (Prof) Iqbal Memon almost two years ago in his paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The overwhelming satisfaction that I got working for the poor patients that turned up from all over Pakistan, especially Sindh and Balochistan, was incomparable to any. I felt the need to share my first-hand knowledge with your readers, as they may have been misguided by the criticism.
Civil Hospital has four paediatric wards which cater for the entire population of our mega city and the adjacent remote interiors. The NICH is the other option. Poor patients who have been rejected by other hospitals as a case which will increase their morbidity and mortality are referred here or those who have no cash to offer come here.
Here the government has only a few free cannulae syringes, drip sets, chambers, medicines, etc, for the daily OPDs and emergency. Patients are then asked to arrange things by themselves.
Prof Memon’s ward has a charitable trust running alongside the ward. Through its funds, ‘Save Our Children’, it provides free investigations and free treatment to all the patients on its ‘on call’ days. Critical patients are sent to the PICU which is fully equipped with monitors, ventilators, etc.
All this is being run by Dr Memon. The management here is so good that patients prefer coming over here. Doctors and nurses have been employed from his funds to look after sick patients in the ICU and the nursery.
All ward children receive expensive treatment, regular routine investigations, multivitamins and even proper high caloric high protein diet for the severely malnourished children almost solely from his trust funds. The government has little role to play in it.
Diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malnutrition are the three killers of Pakistani children. Dr Memon’s ward caters for all three, in fact the diarrhoea treatment unit of the Civil Hospital is run by his ward doctors which has the highest number of patients, specially in summers.
The tetanus unit is also run by his ward. He is conducting workshops to train GPs for ARI (acute respiratory infections) throughout the year.
Another special feature is paediatric endoscopy that is only available here. You have no idea how many poor patients are benefiting from this unit. In fact, he has even made a seating and resting area under proper shade for patient’s attendants. They have nowhere to go when they literally migrate from their homes in search of treatment and then they have to sleep on the streets in the scorching sun, rain or chilly winters.
I am sorry for the patient who lost an arm, the cause of which needs to be determined. There is no excuse for negligence if there was any and, if proved, should be dealt with severely.
The health minister, the government of Sindh and the entire government of Pakistan should be held responsible because they have failed to give enough salaries to the noblest of professions. They have failed to cater for the needs of poor patients. They have failed to provide enough medicines, which have to be done by charity.
Doctors are working day and night to save lives without salaries. Do you know that MCPS and DCH doctors are not paid at all! Those that are paid, are paid less than drivers and maids. If they shun their duties to run clinics, they are justified because they have their own families to feed.
People like Dr Iqbal Memon are an asset to our nation as they are really doing more than their share.
FAIZA HEREKAR
Karachi
I RECENTLY read a news report regarding the arrest of a surgeon of Lahore Services Hospital and the ensuing protest by the hospital staff.
I would like to quote a clause from the Physician’s Oath, as adopted by the General Assembly of the World Medical Association: “I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity; the health of my patient will be my first consideration.”
Being a doctor myself, I have tremendous respect for my fellow colleagues, many of whom throw their lives in the line of fire in order to save their patients.
But it saddens me when the medical fraternity behaves in a manner that is unbecoming of their position in society.
While it is true that accusing a senior doctor – or any person for that matter – of murder is a serious affair, but to disrupt traffic and cause suffering to patients is also a crime in itself.
I believe that the hospital staff should have opted for a more peaceful, educated and civilised discourse in order to seek justice. After all, the pen is mightier than the sword.
It is a matter of concern that the torch-bearers of civility in our country are becoming involved more and more in civil disruption and causing much harm to society as a whole.
People who have the privilege of being educated, of knowing right from wrong, should rise above such disruptions.
DR DANISH SHAH TARIQ
Karachi
TOP government managers, including ministers and advisers, frequently talk about reforms these days in the agriculture sector.
Unfortunately, considering the reality on the ground, their plans remain either material for press conferences or points for talk shows, as most of them never get implemented
For example, the government as per the decision made at the Economic Coordination Committee meeting of the cabinet announced support price of paddy this year.
PASCO was supposed to open purchase centres, especially in the rice-growing districts, so that growers, instead of being fleeced by the middleman, would get a justifiable return of their product
Although the paddy crop has started coming into the market for a couple of months, we have not yet seen any purchase
centres in any of the rice-growing districts such as Larkana, Shikarpur and Jacobabad.
Producers are being fleeced by middlemen as instead of getting price for Rs700, as fixed by government, they are being paid up to Rs500 per maund (Irri 6).
Owing to deliberate obstacles created by the bureaucrcy and the banking sector, more than 90 per cent of growers are still getting loans required for their agriculture inputs from commission agents at interest rate of up to 40 per cent.
Furthermore, fertiliser such as DAP is never available on the rate fixed by the government.
The agriculture and irrigation departments which are supposed to be mandatory partners of the growers remain unapproachable. It looks that the system of monitoring is totally missing.
Using a commonly used phrase of Shaukat Tareen, I request our economic managers to think ‘out of box’ and change the style of governance.
The failure of PASCO to purchase paddy from growers, in spite of the government decision, should be investigated to emphasise that a decision taken should also be implemented.
Can we hope that this year the middlemen will not make a bumper profit as the one they made last year (they made a profit of almost 100 per cent).
DR S.M.SHAH
Shikarpur
IT is a shame that Taliban claimed the murder of the aid worker because she was not a Muslim. On the other hand, Ms Williams was so dedicated to the Afghans that she left in her will to be buried among the people she adored.
There are many Muslims who are living in Christian majority countries with honour and respect without any fear of being attacked or murdered. So what if the Christians believe in a different Holy Book and follow a different faith. The Quran does not place any compulsion on religion. Here is what the Quran says to the true believers:
“And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter” ( Q 2:4 )
The Quran tells Muslims to believe in the revelations sent to the prophets who came before the advent of Islam but Taliban, in defiance of God’s injunctions, killed the aid worker because she believed in the revelations sent to the Messenger who came before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
I see a serious contradiction here. Either the Quran which, in the view of all true Muslims, is a perfect book is not being understood or is being deliberately ignored.
It is very important that Muslims understand the Word of God and also read the history of Islam. When Muslims were being persecuted in Makkah by the Quraish in the time of the Prophet, it was the Christian king, Nagus of Ethiopia, who gave them the asylum and allowed them full freedom to practise their religion in his country.
The Prophet (pbuh) married Maria, a Coptic Christian of Egypt, who bore him his last child Ibrahim.
The incidents of this nature should be discussed and condemned by religious leaders at Friday congregations as heinous crimes opposed to the true spirit of Islam.
IFTIKHAR MUFTI
United States
REFERENCE Anjum Niaz’s suggestion that someone (read Sherry Rahman) should teach the prime minister how to pronounce ‘sovereignty’.
Well, heavens wouldn’t fall if the prime minister continued to mispronounce it.
My belief is that Pakistanis think our best revenge on the British for what they did to the Mughal Empire is to gang-rape their language.
See how we pronounce ‘was’ as waaz, ‘wall’ as waal, Paul as Paal, ‘school’ as iskool, ‘people’ as pippal, ‘sport’ as isport and ‘support’ as sport.
It does not matter how the prime minister pronounces it; what matters is whether he actually does something practical to safeguard our ‘saaver’nity’?
RIZWAN YASSIN
Karachi
We were shocked to read in the news that students of
Govt College (University), Lahore, had been arrested for protesting against the college policies.
It is unfortunate that the college has a practice of suspending students for missing one or two classes and then charging Rs1,000 to Rs8,000 for their readmission.
When the students protested, the college charged them with indiscipline, and also registered FIRs against some of them. Under what law?
Are students not allowed to protest in this democratic country? What is happening?
We understand that the chief minister is calling for quashing of the first information reports and instituting an independent inquiry, but that is not enough.
It is extremely important to investigate into the reasons why the college authorities are acting in this highhanded manner.
CONCERNED RAVIANS
Lahore
THE Oct 25 edition of Dawn carried two interesting write-ups: an article by S. Akbar Zaidi (‘Everyone is an economist’) faulting TV channels for giving self-styled economists a forum to advance convoluted ideas, and a letter by Mazhar Abbas (‘Credibility of TV channels’), defending TV channels’ freedom.
Mr Zaidi is justifiably unhappy about non-economists interpreting macro-economic implications of what is happening in Pakistan.
What is more important, though, is his admission that economists aren’t coming forward to undo what the non-economists are doing. Hopefully, the economists are listening.
But there is a more important point that Mr Zaidi overlooks. The seemingly unmanageable global financial crisis proves that economists, central bankers, financial sector regulators, and investment and commercial bankers are no longer trusted for giving the right advice. That’s tragic.
But weren’t they supportive of globalisation, liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation that led to eventual chaos?
As for classical economics, all its axioms and theorems begin with the proviso “all other things being constant,” are they ever constant?
Applied economics too assumes non-interference by economic powers, politicians and businesses that often prevents the achievement of economically logical goals.
Niall Ferguson’s account of long-term capital management (in his recent book The Great Crash), in which academic economists thought they had understood the secret workings of the markets, can make any reader laugh.
It is time the economists listened to independent opinion to refine their recommended remedies for putting economies back on track.
In spite of their commendable efforts in exposing financial and economic crimes, TV channels need to be more selective in inviting commentators; they should not become venues for propagating party manifestos.
Political parties must be made to implement, not just talk about their manifestos.
A.B. SHAHID
Karachi
INTERNATIONALLY, world governments have taken measures to protect their economies and stock exchanges. They have injected a great number of funds. They have reduced interest rates and bank reserve requirement rates. Australia, Japan and India are among these countries.
India has taken measures to strengthen their rupee while Pakistani rupee is continuously sliding down against dollar. The State Bank of Pakistan is taking too much time implementing the required or promised measures. It should hurry and take the right measures before it is too late.
TAHIR JAMIL
Lahore
WHERE are you Fakhr-i-Alam? The people of Balochistan need you.
Is there no celebrity who can step into his shoes? The magnitude of the challenge is much lower but the victims need help. Is there no one?
SYED ALI AHMAD
Karachi
WHITE House spokeswoman Dana Perino said recently that Pakistan has very serious problems pertaining to extremism and the economy (Oct 30). She also stated that the US was very concerned about these and remains willing to work with Islamabad.
However, Ms Perino spurned any suggestion that the US military strikes inside Pakistan were fuelling resentment against her country and stoking terrorism, denying “that we incited that, that it was our fault that terrorists attack.”
It is astounding how the American officials continue to deny reality. She would surely not have visited Pakistan, at least in the last year or two, nor does she appear to keep track of the local media. At least the US embassy in Islamabad would be informing them of things, but she is either pretending ignorance or the embassy isn’t doing its job properly.
Anyway, it is well-known that after the Sept 3 incursion by American marines inside Fata, when they killed about 20 people, mostly women and children, there was a huge reaction.
The government cut off the supplies of oil and other goods to the US-led forces in Afghanistan, even if for a day. Army Chief Gen Kayani gave a very strong statement, while the civilians residing in Fata took to firing upon intruding American helicopters and drones.
There was even an incident where the US accused Pakistani troops of opening fire on their choppers when President Zardari was visiting New York and he came out with the observation that the soldiers had fired warning flares but not bullets, to let the American forces know they were in our territory. In addition, a US drone had also crashed around that time, which the Taliban had claimed to have shot down, while the Pakistan Army spokesman had said it came down due to technical malfunction.
If this isn’t proof enough for Ms Perino, one would point out that tribal chiefs in Waziristan had said that if the Army chief decided to attack the American military base across the border, hundreds of thousands of tribal people would be willing to join them in the operation.
I hope this should convince anyone willing to accept reality that the Pakistanis are indeed very, very angry and unhappy about the American intrusions, and the Senate has also passed a strongly-worded resolution to the effect and the US envoy was summoned to the Foreign Office.
As far as her contention that American military operations do not stoke terrorism, let me quote what the former director-general of the British domestic spy agency MI5 had to say about the effect of the mainly US and British invasion of
Iraq.
“Look at what those people (in Britain) who’ve been arrested or left suicide videos say about their motivation. And most of them, as far as I am aware, say that the war in Iraq played a significant part in persuading them that this is the right course of action to take (Dawn, Oct, 21).”
What is true for the extremists who launched suicide attacks in the UK is also true for Pakistan and other violence-wracked countries. Surveys have shown that 70 to 80 per cent of the subjects of George Bush and his ‘tight buddy’ Musharraf, in the US and Pakistan, respectively, believe their country is headed in the wrong direction and the Iraqi invasion was a mistake.
This is no coincidence. But, the tragedy is that much of George Bush’s administration, from the top to the bottom, appears to have taken a vow to deny truth, even falsify it, till the last day of Mr Bush’s presidency.
ABDUL HAKIM
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.
