[Dawn] IN today's Pakistain, plagued as it is by extremism and inter-religious, ethnic- and sectarian-based tension, there are plenty of occasions to justifiably accuse the state of doing little to stem the black tide threatening to engulf the country. On the one hand, instances are readily available where elements from within the state and its machinery have actively or through shameful passivity supported those that seek to turn Pakistain into a society of narrow-minded ideologues. On the other, examples abound of the state not having the will even to make improvements in sectors under its control. Nowhere is this more visible than in the textbooks being used in large parts of the country. From the findings of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, which undertook a content analysis of the books for primary and secondary schools published by the Punjab and Sindh textbook boards, it would seem that referring to the curricula as 'hate-filled' is no overstatement. The report Education or Fanning Hate finds that these books contain material that would create and entrench in students' minds prejudice against religious minorities, both within Pakistain's borders and elsewhere, distort history and foment the conspiratorial mindset that is at least part of the reason why this country has come to the current pass. What's worse, while textbooks have been revised over the past three decades, it seems that hate content has increased manifold over time.
In other words, whatever efforts Pakistain may make to curb extremism in society in general, they are destined to be eroded by school curricula that send poisoned minds out into the world. Must it remain this way, given that reviewing and cleaning up textbooks is technically amongst the easiest of changes to achieve? There is no shortage of experts who can provide sound advice in this regard, and plenty of examples that can be followed. Purging school curricula of hate material would not be a politically divisive ...politicians call things divisive when when the other side sez something they don't like. Their own statements are never divisive, they're principled... matter. All that is required is a state with the will to do what needs to be done. And yet, such a place is Pakistain that it remains a moot point whether that will can ever be mustered up.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/05/2012 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
Read the title and thourght of Saudi or Pakistan(our allies LOL)
Someone scheduled a mandatory attendance campaign stop for the president at Fort Bliss last Friday. They did get the large crowd they wanted for their photos, but someone neglected to order the troops to be enthusiastic.
#1
Half the harm that is done in this world
Is due to people who want to feel important
They don't mean to do harm
But the harm does not interest them.
Or they do not see it, or they justify it
Because they are absorbed in the endless struggle
To think well of themselves.
#2
This speaks to a larger issue. Soldiering didn't use to be a 9-5, every week end off, with an extra "training holiday" tagged on to Labor Day and other holidays. Two hour lunches for wet nursing. Leaving early for kids doctor's appointments, etc.
I personally have absolutely no use for the fellow, but if the mission is 'go to the hanger and listen to the Commander in Chief', then dimmit....smile, ruck up, head to the hanger and soldier on!
#3
...and it wasn't that long ago, that soldiering was forced upon a male citizen whether he wanted to go or not. Turn 18 and you still have to register.
It takes about 2 years to make a good quality soldier, not cannon fodder. It costs a lot of money to make one. Got to remember a quarter applying are disqualified for education reasons. Another quarter are physically unfit. These aren't your John Kerry dregs of society types anymore. You can only pile up so much horse-s**t before you lose all that investment. It's the proverbial straw that one day breaks the camel's back. Just add another reason to a growing problem.
#8
g(r)om, not sure about the IDF, but we have an old saying that goes something like this:
The soldier's job is to defend democracy, not participate in it.
You man-up and do the job. "Salute and execute" as OS indicated. Bitching and moaning comes later, and is expected. A soldier who never bitches bears close watching, it ain't normal.
#9
According to the article, the troops were quite during the speech, even when the punch lines were delivered.
I was once at an arena where one of the shows was put on by a performer the locals did not like. The performer put on about a 20 minute routine. It was pretty good. But at the end when the MC called for applause from a couple thousand human beings, the place was as quite as a cemetery. The people were as cold as ice.
#10
Disrespectful! Bad juju. I don't care how big a SOB he is, he's still the boss!
No clapping, no problem, got it! Clapping is an acquired skill, I understand. Time for a no-notice 5k "fun run" with 5k of clapping to the cadence. Leaders out front! Regular PT schedule in effect tomorrow... if we can give our battle buddies a big round of applause. How about it, Hooah?
#11
Besoeker. This is bull. There never was an army (not one which actually won battles) where loyalty didn't go both ways. Spoiling troops' weekend without operational reason is disloyal.
#13
Never in the military, but if this ruined my kid's weekend at home (USMC, retired) I'd be quite angry!
Posted by: Bobby ||
09/05/2012 18:17 Comments ||
Top||
#14
yep, loyalty is a 2 way street; once aboard USS CV, Jimmah came on to talk to da troops; we were ordered to attend. they didn't tell us which way to stand; lot of interesting things outside them hangar bay doors........
this was after the Desert One fiasco.
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IN today's Pakistain, plagued as it is by extremism and inter-religious, ethnic- and sectarian-based tension, there are plenty of occasions to justifiably accuse the state of doing little to stem the black tide threatening to engulf the country. On the one hand, instances are readily available where elements from within the state and its machinery have actively or through shameful passivity supported those that seek to turn Pakistain into a society of narrow-minded ideologues. On the other, examples abound of the state not having the will even to make improvements in sectors under its control. Nowhere is this more visible than in the textbooks being used in large parts of the country. From the findings of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, which undertook a content analysis of the books for primary and secondary schools published by the Punjab and Sindh textbook boards, it would seem that referring to the curricula as 'hate-filled' is no overstatement. The report Education or Fanning Hate finds that these books contain material that would create and entrench in students' minds prejudice against religious minorities, both within Pakistain's borders and elsewhere, distort history and foment the conspiratorial mindset that is at least part of the reason why this country has come to the current pass. What's worse, while textbooks have been revised over the past three decades, it seems that hate content has increased manifold over time.
