Pakistani Identity Crisis?

Hey everyone,

Two days ago, I was at a conference and there I met with an Indian. We were talking about stuff and suddenly he asked me: where are you from? I told him to take a guess. He said he was not sure and I encouraged him to take a guess! He started ranting off; American, British, European and I was like NO, NO and NO. He finally settled on: Canadian. He was so sure I was a Canadian, and he even picked out Toronto as my hometown. I told him: Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am from Pakistan and before you go on about anything else, I am 100% Pakistani. His jaws dropped.

I know there are lots of generalizations and stereotypes floating out there. Everyone's perception of what a Pakistani is basically someone who is short, dark, not so good looking and in the labor class. I wouldn't blame for thinking that way since majority of the Pakistanis in the Middle East are like that.

Which brings me to the point: what defines a Pakistani? Does it make less of a Pakistani if I listen to English songs, wear American branded clothes, watch Hollywood Movies and read Western novels? I dont watch cricket and I dont eat spicy foods nor drink tea, all of which is typical Pakistani. Does that make me less of a Pakistani? Does it make me less Pakistani if I dont wear my national dress? Or if I dont know the national anthem? I have lived abroad my whole life, and only two years in Pakistan when I went to the high school.

So sometimes it is very confusing for people like me who have lived abroad out whole lives to understand what it is to be a Pakistani. However, in my opinion, I think one is a Pakistani when one is a proud patriot of the country he/ she is from. I dont think one needs to wear the national dress, listen to Pakistani music, watch cricket and eat spicy foods to be a Pakistani. I identify with my country of Pakistan, and even though the political/ economic situation in the country is not worth mentioning, I still have a love for my country. Sure there are some things in the nation that I dont agree with, namely corruption, but that does not change the fact that I am a Pakistani. In fact, it only strenghthens my desire to do something for the betterment of Pakistan.

I think one is a Pakistani when one learns to love oneself and understands where one is coming from. In my case, I dont do all that what Pakistanis do, but in my heart I know I will always be a Pakistani. I will never in my lifetime say that I am half Pakistani half Saudi, or anything like that. I can fool a lot of people and say, I am half American half Pakistani and talk in an American accent, but I dont do that. In any case, I have a lot of fun telling people I am from Pakistan because it immediately breaks the stereotypical image, and people think: hmm, so not all Pakistanis are like what we thought they would be!

So, one is not a Pakistani when one listens to Pakistani music, wear the national dress, watch cricket, know the national anthem or speak Urdu. One is a Pakistani when one can identify with the nation of Pakistan and learns to be a patriot and proud of the country he/she is from.

Proud Pakistani,
Mansur