Erosion of our values: Westernization

HINA IMRAN (10U0143)

Cultures are like underground rivers that run through our lives and relationships, giving us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments, and ideas of self and other. Cultural messages from the groups we belong to give us information about what is meaningful or important, and who we are in the world and in relation to others -- our identities. Interestingly, when the cultural groups we belong to are a large majority in our community or nation, we are less likely to be aware of the content of the messages they send us. Cultures shared by dominant groups often seem to be "natural," "normal" -- "the way things are done" and are just taken for granted. We only notice the effect of cultures that are different from our own, attending to behaviors that we label exotic or strange.

 

 In Pakistan, since the last couple of decades, this is exactly what has been happening. We have been hit by a giant iceberg known as, “Westernization”, and now waves of change are gradually eroding our old cultural values. There are innumerable factors that have brought about this change over time and so it’s having a major impact on our society, specifically our YOUTH. Pakistani society is undergoing a massive cultural change rapidly. The deep rooted embedded cultural values in our society are becoming hollow and gradually fading away

Two major explanations can be given for this conflict: a) a lack of cultural knowledge, which may be responsible for poor identification with the Pakistani culture and/or b) the use of Western culture as a yard-stick of measurement of the cultural refinement of a person. Another reason may be due to deviancy from our religion, as a culture of any nation reflects its religion. We have stopped following our religion and have forgotten the difference between right and wrong.

The role of media is also enormous here. The media of today is exploiting the personalities of new generation. It presents the western world in such a glittering way that anybody can become its victim. I have seen many youngsters who have acquired the western culture like dressing, way of talking and eating…each and every thing reflects their obsession for the western culture. The European and American culture is slowly embraced in by our society because of the media. The TV channels show various newscasters and different characters in the dramas wearing westernized clothes. The catalogues, magazines, billboards etc clearly show the impact of westernization all over Pakistan. Focusing on the youth, they are more inclined towards adopting the Western Ways as they consider them superior to their own.

As a result, people are losing their individuality and Pakistan may lose its identity and eventually may cease to exist as a strong, independent, culturally-stable nation. Hence, today we are confronted today with a generation of youth unable to obtain strong, purposeful identities; a real "identity crisis" has occurred, raising a sigh of concern for the nation as a whole.

Power of Hope...

 by Hiba Kamran

I

mran khan is one of the most eminent of personalities of Pakistan. He is a former cricketer, who led the Pakistani cricket team to the World Cup victory of 1992. Moreover, now he is one of the leading politician of Pakistan as well as the founder of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital which is one of the largest charitable organizations of the country. Another feather in his cap is that through fund raising in established a college in Mianwali in 2008 which is formally known as Namal College.

Imran Khan is known for his social work. In 1991 he had founded the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust using funds and donations which exceeded 25 million dollars which had been raised by Imran Khan himself, from throughout the globe. Later, he opened a cancer hospital which offered free medical care to patients. In 2008, he inaugurated Namal College in Mianwali.

Imran khan is seen as an inspiration for many Pakistanis and especially for the youth of the country. Imran’s straight-forwardness and his constant opposition against the corrupt rulers and political parties of the country has compelled people to join him and his political party; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. This is majorly because Imran Khan is not seen as an illiterate corrupt politician and whose sole motive is to bring justice and run the country as Quaid-e-Azam had dreamed it to be. 

During Musharraf’s reign, Imran Khan was constantly threatened to be jailed due to his consistent support for the instatement of Supreme Court Judge; Iftikhar Chaudhry. During Musharraf’s era, Imran Khan had unfailing criticized the dictator for his wrong-doings irrespective of the fact that he was under consistent danger. This further strengthens Imran Khan’s credibility as a true and honest leader who is not afraid to point out the flaws in the ruling governments and their leadership.

30^th October 2011, was the day when Imran Khan’s undying efforts finally paid. His successful Jalsa which was held in Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore where crowds had thronged to support Imran Khan’s cause for a sovereign Pakistan. What some people forgot was that Imran Khan did not gain such political fame overnight, but he had worked tirelessly for the past 15 years in order to gain such backing and support. He gave up his lifestyle and family for Pakistan which is something not to be seen in our other ‘leadership’. As we all know, Mr. Khan is not from a political background and thus, he might not have the support of the leading leadership and their traditionalist followers, but he does have the everlasting support and love of the youth, the common man who is tired of seeing a few names run their country ruthlessly.

What amuses me more is that a few people are still not ‘sure’ whether Imran Khan is the right man or not. Questions are arisen out about the men who are politically favouring him; his party workers. What we forget is that if the leader is truthful, fair to his job, then those who are under him or with him are compelled to work like him and do as their leader says. Imran Khan is a hope for change, a hope for a brighter future of Pakistan and we as Pakistanis must never lose hope because as they say ‘umeed per dunya kaym hai’.