Happy Independence Day

Anyone who knows me will know I'm a huge fan of Brandon Flowers. Brandon often talks about his love for his home of Las Vegas and how he used to get goosebumps when he saw the sign: 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas'. I've never felt this way about my home of Norfolk (maybe because I haven't left it yet), but I always get those goosebumps when we touchdown in Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan and have done since I was a child. Brandon talked about how he realised Las Vegas is not quite as fabulous as the sign makes out as he got older and I've certainly realised that about Pakistan.

Pakistan represents to me my childhood, my family and a part of my identity and although it, understandably, gets very bad press I will always love it. There are a lot of bad things that come out of Pakistan, but it is also a very beautiful place; not only because of the natural beauty of the place itself but because of the people within it (I will most probably do a blogpost about Pakistani people I admire) and it holds some very beautiful memories for me; particularly memories from independence day.

Today is 14th August 2013 and it marks the 67th year of Pakistan's independence. It's unfortunate that the country was actually born out of conflict and sectarian violence between muslims and hindus. But it was created as a sanctuary and a unified country. As the national anthem states: "The order of this sacred land is the might of the brotherhood of the people". What's most upsetting is that, that idea has disappeared. The brotherhood doesn't exist and sectarian violence between different types of muslims seems to have taken over.

However, there are still good people and if there are good people, there is hope. It will take time and there will never be complete harmony, but I believe that Pakistan's 'brotherhood' will form once again. Then again, I'm just an 18 year old dreamer (but I am not the only one...)

Happy 67th Birthday Pakistan! May you have many more x


Links

Brandon Flowers- Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas (+ story)