Friday, June 23, 2006
US lawmakers assure Pakistani-Americans of support
WASHINGTON: The Pakistani-American Congress was assured by several US lawmakers on Wednesday of their support for the cause of Pakistan and stronger Pakistan-US relations.
These assurances came in the annual meeting of the nationwide body of Pakistani-Americans on Capitol Hill.
Sen Tom Harkin from Iowa reminded the conference that the first mosque in America was built in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He expressed great praise for the Pakistani-American community, especially for Pakistani doctors who were providing healthcare to small communities across his state. He said that in the last 50 years, the United States had had no better ally and no closer friend than Pakistan. He urged young Pakistani-Americans to become a part of the mainstream and to get to know and uphold their constitutional rights. He also had high praise for the role Pakistan is playing in the war against terrorism, which he described as a âwar between civilisation and barbarismâ. He said that those who practice terrorism in the name of Islam, do not represent Islam, âas the Crusaders from an earlier age did not represent Christianityâ. He called the Crusaders the âAl Qaeda of their dayâ.
He rejected the Huntingtonian view that the world today is wiutnessing a clash of civilisations. He said that he would not like the United States to be known solely as the greatest military power, but as âa country which stands for democracy and constitutionalismâ.
Harkin compared the United States to a stained glass window. âIt is a country where people of different cultures, races and colours live together in amity. That is the true America,â he said. He said that terrorism was âa curse and must be foughtâ, but likened the war against terrorism to âsomeone trying to kill a fly with a shotgunâ. He regretted that $350 billion had been spent on the war in Iraq to date. âJust think how many schools and hospitals could have been built with a pittance of that sum of money,â he said.
He recalled with affection his last visit to Pakistan and to the city of Peshawar. âI was among friends and I never felt threatened,â he said. He said that Pakistan should return to civilian rule âas soon as possibleâ. There had been military governments in Pakistanâs history but that should not necessarily be Pakistanâs future. He called Pakistan âa wonderful country with wonderful peopleâ. He added that the doors of his office were always open to young Pakistani-American interns, but pointed out that none had come forward this year.
Congressman Dale E Kildare from Michigan recalled with nostalgia his days at Edwardes College, Peshawar, where he was once a student. He greeted the conference in Urdu but confessed that over the years he had forgotten his Pushto. However, he did manage to recall a Pushto greeting amid loud cheers. He chuckled when he narrated how he had amused President Pervez Musharraf by remarking âkhoobsoorat haiâ, on noticing someone deserving of the compliment. He said that Islam was âa great religion which taught man submission to the will of God and to live in peace on earthâ. He had great praise for Pakistani doctors, both for their skills and for their public spirit and their willingness to serve even small communities in far-flung areas. He called the United States a âmosaicâ of which Pakistani-Americans are a part. âYou can remain loyal to your roots and yet be an American,â he said. He called himself an Irish-American and said he loved both the country from where his forbears had come and the country of which he was a proud citizen. He urged Pakistani-Americans to remember their roots and also be good citizens of the country which they had chosen as their home and the home of their children.
Ambassador Mahmood A Durrani, in his first public appearance in Washington since his arrival earlier this month, said that it made him proud when he saw how well the Pakistani-Americans had done in this country. âYou do us all proud,â he added. <span style='color:red'><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>He said that today the base of Pakistan-US relationship was âa narrow oneâ, but he was confident that with the passage of time it would broaden.</span></span> He was confident that the relationship between the two countries was sound and its long-term future full of promise. khalid hasan
US lawmakers assure Pakistani-Americans of support
WASHINGTON: The Pakistani-American Congress was assured by several US lawmakers on Wednesday of their support for the cause of Pakistan and stronger Pakistan-US relations.
These assurances came in the annual meeting of the nationwide body of Pakistani-Americans on Capitol Hill.
Sen Tom Harkin from Iowa reminded the conference that the first mosque in America was built in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He expressed great praise for the Pakistani-American community, especially for Pakistani doctors who were providing healthcare to small communities across his state. He said that in the last 50 years, the United States had had no better ally and no closer friend than Pakistan. He urged young Pakistani-Americans to become a part of the mainstream and to get to know and uphold their constitutional rights. He also had high praise for the role Pakistan is playing in the war against terrorism, which he described as a âwar between civilisation and barbarismâ. He said that those who practice terrorism in the name of Islam, do not represent Islam, âas the Crusaders from an earlier age did not represent Christianityâ. He called the Crusaders the âAl Qaeda of their dayâ.
He rejected the Huntingtonian view that the world today is wiutnessing a clash of civilisations. He said that he would not like the United States to be known solely as the greatest military power, but as âa country which stands for democracy and constitutionalismâ.
Harkin compared the United States to a stained glass window. âIt is a country where people of different cultures, races and colours live together in amity. That is the true America,â he said. He said that terrorism was âa curse and must be foughtâ, but likened the war against terrorism to âsomeone trying to kill a fly with a shotgunâ. He regretted that $350 billion had been spent on the war in Iraq to date. âJust think how many schools and hospitals could have been built with a pittance of that sum of money,â he said.
He recalled with affection his last visit to Pakistan and to the city of Peshawar. âI was among friends and I never felt threatened,â he said. He said that Pakistan should return to civilian rule âas soon as possibleâ. There had been military governments in Pakistanâs history but that should not necessarily be Pakistanâs future. He called Pakistan âa wonderful country with wonderful peopleâ. He added that the doors of his office were always open to young Pakistani-American interns, but pointed out that none had come forward this year.
Congressman Dale E Kildare from Michigan recalled with nostalgia his days at Edwardes College, Peshawar, where he was once a student. He greeted the conference in Urdu but confessed that over the years he had forgotten his Pushto. However, he did manage to recall a Pushto greeting amid loud cheers. He chuckled when he narrated how he had amused President Pervez Musharraf by remarking âkhoobsoorat haiâ, on noticing someone deserving of the compliment. He said that Islam was âa great religion which taught man submission to the will of God and to live in peace on earthâ. He had great praise for Pakistani doctors, both for their skills and for their public spirit and their willingness to serve even small communities in far-flung areas. He called the United States a âmosaicâ of which Pakistani-Americans are a part. âYou can remain loyal to your roots and yet be an American,â he said. He called himself an Irish-American and said he loved both the country from where his forbears had come and the country of which he was a proud citizen. He urged Pakistani-Americans to remember their roots and also be good citizens of the country which they had chosen as their home and the home of their children.
Ambassador Mahmood A Durrani, in his first public appearance in Washington since his arrival earlier this month, said that it made him proud when he saw how well the Pakistani-Americans had done in this country. âYou do us all proud,â he added. <span style='color:red'><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>He said that today the base of Pakistan-US relationship was âa narrow oneâ, but he was confident that with the passage of time it would broaden.</span></span> He was confident that the relationship between the two countries was sound and its long-term future full of promise. khalid hasan