16 December - A day to mend our ways

16 December came and went again with usual rubbing of salt over two gross wounds of this nation. They say 'change or perish', we better change our ways or brace to perish because a nation created on lofty ideology must learn from its past or be an example for others to dread. 
Dismemberment was ugly and painful to this day. Ideology of Pakistan didn't perish but a part of it did. In the end, Bengalis chose to be Bengalis but it was never a happy marriage. No matter how much we blame India and no matter how much schizophrenic modi takes pride in 1971 debacle, let's admit it was our societal decay particularly self proclaimed high handedness of West over East born out of slave mindset, a dark legacy of gora sb. Secondly, political shortcomings which led to an embarrassing military defeat and dismemberment of the country. What kind of arguments would change that? Let's accept, we all failed. After Jinnah, we never had political leadership which could manage current crisis with an eye on future challenges.
Second rather fresh wound was APS Peshawar. Again we all failed. Terrorism was running riot in this country for over a decade and there was again dearth of leadership which could have envisaged such a calamity. At the turn of the century, it was Dictator Musharraf (under trial for high treason), Zardari (under investigation for corruption of billions) & Nawaz Sharif (convicted in corruption) which says a lot about the quality of leadership at the helm of affairs during build up years of terrorism in the country which led to heart wrenching cold-blooded genocide of our children. Again leadership failed, intelligence gathering failed, intelligence interception mechanism failed, QRFs failed, LEAs failed, interior ministry failed, entire political & military hierarchy failed. We all failed to protect those little angels. It was a calamity worse than what Bani Israel had to bear at the hands of Pharoah.
Little salt in old wounds on a day like this is a stark reminder for us to learn as a nation. But are we learning? Lately, like hoctchpotch of extremist nationalist hindu theocracy across borders, we are also becoming intolerant of everything. May it be ideas, individuals or groups, we are eager to settle the issue there and then whether its home, office or life in general. Politicians whether in power or in opposition ooze hatred for each other. Hitherto noble, revered and educated professionals like doctors & lawyers are at each others' throats.
Are we waiting for another disaster to hit and ravage us like above narrated two? This has to stop. First and foremost is Prime Minister who has to check his arrogant and disdainful language for opponents, then his team of bullies, then opposition, then media and then rest of us. In the end, when we fail, all of us fail then why not change our ways before another collective failure is added to our resume
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.