I would say that Marvi Memon’s article of October 27 comparing Pakistan and France was not particularly insightful.
KARACHI: I would say that Marvi Memon’s article of October 27 comparing Pakistan and France was not particularly insightful. What is most important to note about the French Revolution is that it happened after the French Enlightenment. People talk about a revolution in Pakistan but there is no sign of a Pakistani enlightenment. Also, note that the French Revolution led to massacres, three constitutions in the space of five years, rule by terror, civil war, the banning of religion and closing down of places of worship and religious instruction, several foreign wars that left millions of French dead and a military dictatorship which lasted 15 years. The dictatorship itself left many more millions dead and inspired the growth of nationalism and unification of France’s nemesis for the next 150 years — Germany.
If we want revolution, are we prepared for Pakistan to go through all of this?
I Zaidi
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2010.
