Land of weapons

KARACHI: This is with reference to Sehar Tariq’s article “Land of weapons” (July 8). In our patriarchal society, displays of power are all too important. Machismo is the foundation on which our society is built.

Guns represent power - the bigger, the better. In our culture, a man’s importance is judged from the number of cars, guns and guards he possesses. To allow machismo to flourish, it becomes important for women to remain servile, delicate and mute mothers, daughters and sisters, requiring security from their male counterparts. Independent and strong willed women are considered an abomination by the protagonists of this culture.

I hope that the gun collecting, car loving, and women-protecting elite which sustains machismo is shown the door.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2010.