Ive always been a die hard fan of cartoons (meaning I still am). Back in ’92 I remember watching them on Saudi TV; all sorts of legendary cartoons like the SwatKats, Johnny Quest and other. At around 5pm everyday, they’d suddenly cut the cartoons in the middle and start a football show with a lion on the logo. And in my vague tunnel of memory, I can only remember one team. The Red Devils, dressed in their Sharp-sponsored shirts. I can also remember only one player in those early days: A Frenchman with short hair and raised collars: Eric Cantona.
As Manchester United lifted their Barclays Primiership Trophy today for the 3rd consecutive time and 11th time in total (taking their tally of total league championships to 18), I felt a strong sense of pride in not just being the die hard supported of ManU, but also because it’s just always been ONE team for over 17years. Manchester United are, without a doubt, one of the greatest football clubs in the world and certainly the best that the UK has seen in its football history.
Now its not just a club; it’s a family, a society, an association. What amuses me a lot though is how people who have absolutely no idea whatsoever of football coming up to me and warning me how random teams (like Arsenal, Chelsea etc.) are going to beat ManU next season. Let’s just wait for the 27th and hope that history is made once again in an apt place like Rome when ManU successfully defends its Champions League title against Barcelona.
Ok don’t get me wrong here. By the word Idolization, I don’t really mean carving out the vague figure of a man on a piece of stone and then garnishing it with flowers (no offense to other religions). What I mean is that at any time in life, a person should have an idea of what kind of a man he wants to become after a certain period. Rather than knowing what his Idol’s favorite cola drink is, the person should know what the Idol stands for; his beliefs, his goals, his values. A person should be able to look up to this man (or woman) and be inspired. After all, in the world according to myself, life revolves around the Theory of Inspiration.
As for the obvious question “Who to idolize?” I guess what’s important is not so much “who to Idolize”, but rather “what to Idolize”. You should be able to recognize the good aspects of a person and earmark them as your own paradigms. Even heroes had flaws and villains had praiseworthy traits.
Hitler gave the world the VW Beetle and Albert Einstein never wore socks.
I've paid my dues - Time after time - I've done my sentence But committed no crime - And bad mistakes I've made a few I've had my share of sand kicked in my face - But I've come through
We are the champions - my friends And we'll keep on fighting - till the end - We are the champions - We are the champions No time for losers 'Cause we are the champions - of the world -
I've taken my bows And my curtain calls - You brought me fame and fortuen and everything that goes with it - I thank you all -
But it's been no bed of roses No pleasure cruise - I consider it a challenge before the whole human race - And I ain't gonna lose -
We are the champions - my friends And we'll keep on fighting - till the end - We are the champions - We are the champions No time for losers 'Cause we are the champions - of the world -
Theres something that bothers me sometimes. It might come as a very blunt thought but it does nevertheless succeed and keeping me awake at night. I studied hardcore mechanical engineering subjects at university. I worked on the assignments and projects; passed the quizes and the tests and the exams. Ive got a medal to show for getting the highest gpa and a medal for the best final year project. Why did I join Unilever then? and where is my career going from here? If management was something that I (might be) good at, then why did I work so hard in engineering? Operations management teaches you crap about engineering. If thats where my life is headed (IF), then how can I justify all the hard work I did at NUST? These days, questions are just leading me to more questions. Thats not a good sign.
The Common Man: Im so poor I cant afford the basic necessities of life. Wheat, pulses and meat; its all out of my range! How can I fill the stomach of my hungry children at home?
Sharif: Oh thats too bad. I can afford all that so I dont give a rat's ass about your sorry state of life. However, the judges should be reinstated, so I must take the next 1st Class flight to London, stay at a 7 star hotel for a couple of days, and meet up with the rest of my buddies to make sure that the judges are reinstated.
The Villager: Theres no electricity in my village! We can't do any work properly. It's very hot as well. My children burn from the heat without any fans working.
Zardari: Ah you shouldve come to the city then, silly man!
The Common Man: But theres no electricity in the city either!
Imran: Dekhen jee...the stability of the whole nation depends on the reinstatement of the judiciary. All your problems will be solved only then. From washing your underwear to fixing your lightbulbs!
The Common Man: Today the Rupee lost its value by more than 3%!
Sharif: Woops! Time to make another trip to merry ol' england, stash my pockets with Sterling, and bring it back and buy another plot of land in Raiwand!
Qazi: Protest! Protest!
Zardari: The hell are YOU protesting about?
Qazi: Someones stolen my Jinnah cap! I appeal for a nationwide strike tomorrow!
The Common Man: But what about my small shop in Layari? How will I feed my hungry children tomorrow?
Aitezaz: Exactly! How will I feed my hungry French poodle if Agha's is closed tomorrow?
Qazi: Hmmm...and the dog food prices have gone sky-high....hmmmm.............Protest! Protest! I appeal for a nationwide strike day after tomorrow as well to protest against the rising dog food prices!
Sharif: But the judges should be reinstated!
Imran: Dekhein jee, its all the general's fault.
Ishaq: The State Bank is rubbish! Foreign investors are rubbish! The Euro is rubbish! The dollar is rubbish! Rubbish is rubbish!
The Common Man: Your comments are decreasing the value of the rupee versus the dollar!
Ishaq: Good! Hail the Euro!
The Common Man: Rupee is already crushed under the Euro!
Ishaq: Good! Hail the Sterling!
The Common Man: What?!
Zardari: Hmm I've already met Nawaz in London, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Dubai. hmm maybe meeting him in Timbuktu should solve the judges problem
The Common Man: Judges?! Screw the judges! The prices of petrol and diesel have skyrocketed!
Nawaz: Ah good thing my 60 Million rupee Land Cruiser drinks only a liter per mile
Zardari: Huh? How come my 75 Million rupee Land Cruiser drinks 2 liters per mile??! Gilli! Explain!
Gillani: Er..umm...Because your Land Cruiser is the only one that doesnt have a murdering sunroof lever!
Zardari: Fair enough
Qazi: Protest! Protest! Someone stole my Lota!
Fazal: Huh? What? Who called me?
Sharif: But the judges should be reinstated!
The Common Man: Im a man on daily wages. I earn 170 rupees a day. NOTHING worth eating is affordable. Wheat, daal, chicken, beef, tomotoes, apples, bananas NOTHING! Theres no electricity for more than 3 hours a day and its 50 degrees inside my shack of a home. Ive got 6 children with non of them earning and i have elderly parents. We elected you to save us. We elected you to bring a change. I dont want to be another one of those permanently dispaired and depressed people who only sees the trigger of a gun as the only way to escape. Please help me. What do you have to say?
Sharif: But The judges should be reinstated!
Imran: Dekhin Jee, when I was in Oxford.......
Zardari: ......or maybe a meeting in Havanna?
Ishaq: Rubbish Rubbish Rubbish!
Sharif: But The judges should be reinstated!
Aitezaz: I call for the celebration of a black day followed by a day long hunger strike by all my stupid, poor, dignity-less slaves dressed in black and white suits! Otherwise I shall resign (or not)
