It will be a privilege to publish letters from readers about articles written
in previous issues or giving suggestions. No letter will be printed which
indulges in personalized attacks or is meaningless in the context of DJ
To: Mr. Ikram Sehgal
Chief Editor
Defence Journal
Karachi, Pakistan
Dear Mr. Sehgal,
Already well into the New Year I would like to wish you and your family a happy New Year 2011. I had hoped to be able to start some kind of professional work from September 2010 onwards. But here I was quite mistaken. My treatment after illness and surgery went on for a far longer period and only now can I begin to slowly regain my strength. On the whole I have been alright, but my time was spent entirely concentrating on my health.
I have abandoned wanting to write about honour killings. The situation everywhere has become too tense, difficult and dangerous. I now wish to write only in an encouraging and positive manner, with as few negative aspects as possible. My sole aim is anyway to help create a better understanding between peoples of different cultures and religions.
So I am planning a series of interviews and articles and per-haps I can even compile these into a book. I shall be happy to send you these individual items, as soon as they are finished. But work progress all depends on my constitution, as my health must still come first.
The idea now is for me inter-view practicing Muslim believers here in Germany and Europe and to find out about their thoughts and emotions. What do they like, what do they dislike? But also: what do we like or dislike about their attitudes. My belief is that we can and should learn from each other. A contest of ideas. so to speak.
In a democracy, such a contest can be quite painful. as politicians sometimes need to digest even humiliating criticism, when critics become personal instead of staying factual. A lot of hypocrisy is also involved. Parties in power often make statements they would never make when in power. But together, leadership and opposition ensure that people are being listened to and receive some form of participation, which in turn often makes people more responsible.
What our society here in Europe lacks is the spiritual side of life. Matters of values and beliefs should be discussed to a far greater extent, I believe. I fear everything seems to be seen from a commercial angle; even obscenity is permitted, if it brings money! This must leave behind some negative effects on people’s character and morals.
On the other hand, the legal, political and social framework in European countries has helped us keep the peace here for more than 60 years – after having gone through two terrible world wars. Perhaps other countries can learn from this example.
Yet the future that is facing us with its many challenges will mean that all the rich countries will need to restrain themselves greatly. Climate change, natural disasters, poor harvests, depleting resources, financial crises, indebted households, – all these factors will in time force us to lead a more modest life. I believe.
I have followed events in Pakistan only occasionally, and I hope the country is moving for-ward and managing to successfully deal with the many difficulties. Our times will remain troubled everywhere, seeing the many changes taking place in the Middle East at present. But, as I have written once in an article: change is the only certainty. Personally I much prefer evolution to revolution: careful, small but effective reform steps in the right direction!
Now I have written quite a long letter, but then I hadn’t contacted you for many months.
I wish you and your family and everyone at the DEFENCE JOURNAL all the best for this year. Good health, good luck and good progress for the magazine and for Pakistan.
Kind regards,
Renee Schwaller
Translator / journalist
