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Making of a president |
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KHURSHID ANWER, LAHORE |
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Harry Truman, the President of the US, on retirement owned only the house his wife had inherited from her mother and other than their years in the White House, they had lived their entire lives there. After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri themselves. There was no secret service following them. When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, “You don’t want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it’s not for sale.” As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food. Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency (and other political appointments), resulting in untold wealth. Political offices are now for sale. NB: the above is fiction; any resemblance to any living person is inadvertent. | |
President whom I want to present
With all due and or even over due respect for our legend Mr. Khurshid Anwer of Lahore whose profession or addiction or both is to write daily on variety of subjects covering international and national arena, I would like to augment, if not annoying, to what he said under the caption ‘ Making of a president’ flashed today in The Post.
No denying the fact he has quoted none but one of the presidents of the mightiest power on the face of earth and quite often they have been exemplary in different fields on various occasions. His foot note is really eye opening provided if some one, I doubt any one, in my beloved Islamic Republic of Pakistan can understand what the author Khurshid had said between the lines.
Reverting to my caption, I would avail this very opportune to pronounce that the present President of Iran Mr. Mahmood Ahmadinejad has surpassed all the records of simplicity and austerity. I have neither met him in person nor have been to Iran but nevertheless his many photographs posted on different web sites, flashed in newspapers and magazines over a period of time themselves speak aloud how down to earth he is. He shunned to
shift to President House which is his inborn prerogative and right but, instead, he chose to still live in the same house where he was born and raised. This house is too ordinary one where he continues to sleep on a mattress spread over the floor. He eats on a mat on the floor. Some months ago when he was serving the 1st term of presidency, his son was married and unbelievably there was no pomp and show whatsoever. The wedding photo graphs were amazingly shocking for others to believe which pictorially portrayed the wedding ceremony of the son of the President of Iran.
I am too naïve to comment that perhaps our recent history simply can not quote even any cabinet minister, what to talk of Head of Government, or for that matter, Head of State, to be so very simple. Needless to mention he is the same simpleton who has not bulged even an inch from his stand on Iran nuclear power programs despite so many sanctions slapped on it by different quarters for quite few years. He has proved as real iron man.
Finally I will pen that when he could withstand the onslaught of American Presidents why cant the certified 7th nuclear power named Pakistan can show teeth to the same super power? Keep it up Mr. President, Iranians were with you, are with you and will be with you since you have rightly earned both name and fame not for self but for nation.
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With my honest and solemn prayers
Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidixdiplomat@hotmail.com / Mobile 66229897
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