ABCD [American Born Confused Desi’s]; a common name given to the generation who were born and raised in the west but had a Desi (Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi) origin. But the generation that I belong to, face a very similar problem but for completely opposite reasons.

Say hello to the Desi Born Confused Americans (DBCA) and wanna-bee’s We opened our eyes in Zia’s conservative era with PTV and STN (local channels) as our only exposure to the world but as we grew old the American culture entered our lives through VCR, Satellite, Cable TV and Internet.

But first I want to give you the clear picture of the background where we opened our eyes. Our society like any other dysfunctional is divided into 3 classes. Upper, Middle and Lower class, these classes can further be divided into upper middle class and lower middle class. The criteria which decides our class in the society is a five letter word; “MONEY”. How freaking obvious eh?

So in a nut shell my generation was born and raised by educated but conservative parents. Our folks (parents) spent a good amount of their earnings on our education. The system of education was mostly American. Many of us enjoyed co education, so for us the concept of a guy and girl being friendly was not alien at all.

Now despite the fact that we Muslims claim to believe in equality, we are also proud of our ill logical association with the cast, school of thought, class we belong to. We are Sunni, Shia, Punjabi, Urdu Speaking, Balochi, Pathaan and Sindhi. But yes we hate Israelis because they are dividing the Muslims

A tourist was flying over Pakistan and asked a Pakistani Journalist who was also accompanying him;

“Who Lives on this land?”

He replied, “This piece of land is called Pakistan and Punjabi, Urdu Speaking, Balochi, Pathaan and Sindhi’s live here.”

The poor tourist inquired of his curiosity; ‘So where do the Pakistani’s live?’

So what actually happened when we hit puberty is quite interesting; we got interested in the opposite gender. Yes we got hold of the usual romantic films, where the couples had no problem expressing their love (or what they call it these days). And unlike PG-13 movies real couples do involve in actions which is quite normal for the loved birds but absolutely blasphemous for this society.

But as I have mentioned before we are a class based society. So each class faced different problems.

The Upper Class:

Coming straight from any Hollywood’s teen movie, this group had loads of daddy’s green to spend. Their parents are quite liberal; so they have the resources to party, screw, swap, get high and live the very American Dream they saw Paris Hilton living in Simple Life.

Their Confusion:

Why these cheap bastards’ are staring me, I am only wearing a see through dress on my sons Parents Teacher meeting?

I am into men, No wait I am into women… no wait, I am into …

Why do you find the concept of swapping complicated?

The Middle Class:

Most of them want to get married to their loved ones but thanks to the parents that have’ what our community will say if you will marry a Punjabi/ Sindhi/ Mahajir?’ mentality halts them to marry the person they thought they love and hence they are obligated to marry a complete stranger. Some guys have to take care of their families so they can’t marry the girl of their dreams. Sadly many of them end up hating their parents and their non sense principles.

This class has the majority of the so called ‘wanna be’s’. They want to be appearing like the upper class. So they spend day in day out to talk, walk , eat, smell like them.

Their Confusion:

Did my wife have an extra marital affair in her college or university days like me?

How can I earn more black money to get my children an upper class life style?

Is my teenage daughter having an affair? Or is my son on drugs?

The Lower Class:

Ever wondered what a guy with no education and no hope for a better future does? He either gets enrolled in a criminal gang or in a religiously fanatic organization. These gangs have a political mask/cover so the youth have no choice but to kill people, snatch mobiles, and become a drug junky.

We have witnessed a new generation of religious youth. Who are brains washed by the Mullahs who safeguard the future of their children by sending these idiots to heaven. So the fact that poverty breeds terrorism is not an alien concept in the third world country.

Their Confusion:

This world is unreal; shall I sacrifice my life as Maulana Sahib tells me to?

I have to feed my poor family; do I have a choice of not selling my body to buy the very food we are deprived of?

Is it my fault that I opened my eyes in this God forsaken class?

Conclusion:

Once again I bluntly pointed out the loop holes in our society without providing the solution. Yes I am pessimistic about the future this society holds. I can see divorces, people ignoring the reasonable approach and drifting towards poles (East and West). But this had to happen; after all we all were forced to watch the American dream in a Pakistani society.

Popularity: 33% [?]