Rights are ok, but what about responsibilities?

Complaining is the staple diet of many people around us. What the government could have done but didn't, what the others should have done, why don't they like me,nobody loves me enough, I'm so busy that I can't find time to do what I want, and the rest of the world is having a blast...what's so great about her that she got praised and I didn't? It seems that Pakistanis have made blame shifting, a permanent feature of their mental landscapes. It is everybody's fault but theirs. But somewhere, this attitude also denotes the sense of helplessness that all of us feel at how things are and why any of us are unable to do anything about it. Many of us who try to do the right thing have a feeling of acting in isolation and getting more and more distanced from those around us, and many of us fall in with the usual ways of our society just to identify and feel that we are not alone. Unfortunately, the fact that people are less and less certain of punishment for wrongdoing, makes it clearer to them that crime pays and it is ok to live selfishly, shirk personal and societal responsibility and to blame it all on some vague idea in the end: the system, the government, or ,well that is how it is. What many of us do not realise is that societies are based on individuals giving up some of their rights to secure collective rights, and these collective rights become the responsibilities of each individual living in a society. Due to lack of education, lack of social cohesiveness, we do not appreciate this. Therefore, we want our rights, but no responsibilities. One of the biggest reasons for lack of social cohesiveness is the lack of equality among us. The largest amount of population which resides in Punjab and Sindh provinces is still divided in castes, rural hegmonies and clans, with the same tendencies in its educated classes too. Though i admire the Pathans for their independence and egalitarian approach, tribal approaches still mar their relatively more egalitarian society. Blaming the government is good, but it is made up of people. One of the biggest failings of government as well as the educated class of Pakistan is to spread education and instruments of equality to the grassroots level. This collective failing has led to collective feelings of helplessness among those who want to do good. In the segment of society which can make the biggest difference, the middleclass, there is the most apathy, especially in the younger crowd which has led to spoofs like "Slackistan". The educated class and especially the younger crowd are underestimating their ability to make an impact. It is imperative that they realise their own responsibilities before asking the state to do everything. If we stand up for collective rights of freedom, equality and justice for each indiviual in society and also spread the word, it can make a difference.Guarding the rights of others and remembering our responsiblities is the only way to ensure our personal rights. We need to help others, not through charity, but by enabling them with the necessary awareness and tools to change their lives. If we do that, they will take care of the rest of their lives. The english speaking (and reading class )of Pakistan should stop thinking of the rest of pakistanis in the same terms as the colonials saw them, and called them the White Man's Burden. And for starters, just make sure that you are not impinging on anybody else's rights through your actions. Thats the easiest step which all of us can take. But only if we think about this in the first place.