The Pakistani Spectator

I grew up in the American South, but now live in New York after attending Brown University in Providence, RI. I’m a committed member of the Democratic Party, though I consider myself to stand more on the centrist side of progressive than the liberal side. Unlike many of my friends, I do not vote straight ticket. The candidate matters to me, and if the Republican candidate is better than the Democratic candidate I would have no qualms in voting for the better contender.  I blog here.

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I’m a recent college graduate with a passion for the American political scene and general world affairs. It’s difficult to remember an age at which the study of current events wasn’t foremost in my mind (though I’ll be the first to admit that I often read Politico the way others read People magazine). Starting TheModernMajorGeneral.com seemed like the best way to voice my opinions and bring attention to the issues that most interest me, while allowing my family and friends a respite from my constant desire to discuss every news story in EXTREME detail. Ha I think they certainly appreciate the site in that regard…

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

This is a somewhat difficult question for me because I really don’t maintain a blog in order to write fantastic pieces. Rather, it’s where I’m at my most casual. So in that sense, I do believe that my ability to grow from simply a good academic writer to somebody who can communicate effectively with a more diverse audience has been fostered by blogging, which in my case is an extraordinary benefit.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Writing my first post about President Obama, as opposed to Senator Obama, only a few moments after the networks called the election for him was one of the most surprisingly moving moments of my life. I didn’t, in any way, expect to feel so personally uplifted and proud and, dare I say it, hopeful.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

I honestly don’t keep up communication with other bloggers. Rather, I discuss politics and news on a regular basis with family and friends, some of whom are of the same political persuasion as I, and some of whom are not.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

I hate to say it, but it has to be Twitter. Twitter, due to the nature of its short form medium, allows more people to interact with their Representatives in a more timely manner. It’s a great tool for political campaigns, but, as we recently saw in Iran, it has greater, farther reaching potential than I’m sure anybody could have imagined. It appears to be a highly effective medium through which those who are looking for progressive reform in oppressive countries can communicate with their counterparts in other countries in ways that have not been utilized before.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

Absolutely.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

Considering the blogosphere is so vast, I can’t imagine that there really is much that sets TheModernMajorGeneral.com apart. I try to offer interesting posts from both sides of the aisle, though I make no secret of the fact that I’m a committed Democrat, and that’s really about it! The name of the site, the Modern Major-General, is taken from a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta called Pirates of Penzance, in which the character of the same name is convinced that he knows everything about everything, though he is clearly overstating his skill set. My family always says that I may not be right, but I’m always certain. The name seemed to fit.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

I feel like one is supposed to say something like “good work ethic” or “tenacity,” but I’m not sure that I can lay claim to either of those characteristics. I have found success by simply always wanting to know more. The subject is often irrelevant, as long as there is knowledge to be acquired. Many years ago in elementary school, my teacher explained the difference between being stupid and ignorant: ignorance is not knowing, stupidity is knowing and doing it anyway. My goal is to be neither.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

I don’t have a good answer for this. There have been a multitude of happy and gloomy moments in my life, and in my memory many are intertwined, as one often defines the other.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

1. USSR circa 1970 (Is time travel allowed?)
2. Iran
3. Cuba

What is your favorite book and why?

William Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom! is probably my favorite book, though it’s not an easy choice to make. I spent much of my college career studying the American South and historical memory so this book is a bit like the bible for the literary exploration of that concept. I’ve also read it upwards of a dozen times…

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

Their height.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No, my family and friends have always been entirely supportive of my endeavors.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

Good question. Will you let me know when you find out?

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

It would be worth asking Ben Smith over at Politico.com about this one. My guess is he’ll give you a resounding NO!

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

I find that the anonymity of blogging often makes people much more willing to be hostile, so I would say that it would take a concerted effort by bloggers to set guidelines of decorum before we can ever hope to change greater attitudes of the world at large.

On the other hand, creating a network for bloggers from around the world to promote a greater exchange of ideas and discourse would be an unbelievable project, and one that over time could change people’s attitudes. So much hostility and hate is founded in ignorance, but we have the means of communication at this point in history to foster greater understanding and respect than ever before. We need to use that capital.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

1. Ben Smith at Politico.com
2. Glenn Thrush at Politico.com
3. Taegan Goddard at PoliticalWire.com
4. Chris Cillizza at Washington Post’s The Fix
5. Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

I wrote a post about health care reform a couple of days ago and have gotten a lot of response from that. It’s a pretty hot issue right now, and I half-jokingly laid out what my dream for reform would be, even if that dream is way off the deep end…

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

My perception of Pakistan is one of a country that has worked hard to cultivate a modern society (with many, if not all, of what Americans consider to be “modern” trappings) able to compete on the world stage, but hampered by what is currently a less than ideal geo-political position. Having never had the opportunity to visit Pakistan myself, I can’t say much more than that.

The people of Pakistan, especially the youth, seem particularly emboldened to want change. The younger generation appears to hunger for more opportunity, more respect, and I believe that young Americans (I clearly cannot speak for those in other parts of the world) are hungry to hear that message and help. Whether or not that help is desired at all is an entirely different issue.

Perhaps this is an odd thing to note (particularly since I am unaware of The Pakistani Spectator’s political lean), but in my lifetime there have been few tragedies that have stuck in my mind and affected me for long after the actual event. I remember my Mother telling me that Princess Diana had died (though that meant little to me at the time), I remember when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, I remember which class I was in when the first of the Twin Towers was hit, and I remember exactly where I was when I learned that Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated. She was an inspiration to women around the world.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Yes, but not because I thought the blog was good.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

The apathy of the citizenry. In a developed country, all things political are nuanced and gray. It’s tough to rally a younger generation around something like the budget deficit. In a developing country you have a citizenry hungry to succeed so that life for their children will be better than life for themselves. There’s usually a vibrancy of ideas, and often the will to make things happen.

What is the future of blogging?

My hope is that it serves as a means of creating greater global communication.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I honestly don’t think it has. I wish I had a better answer for this reason.

What are your future plans?

Graduate school!

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Keep interacting. Keep reading. Start a blog. Figure out what matters to you.