Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Pakistan a Banana Republic?!

A nationwide power blackout which started in Ghazi Barotha last Sunday [24th Sept] caused rumours to spread that a coup was taking place, taking over Musharraf while he was in the US, launching his autobiography "In the Line of Fire". His statement to the press: "It is a nonsense. What should I say about this. Look we aren't, thank God, a banana republic, where such things happen suddenly."

That is funny, because he came to power by taking over Nawaz Sharif in a coup himself, and what's funnier - he used the term 'banana republic'.

According to Wikipedia: Banana republic is a pejorative term for a small, often Latin American or Caribbean country, which is politically unstable, dependent on limited agriculture, and ruled by a small, wealthy and corrupt clique.
This doesn't seem all too accurate now, but Pakistan IS dependent on agriculture, has a history of being politically unstable, and is mostly ruled by corrupt politicians.

The interpretation of Answers.com seems more befitting: A small country that is economically dependent on a single export commodity, such as bananas, and is typically governed by a dictator or the armed forces.
Small country, check. Dependent on a few exports, check. Governed by the armed forces, CHECK!

However, given Musharraf's understanding of the English language, what he probably meant by 'banana republic' was a country which is 'going bananas' because the ruler is out of town. So do you think Pakistan is not a banana republic? Or is it?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Going Bananas in the freaking heat!

Sohaib said...

Apples and oranges is where it's at, honey.