Why we dont Smile

[marcos98]

US politics..

our politics...

you see......balance

 

[blain2]

Oh come on! you think there army guys face the hardships of an average Pakistani? It has more to do with culture than the happenings in the country.

Army folks face plenty of hardships. The biggest of them all is being away from your family on hard postings or having to put your kids in sub-standard schools and disrupting their lives all around as you are posted around every few years. There is plenty of *khawari* in Army life. Let there be no doubt about it.

As far as no smiling, maybe it has a cultural aspect too. I for one always thought that us Pakistanis are extremely stingy with applause. We just do not applaud anyone. Maybe that is part of our overall demeanor.

 

[S.U.R.B.]

Ok here is one.....

 

[Skies]

Everyone should smile before taking his photo. Then that man would look beautiful even he is not beautiful.

 

[rockstarIN]

It is not only that reason..

We were ruled by British and we follow British Military traditions, not specifically American now..

As per old British military tradition, the ideal soldier must have a big musthache and a serious look and we are just following the same.

Here is some old Brit General photos..

 

[unicorn]

I speak of peace, while covert enmity
Under the smile of safety wounds the world.

 

[Veeru]

post some smiling faces of your army generals, i wana see if it is a cultural thingy.

Just on your request:

General JJ Singh

General Nirmal Chander Vij

General Bipin Chandra Joshi

General V P Malik

General Deepak Kapoor

General S. F. Rodrigues

Present Indian Army Chief , General VK Singh

 

[black_magic pk]

what kind of smiling contest we have here??

now im smiling n showin ma teeth

 

[black_magic pk]

US politics..

our politics...

you see......balance

nice

 

[Chogy]

It's definitely cultural. In the U.S., when a picture is taken, it is assumed that you will smile for the shot. In other cultures, a more serious look is normal.

It wasn't always that way in the U.S. The very first photos happened about the time of our Civil War, 1860, and every single one of them taken of a general or President show a serious pose. Some people think this is because of the difficulty in keeping a frozen smile in place for the long exposure, but I'm convinced that's how people thought. Serious = correct for pictures.

Note how "Official Portrait Photos" are very different from pictures taken in everyday life and work. In the latter, you see the full range, from deadly-serious to laughter, in almost all cultures.

 

[Safriz]

Whats the point in smiling in Load shedding?.....nobody gona see you anyway..

 

[ynmian]

@proudpakistanistudent


But our forces personnel also enjoy great life and facilities, u know full time ayashee 60-70% budget goes to defence. Un ka Robe or taika apnee jaga hota hai (thats why they dont smile may be)

 

[Time Assassin]

We can't smile until A GREAT LEADER EMERGES. This person will brighten our faces and show the WORLD what Pakistan stands for. The News makes us grim and the Western World is nagging Pakistan.
Pakistan People = Power and Purity
Pakistan Goverement = Grim + Grandad (there days are over)

The World needs to help out the right people!!!

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!!

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

We don't smile because it is ingrained in us from childhood----our mother, father, grand parents, aunts uncle, older relatives refarin us from smiling.

They say it is stupid to smile---men of character don't smile---men of character show a serious posture all the time---. It is important to look mean and nasty all the time--look serious and menacing---kindness and gentleness is frowned upon---.

 

[blain2]

@proudpakistanistudent


But our forces personnel also enjoy great life and facilities, u know full time ayashee 60-70% budget goes to defence. Un ka Robe or taika apnee jaga hota hai (thats why they dont smile may be)

Pakistan does not spend more than 13.5% (442 billion out of a total outlay of 3259 billion Rs.) of the budget on defence. This is based on the most recent budget 2010-2011.. I think one should always check these figure before assuming things such as 60-70% because it only increases misinformation about Pakistan and our armed forces. Many people have no idea (you can ask a common person on the streets and he will say something ridiculously high because the civilian politicians always use this as a crutch and the citizenry could care less about the facts) what is really being spent on the military.

If our governments managed our economy well and collected taxes appropriately, our current expenditures would not even figure in the national debate over budget.