Pakistanis are never the same patriotic as they are during the Independence Week. There is too much greenery — and I don't mean trees and grass — and too many lights and too many flags. The most inviting attractions are the merchandise sellers; the stalls that you see everywhere. Even grown-ups can't best the urge to buy something from these stalls. 

Unfortunately, this is what the 14th of August means to this generation...

Years of celebrating without giving a thought to all the blood that was shed, all the bodies that lined the streets, houses — everywhere — have made us an ignorant nation. We never mourn the innocents who gave up their lives so that we could live in peace. This, everyone, is a sad reality. We wouldn't be free today, if the people who died for us didn't. 

Is this patriotism? Painting green on children's faces? Keeping them in the dark about how this nation actually came to be? About how much BLOOD actually stained the ground just so these children can paint green on their faces? What of the forgotten children with nothing but red on their cheeks? On their entire bodies! 

A historic event such as the 14th deserves to be celebrated with pomp and show. But, too many years of celebrating only have made us forget all the blood, all the lives. We must mourn, if only for a minute, the ones that couldn't live to see their free Pakistan. Who actually fought for it. What did we do? Come to this world after all the hard work was done and reap the benefits each and every day without contributing. Most of our students dream of settling abroad, of leaving this hard-earned country. Did our ancestors fight for us so that we could betray our country in the most horrible manner imaginable? 

No.

We don't know what it's like; to live in oppression. All we do is decorate our houses and streets with green and "hang out" with our "peeps" on all of the "it" places. We take selfies, add hashtags, and bask in the glory social media provides us. 

This is not patriotism! This. Is. Not. Patriotism. 

We should not forget all the lives lost. All the children orphaned. All the women widowed. Each and every soul that fought for the idea of Pakistan. We should remember them, on this day. Honor them for the sacrifices they made. Paint our faces green not because it's cool, but because we want to honor all those who couldn't make it to their land. Decorate our houses and streets not because we've been doing it since forever, but because we honor our freedom fighters, because they gave up their all for our freedom. 

For true patriotism isn't celebration, but remembrance. Of what is no more and of what needs to be.