BBC NEWS | South Asia | Bhuttos: 'Cursed' political dynasty
The Bhuttos have been compared to the Kennedy's with so many tragedies in their family. All have been politically active. As the article states, "Benazir's elderly mother, Nusrat, has now seen the lives of her husband, elder daughter and two sons all cut short. Just one daughter, Sanam, survives."
I fervently hope that Sanam does not follow in her sister's footsteps. Now we hear al-Quaeda is behind this assassination. Does this infuriate anyone else out there? Does this make you think twice about what could happen in this country as we head into an election year? And what about Hillary Clinton? Does this event give her pause about her own aspirations to be the first woman President?
We know from years past of all the crack pots are own country produces, whether they be in government or not. We all have one or two conspiracy theories we almost believe, whether it involves the assassination of John Kennedy or Martin Luther King. What will happen this year troubles me just a little. We have two conventions, and I hope that security is so tight it makes a frogs ass look like a broken gasket.
What impresses me, and probably many others about Benazir Bhutto is that she never stopped. She never gave up. Facing what she knew in her own heart was probable assassination, she never thought twice of giving up her belief in the Pakistan People's Party, and continued to rally the people to a better government with more tolerance and freedoms. She is a hero in my eyes. A martyr? I don't know. I do know her legacy will live on long after her death, and her fearlessness and determination will serve as a spark to those who follow her.
Benazir Bhutto: June 21, 1953-December 27, 2007
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9 comments:
Thank you Deb. Great post. I was wondering when or if someone was going to even mention this event. It's all over the news here and I'm sure in the USA as well.
I don't like to rain on anyone's Christmas parade but we've got a big problem now. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. The country is very unstable. It's worrisome that our Canadian troops are so close to the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The middle east is going to explode with more severe violence.
Everyone is or should be worried that Bush is going to try and be a hero and send in troops to stablize the country. This will drag many others into it including Canada and Britian.
The analysts figure the only way to go about this is through diplomatic means and not military means but how can anyone negotiate with terrorists or with a corrupt government such as what's there right now? The party line "Bhutto died by hitting her head on the car's sunroof" is pretty lame and desperate.
Cripes I should have written my own post but now I don't have to.
She will be missed. I think she was Pakistan's only hope.
I think we should stay out of it. Let the chips fall where they may. To enter into diplomatic negotiations with Pakistan, we have to recognize al-Quaeda as a viable polictical influence. We'll never do that, so they will continue to terrorize everyone until someone does. We may totally reject there philosphy and the way they get things accomplished, but they are looking for recognition.
At this point I don't believe there is anyway to stop terrorist activities.
I was hoping Bhutto's supporters would displace their anger in a productive way rather than senseless violence. Even violence against the remarkably corrupt Musharraf government and al-Qaida would have been welcome.
The outpouring of public support for Bhutto, even after that first assassination attempt in October, clearly demonstrated that a great deal of Pakistanis are sick of Musharraf and sick of al-Qaida.
Given the assassination and riots, the elections will probably be postponed (maybe indefinitely). Isn't democracy literally "rule by the people"?
Like the mafia expression, "the whole fish stinks from the head down".
Al Quaeda may be behind it but it's with Musharraf's blessing, one may safely bet.
The sad part to me is Benazir predicted that this would happen. She knew. Her courage was tremendous to attempt what she did. The forces that destroyed her are the ones that would have suffered had she rose back to power.
It shows that they do have weaknesses that could undo them, or they would not have done this. I don't know if we should be the ones cracking heads over it--let the EU handle it, they think they're the big dogs. Russia already has problems with terrorists, let them get some more practice. China want s to be a player, let them police their own continent. We have millions of poor to feed and educate, let's get back to those things. Let's make America number one once more. We aren't going to lead the world by letting other countries become better educated, or by letting our lower classes grow at the cost of the middle class.
There is no single or couple solutions to our problems, so lets revise our whole plan.
Not that there's a damn thing I can do individually besides agitate for change, but damnit, I'll do that becuase it's what I have to do.
Hope you are well this weekend. Have a great new year if you can.
Peace out.
A wonderful New Year to you as well, Eric. I think speaking out is probably the most effective way of bringing about change. Even your poetry shows some of the outrage you feel at this war in Iraq. And we don't need another one in Pakistan.
Yes, Woozie in an ideal world democracy is government by the people. We live in a democracy, but still here we have a class system of sorts. We seem to have become a nation that votes for the candidate with the biggest sound bytes. I think they should do away with tv or radio ads. Let them to the whistle stop compaign all the way.
Great post, I couldn't have said it better. I have been thinking the same things.
have been observing the tragedies that have come to her family for almost thirty years. When she returned to Pakistan, I feared she would be assassinated—even after the assignation attempt on the day she arrived failed. My gut feeling tells me that the Taliban is not responsible for her death; if I were investigating her assassination, I would begin with the Musharraf régime.
I wish we could all strive to be as selfless, fearless and determined as her.
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