For some reason the assassination of Benazir Bhutto today affected me. A real people's leader, promoting and fighting for true Democracy, her killing is truly sad. I guess this is life on Earth. Depressing and shocking events continue to happen each every year, really every day if you are receptive to it. I live in New York City and I can get upset virtually everyday by seeing the numbers of homeless stranded on the city streets. There's also the tough realities which also matter to me: animal cruelty, the destruction of the environment, disease, hunger, and all those other causes for which I feel frequent guilt about not helping to reduce. But staying on message here...
The current head of Pakistan came to power through a Coup. The former prime minister and popular leader Bhutto returned home a couple months ago, escaped an attack, and was campaigning to win an election next month. My internal magic 8-ball tells me that she would have become Prime Minister again. This would have been good for the U.S. It makes sense that we'd want someone elected democratically to work with, instead of a brute like Musharref. This guy suspended the rule of law last month and imprisoned thousands of lawyers who protested the unconstitutional actions of the P.M. What a great affect her leadership could have had on cracking down on violent extremists, getting Bin Laden and promoting a real democracy there. A trusted figure.
It's too bad some nutcase had to shoot her and blow himself up. But the real question is who was behind it? I think the current Prime Minister gains from this. He can maintain his iron fist. He won't have major opposition in the election next month (or whenever it occurs now). He gets to stay in power. Power that was obtained in 1999 via a coup, remember.
So it's another sad day in international affairs. The war in Iraq drags on. Pakistan is in crisis. Darfur goes on. And all the other tragedies that are listed well on the site Anti-War.com.
I have hope though. I know that as much bad that occurs every day, that much or more good occurs. Right now a nurse is helping an elderly patient deal with some illness. A child is being mentored. Someone is giving charity. Someone is adopting a dog at a shelter. Some blue-collar worker is getting a raise. Good is happening. And maybe, just maybe, something very good will happen tomorrow.
Peace to all my friends here on the Kos.