Many are shaken by manner in which Benazir Bhutto met her untimely demise. Ms. Bhutto was a highly educated intellectual who had twice led Pakistan and was seeking a coalition government from the current ruling party. She was fully aware of the danger her high exposure posed to her life, but was willing to continue regardless for a higher purpose-her country. Much disinformation was disseminated over the cause of her death, but It now appears at least three bullets were fired striking her fatally.
The US Government has poured millions into Pakistan which openly admits a massive corruption problem. The issue here is not to chastise an seemingly inept Bush Administration for failing to properly account for these funds, but for ignoring the vision which Ms. Bhutto was propagating. History is rife with those who paid the ultimate price for their principles. These men and women looked beyond the black/white perception our current administration, as well as others, is hopelessly immersed in and proclaimed the beautiful colors to be realized by rising above the gridlock. Ms. Bhutto was looking at a Pakistan the way she wanted it to be and not the way it was regardless of the peril to her own life.
The dedicated minority has always affected the greatest changes in society. Transformation, however, always has a cost and those in opposition defend the status quo with whatever is in easy reach. Our recent history during the Vietnam War saw violence and chaos which rocked the very foundations of our society yet we survived. There are those, and always will be, who seek the "good old days" without elaborating history can never be reversed without cost. The American Public is, as paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson, a great unwashed beast which is peaceful while at rest, but tenacious when awakened.
Confrontation, debate and struggle are healthy for a society until the point of nonsensical violence is reached. The ante is then raised to the bar of survival where the sound of reason is hushed by the cacophony of gunfire. Unfortunately, this nation pushed the bar in Vietnam and currently, Iraq, by selectively ignoring our own arrogance and rigid ideology. Non-recognition of our own history of struggle and invalidating cherished ideals does not justify pre-emptive invasion; nor does perpetuating equivocations to the public about another nation in order to invade. No amount of earth's resources, i.e. oil, gained can eradicate the pain of betrayal on a national level. That is certainly not the America we were brought up to respect.
The United States has lost sight of our own dream; the cherished vision paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of those past. Instead, we rely on short-minded ideologues uttering simple cliches to motivate the masses whether true or not. Ms. Bhutto should be remembered not only for her ultimate sacrifice, but also for the vision her death caused many in this nation to recall. Once again, we have to find our way in the darkness until the American Dream is reborn to its fulfillment. Her unfortunate death has given us the time to pause and realize the decimation of our own national vision. For that alone, we owe her a debt of gratitude. Another bright star is twinkling in heaven this evening and this world citizen says "THANK YOU!"
The US Government has poured millions into Pakistan which openly admits a massive corruption problem. The issue here is not to chastise an seemingly inept Bush Administration for failing to properly account for these funds, but for ignoring the vision which Ms. Bhutto was propagating. History is rife with those who paid the ultimate price for their principles. These men and women looked beyond the black/white perception our current administration, as well as others, is hopelessly immersed in and proclaimed the beautiful colors to be realized by rising above the gridlock. Ms. Bhutto was looking at a Pakistan the way she wanted it to be and not the way it was regardless of the peril to her own life.
The dedicated minority has always affected the greatest changes in society. Transformation, however, always has a cost and those in opposition defend the status quo with whatever is in easy reach. Our recent history during the Vietnam War saw violence and chaos which rocked the very foundations of our society yet we survived. There are those, and always will be, who seek the "good old days" without elaborating history can never be reversed without cost. The American Public is, as paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson, a great unwashed beast which is peaceful while at rest, but tenacious when awakened.
Confrontation, debate and struggle are healthy for a society until the point of nonsensical violence is reached. The ante is then raised to the bar of survival where the sound of reason is hushed by the cacophony of gunfire. Unfortunately, this nation pushed the bar in Vietnam and currently, Iraq, by selectively ignoring our own arrogance and rigid ideology. Non-recognition of our own history of struggle and invalidating cherished ideals does not justify pre-emptive invasion; nor does perpetuating equivocations to the public about another nation in order to invade. No amount of earth's resources, i.e. oil, gained can eradicate the pain of betrayal on a national level. That is certainly not the America we were brought up to respect.
The United States has lost sight of our own dream; the cherished vision paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of those past. Instead, we rely on short-minded ideologues uttering simple cliches to motivate the masses whether true or not. Ms. Bhutto should be remembered not only for her ultimate sacrifice, but also for the vision her death caused many in this nation to recall. Once again, we have to find our way in the darkness until the American Dream is reborn to its fulfillment. Her unfortunate death has given us the time to pause and realize the decimation of our own national vision. For that alone, we owe her a debt of gratitude. Another bright star is twinkling in heaven this evening and this world citizen says "THANK YOU!"
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