Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated. This is very sad news, she certainly was one incredibly brave lady, being the first female to lead an Islamic state. A sad day indeed for democracy....
There will be bloodshed in Pakistan for sure!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2228796.stm
Benazir Bhutto
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Benazir Bhutto
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I agree
I have been sitting here lamenting her death as well. What a tragedy. What a mess. Whatever her regime was or wasn't, did or didn't do, remember that she was female in that oppressively misogynistic country and that she returned to it willingly . .that deserves admiration and respect.
It gets harder and harder for me to live up to my boast as a history teacher that I regard all religions as equal and all religions worth the same respect.
I know that many similar sins can be blamed on Christian fanatics and political fanatics and ethnic fanatics all over the world, throughout human history. . but somehow, perhaps because it is happening now and ruining the world for everyone else, my regard for Islam is slipping and I am not sure how to keep it from doing so. Muslim fanatics have radically changed our world and IMHO not for the better.
It gets harder and harder for me to live up to my boast as a history teacher that I regard all religions as equal and all religions worth the same respect.
I know that many similar sins can be blamed on Christian fanatics and political fanatics and ethnic fanatics all over the world, throughout human history. . but somehow, perhaps because it is happening now and ruining the world for everyone else, my regard for Islam is slipping and I am not sure how to keep it from doing so. Muslim fanatics have radically changed our world and IMHO not for the better.
From Brown University...
Shyam Sundaram '08: Bhutto good for women's rights, bad for government
Benazir Bhutto's accomplishments as a woman are undeniable. As the first female - and the youngest - to lead a post-colonial Muslim state, Bhutto has revolutionized and broken down the stereotypes surrounding the role of women in the Muslim world. However, Maha Atal '08 is wrong to assert that the return of Bhutto is a benefit for Pakistan ("Sex and the City, Bhangra-style: the subtleties of female power" Oct. 22). Whatever Bhutto's accomplishments as a proponent of female empowerment, they should not overshadow or hide her incompetence as a prime minister.
Bhutto is infamous for redefining the concept of corrupt leadership during her five years in power. Through a variety of bribes, kickbacks and commissions in a myriad of enterprises both in Pakistan and abroad, Bhutto and her husband, Ali Asif Zardari, pocketed nearly $1.5 billion. To put this figure in perspective, it is nearly 40 percent of the entire U.N. budget. This rampant corruption crippled the Pakistani economy - a country which had previously posted robust growth rates of 6 to 7 percent diminished its outlook to 3 percent in the years of her premiership. Money that could have been used to improve Pakistan's crumbling infrastructure, subsidize struggling farmers and revitalize the extremely important cotton industry was instead used to line the already fat pockets of Bhutto and her cronies.
And while the Pakistani economy was suffering under the weight of this inefficiency and corruption, what did the Bhutto and Zardari do with the money? They purchased ,among other things, an apartment in the posh Queens Gate Terrace region of London, four shops in Brussels, properties in Palm Beach and Florida and a diamond necklace worth nearly $200,000. And this is to not even mention the tens of millions of dollars stored in bank accounts across the world.
Her rampant corruption earned Bhutto the title "the most corrupt leader in Asia," and with the amount of money that she has embezzled, she would immediately be among modern history's top ten most corrupt leaders. This fact did not go unnoticed by the international community. Indeed, not only did the International Monetary Fund suspend its aid package in the spring of 1996 as a result of the extreme corruption, but foreign investment also declined dramatically, leaving Pakistan in a miserable situation. Bhutto's corruption became so prevalent that Transparency International rated Pakistan as the second most corrupt country in the world in its 1996 annual report. What was Bhutto's response to all this? To declare ridiculously that her administration was still "the most honest in Pakistan's history" and that she was the subject of a mass slander campaign.
Even more recently, concrete evidence of Bhutto and Zardari's illegal dealings have been documented and delivered to the government of Pakistan. The Spanish, Polish, French and Swiss governments provided extensive documents, detailing the instances of corruption the couple had engaged in, in their respective countries. A most lucrative example of this was a deal that Zardari struck with Dassault - a French military aircraft provider - to receive a 5 percent commission on each aircraft sold in exchange for exclusive rights to replace the Pakistani air force fighter jets. In addition, in 2003 Swiss judicial authorities found the couple guilty of money laundering through an extensive network spanning banks in Switzerland and Dubai. And what was Bhutto's response to this? To fervently deny all the charges and insist that all the disparaging information is part of a complex political conspiracy designed by the Pakistani military.
Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistani politics should not be celebrated - if anything, it should be commiserated. Bhutto is a representation of everything that is wrong with Pakistani democracy. In her two terms as prime minister, she abused her position, her power and Pakistan to benefit only her personal ambitions and desires. Pakistani politics needs a fresh, new and clean prime minister if it is to revitalize its democratic and electoral institutions. Bhutto, with her history of mismanagement, corruption and poor governance is barely even a mediocre candidate for the position.
So three cheers for Bhutto's work in empowering Muslim women - but let's hope the Pakistani people don't reward her by giving her a third term.
Shyam Sundaram '08: Bhutto good for women's rights, bad for government
Benazir Bhutto's accomplishments as a woman are undeniable. As the first female - and the youngest - to lead a post-colonial Muslim state, Bhutto has revolutionized and broken down the stereotypes surrounding the role of women in the Muslim world. However, Maha Atal '08 is wrong to assert that the return of Bhutto is a benefit for Pakistan ("Sex and the City, Bhangra-style: the subtleties of female power" Oct. 22). Whatever Bhutto's accomplishments as a proponent of female empowerment, they should not overshadow or hide her incompetence as a prime minister.
Bhutto is infamous for redefining the concept of corrupt leadership during her five years in power. Through a variety of bribes, kickbacks and commissions in a myriad of enterprises both in Pakistan and abroad, Bhutto and her husband, Ali Asif Zardari, pocketed nearly $1.5 billion. To put this figure in perspective, it is nearly 40 percent of the entire U.N. budget. This rampant corruption crippled the Pakistani economy - a country which had previously posted robust growth rates of 6 to 7 percent diminished its outlook to 3 percent in the years of her premiership. Money that could have been used to improve Pakistan's crumbling infrastructure, subsidize struggling farmers and revitalize the extremely important cotton industry was instead used to line the already fat pockets of Bhutto and her cronies.
And while the Pakistani economy was suffering under the weight of this inefficiency and corruption, what did the Bhutto and Zardari do with the money? They purchased ,among other things, an apartment in the posh Queens Gate Terrace region of London, four shops in Brussels, properties in Palm Beach and Florida and a diamond necklace worth nearly $200,000. And this is to not even mention the tens of millions of dollars stored in bank accounts across the world.
Her rampant corruption earned Bhutto the title "the most corrupt leader in Asia," and with the amount of money that she has embezzled, she would immediately be among modern history's top ten most corrupt leaders. This fact did not go unnoticed by the international community. Indeed, not only did the International Monetary Fund suspend its aid package in the spring of 1996 as a result of the extreme corruption, but foreign investment also declined dramatically, leaving Pakistan in a miserable situation. Bhutto's corruption became so prevalent that Transparency International rated Pakistan as the second most corrupt country in the world in its 1996 annual report. What was Bhutto's response to all this? To declare ridiculously that her administration was still "the most honest in Pakistan's history" and that she was the subject of a mass slander campaign.
Even more recently, concrete evidence of Bhutto and Zardari's illegal dealings have been documented and delivered to the government of Pakistan. The Spanish, Polish, French and Swiss governments provided extensive documents, detailing the instances of corruption the couple had engaged in, in their respective countries. A most lucrative example of this was a deal that Zardari struck with Dassault - a French military aircraft provider - to receive a 5 percent commission on each aircraft sold in exchange for exclusive rights to replace the Pakistani air force fighter jets. In addition, in 2003 Swiss judicial authorities found the couple guilty of money laundering through an extensive network spanning banks in Switzerland and Dubai. And what was Bhutto's response to this? To fervently deny all the charges and insist that all the disparaging information is part of a complex political conspiracy designed by the Pakistani military.
Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistani politics should not be celebrated - if anything, it should be commiserated. Bhutto is a representation of everything that is wrong with Pakistani democracy. In her two terms as prime minister, she abused her position, her power and Pakistan to benefit only her personal ambitions and desires. Pakistani politics needs a fresh, new and clean prime minister if it is to revitalize its democratic and electoral institutions. Bhutto, with her history of mismanagement, corruption and poor governance is barely even a mediocre candidate for the position.
So three cheers for Bhutto's work in empowering Muslim women - but let's hope the Pakistani people don't reward her by giving her a third term.
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KelpieKiss
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Re: I agree
I agree with this on some respects but I think in the west our media is very biased towards Christianity. Fundamentalist 'Christians' are currently in the Whitehouse. It's no coincidence that since they have taken office the world of Islam has quickly been vilified. Fanatic Christians, or any religion for that matter, are just as bad as Muslims. You only get religious fanatics when there are other religious fanatics to fight. Religion just does what it always does best. Creates hatred, bigotry, divide and war.Chas wrote:Muslim fanatics have radically changed our world and IMHO not for the better.
Re: I agree
Chas, have a look at the U.S. Republican presidential aspirants, not to mention the current regime, to see how some Christian fanatics "have radically changed our world and IMHO not for the better".Chas wrote:. . . but somehow, perhaps because it is happening now and ruining the world for everyone else, my regard for Islam is slipping and I am not sure how to keep it from doing so. Muslim fanatics have radically changed our world and IMHO not for the better.
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KelpieKiss
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Re: I agree
Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to treat religion with so much respect? If I could say to someone, 'that sound like a load of complete and utter nonsense to me' without the fear of being hurt. Do we really respect religion in this day and age or is it more the same kind of respect that you give to a rottweiler with a bone?Chas wrote:It gets harder and harder for me to live up to my boast as a history teacher that I regard all religions as equal and all religions worth the same respect.
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The understudy
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Hello There!!!
As I firstly heard about the News it was yesterday evening around 9pm I was shocked and quickly checked the Newswires on the Internet. I tried to calll up my freind down @ his Newsdesk about this News. He was busy translating the News comming in from diffrent News agencie.
I had the BBC, CNN, CNBC, DW-World and Al Jazeera in English @ my Condo here in Bangkok. to follow this very Big Headline.
AND THIS JUST IN:
Al Qaida claims responsablility for Assasination!
from Asia Times
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IL29Df01.html
My Uttmost respects go out to Mrs Bhutto who in the face of great adversity is still fightung for Democracy in her Pakistan!!!
Your's Still shocked to the bone the understudy!!!
As I firstly heard about the News it was yesterday evening around 9pm I was shocked and quickly checked the Newswires on the Internet. I tried to calll up my freind down @ his Newsdesk about this News. He was busy translating the News comming in from diffrent News agencie.
I had the BBC, CNN, CNBC, DW-World and Al Jazeera in English @ my Condo here in Bangkok. to follow this very Big Headline.
AND THIS JUST IN:
Al Qaida claims responsablility for Assasination!
from Asia Times
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IL29Df01.html
My Uttmost respects go out to Mrs Bhutto who in the face of great adversity is still fightung for Democracy in her Pakistan!!!
Your's Still shocked to the bone the understudy!!!
In Love with Hua Hin since 19naughty9 and it ain't fading!!!
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
Why not? We thought the UK was free of suicide bombers until recent years. Don't forget, he had already carried out the deed before exploding the bomb. What difference is there (apart from the number of victims) in shooting somebody, and then turning the gun on yourself? He just didn't want to be arrested/do the time.Nereus wrote:You may well be right BB. But one thing you will not see is the perpertrator blowing themselves up!Big Boy wrote:Returning exiled ex-PM; PPP Party - anything sound familiar?
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
When was the last time a national political figure was assassinated in Thailand? My recall may not be total, but I don't remember one. Yes, I know there is always a first time, but you're comparing "mostly Buddhists" to "mostly Muslims".Big Boy wrote:Returning exiled ex-PM; PPP Party - anything sound familiar?
I would love to have 1 Bt for every person who greets (goes to see) Taksin in the first 24 hours of his arrival.
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redzonerocker
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bhutto
you can criticise her failures as a politician but you certainly can't deny her credit for her courage.
in such volatile & dangerous circumstances she continued campaigning for what she believed in, whether right or wrong, that has to be admired.
on the subject of religion, i follow no particular faith but i do tend to agree with chas. all religions have good & bad points & a poor track record throughout history, but i do struggle to find anything positive about the modern day muslim religion, a particular faith that preaches peace & goodwill yet continues to terrorise & murder not only innocents, but their fellow muslims too
when you have high ranking clerics calling for the death of a teacher for letting her students name a teddy bear mohammed & imams brainwashing their youth to become martyrs by killing innocent people with a suicide attack, you have to question how mixed up their faith really is!!
in such volatile & dangerous circumstances she continued campaigning for what she believed in, whether right or wrong, that has to be admired.
on the subject of religion, i follow no particular faith but i do tend to agree with chas. all religions have good & bad points & a poor track record throughout history, but i do struggle to find anything positive about the modern day muslim religion, a particular faith that preaches peace & goodwill yet continues to terrorise & murder not only innocents, but their fellow muslims too
when you have high ranking clerics calling for the death of a teacher for letting her students name a teddy bear mohammed & imams brainwashing their youth to become martyrs by killing innocent people with a suicide attack, you have to question how mixed up their faith really is!!
Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Re: I agree
I can't understand why others want to follow other religions when I have it on good authority only catholics can get into the kingdom of heaven.Chas wrote:It gets harder and harder for me to live up to my boast as a history teacher that I regard all religions as equal and all religions worth the same respect.