I’ve had an emotionally turbulent day anyway, it began this morning when I spoke to my dying nephew on the phone as I’m unable to travel to see him before he parts this earth. So, I was already on shaky ground there. Moving forward, when I made the rounds of all my news sources (first stopping at Politico, and then moving on to the ore MSM varieties) I was stunned to hear that Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated. My heart just sunk to hear of it. I guess already being emotional was part of it, but I also believe there was more to it.
I’ve always admired her. I’ve forever had an intense interest in politics and have desired to run for office myself one day, and while I’m not a raging feminist and desire to have female Presidents and Prime Ministers for the sake of having them, I have always loved following female leaders in the world that had the strength, fortitude, and determination to bring about change to this world (I also highly admire Margaret Thatcher and her steel resolve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom). The thing that set Ms. Bhutto apart from Thatcher though was the fact that she became Prime Minister in of all places Pakistan, a very Muslim Nation where it’s most remarkable that it ever happened. Bhutto had moxie. She was one tough woman. I was delighted to see her return from exile to her home country, and even more happy to see that she was running to be Prime Minister again. I have felt a high level of anger toward the Pakistani government of late. I feel that our once “ally” hasn’t done much to nurture that relationship. I had strong hopes that if Bhutto were to win again that that area of the world had some hope for itself. With her death, things are that much more tumultuous than they were before. To conclude, I wish her husband and three children peace. I hope that someone within her group of supporters can rise up and take on the mantle that she was trying to put forth. Rest in peace Ms. Bhutto you’ll surely be missed by this world.