Thursday, December 27, 2007
I despair.
I awoke this morning to learn that Benazir Bhutto, first woman to serve as prime minister of any Islamic nation, former Pakistani Prime Minister and current opposition leader to "President" Musharraf, was assassinated today. Some days I cannot bear to think of the world my children will inherit.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
ugh.
guess i'd better go read some news now.
It just left us speechless....some things just defy a person's capacity to decribe their feelings.
It is so incredibly sad, but is anyone surprised that Musharraf's minions have martyred this brave and amazing woman? The lights of this world are being silenced one by one and we are returning to the dark ages of persecution and women's enslavery. Stick 'em with your needles........
I was dismayed as well, when I heard the news this morning. I'm still listening to Christmas carols, while viciously insane people continue their assault on the world. I just wish I still had the capacity to be shocked by this.
Days like this, plus the fact that the Christmas presents I received were stolen out of my car on Christmas evening, make me glad I don't have kids, and that my family is not long-lived.
Pessimistic, but there it is.
I wonder if when our parents used to lament on what the world is coming to, if their time saw equally horrific events, or if we're just moving along in the usual way. Either way, scary.
I was unbelievably saddened by this as well. Sometimes i wish i hadn't gotten out of bed in the morning.
My stomach is turning with this incredibly depressing news.
I haven't really been able to digest it all.
I am really, really glad that someone has blazed this trail. Being the first in line is never easy, and you open yourself to a full range of reactions. I can practice what I do - protests, being in Planned Parenthood, being in the public eye - and my chances of harm are minimal at best. I cannot fathom what this woman had to endure while she did her work.
But my heart is breaking. This just feels to soon. Much to soon.
In the same vein I fear for my Grandchildren too. How it pains me to see that no one can play well with others. Lead yes - kill no - what benefit is such chaos.
I may intellectually understand what terrorism is but spiritually is saddens me to no end and makes me want to curl up in a fetal ball and weep.
I did some mindless crocheting and finished the leg of sock two for DD#1 - sigh!
Yep. Not surprised, but still that kicked in the gut, shocked. I've felt this one coming for a while.
Not surprised, but still left with the feelings of shock. Have felt this one coming for a while.
It's taken me a day to really digest this. She was a brave woman for decades and truly held a light up for future individuals. The killing is horrible but that sort of thing has always been around. She has trailblazed not only for women but modern ideas. Hopefully that will increase in the world of my children. I do feel for her young children, now motherless, and cry. They'd rather have a mom than a martyr.
so there with you. one of the reasons i probably won't have kids. ><
As far as despairing for our children....I know my great-granny did when she left the Ukrainian in chaos and starvation. My granny did when the Germans invaded Denmark. My Pop did when his brother parachuted into Germany...the list goes on and on into history. You just raise your kids the best you can, teach them to judge right and wrong, to help those less fortunate, and not to cringe at bullies and cowards; then let them go and trust them to do what's right to balance the universe.
Barb B
Right on, Barb. We needed you to say this.
I thought I had been hardened, but hearing about Bhutto made me cry. It also reinforces for me how important the upcoming elections are (as if I really needed more proof, eh?).
And another yes to what Barb said. I try very hard to instill in my children the values that I feel most strongly about. I'm an avid newspaper reader, and I want my kids to be as well. It's nice to see my 10 year old react with such passion about things that he sees in the news.
This kind of event allows me to teach them that they haven't been born into a perfect world, and it's part of their duty as human beings to work to make it better.
Let's hope our 2008 is better than 2007...
Had the same reaction as you did. I was saddened - and shocked. Not because her death was the result of an assassination, something unfortunately all too common in her part of the world, but because it was not properly anticipated. I cannot believe that even a despot like Musharraf can be so terribly stupid that he has no fear of world opinion - and that his minions are so incredibly incompetent!
Goodbye, Pakistani Rose
By Yiyan HAN (copyright(c))
Last modified: 2008-01-01 (2007-12-29)
In remembrance of Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated on 27 December 2007, in a combined shooting and suicide bomb attack during a political rally of the Pakistan People's Party in the Liaquat National Bagh in Rawalpindi. Today, my surname is Khan, one of the most common surnames in Pakistan.
Disclaimer: The modified song lyrics in this blog is purely for my personal use. The copyright of 'Candle in the Wind' belongs to the original authors, and it must not be violated.
Goodbye, Pakistani rose
May you ever blossom in our hearts
You were a ray of sunshine
In a place of the darkest night
You called out to our country
And cried out for justice and freedom
Now the star Bhutto who's true to Benazir
Watches over our people from the heaven
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a torch in the storm
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
On the longest road to Rawalpindi
Your leading figure's left long before
Your legend ever will
Bravery we've lost
These empty days without your voice
This torch we'll always carry
For one of our nation's greatest daughters
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
Your uphill struggle through the years
Goodbye, Pakistani rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you'll ever know
Goodbye, Pakistani rose
May you ever blossom in our hearts
Your leading figure's left long before
Your legend ever will
Goodbye, Pakistani rose
May you ever blossom in our hearts
Your leading figure's left long before
Your legend ever will
The origin of the song "Candle in the Wind" may be found at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/diana/lyrics.html
Post a Comment