Benazir Bhutto

[Linda]

Benazir Bhutto, who was assasinated yesterday, is right up there with Gandhi and Surak in my personal pantheon of revered martyrs. I am lighting a candle for her at home tonight.

Here is some information about her if you don't already know:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... ome-center

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/ne ... ?id=304858

And some words from Selena Fox, head of Circle Sanctuary, a Wiccan organization:

Bhutto was the first Muslim woman to head a nation -- she was elected and
served as Pakistan's Prime Minister twice. Trained at Harvard and Oxford,
she had strong ties to champions of democracy in America and the UK as
well as in other nations in addition to her native Pakistan. She was
loved by many around the world. However, she also had enemies and faced
many challenges in her life, including the execution of her father and
problems with some who were part of her and other administrations,
especially those who sought to oust her from power.

Benazir was a strong, courageous, and determined advocate for freedom,
democracy, and human rights. She voiced her concerns for women's health
and social issues and sought to repeal ordinances that curtailed women's
rights. She is survived by her husband and three children.

The nation of Pakistan is mourning her death as are many in the world
today, ourselves included.

[Distracted]

Her death is tragic, there's no doubt, but there's a lot more controversy surrounding her political career than many would have you believe. She was no Gandhi. She and her husband became very wealthy while she was Prime Minister through very suspicious means. She is undoubtedly a role model for Muslim women, and held a great deal of political power, but she was no saint.

Benazir Bhutto - New York Times

[Asso]

Never I pass judgment on something or someone in the heat of the moment.
I prefer to wait.
Only, I think, the moment is grave, serious and dangerous.
We will see.

[evcake]

There are few saints, especially nowadays. Sigh.
I don't know nearly as much about this woman as I ought, but I dimly sense that were she sufficiently corrupt, she might still be alive.

[Linda]

Thank you for your comments Distracted, Asso, and Evcake. Desipte aspersions on her name, and they are from more than one source but not absolutely proven - she is still a hero to me.

[Asso]

Anyway, Linda, she definitely was a woman really with great courage and with a great vision.