Pakistan and Benazir Bhutto

I only learned of Benazir Bhutto two months ago, while I caught brief clips of her U.S television interview online. Although, I am usually not too interested in foreign political affairs, something about her charisma sparked my interest. There are two things that I quickly noticed about this woman: she was deeply passionate about democracy in Pakistan, and she knew that her life was on the line because of it. I found her story of exile from Pakistan, and then her return compelling, and it is her homecoming – that happened just a few short weeks ago – that has decreed this nation as the most dangerous on the globe. It was not her message that was dangerous, but it was the nature of her radical opponents – who are willing to take the lives of innocent people for their cause. Regardless, she knew what her return meant to her people, and as I see images of her body being carried away in a casket this morning, it grieves me because –although symbolic – it represents the condition of the world: in search of someone to bring political peace in the midst of chaos. This has been the longing for many nations since the begining of time. For many Pakistanis today, the foot of oppression is pressing harder, and I pray that this nation will soon find hope.