Benazir Bhutto Assassinated
Today the whole world has lost.In a world of extremism we have lost a voice of moderation.
In a world of terrorism we have lost a hope for democracy.
Benazir Bhutto, only fifty-four, was murdered today by a combined shooting and bombing attack at a rally in Rawalpindi, a city near Islamabad.
Bhutto, the leading candidate for Prime Minister of Pakistan, a position she held twice before, was a symbol of possibilities for Pakistan. She was outspoken against radicalism, openly supported the global war on terror, and called for the end of Pakistan's relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Bhutto had returned in October as leader of the Pakistan People's Party, the largest political opposition party to the rule of Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf took power eight years ago in a military coup and later declared himself President of Pakistan. Most recently, right before the Supreme Court of Pakistan was to review the constitutionality of his re-election as President, he declared a state of emergency, suspended the Constitution, jailed several justices and lawyers, ordered the arrest of political opponents and human rights activists, and shut down privately-owned television networks.
In a piece entitled The Extremists Will Not Prevail published in Ha'aretz just three days ago, Benazir Bhutto wrote of past attempts on her life,
"I did not come this far in life to be intimidated by suicide bombers. There is a battle raging in Pakistan for the hearts and minds of a new generation. It is a battle for the future of Pakistan as a democratic nation. The new generation will choose moderation or extremism, it will choose education or illiteracy; it will choose dictatorship or democracy; it will choose tolerance or bigotry; and it will choose peace or war. I returned to Pakistan this week to lead the fight for democracy. With the blood of my supporters on the streets and on our clothes, I reaffirm my commitment to these values."
I am struck by Benazir Bhutto's strength and courage. The daughter of democratic Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she grew up in politics and became Prime Minister of Pakistan at thirty-five, the first woman elected to lead a Muslim country. She overcame incredible obstacles including the murder of her father, the deaths of two of her brothers, accusations of corruption, house arrest, and exile. Despite these hardships and in the face of them, her sheer determination to uphold the values of democracy and create change is an example to other Muslim women, women everywhere, and all of humanity.
I am not of the generation that witnessed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, but I am of the generation that saw the assassination of Prime Minster Yitzhak Rabin. That awful moment in time has generated repercussions every day for the last thirteen years. It changed the course of history, determined the fates of so many innocent people, and took away the possibility of what could have been.
In light of such harsh realities, it would be easy for me to declare that all hope of democracy in Pakistan, and perhaps that part of the world, has died today with Ms. Bhutto. But instead, I think we would be wiser to take a cue from Benazir Bhutto's bravery and find strength in her words,
"All our thoughts, prayers and sympathies are with those who laid down their lives, or were wounded, and to their families. They made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of democracy and the fundamental rights of the people. May God rest their souls in eternal peace. The greatest memorial to these brave citizens will be a strong, viable and moderate democratic Pakistan."
