Benizar Bhutto

Today, Former Prime Minister, Benizar Bhutto was shot down following a campaign rally, to ensure that death ensued, immediately after the shooting a suicide bomber and their munitions exploded taking out another 22 people, and injuring dozens more.

This is a very sad story about a very brave woman, who returned from exile just last month to contest the election in her country. She has been a champion of a secular Pakistan, one that is tolerant of religious differences, one that grants equal rights to both sexes, and one that believes in democratic principles. Her death is quite a blow to all who share these beliefs.

Why mourn on this side of the world? Exactly because of her set of beliefs, if we are ever to attain any level of understanding across the world, we need to be speaking to people who struggle in like pursuits. We need to let people know that we understand and support them, no not militarily, but fundamentally, and diplomatically. The challenge for Pakistanis now is to somehow react, not in anger but with a renewed vigor to find solutions to long standing mistrust, anger, and hate, based on religious differences.

The challenge for Canada, what it always is, to express our sympathy, our support and our deep belief in the basic value of democracy and pluralistic societies. Our greatest challenge again to frame this outside of whatever George W's response will be.

The challenge for the U.S.A., how to frame this and continue to support President Musarraf"s regime. No one knows exactly who is to blame for this tragic death, yet in the War On Terror, Musharraf, remains one of America's only friends. An uneasy alliance, because of his own human rights record, but one that I am sure George W must tie his pony to.

Do I know how this will play out? Not even remotely, in fact I wouldn't even hazard a guess. I do know this however, there is a war going on over there. It's not us against them, though some would characterize it in that light. The war is about direction, about change, and about ancient grievances. Some would have the Muslim world embrace (what some would call the western world's lifestyle) democracy, freedom of religion, equality of the sexes, and a more open society.
Others would declare this a blaspheme against the teaching of Muhammed, and just another incursion of the Western World on the Muslim world. As long as we in the west continue to wage war on the Islamic world, we only give this side ammunition to give to their children, and as we have seen the children will use whatever ammunition comes to hand.

Am I naive to think that we could allow this region to settle it's own future. That we could watch, not like interfering uncles, not like hopeful parents, but like interested friends. Once the decisions have been made we continue to play and trade and accept that those choices made were for the best for now. If we can't do this, then is it not because we have too much at stake in the area, we have too much to lose in terms of their natural resources. And if this is the case, doesn't that group fighting the incursions of the West, have just cause for their mistrust, fear and hate?

Benizar Bhutto, rest in peace, my same prayer for us all, let us rest in peace.