Benazir Bhutto has been killed

[Madam Bijoux]

When will it all stop?

 

[CrookedRock]

I''ve been watching it all day... So terribly sad. Prayers for her family and country...

 

[chrono]

My jaw dropped when I saw the news. I am saddened not only for her family, but for the people of Pakistan. I have always admired how strong she was and how she was willing to stand up for the poor and uneducated. I hope that her murder will be the wake up call to stop all these senseless killings.

 

[HollyS]

I coulda predicted this when she came out of exile to run in the election. This was not a surprise; and we all need to be very aware and concerned about the radically extreme Muslims in every country. These are not *people*, and I use the term loosely, that we can ignore; and we cannot downplay the danger they create by their ridiculous beliefs and religious heresy.

And no, I don''t want to hear any PC crap from anyone on this forum about Muslims. I am talking about extreme fundamentalists; and religious discussion is a forbidden topic on PS anyway.

 

[DiamanteBlu]

When I heard the news this morning it really bothered me. Well, actually, it is still really bothering me.

I was wondering whether it is because she was my age, or went to school in Boston/Cambridge at the same time I did, or because she was a woman, or because she was powerful, or beacuse she looked kinda like me . . . DH pointed out that I suck at taking tests and that the answer is probably "all of the above". I think he is right.

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 12/27/2007 6:44:32 PM
Author: HollyS
I coulda predicted this when she came out of exile to run in the election. This was not a surprise; and we all need to be very aware and concerned about the radically extreme Muslims in every country. These are not *people*, and I use the term loosely, that we can ignore; and we cannot downplay the danger they create by their ridiculous beliefs and religious heresy.


And no, I don''t want to hear any PC crap from anyone on this forum about Muslims. I am talking about extreme fundamentalists; and religious discussion is a forbidden topic on PS anyway.

No, sadly it is not surprising, though shocking nonetheless. However, ANY extremists are dangerous. It doesn''t matter what religion one adheres to, an extremist is an extremist is an extremist. Period. Our country is run by Christian extremists at the moment. To me, that''s just as scary. Perhaps more so because of the money they can access to further their agendas.

As for being afraid because Pakistan has nukes...Welcome to how the rest of the world views America under the GW Bush Administration. Nearly everyone I meet overseas is scared of us for the same exact reasons. Really sad.

 

[HollyS]

Date: 12/28/2007 1:18:42 AM
Author: surfgirl

Date: 12/27/2007 6:44:32 PM
Author: HollyS
I coulda predicted this when she came out of exile to run in the election. This was not a surprise; and we all need to be very aware and concerned about the radically extreme Muslims in every country. These are not *people*, and I use the term loosely, that we can ignore; and we cannot downplay the danger they create by their ridiculous beliefs and religious heresy.


And no, I don''t want to hear any PC crap from anyone on this forum about Muslims. I am talking about extreme fundamentalists; and religious discussion is a forbidden topic on PS anyway.

No, sadly it is not surprising, though shocking nonetheless. However, ANY extremists are dangerous. It doesn''t matter what religion one adheres to, an extremist is an extremist is an extremist. Period. Our country is run by Christian extremists at the moment. To me, that''s just as scary. Perhaps more so because of the money they can access to further their agendas.

As for being afraid because Pakistan has nukes...Welcome to how the rest of the world views America under the GW Bush Administration. Nearly everyone I meet overseas is scared of us for the same exact reasons. Really sad.

Surfgirl, I like you; so I won''t argue with you regarding your political viewpoint. I believe you to be very smart and I hold you in high regard as a person of great intellect and character. That''s why I''m more than a little dismayed that you think those of us to the right of your politics are Christian extremists with scary agendas. But, then again, Hillary scares the bejesus out of me. So there you go; I guess we''ll just have to agree to disagree, and cancel each others vote.

You should be afraid of Pakistan having nukes. Those with their *finger on the button* are not rational . . . and they hate us for all the *sins* of the Western world. You can sympathize with them, care about them, work with them, feel soft-hearted toward them all you want; but they would kill you in a heartbeat and celebrate your death by dancing in the street. However, I, the Christian extremist, would risk my life for yours if need be, simply because you are my fellow man (woman).

 

[surfgirl]

Holly, you''re reading my post and assuming that I mean people like you, and I did not say that, nor do I mean that. I referred to our current President and his Administration, not people who happen to be Republican. There are many many Republicans who are as dismayed as I am at the current state of our "leadership" (or lack thereof) in today''s America. I also did not say that I applaud or appreciate anything about extremists of any type. You are misconstruing my words and I''d appreciate it if you would stop misquoting me. What I said, quite plainly, was that ANY "extremists" are dangerous, and that some of our leadership are viewed in the same way we/you view "them". It''s the xenophobic sweeping generalizations that are disturbing to me.

You said: "You should be afraid of Pakistan having nukes. Those with their *finger on the button* are not rational . . ."

Of course that''s a huge concern around the world. However, I personally, am equally afraid of the those "with their fingers on the button" here at home. And many others around the world share that fear as well. It''s not an either/or situation.

It will be interesting to see if any of the extremist activities subside at all if - hopefully - we get a new political direction here in the USA. You say that extremists punish America for all the sins of the Western world but really, what do you expect when we have a President who, instead of acting like an educated world leader, instead acts like a churlish schoolyard bully, smirking and taunting the "other side" with silly, immature remarks that are broadcast all over the world. It''s rather like waving a red cape at a bull who''s already in a state of anger.

 

[HollyS]

Surfgirl

There have always been wars and rumors of wars because mankind cannot live with itself. There is no such thing as peace, only tactical truces. There is no global community and never will be. There will always be someone (whether a religious faction, a nation, a terrorist group, or demagogue) who believes others need to be conquered or annihilated. The US was targeted by the Japanese in WWII, because we were lazily ill-prepared for an attack and therefore vulverable, and they had watched us sit on our hands and twiddle our thumbs as Europe was crumbling. As a result of our (and Europe''s) massive losses during WWII, we no longer sit idle while the world goes crazy; we have a forceful presence in the world as a country to be reckoned with. And yes, that will piss some non-Americans off or make them fearful, while at the same time, reassure our allies. I don''t believe we need to apologize for that. Our very strong military and diplomatic efforts are responsible for the downfall of the Soviet Union, for example.

Do I think Bush has done a stellar job? Nope. Not even close. Do I feel the world''s problems can be laid at his feet because he''s not been a great president? Nope again. The current climate against the US has been simmering on the back burner for a couple of decades or longer, and is just beginning to boil. You can actually trace the current problems in present day Middle East as far back as the hostage crisis in 1979; or maybe really as far back as Israel reestablishing themselves in the forties. We are a long way from *peace in our time*; and that isn''t the fault of any one president over the last twenty or thirty years.

I wish I were wrong, but I don''t believe I am.

 

[movie zombie]

RIP Ms Bhutto.

she knew she was a pawn in the game of international politics and murder is just one of the many moves on that gameboard. was she a standard bearer for democracy? i don''t think so. was she corrupt? well, the evidence that got her kicked out in the first place is pretty conclusive. however, she was one gutsy woman....she knew that everyone was gunning for her either due to her corrupt ways, links to the US, perceived threat to the president, etc. and no matter what her motivation, she returned to pakistan. right or wrong, she was one gutsy woman.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7827404

movie zombie

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 12/28/2007 6:19:26 PM
Author: movie zombie
RIP Ms Bhutto.

she knew she was a pawn in the game of international politics and murder is just one of the many moves on that gameboard. was she a standard bearer for democracy? i don''t think so. was she corrupt? well, the evidence that got her kicked out in the first place is pretty conclusive. however, she was one gutsy woman....she knew that everyone was gunning for her either due to her corrupt ways, links to the US, perceived threat to the president, etc. and no matter what her motivation, she returned to pakistan. right or wrong, she was one gutsy woman.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7827404

movie zombie

HI:

I had very similar thoughts. May she RIP.

Sharon