Much has been written about Benazir Bhutto, it is a severe blow to democracy in Pakistan. She threatened the extremists, a daring move perhaps calculated to win the support of majority of moderates in Pakistan who want to live a normal life. They got to her before she could get them.
It was a battle of wills. She could have played the game boldly, but non-confrontationally and diplomatically. She could have gradually dissolved them into an inclusive society. She had everything to lose and gain, whereas the extremists did not. Life did not mean much to them, it was not a good equation.
Whether Bhutto would have made it or not, she sacrificed her life to bring democracy to her people. Now, it is the moral responsibility of the moderate majority to stand up, if not, those few extremists will bulldoze them, one leader at a time.
Musharraf fell prey to the greed of power, from an unselfish servant of the nation he became slave to his hunger for power. All that dreaming of making Pakistan a moderate democratic republic simply vanished into thin air. Bhutto's death gives ample reason to Musharraf to stay put.
I will not be surprised to hear "I told you so", "You did not understand my people" kind of rhetoric and assert "Pakistani people prefer to have the military rule" and "I am the one." It is a shame to think in those terms, it is sheer arrogance. Pakistani people do deserve their own government, and they are inherently democratic in their disposition. At this time, the best course for us is not to rock the boat. Let the General have some breathing room, let's listen to him and to the public and understand where they stand.
Any criticism of his government at this time may build public resentment and amounts to meddling in their affairs. Let Pakistan settle from this blow, and make sure there is a genuine welcome to our support, and offer it unconditionally.
Democracy is not a "ready made' suit to fit in the moment you wear it. It is a process, like planting seeds, watching them germinate, checking for moisture, soil, sun and air, and protecting it from bugs, fungal diseases and then protecting it from the birds. Then comes fertilizing, watering, pruning and chasing the birds or the monkeys part, it is a full blown process. You have nourish it and over a period of twenty years, it will be tree enough to serve the purpose for which it was grown; Shade.
Our eagerness to see it happen on our watch must be given up. One has to start breathing, drinking, sleeping and living democracy to fully realize its values. It took us two centuries to be a mature democracy and we need to plan on twenty years out to see the benefit Fundos are a threat to the peaceful working of their society. They want others listen to them, without giving the others the very same right. As citizens of the world, we need to believe in inclusiveness to rope these guys into a dialogue.
They are indeed listening and watching the television shows. One must watch the Pakistan forums and talk shows to believe it. There is a talk about a new TV show on becoming becoming the Prime Minister. It is weeks of debating and learning to give and take punches, absorbing and living the values of inclusiveness in that society that will bring a gradual determined change. The Geo TV is making a genuine effort to have full representation of their society. We need to nurture that, it is in the interest of the world to cultivate inclusive societies, it is an anecdote to terrorism.
Steven Bochco's "LA Law" truly represented the American mind, the audience was made to take different sides as the show moved forward and enabled the public to see how to deal with different social and cultural issues of the society. If American entrepreneurs can fund such shows around the globe where people can think and ponder on both sides of the issue, we can see seeds of democracy germinating on the planet earth.
Pakistan is ripe for democracy; a majority of her people believes in it. We cannot ambush terrorism with bombs; we can certainly dissolve it through dialogue, education and patience. We need a whole new generation into thinking, believing, seeing, breathing and living democracy in their day to day life. It will take twenty years to bring about a sustainable democracy.
www.MikeGhouse.net
Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing Pluralism, politics, Islam, Religion, Terrorism, India and civic issues. His comments, news analysis, opinions and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website www.MikeGhouse.net. He can be reached at MikeGhouseatgmail.com or (214) 325-1916
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