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Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Bhutto and me....

--Samar Jamali, AC360 Production Assistant

Last Thursday I woke up and saw the wire on my blackberry-- "Benazir Bhutto Urgent" was all the subject said but I knew right away something bad had happened. At around the same time I heard my grandfather's voice on our answering machine-- "Guys, the news is reporting Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated."

Immediately I thought of my other home, Pakistan, and all the hope that had been crushed by Benazir Bhutto's sudden death. I remembered the excitement Bhutto created for me as a young girl in Pakistan- having an intelligent, articulate and beautiful woman as a role model- a symbol of not only female potential, but Pakistani potential.

As details of her death emerge, and are disputed, and I see onscreen the faces of Pakistanis weary of yet another heartache, I hope that some good will come out of all this- but I'm not sure what yet.

Posted By CNN: 10:03 AM ET
5 Comments

Samar,
Since Bhutto's death I have thought also what a great loss it is for the Pakistani people but mostly for the women there who used her as a role model! I mean she showed that women aren't second class and can do anything they want to do. I hope her death doesn't cause the women and girls there to lose sight of that! I hope they remember that even though she was killed she rose above what the norm for women is. And that they can too even if the men like it or not. I hope they see in her that they are the ones that control their future and can rise as high as they want. I hope that is Bhutto's legacy to the women in Pakistan and all around that region.

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Posted By

Cindy : 10:32 AM ET

I hope for peaceful times, not only for the Pakistani people, but for the whole world community.
When all is said and done, what happens to one human being, happens to us all. We're in this world together. We have to solve this turmoil together too. Take Care

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

Posted By

Lorie Ann : 11:01 AM ET

Samar

You, like thousands of other women are the example of what it can be when you have such a positive role model. Ms. Bhutto's death is a loss to all those young girls in Pakistan and around the world who will grow up not knowing the influence a strong, courageous and beautiful woman could have shown them.

Hopefully we will get some answers to the questions that keep coming up.

Thank you for your post today

Posted By

Megan O. Toronto, ON, Canada : 11:05 AM ET

Samar, I'm glad that you are looking at the bigger picture. There's too much focus in some blogs about what one did on New Year's Eve. The lost potential in Pakistan with the death of Benazir Bhutto makes me think of the lost potential in so much of US foreign policy. Let's hope that as we move into 2008, US foreign policy doesn't continue to miss opportunities as it has for many years.

Posted By

J. Moore, New Canaan, CT : 12:32 PM ET

Samar

I hope some good comes from Bhutto's death too. I'm sure though that she will continue to inspire people especially young women. Her loss was a loss to the whole world who values intelligence, freedom, and compassion.

Annie KAte
Birmingham AL

Posted By

Annie Kate : 8:29 PM ET

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