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What Barack might have taught Benazir

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Q & A on Jan 04, 2008

An email I’ll never forget from a young Pakistani-American:

“Watching Barack Obama deliver his spellbinding victory speech in Iowa, I was reminded of your CNN.com article about Benazir Bhutto’s legacy. You argue that she caved to narrow-minded feudal politics. I think you’re right. I mean, the fact that she bequeathed a so-called ‘people’s party’ to her own son, behind the mask of democracy, only proves your point.

Barack Obama is the opposite. So far, he has beat the political establishment through real democracy. He has attracted not only disillusioned Democrats but also alienated Republicans and Independents. All of this happening in a country, my country, that is more fractious than ever.

On top of that, the good ol’ divided states of America is seriously flirting with dynastic feudalism of its own.  To be honest, this is what we will have if Hillary becomes President.

Barack is an emblem for the politics of pluralism, not tribalism. Irshad, I don’t think I would have appreciated this about him without your article on Benazir Bhutto. I know you are catching a lot of flak for it. Well, the flak stops here. Thank you for making me a more thoughtful citizen of America and the world.” - Zafar, 22

Irshad to all readers: Stay tuned for more of your responses to my Bhutto commentary. Warning: They won’t all be as noble or wholesome as Zafar’s message. Ain’t democracy fun?