Who Benefits?

I'm still on vacation, but as I sit here in my Florida motel room and listen to the reports on CNN I feel I must make a statement.

On many points I haven't agreed with Benazir Bhutto. However, her assassination has left me also shocked and disappointed. I'm also deeply troubled as I try to understand all the forces at work here.

I don't believe Bhutto's assassin was a single mad gunman. There are too many other forces at work. I know the pieces, but I don't yet know how they fit together into the puzzle.

These are the facts:

1. Bhutto presented a serious challenge to Musharraf

2. Musharraf, who seized control of Pakistan several years ago, has repeatedly received endorsement from the current administration. He is one of America's favorite dictators.

3. Bhutto indicated in an email that Musharraf was her greatest threat.

4. Even though the Pakistani public has pointed to Musharraf as the force behind Bhutto's assassination, these claims are being ignored.

5. Instead, the emphasis has swung to blame of Islamic "extremism." Throughout the evening CNN has run a special program about the dangers presented by Muslims in Pakistan.

6. And don't forget that Pakistan has a nuclear weapon. This has been brought up repeatedly.

I don't know how people will treat me tomorrow when I go out and about. I expect a change in attitude. After all, I'm an "extremist." I pray five times a day (three while traveling) and wear a head scarf. My husband wears a kufi. I guess our headwear makes us dangerous.

Who has benefitted from Benazir Bhutto's assassination? The Pakistani people? Muslims throughout the world? Or people who would like to seize control of Pakistan, wresting power from its Muslim citizens?

For the last several weeks, American pundits have discussed the need for change in Pakistan. This is their opportunity. And I don't believe in coincidences.

Enjoy!

I won't be posting for the next two weeks. (Did I hear a cheer in the background?) Eid ul Adha starts on Wednesday and after Eid we plan to travel a little.

I don't think you'll be spending as much time on the internet, either. The kids are off from school. That in itself will keep you busy. And either it will snow so hard you'll be struggling to stay warm or the weather will be unseasonably warm and you won't feel like hanging around the house.

When I was in elementary school we thought it was a great joke as we told our friends, "I'll see you next year." My humor appreciation level has improved since 6th grade, but it's still a nice thought. A new start.

I'll see you next year, insha Allah.

Who's a Racist?

While browsing CNN headlines I noticed a story about Oprah. Apparently she's being blasted for her support of Barack Obama and even being called a racist.

So it's okay for white people to support other white people but it's not okay for black people to support other black people?

First of all, I don't even see the Obama campaign as a "black thing." I'm about as white as a person can be and, personally, I think Barack Obama is the most promising of the mainstream candidates. He has energy and ideas and insight and he won't bully and bluster his way through one crisis while he's creating another. I believe he has integrity--a very rare commodity among politicians.

Anyway, I am sick of all the personal politics being played. We are searching for the next leader of this country, and most of us are sincerely hoping we get someone who can do the job this time. Does gender matter? (I won't support Hillary just because she's a woman--and I would never ask anyone for support on the basis of my gender either. That's still sexism.) Does race matter? Does religion matter? (I am sick and tired of hearing about how a Mormon can't run this country. My only beef with Mitt Romney is that I lived in Massachusetts while he was governor and he seemed to spend most of his time outside of the state, setting up the support for his presidential candidacy.)

Let's grow up. Forget about race. Forget about religion. Forget about gender. Can the person do the job?

And I think the racist is the one who faults Oprah Winfrey for supporting a candidate who happens to be a black man.

Tragic Contradictions

The newest child health care bill was vetoed today. In defense of his action, Bush contended that government health care should not extend to adults nor to those who are not desperately poor. The ideal is for Americans to pay for their health care through private insurance companies.

Do you really believe that, Mr. Bush? You're an adult and far from poor. Why do you receive government health care? The same can be said for Cheney, for the entire executive branch, judicial branch, and Congress. How can you deny to children and struggling adults what you yourselves take so freely? How is that democracy?

There may not be enough money for government health care but Congress is poised to allocate another 70 billion dollars for the war in Iraq--no strings attached. Apparently this country is not in the business of living but of killing.

A tragic murder of a teenage girl occured outside of Toronto. She got into an argument with her strict Muslim father about wearing a headscarf--a hijab. He became irate and strangled her.

I wear hijab and if I had a teenage daughter I would surely hope she wore it too. The hijab is modesty and identity. Also, I am sick of the American media portraying uncovered women as educated and progressive while we poor covered women are, apparently, ignorant and oppressed. Excuse me?

But the father waited too late to teach his daughter. My husband has worked in Islamic education for 22 years and he can tell you that you don't tell a sixteen-year old to wear hijab. You tell a seven year old, a ten year old. She grows up with it and it won't be strange to her. Ah well. It's too late for both the father and the daughter now.

Debating Torture. Why?

Torture saves lives, the White House says. In a CNN poll, over 50% agree that torture is sometimes necessary.

How can we say America stands for freedom and democracy?

It's Monday

My blog is always hardest to write on Monday. It's not for lack of ideas but simply lack of discipline after the weekend. What are my options?

There's the whole White House vs. NIE thing. Iran does not have as much as a program for developing nuclear weapons. There is no reason to attack. But that's yesterday's news.

There's the disappearance of CIA tapes. The White House has no comment on this one. I wonder what was on those tapes. We do not torture. . .do we?

There are the three recent shootings, one in Omaha and two in Colorado. To be very honest, I know many Muslims were relieved that the people involved were named Robert and Matthew rather than Ali or Osama. But the shootings were wrong, and tragic, and we are not relieved about that.

And there's the ice storm. It's hitting Kansas City right now. I lived in Kansas City during the ice storm of 2002. We went an entire week without electricity--huddled in front of the fireplace, all sleeping in one room, cooking only during the day because it was too dark at night. On the final day before our lights turned back on I had to go back to work--the school where I taught had also been in the dark. Coming home at 3:30 or 4:00 and trying to get a meal together before sunset taught me something. I understand why women did not work outside of the home until they had electricity.

So I guess there is a lot to talk about. But it's Monday. By tomorrow I should be warmed up. (Very warm, actually. They're predicting temperatures in the 60s. I am so glad we moved south last summer.)

'Lost Boys' and 'The Muslim Scare'

First, a word about Robert Hawkins. You know, the 19 year old who killed eight people in the mall yesterday. I don't excuse criminal behavior, but I can tell from a cursory reading of Hawkins' teen years that he was a lost boy. His parents were divorced. He had troubles with his stepmother--which is not uncommon, especially for a thirteen-year old. (Many thirteen-year olds have trouble with their birth mothers.) A day after turning fourteen he was placed in a mental institution. The charges were, along with his threats to his stepmother, that he had a short attention span and he was disruptive. He was barely fourteen! He was pretty much an average teen--maybe a little on the wild side, but not a delinquent. Not yet.

In the mental institution he was molested by a roommate. He was placed on antidepressants. When he arrived at his foster home in 2001 he curled into a fetal position. This kid was seriously in need of love and caring. Apparently he did not get it from either of his divorced parents, or from their current spouses.

Teenage boys can be rowdy, disruptive, disobedient, untrustworthy, lazy, unfocused. I've seen many boys who fit that description but, with the right adult love and guidance, grew up to be responsible, caring, hard-working men. Robert Hawkins didn't get what he needed from the people who brought him into this world. He decided to take other people with him when he left.

Parents, please take care of your boys.

* * *

One more note. A Clinton campaign worker has been fired for promoting the idea that Barack Obama is a Muslim. The way the story was worded, Muslim sounded like a dirty word. "Are you or have you ever been a Muslim?" Let's not go back to the McCarthy era. I know a Muslim wouldn't stand a chance at getting into the White House, but most of us are just normal people living boring lives. (Ask my kids how truly boring their Muslim parents are.) I was born during the Red Scare. Are we headed for the Crescent Scare? Please.

Where is the Danger?

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush made the statement, "You are either with us or you are against us."

Most educated people realize the world cannot be divided so simply. Gray areas abound. If I am opposed to Bush's plans in Afghanistan and Iraq, does that make me a terrorist? Some people would say so. Fortunately that number is decreasing as the reasons for invading Iraq are shown to be weak and the efforts of Afghanistan are falling short. And is Osama Bin Laden still alive? Some don't think so.

Most of life is gray, neither black nor white. That's what makes living such a challenge. If the correct answers were always obvious, fewer of us would make mistakes. Different factors enter into the picture, though, clouding our vision.

There are absolutes. My absolutes may be different than yours, but here are some of them: God exists and is actively involved in our lives; Murder is wrong; Forms of murder such as war and abortion are wrong; Murder of the spirit, seen in practices such as racism, are also wrong; Marriage should usually (though, admittedly, not always) last a lifetime; Parents must respect our children and children must respect our parents (no matter how old we are).

But I also think there is no us and them. We all have the capacity for good or evil. That's a choice each of us must make. Choices come at us not just once but many times over a lifetime.

The danger is in the choosing.

Dangerous?

Iran has nuclear weapons and may attack at any time, threatening the stability of the world.

Iran has the ability to develop nuclear weapons and may soon begin development.

Iran had a nuclear program but stopped pursuing nuclear weapons in 2003.

Throughout the months the mainstream media's reporting of the Iranian threat has become increasingly milder, culminating in yesterday's hopeful announcement.

That didn't stop the White House though.

In a speech delivered today, Bush said, "Iran was dangerous. Iran is dangerous. Iran will be dangerous."

I'm glad to see he's mastered verb tense. I wonder how soon he'll be ready to grasp political theory and historical fact.

Senator Biden today called Bush the most incompetent president in modern times. He just now figured that out?

Not All Bad

There's plenty wrong with the world. But, as of tonight, all of my kids are working and/or in school, I was able to do some serious writing today, and the teddy bear teacher is back home safely.

Whatever is bad will be just as bad tomorrow. At least there's something good to report.