The assassination of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is a sad commentary on the state of world affairs. The inability of political regimes in the 21st century to reach common ground by going to a higher ground seems to "plague" our planet like an actual disease. Indeed, it is also a tragedy that Bhutto and President Pervez Musharraf were unable to transcend their differences and reach a peaceful resolution for the benefit of their country as well as the international community.
Whatever may result from the official investigation into the killing of Benazir Bhutto (and its horrific "collateral damage"), we must all remember that there are seeds of meaning associated with this milestone moment in history that need to be investigated and discovered too. Putting political posturing aside, Bhutto lived her life with meaning, and her life was meaningful. And although we may never really know the underlying, intrinsic motivations behind Bhutto's return to her fractured country, especially since all the evidence indicates that she knew that her life was in grave danger, let's give her the benefit of the doubt. In this regard, rather than assuming that she was motivated strictly by the "will to power" (as her own niece has suggested), I prefer to think that her intention to give Pakistan a try at democracy was more a manifestation of the "will to meaning." That is, as I describe in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, Bhutto was "authentically committed to meaningful values and goals" that she felt personally responsible and compelled to fulfill. In point of fact, she was willing to die for that in which she believed, which, I think that you would agree, is the ultimate level of authentic commitment.
So, let me ask you: what are YOU willing to die for? Are there meaningful values and goals in your life that would meet such a test? As a way of celebrating the life and legacy of Benazir Bhutto, please consider these life-affirming questions as you ponder YOUR life. And if you are so inclined, I'd love for you to share your thoughts and feelings (including experiences) with me and the rest of the Global Dialogue Center community through this blog. I look forward to hearing from you!
Meaningfully,
Alex
Alex Pattakos, Ph.D. New Audiobook Digital Download Now Available! The digital download version of PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work can now be obtained from both iTunes and Audible.com, which means you can listen to it on your computer, iPod, or other MP3 player (the Audiobook CD version won't be released until July 1, 2008). Here is the direct link to Audible.com: Prisoners of Our Thoughts Digital Download
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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