Infant Politicians

I did not comment on the death of Benazir Bhutto at the time. My main thought was 'do some countries deserve democracy?'. I don't know whether it is the lack of democracy that lead to the high feelings contributing to her death, or the sudden relaxation of martial law that enabled people to go out murdering. Unlikely the second one, I would have thought - I suspect in Pakistan people have access to guns and anything destructive very easily, and murdering and suicide bombs were quite the rage during martial law as well. The assassination attempt/murder may in any case have been condoned/encouraged by the ruling party - who knows. Pointing the finger at Al Qaeda might be music to Mr Bush's ears but it seems more like a 'for God's sake, don't let Pakistanis be blamed for this' effort.

But putting her 19-year-old son in the job as party leader - why don't they just write his death warrant now? It's weird - he may well have been elected, but at the wrong moment (in an emotional backlash) and on the wrong grounds (he is his mother's son, therefore he is a good leader). What will it do to his remaining life in Oxford - and his needs for personal security? More to the point for Pakistan, how can he possibly be elected President of Pakistan - would there not be a minimum age limit? What experience has he got to run such a volatile country? If he cannot be elected as president due to age restrictions, which candidate is the party proposing?

What is it with the Indian sub-continent that they always go in for dynasties? It's as if they still need kings and queens. But equally, they are happy to kill them off. What is the average life expectancy for a politician from a dynasty in those countries? Maybe now they are taking them so young the question may be resolved soon, if young Master Bhutto may not actually be able to produce offspring.

Welcome and Happy New Year

This blog takes over the living and politics part of the Music and Life - Everywhere! blog which will shortly be renamed 'Viola in Vilnius' to concentrate solely on the arts.

Here I will blog about all other aspects of living and working in countries where, for example, democracy is not so strong (does that make it almost all countries?), corruption is rife, but where also life is different from my 'normal' Northern European experiences. Some of my comments will be on media events, others on what I have seen, and yet others may relate to personal experiences (I am contemplating on whether to make a third, personal blog, just for 'personal stuff'...but setting up this one reminded me how much work is involved in faffing around with templates etc).

Oh yes, the title? Apart from not wanting trouble with the film company ('Good bye, Lenin') I thought this version would reflect well the way people look at life in most of Post-Sovietistan. Now you can buy anything. The shops are full to bursting, you can get cars of any make, you can buy the police, the judiciary, the elections.......

In the meantime Happy New Year, especially to those countries whose democracy is currently being tested to destruction, ie Georgia, Pakistan.......