Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West

Impossible To Resist Retrospection, But An Opportunity To Look Forward.

This book is great for anyone looking into Islam, both past and present, American Foreign Policy, both Colonialism and Cold War eras, Problems that face the Middle-East, such as Fundamentalism and Militancy, Pakistan, a thorough overview and its importance. After reading this book, the reader will be able to take away another perspective, one that is universal. Benazir Bhutto, along with both family and non-family relations have given their lives fighting for Democracy, a creed that some take for granted. May her and the many others be watched over.

Bridging the gap between Islam and the West

Born into a family of leaders in the country of Pakistan, Bhutto follows in her father's footsteps in an effort to bring about positive change in her country ruled by corrupt dictators and military juntas. In an attempt to reshape the future of impoverished Islamic nations, she explains the negative and unfortunate impact that the West's involvement had in Middle Eastern countries over the last century which paved the way for the corrupt and regressive rule of dictators that were enabled their power, and the resulting resentment and distrust these countries have for us. But she is also careful to lay blame on the waywardness and contamination of modern Islam by extremists who have twisted the once peaceful, inclusive, and technologically advanced ideology to justify their own perverse and selfish ends. Being a victim of terror herself, she bravely calls for reform in her beloved religion and cites similar statements of change from many Islamic scholars with like attitudes. She asserts that Islam and democracy are indeed compatible and strives tirelessly to bring democratic changes to her country, all which threaten the rule of those currently enjoying power. She provides a good model prescription for the democratization and improvement of third-world countries. She clarifies the idea of the Clash of Civilizations being not a conflict of East and West, but rather it is a conflict within Islam itself: modernism vs. regression, reformists vs. traditionalists, freedom and education vs. oppression and ignorance. Prosperity is attainable by all in Islam, peace and reconciliation between East and West possible, and the goal can be reached if only we have the courage to promote and implement democratic ideas. Whether you are Muslim or not, hers is a book that will bring you a clearer understanding of Middle Eastern affairs, its relationship to the west, and the universal call that must be heeded by the world. Her loss was great indeed.

An Eye Opener!!!!

This was one of the most pivotal books that I have ever read. I have never read anything like this before. If you are looking for both sides of the story you can not pass up this this book. This book has given me new perspective. I would recomend this book to anyone, the well read or the novice. Mrs. Bhutto's book is definitely worth your time.

From the eyes of a truely inspirational woman

When I saw this book in Barnes & Noble, I was interested. I'd heard Benazir Bhutto's story on the radio since last fall, when she was going back to Pakistan. I picked up Reconciliation, started reading it, and HAD to have it. It's been so incredible reading about everything that has happened from Benazir Bhutto's point of view, not to mention gaining some much-needed insight into the Middle East and Islam and how important Democrazy is to her and why, and how important this issue is in our world today and always.

Greatly needed insight into the greatest challenge to the world.

Benazir Bhutto impressed me not just as a charismatic politician but also as an eloquent and genius writer. This book explores the root causes of unrest in Muslim world and the threat Muslim fanatics (esp. Taliban and Al-Qaida) are posing to the civilized world. Her book reflects her deep desire to bring democracy to her unfortunate country-Pakistan, which is clearly heading to be the next Afghanistan under Taliban's flag, and the consequences are just too horrific to even think about.

Regrettable apologia

It is tragic and ironic when such a personally courageous woman as Benazir Bhutto leaves a legacy of unrealistic if not idealistic views of her own country and religion together with such faultfinding on the part of the Christian world for what it supposedly did not do to 'encourage' democratic thinking and action in the larger Muslim world. According to the author, if only the West, read Britain, France and the USA had not consorted with various Islamic despots of one kind or another during the past 100 years the Islamic world would now be well on the way to productive and compatible co-existence with the rest of the world. While she admits that her own world carries some responsibility for its current plight, it is only grudgingly given. The outer, Western world is the real culprit. Mrs. Bhutto may well have had her reasons for trying to create even more guilt feelings on the part of Western liberals than are already obvious in these people's misconceptions of the world as it really is, it is not clear to me how this approach by the former Pakistani Prime Minister is likely to encourage the Muslim world to rid itself of its radicalism if it really wants to participate in the world instead of trying to blow it up. The current threat of Islamic radicalism was not caused by whatever the West supposedly did to the Muslim world, it rather stems from a much older streak of atavistic Islamic irrationalism going back to the 14th century, with the aim of returning the Islamic world, if not the whole globe, to the 7th century A.D. Unless the Muslim world comes to its senses and proceeds forthwith with the task of eradicating this evil, murderous movement there is little the Western world can do except to defend itself with whatever means may be appropriate and at whatever cost it may incur. For Mrs. Bhutto to blame the West for all the age-old and pernicious problems of her world is disingenuous and not helpful in ridding the world of this poisonous new Damocleian sword hanging over all our heads. The book is a tragic and misguided legacy to leave behind.

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A reviewer

Reconciliation is a wonderful book! To read a woman with such courage to look at her past and push beyond that to change a world. This book should spark a kind of courage and love in all of us to try to be as special and loving as this woman was. I was sad to hear of her assasination, but her light will continue to shine in the people she touched!

A reviewer

This is a great book. I recommend reading the novel 'Detained Differences' by J. Robert Rowe first, it will put things into better perspective for everyone.

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