Now this REALLY pisses me off!

[grumbler]

Unknown thugs have assassinated Parveen Rehman (http://dawn.com/2013/03/14/parveen-rehman-a-fighter-for-the-poor-silenced/ ), probably because she was carefully documenting the corruption involved in development schemes in Karachi.

I have been using her for several years now as an example for my students of how a single person can make a big difference in the life of millions, without being rich or having connections, a medical degree, etc.  She saw a need and took it upon herself to help those in need and while, in the process, she joined other organizations, it was always on her own terms.  She always pursued her own agenda and avoided the bureaucracy of the NGO movement.  She remained media-shy and so also avoided becoming famous, but she made a difference. She was a great role model.

And now the ratfucks killed her.   This is why Pakistan can't have anything nice. 

[Neil]

It's Pakistan.  They might have just killed her for being a woman.  It's a fucked up place, and social development is racist.  Still, you're right.

[Martim Silva]

I have been using her for several years now as an example for my students of how a single person can make a big difference in the life of millions, without being rich or having connections, a medical degree, etc.

I just hope you add "... as long as that person knows what he/she is doing and lives in a prosperous Western Democracy, otherwise they'll just get killed".

W.E.I.R.D. people are really weird. Used to getting everything easily.

[jimmy olsen]

I have been using her for several years now as an example for my students of how a single person can make a big difference in the life of millions, without being rich or having connections, a medical degree, etc.

I just hope you add "... as long as that person knows what he/she is doing and lives in a prosperous Western Democracy, otherwise they'll just get killed".

W.E.I.R.D. people are really weird. Used to getting everything easily.

No, they're prosperous Western Democracies because those people did those things there when they were neither prosperous, nor democracies.

[11B4V]

Seems to be a norm in shit hole countries. Folks like her, the selfless ones, generally meet a demise like this, and these shit hole countries are the worse for it. IMO it's why they never change and will never takes themselves to the next level.   

[Eddie Teach]

No, they're prosperous Western Democracies because those people did those things there when they were neither prosperous, nor democracies.

Wrong on the first point. Western countries have been prosperous(relatively) since they started owning all the trade routes several centuries ago.

[Viking]

No, they're prosperous Western Democracies because those people did those things there when they were neither prosperous, nor democracies.

Wrong on the first point. Western countries have been prosperous(relatively) since they started owning all the trade routes several centuries ago.

1 - they didn't suddenly start owning all the trade routs of the world. They found ways to get to India without using the trade routs that were monopolized by other countries. Who somehow managed not to become as relatively prosperous as the westerners manged to when they found a rout that didn't require interaction with the previous owners of all the trade routs.

2 - this doesn't explain how the western countries which did not own the trade routs and the peasants in those western countries that didn't participate in the trade got so rich as well?

[11B4V]

Is this akin to a ACW hijack?

[Valmy]

I just hope you add "... as long as that person knows what he/she is doing and lives in a prosperous Western Democracy, otherwise they'll just get killed".

Eh even living in a prosperous Western Democracy may not save you, depending just on how much of a difference you are making.  If you go around changing the world somebody is not going to like it.

[11B4V]

I just hope you add "... as long as that person knows what he/she is doing and lives in a prosperous Western Democracy, otherwise they'll just get killed".

Eh even living in a prosperous Western Democracy may not save you, depending just on how much of a difference you are making.  If you go around changing the world somebody is not going to like it.

The US has had it's share for sure.

[garbon]

W.E.I.R.D. people are really weird. Used to getting everything easily.

What was she getting besides the satisfaction of helping people?

[grumbler]

I just hope you add "... as long as that person knows what he/she is doing and lives in a prosperous Western Democracy, otherwise they'll just get killed".

I love the smell of racism in the morning.  Smells like.... Portugal

W.E.I.R.D. people are really weird. Used to getting everything easily.

I love the smell of stereotyping in the morning.  Smells like.... Portugal.

[crazy canuck]

It is a terrible loss.

My aunt recently went on a trip to Afghanistan to oversee the building of a school for girls in a remote community.  I asked her is she was ever concerned about her safety and she said she wasnt very concerned for her own safety but she was concerned for the safety of the people that were taking the real risks - the local people who were doing the actual work.

[Eddie Teach]

1 - they didn't suddenly start owning all the trade routs of the world. They found ways to get to India without using the trade routs that were monopolized by other countries. Who somehow managed not to become as relatively prosperous as the westerners manged to when they found a rout that didn't require interaction with the previous owners of all the trade routs.

2 - this doesn't explain how the western countries which did not own the trade routs and the peasants in those western countries that didn't participate in the trade got so rich as well?

1- they didn't start owning the old trade routes, it's just the new ones were better.
2- the age of exploration was a jumping off point for Western prosperity, but agreed that that was not the only factor. However, it still had little to do with democracy.

[Admiral Yi]

1- they didn't start owning the old trade routes, it's just the new ones were better.

You think sailing all the way around Africa was a better route than the caravan route?