The Nation.

Musharraf's Emergency

By Graham Usher

This article appeared in the November 26, 2007 edition of The Nation.

November 8, 2007

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  • Graham Usher writes that Benazir Bhutto "wears the soul of Pakistan like a sequined gown." I'm all for colorful writing, and this is definitely the memorable phrase in a rather gray piece, but what does it mean? Whenever I see photos of Bhutto she is wearing non-revealing robes and a headscarf. Does she have a secret life as a Cosmo cover girl? Does the soul of Pakistan, whatever that is, long to fling off its traditional garb and go to the Oscars? Is Usher trying to say that Pakistanis are as mesmerized by Bhutto's claim to represent their aspirations as a pop star's fans are drawn to her sultry, but also tawdry, beauty? Or is his point that Bhutto has taken something organic and profound--the soul of Pakistan--and transmuted it into something Western and self-dramatizing? Are sequined gowns supposed to be bad or good?

    Whatever, Bhutto has enough to answer for without saddling her with sexualizing metaphors.

    Katha Pollitt

    New York, NY

    11/10/2007 @ 12:51pm


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