How can I lightheartedly clack out “Good Morning” like I usually do after watching this video in the Times about a 14-year old girl named Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by the Taliban because she publicly championed education for girls. The video opens with these words, In the area where I live, there are some people…who want to stop educating girls…through guns!
I want to get my education, and I want to become a doctor. But now it’s entirely unclear whether Malala will ever see her dream come true. She was shot with two other girls on a school bus, after which, Ehsanullah Ehsana, a representative for the Taliban confirmed by phone Tuesday that Ms. Yousafzai had been the target, calling her crusade for education rights an “obscenity.” She has become a symbol of Western culture in the area; she was openly propagating it,” Mr. Ehsan said, adding that if she survived, the militants would certainly try to kill her again. “Let this be a lesson.” – The NY Times
This is superb reporting of a compelling story. I could never improve on it. I can only ask that you try to take the time to read the story and watch this clip of Class Dismissed, A 2009 documentary by Adam B. Ellick that profiled the young, visionary and ferociously courageous Malala Yousafzai.
All the way around the world as we are, it is not only unfathomable to us that brutality like this goes on, as we get up, begin our days, have our coffee, take our dogs for walks, check our email, wish a friend happy birthday, plan what’s for dinner and who’s coming for Thanksgiving and go about our days in freedom.
But there are people – there are women – in other parts of the world who do not have these simple freedoms let alone the greater ones, such as an opportunity to get an education. Sentiments such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “Dream a Little Dream Come True” don’t exist for our sisters who live under the rule of extremist regimes like the Taliban. If you speak out, you lose your life.
It’s important to remember that when we fight to preserve women’s rights here in the States – in a democracy – that we fight not only to preserve our own freedoms, but we fight to encourage freedom for all women all over the world. It is not just about us. It never is.
We may be far, far away…but we are all connected in spirit and paying attention matters.
To Malala Yousafzai – a prayer for your recovery. You are extraordinary.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Giselle
October 10, 2012 at 11:57 am
We pray and its extremely important that she will recover.
She basically belong to particular part of Pakistan which is under strong influence of Taliban and if we open not very past books, its the same area where Osama bin Laden ( he was there or not is still a big question in hand ) was found.
Women in other parts of the country are free to earn education and they are doing extra-ordinary.
Such a wonderful way to start a morning Giselle Minoli, we being so much materialistic day by day, care no more. This reminds me of a wonderful post by Grace O’Malley : https://plus.google.com/u/0/106133647632447653039/posts/3gTuCcHqerH
Long live Malala, ~~Education for All~~
Extra-ordinary girl with extraordinary courage
October 10, 2012 at 12:04 pm
11 years ago New York city was attacked. This new incident is the result of OUR invasion and war we are waging in revenge. There are over ONE Million refugees in Pakistan now, Afghanistan and Pakistan are being bombed daily and the only way for those who want to be in charge there is to flex their muscles. They are trying to hold onto power and WE the USA citizens support this war as proper revenge for those killed in New York City. You are naive if you think it is some other reason.
October 10, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Allah Bless her with quick health, but we must discuss the root causes of all this as well, back in 2000 this area was called Switzerland of Pakistan (Swat Valley) and was considered the biggest tourist place in Pakistan. But now what happened ? How this Taliban thingy came here and why? USSR is gone after spending 2 decades in Afghanistan and now USA just entered in 2nd decade but they are still same there is no change in Afghanistan….
October 10, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Thank you all for showing up on this post. I am very interested in what you have to say. I have an early appointment, but will be checking back in again soon. Bless you!!!
October 10, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Nora Qudus And yet the American response has been the same model we’ve tried time and again in the Middle East, with the same wobbly results. Support one leader, create an enemy (often in the same country).
We were seen to support the Shah; we got Khomeini. We initially courted Saddam, then we overthrew him when he became non-compliant. We played footsie with Pervez Musharraf, then tried to replace him with Bhutto – she got whacked, and we got her husband, who isn’t enamored of America.
So it goes with Hamid Karzai. He’s our ally. No, he’s not doing enough. He’s our friend. No, he’s not doing enough. I’m surprised we’re not dizzy from all the 180-degree turns we routinely make.
October 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Sorry, but in Pakistan more than 50% of the college students are women. And every one of my relatives …. female… are university graduates and we are not from rich families. You have been misinformed. Pakistan is oppressed by the USA with the demands for crack downs on tribal areas instead of being allowed to build the infrastructure that is needed there. You support the war by not speaking out on a daily basis. I lost my job for having a bumper sticker not supporting the troop who kill the children and women there. If we bomb villages and women and children are killed who are we to condemn this!?
October 10, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Bob Lai because the people ruling this country are stupid, or evil or whatever I vote stupid and naive to the point of criminal.
October 10, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Everything started after 9/11 before that both countries known as biggest supports of Taliban (Mujahideen)……because they made them to break USSR.
Now a days around the world everyone is keeping an eye on Pakistan if a single needle is dropped on women that would be on CNN/BBC, but what others are doing around the world with kids and women no body knows….
I don’t know how many people killed in Twin Towers but what i know , more than 2 Million men, women, children KILLED in this Afghanistan War (including killings in Pakistan due to this) and its continuous, daily they are killing 100s of people (including women n kids) with DRONE Attacks, International laws are only for third world countries but not for USA or NETO.
October 10, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Nora Qudus agreed there is just misinformation in US about Women in Pakistan.
October 10, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I am sorry Nora Qudus but the USA is not responsible for the philosophy inherent in the Taliban that girls are not worthy of being educated. That philosophy exists solely within the realm of the Taliban. These are two separate issues – the one being the belief system of the Taliban, which is a wholly violent group, and the other being US intervention and the mistakes we have made. They are different issues. Further, the article I attached does go into detail about the area of the country in which Malala lives…
October 10, 2012 at 12:30 pm
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152177814995525&set=a.188231740524.247123.745050524&type=1&theater
Look at this what DRONE ATTACKS are doing with KIDS of Province KPK in Pakistan, I am not saying or in support of Taliban but i think American Troops and Taliban are doing same JOB “KILLING PEOPLE” that’s it.
October 10, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Giselle Minoli I can see where Nora Qudus is coming from – we created the mudjehadeen to oppose the Russians, they became the bulwark of the Taliban (including this guy named bin Laden). After 9/11, we drove the Taliban out, then went chasing after Saddam while the Taliban gained a foothold in Pakistan (winning at least one seat in Parliament), and then returned to Afghanistan.
So we may not be responsible for their philosophies, but we’ve had our fingers in creating them, and making their current position.
October 10, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Bob Lai yes that is the ROOT from where all this started.
October 10, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I will pray for Malaia Yousafzai to recover soon, also will pray for the world we all need to stop the violence.
October 10, 2012 at 12:37 pm
That’s an apples to oranges comparison, Ijaz Rafi, and a rather disingenuous one at that. There is a difference between children being casualties of fighting going on around them and a man walking up to a child, shooting them in the head and then walking away thinking that he has done God’s work.
Look. Wars suck. I think that most of us can stipulate to that. But, despite everything, the United States is not deliberately sending drones to murder the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan, either to silence them or to pressure their parents into submission. A child who is in the wrong place at the wrong time is just as dead as one who is intentionally targeted, and in that sense it doesn’t matter. But claiming that the United States is no different than the Talibs because the actions of both have lead to the deaths of children is to ignore a lot of other factors.
October 10, 2012 at 12:38 pm
When DRONES kill small kids on daily basis that should be the HEADLINE OF “New York Times” as well !
October 10, 2012 at 12:38 pm
At the same time, the politics of US/Afghanistan relations are a bit afield from Giselle Minoli ‘s original post – both a reflection on how educating women is viewed by the Taliban, and how we should be both recognizing what an enormous gift education is – and working to spread/encourage it elsewhere.
Sadly, we’ve got our own small-minded sorts in America, who want to ban this and ban that and outlaw subjects based on their religious beliefs.
October 10, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Aaron McLin the point is why USA Started all this? Where is the UN Laws about WAR? Human rights are only for the citizens of US? And if there is a suspect in that area (WHICH IS still a mystery because no body knows who was the target and who is killed) it means all humans in surrounding should be killed as well?
We are not in support of the guys who did this stupid act with the girl but why it was not happening in Pakistan before 9/11 if you think only people here are against women education or freedom of women?
And who is US to decide the future of other countries? There was peace before all attacks of US in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Iran any many other muslim countries.
October 10, 2012 at 12:48 pm
That’s true, Bob Lai. BUT, at the same time, these groups don’t normally feel that the way they promote their ideas is to run around shooting those who disagree with them. I don’t think that this is fundamentally religious difference, but a social one. For most Westerners, while they might hold their religious beliefs dear, they don’t operate under the impression that any secular laws they disagree with are automatically trumped to the point that they just don’t apply anymore.
When things get to the point where Southern Baptists are sending armed men into the streets to make sure that everyone goes to church on Sunday, we’ll have a comparable baseline to work from. Until then, we have to realize that as small minded as some people in the States can be, our culture of respect for the overarching laws and the democratic process means that while people can want to ban whatever, they’re not going to be murdering people when lawmakers disagree with them.
October 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Aaron McLin So the only difference is that the Taliban shoots people, and not the commonalities of a patriarchal religious sect dictating what is acceptable or not in education and in women’s health?
A gilded cage is still a cage, and all that.
October 10, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Human rights, Ijaz Rafi? That’s rich. The United States, like every other nation on Earth looks out for it’s own interests. And that generally means keeping the public reasonably happy with whomever is in Washington. And the fact of the matter is that many Americans find Islamist terrorism scary, and want all of the terrorists dead. Human rights are a distant second.
Sure, you can make the point that between the Cold War and a thirst for oil, the United States help shaped a situation which has blown up in its face. Okay, I’ll buy that. But that doesn’t create an affirmative defense for, well, murderers and thugs. The people who ordered Malala Yousafzai targetted can claim whatever reasons they want. But – they has to CHOOSE to tell someone to go pull the trigger, and they could have chosen to do otherwise.
I don’t like to indulge myself in the “soft bigotry of low expectations” and so I won’t. If it can’t be demonstrated to me how shooting a 14 year old in the head will somehow alter the injustices of the past, or prevent the injustices of tomorrow, I’m going to hold the perps responsible for a new injustice.
People do dumb things all the time. The United States has likely pulled more than it’s share of boneheaded maneuvers. And, sooner or later, those will have consequences. But we have to hold people responsible for what they have done, and not let them shift the blame onto others.
October 10, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Um, Aaron McLin , I think that Ijaz Rafi ‘s point is that our ‘boneheaded maneuvers’ are having consequences. The choice to pull the trigger is on the shooter, but America helped make the country the political cesspool that it is.
However, I think if we want to continue that aspect of the discussion, we might start a separate thread, as it’s getting far afield from the OP.
October 10, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Perhaps Bob Lai. But I suspect that a gilded cage is better than a gilded coffin.
But more to the point, when patriarchal religious sects in the United States (or most Western nations, for that matter) try to dictate what is or is not acceptable in education and in women’s health, they have to follow the process. The Talibs are not really doing that. And that’s a cultural difference, not a religious one. We do have a stronger civil society than Pakistan does. This sort of thing happens a LOT less often here. I think that’s worth acknowledging and understanding.
October 10, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Aaron McLin Getting elected to a school board so you can push religious-based anti-evolution views isn’t really ‘following the process’ – it’s gaming it.
I’d much rather point it out now, then wait until we’ve become a theocracy and wail about ‘why didn’t anyone see this coming?’
October 10, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I regret Aaron McLin that I must disagree with your response to Bob Lai and your statement: “our culture of respect for the overarching laws and the democratic process means that while people can want to ban whatever, they’re not going to be murdering people when lawmakers disagree with them.”, on two counts.
Firstly, I believe that the ‘culture of respect’ is in serious decline in the U.S. Ironically, the strongest evidence comes from the Religious Right. It is not respectful to bribe, to lie, and to disenfranchise those with whom one disagrees. Secondly, I’m afraid that there are those who do take to murder—outside family planning clinics for example. What will happen as the concealed-carry legislation continues to pass and society becomes more polarized by the rhetoric of the right’s religious zealots and school board takeovers is worrying in the extreme. The parallel with Malaia Yousafzai’s sad example and the Taliban is too close for comfort—particularly where women are concerned
The key phrase in Giselle Minoli’s post is in the antepenultimate paragraph. “It’s important to remember that when we fight to preserve women’s rights here in the States.” When? When will that be? I see a number of women activating and highlighting the dangers of rolling back the last fifty years of hard-won legislation. I see all too few men standing by their partner’s sides.
October 10, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Interesting. But I think that we’ve dragged this thread pretty far afield, as Bob pointed out, so perhaps we should take this up elsewhere.
Anyway. Good luck to Ms. Yousafzai.
October 10, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I am in alignment with Aaron McLin’s view that people are responsible for their actions – If it can’t be demonstrated to me how shooting a 14 year old in the head will somehow alter the injustices of the past, or prevent the injustices of tomorrow, I’m going to hold the perps responsible for a new injustice.
Whether we like admitting it or not, the USA, as Bob Lai points out, often funds the wrong side and is on the wrong side. Our government is responsible for that. So, too, whether we, or Pakistani’s like to admit it or not, there are vast differences in consciousness among Pakistanis themselves.
The article states that while schools for boys remain open….over 200 schools for girls have closed. The US is not responsible for that basically discriminatory view within Taliban-controlled areas of Pakistan, for the difference between boys and girls.
Further, Malala’s own father believed in and was an educator of girls – he ran a school. So, just as some Americans are enlightened and others are not, some Pakistanis are enlightened and some are not.
This post is quite specifically about the story of one Pakistani girl, who has the misfortune of living in an area of Pakistani controlled by the Taliban, and her desire to become an educated person…and a doctor.
It might, in another way, also be about denial. Our former President insisting that the Taliban was under control when it never was and now it is “back” stronger and more violent than ever, for many of the reasons pointed out here.
But it is also about the denial that there are different religious and cultural philosophies that existed within Pakistan…as Amy Fee Garner points out…long before 9/11, long before US intervention.
The fact that there has been this long, long war has only highlighted the philosophy that would lead to such violence against girls/women in the first place. I will never forget, when our former President was in charge, the video of a woman being taken out in a square and shot in the head.
That action, is symbolic. Of course it’s difficult to survive being shot in the head. But it is also rich with symbolism when used against women.
Shoot the part of the body that “thinks,” that “dreams,” that “rebels,” that envisions a better future for themselves and their fellow citizens.
That women are repressed there has been going on for a long, long time.
October 10, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Colin Lucas-Mudd Aaron McLin Bob Lai don’t worry about taking a detour…I’m not bothered by that…carry on…I think it’s a crucial discussion. I myself struggle with where to draw the line between personal responsibility and the overriding cultural, governmental, military, economic and religious pressure systems that bring about the “greater violence,” which I think the Malala story points too.
October 10, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Giselle Minoli beautiful thoughts and great post, I appreciate.
Just to clear her name is “Malala” with “l” not with “i”.
October 10, 2012 at 2:16 pm
I just wanted to add, and I wish I could write more about it – but I haven’t asked permission from a friend who is a “travel” writer – but many, many years ago, when we were chatting on the phone about “these” issues, he said that he had been reading the New York Times and there were all these major headlines about the bigger skirmishes and there was a little item down in the corner about Pakistan that could easily have been glossed over…and he said something along the lines of “I wonder how many people realize how dangerous this situation is going to become.” I think about his prediction often. It was right after 9/11, when all the focus was on Afghanistan and then Iraq…
October 10, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Zuhaib Haider Thank you! I am blind sometimes (I’d rather blame my computer resolution)…and I will correct my spelling error!
October 10, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Matthew Graybosch how dumb have I been? I assumed that Google+ gives me no choice about font in posting here!
October 10, 2012 at 2:32 pm
I’m using Chrome on my Mac, Matthew Graybosch. What’s the fix for that? I don’t like Firefox…way too many problems…
October 10, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I thought about how important it is to take her out of the region; but then I realized, isn’t that what those monsters want? By threatening the life of one student yesterday, 100 did not attend school today.
October 10, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Amir A. Sabbagh Yes. Yes. Yes. That is what they want. This is the power of bullies. But bullies with guns waging a war on women who have nothing to defend themselves with. What is extraordinary about Malala is that she seemed to get the importance of what she was doing at her young age. The video shows her crying with her father…crying because, perhaps, she knew the obstacles are huge to cross. But what I don’t have a sense of is the impact of this in Pakistan among those who denounce the Taliban regime. The problem is that against such physical violence it is very, very difficult to speak up…
October 10, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Matthew Graybosch I just checked the settings and that Font you recommend appears to be the “only” one out of dozens and dozens that I can’t choose. But if I make it bigger there is a difference between “i” and “l.” Thank you.
October 10, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I believe that if the women were to do that Matthew Graybosch every last one of them would be slaughtered. It would be the Pakistani version of Wounded Knee…
October 10, 2012 at 2:52 pm
It is… Giselle Minoli I know a lot of people think and talk about amazing Malala, but what amazes me is the way Taliban values are shaped… It is not easy to plan on shooting a little girl no matter who you are or what you believe. We must focus on educating monsters as well as paying attention to that little angel.
Taliban forces are in darkness and also isolated. I can not think of an anthropologist who would agree on going to their caves and studying their behavior.
October 10, 2012 at 2:56 pm
The men should be fighting beside their women… Yes Matthew Graybosch. The reason that is not happening is what leaves my stash of hope mighty scant when it comes to this issue. In the same way that I have never met a person who is racist, evolve into a non-racist person, I have yet to meet a “man” who would believe that it is okay to treat women this way, evolve into an enlightened being. Not that it hasn’t happened or can’t happen…just that I haven’t seen it.
What happens to the soul of a person when it is corrupted by this degree of violence and hatred? I do not have the answer to that.
October 10, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Can any of us really take sides when a child is murdered? It is absolutely wrong no matter the reasons or motives behind it. We can argue for days about why, but in the end, only cowards murder children.
October 10, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Jennifer Tackman our bombs murder children every day so what is your point?
October 10, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Jennifer Tackman There are short term and long terms plans and solutions. Short term plans should primarily focus on the welfare and safety of Malala and all the little girls who are passionate about education as well inspiring them to pursue their studies. Long term plan is acculturation of those monsters and not letting, hate and violence become their heritage to the next generation.
October 10, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I never implied innocence or blindness to issues Nora Qudus . Murdering children is wrong. That’s it.
October 10, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Education is key Amir A. Sabbagh . I am an educator and never give up on the hopes of education. I also am a realist in knowing that cultural beliefs rooted over hundreds of thousands of years are difficult to penetrate. That said, I’ll never stop teaching or learning or giving up hope.
October 10, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Jennifer Tackman We need more people like you in this world. Educators committed to make a difference. But I want to be more optimistic about future. I like to believe that there is still hope for monsters. We do NOT have to give up on THEM. Some people treat them like wild animals. They think lions always hunt! I don’t agree. there is hope… there are human just like us but exposed to a different (wrong) values. We need to save them from themselves as much as we need to save Malala from them.
October 10, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Matthew Graybosch You are right… : ( Sometime I put my foot on Malala’s mother’s shoe, and I get full of hatred a anger! There is no room for anthropological discussions when your little girl is on the bed fading in your hand.
October 10, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Colin Lucas-Mudd sadly, I agree that this story, although to some it would be a stretch, is too close for comfort in the states. What are the lines that we draw? Is not the KKK of a mind about “its” cause with the Taliban? Are not neo Nazis of a mind as well? Those are examples of one kind. But what about the examples that affect women? To Colin’s point, while I would like very much to think to myself, “Well, it’s not that bad here. At least I don’t get in the car and drive to get milk and witness a woman being shot in the head by some lunatic.” On the other hand, we have pushed how badly women are treated in this democracy by some men (yes men are often mistreated too…Sandusky is an example of that) because we simply want to pretend that the problem isn’t that bad and that, well, it’s a “normal” part of any culture. But is it? Or is it taught? Like extremist fundamentalism is taught to boys so young they don’t know they are being brainwashed? Isn’t that how racism is born? And sexism? People are taught to think this way. This is the reason it is so dangerous. It cannot be reasoned with.
And it is for many of these reasons that I am adamantly and vocally against the Romney/Ryan campaign…because any stripping of any of the rights that women have leads to subsequent stripping of even more. And this is how it begins. The slow rollback to being chained and bound, barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. It is frightening, Colin, that women do not see how much their rights are under assault, frightening how lightly the men in our country take this assault, and how little people understand how much, exactly, it undermines our entire democracy. It’s easy to say…we don’t behave this way.
But think about this: It is October, National Violence Against Women Month, and here are some facts I pulled off the internet:
1 in 5 young women will be a victim of sexual assault while they are in college
1 in 9 teenaged girls will be forced to have sex
1 in 10 teens will be hurt on purpose by some they are dating
In the US, 1/3 of women murdered each year are killed by intimate partners.
In South Africa, a woman is killed every 6 hours by an intimate partner.
In India, 22 women were killed each day in dowry-related murders in 2007.
In Guatemala, 2 women are murdered, on average, each day.
Here is an interesting and fact-filled link for those who wish to read it:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rahimkanani/2012/03/08/doj-director-on-violence-against-women-in-the-united-states/, an interview with Susan Carbon, Director of the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women
October 10, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Amir A. Sabbagh – a lovely statement… I also feel that being a realist does not go against having hope. I just acknowledge the struggles along the way without losing sight of the end goals. I acknowledge the struggles in order to be smarter about the ways I approach the issues. I will never give up! And as Giselle Minoli points out, the struggles we must face are both worldwide and in our own backyard and even homes when it comes to addressing all human rights and protection against violence in all its forms. The statistics above should remind us that we must never turn a blind eye to what is happening anywhere in the world because evil and violence is everywhere – blatant or more subtle. May we always have eyes to see it and mouths to speak out against atrocities and feet to mobilize against such evils.
October 10, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Exactly Giselle Minoli. “…Women do not see how much their rights are under assault, how lightly the men in our country take this assault and how little people understand how it undermines the concept of our entire democracy. It’s easy to say…we don’t behave this way.”
Given this, I watch in daily horror and total frustration as the HuffPost poll tracker numbers decline on the left and rise on the right. We are sadly lacking in activists of each gender.
October 10, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Colin Lucas-Mudd I am sure it is not lost on you how many women are beaten, raped, murdered, tortured in regular television programs. Ditto film. Extra ditto popular thriller fiction. We have normalized this state of affairs with theories similar to the the ever intellectually rigorous argument: Guns don’t kill people, people do. Among the justifications I have heard for this are: Removing violence from popular entertainment won’t decrease violence or violence against women, or There is nothing that can be done about violent people…a certain portion of any population is just violent, period. Then there is the not so subtle let’s avoid the facts varietal of denial, as in, But it’s not just violence against women, it’s men, too and, hey, there are women who rape men! (this last might be my favorite).
I grew up with a widowed mother who felt completely unprotected. She worked for the Red Cross and I remember her often sitting in front of the television weeping when some horrible tragedy would affect families from some city somewhere far away that she not only didn’t even know existed but which she harbored no hope of ever visiting. The sights, sounds and aftermath of women and children hurting, starving, homeless and outcast left her bereft. Sadly, I did not understand my mother well enough in those days. Now, I do.
October 10, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I think there is a difference between depiction of violence and glorification of violence in media (films, books, tv, music, etc). Desensitization is a real problem. It is very scary when you read the statistics about how much young children witness displays of violence in media by a very young age. We need to wake up to it. I’m not suggesting that people be coddled or sheltered from it – because that serves no point but to fuel ignorance, but lyrics, for example that talk about smacking down a “ho” or “b*tch,” etc can only do harm, imho. I wonder if, at times, Matthew Graybosch , that writers (often less skilled ones) think the only way to show a tension or domination is to take a scene to the nth degree. To me there is nothing scarier than a sociopath not showing all his/her cards with rising breath-holding tension vs a murder for the sake of murder in a script or storyline. What do you think?
October 10, 2012 at 6:15 pm
And by my comment or statement, Matthew Graybosch , I was in no way saying that this is how you approach violence in your writing – I am embarrassed to say I have not yet read your works, but I hear you are quite wonderful! Rather, I was just curious as to your thoughts.
October 10, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Matthew Graybosch I would elaborate on what I take from Jennifer Tackman’s comment. A pointed attempt or effort to titillate an audience, which is cheap and lacking in integrity, as well as being boiler plate boring in terms of plot, is different than having a well-crafted plot, which might include violence, but thatis believable and plausible within the context of that story. An example, for me, would be Silence of the Lambs. Entirely plausible because we read about sick serial killers and what they are capable of all the time. Not gratuitous in that it revealed layer upon layer upon layer of psychosis.
That is different than programmers in Hollywood sitting around a conference table tossing around ideas for new crime dramas and every single one of them starts with the rape, murder, dissection, kidnapping or burying alive of a young woman. That is utter rubbish and producers do it because it brings in ratings, their version of click through…
October 10, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Matthew Graybosch is a wonderful writer…a writer Jennifer Tackman who considers (IMHO) very carefully the overarching moral, ethical issues that face men and women…
October 10, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Giselle Minoli – you stated it so well!
October 10, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I must run off to meetings now, my friends. Thank you for the discussion around a very sad news event. May that dear child pull through. Peace to all of you!
October 10, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Matthew Graybosch is there a word for “hooking” an audience in by using violence against women as bait? This is Hollywood. This is most television. This is boiler plate boil…but ultimately very dangerous.
October 10, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Thank you for the note, Giselle Minoli . Matthew Graybosch – I look forward to reading your stories! An endorsement by Giselle is great! See you around the stream, my friends…
October 10, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Tragic, Giselle Minoli – such bravery in such a young one. There is so much injustice in the world, everywhere, but hearts ache for the children. No one should ever go through this. Anywhere.
October 10, 2012 at 9:55 pm
My heart goes out to Malala Yousafzai. Three years she’s spent fighting for education (11-14 y.o.). An age when children shouldn’t need to be worried about fighting for such things.
Extremism sadly breeds zealots and an inability to accept other viewpoints – and this applies to politics & religion. The people who did this atrocious act did it out of fear and ignorance… and when adults start fearing a 14 year old child then it holds a mirror up to these weak people. My hope would be that she pulls through and that, with support (internally/externally/from any foreign powers) that others can get the education they deserve.
October 11, 2012 at 12:55 am
Ah, Hello Rod Dunne. My heart goes out to her, too. And her father. What a wonderful face on that man, such pride in and love for his daughter. It was so evident. Malala had a soul and spirit much older than those of most 14 year old girls. If she lives, she cannot live in that country again. They will kill her. And I’m afraid for her father…
October 11, 2012 at 1:02 am
Here is a link to the reaction in Pakistan to the shooting of Malala, for those of you who are interested. There is a photo of her very much on the brink between girlhood and young womanhood. It was heartbreaking enough, but that contrasting photograph makes the attempted obliteration of her clearly powerful presence all the more upsetting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/world/asia/pakistan-erupts-in-anger-over-talibans-shooting-of-malala-yousafzai.html?hp
October 11, 2012 at 4:34 am
Thank you for sharing the link, Giselle. I watched the documentary; my heart aches. What shall it take to undermine the hideous and heinous brutalities of this despicable Taliban and other groups that breed violence? To deprogram? To reinstate safe learning and living for girls and women? What can we do from afar? What can I do – no, no “whats” and “ifs”, when and how will we actively work toward human rights and freedoms? We all must do our part not only in our own homes, neighborhoods and communities, but also work even harder for those whose voices are silenced by fear and oppression worldwide.
October 11, 2012 at 10:44 am
Jennifer Tackman somehow it seems that virtually every issue I can think of is tied to the treatment of women, no matter what their country. Healthcare certainly, the way they are treated in their families, their marriages, equal work for equal pay issues, educational opportunities. I’ve posted a lot in this past year, and much more so recently, about all of these issues in the United States. There are more women in higher education than men and more women working since the financial crisis of 2008. There will be no way for any of the world’s economies to be strong and healthy and productive until the issue of how women are treated is dealt with. Yes, I know…I’m a dreamer. But so are you. It will never happen some say. You cannot change religious discrimination of women, others say. Still others argue that lack of education gives rise to these abuses. It is all true. But if they didn’t exist, as real and measurable problems there wouldn’t be a need for organizations to bring awareness of them.
What you and I and every other woman who has a voice and some writing ability can do is post about it my friend. There is a community that cares and is listening and proof of that is the outcry in Malala’s own country about what has happened to her.
But the outcry about it has to be heard around the world, because she represents all girls everywhere who have a dream for their lives.
There is a laser beam focused on this. I wonder how many people remember that another vocal and brilliant Pakistani woman, Benazir Bhuto, was assassinated for trying to bring change to her country.
I do want to say, however, that in general people who try to bring change are often attacked…Sadat, Martin Luther King. Peacemakers are frightening to those who use aggression as their weapon.
October 11, 2012 at 12:24 pm
And religionless states have never perpetrated atrocities? Russia and China spring to mind. Matthew Graybosch. And it will of course result in more killing.
October 11, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Thank you for such a motivating response to my comment Giselle Minoli. I agree it takes a global effort. Today is Day of the Girl (just read in the news) so how fitting to mark any call to answer not only Malala’s situation, but also to launch an ongoing spotlight on treatment of girls and women worldwide. Silence kills. We must speak out. We must speak out now. Thank you for bringing focus to the G+ community by encouraging awareness as well as thoughtful discussion. I appreciate you and your brilliance immensely.
October 12, 2012 at 6:25 am
Thank you Giselle Minoli for sharing. Greetings from Brazil.
May God bless Malala Yousafzai-14-year-brave soul, may God help her rise against the tyranny of Taliban.
The +United Nations has declared that today, October 11th, is the International Day Of The Girl http://www.un.org/en/events/girlchild/ .
A very important article by Natalie Villalobos . .
“The UN has declared that today, October 11th, is the International Day Of The Girl. I choose to honor today with the story of a young woman whom I didn’t know until this week. Her name is Malala Yousafzai, and she is from Pakistan”.
Read more:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/109895887909967698705/posts/eFfN4NpeTCN
By Meg Tufano
“It’s important to remember that when we fight to preserve women’s rights here in the States – in a democracy – that we fight not only to preserve our own freedoms, but we fight to encourage freedom for all women all over the world.”
Meg Tufano + Giselle Minoli + Natalie Villalobos = absolutely right.
We pray for Malala’s recovery, we honor her bravery. .
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace,
Ave-Maria, cheia de graça
the Lord is with thee,
O senhor é convosco
blessed art thou among women,
Bendita sois vós entre as mulheres
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
E bendito é o fruto do vosso ventre,
Jesus.
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Santa Maria, mãe de Deus
pray for us sinners
Rogai por nós pecadores
now and at the hour of our death,
Agora e na hora de nossa morte,
Amen!
Amém!
October 12, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I am coming late to this thread. I have been deeply moved by Malala’s bravery, and am praying for her survival. In 1997, I spent 3 and 1/2 extra-ordinary weeks in NW Pakistan. The trip remains a peak experience in my life. One of the highlights of our journey was a visit to a school for girls in the Ghizar River Valley. During my time in Pakistan, I was constantly impressed by the warmth and hospitality of everyone I met and interacted with. A truly beautiful people, in spite of their difficult government and some radical elements within the country. I was aware at the time of our visit, that across the border, in Afghanistan, the Taliban were active. We drove past many Afghan refuge camps outside of Peshawar. But I don’t want to veer off into history and politics of the region, which are terribly complex.
I truly and deeply believe that the key to creating an enlightened society is educating and empowering girls and women–All across the world, in societies both more agrarian and the seemingly “sophisticated”.
Today, my heart is with a heroic 14 year girl.
October 13, 2012 at 1:08 am
Hello, dear Mara Rose. I honestly think there is no such thing as coming to this thread…I should say this story….late, for I think it and the lessons from it will be with us for a very long time. It is a mysterious part of the world to me, one I would very much like to travel to so that I can really understand it. I fear that will never happen. Whatever were you doing in Pakistan? And, I might add, how fortunate for you. You have firsthand experience as an American, something that is very rare indeed. Complex, Yes! My Lord is it ever complex.
October 13, 2012 at 1:25 am
Thank each of you Gari Fowler Meg Tufano Norman Bauer Kay Shaw Jaguar Warrior Steve Llano Laura Toivola and +Alejandro Salgado for sharing this post…and all of you who supported it with +1’s.
I just returned from a lovely and peaceful dinner with my husband and I was wrapped up in my own silly troubles, all of which are completely inconsequential compared to what has happened to Malala. Then I climbed into bed, only to read in the Times that the Taliban has reiterated it’s vow to kill this girl if she survives. I don’t know what to say, except to provide the link….with a prayer:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/world/asia/malala-yousafzai-faces-new-taliban-threat.html?ref=world
Bless all of you.
October 13, 2012 at 1:27 am
Pray and pray hard. His will be done! 🙂
October 13, 2012 at 1:32 am
That is so weird Kay Shaw Thank you…I will fix it above. 🙂 Who knows? It’s late, I’m tired and only think I Command C’d like I thought I had!
October 13, 2012 at 2:05 am
Giselle Minoli Malala’s story moves to tears. Yes, I am very fortunate that I have been to Pakistan and especially, to the NW Frontier. I am grateful every day for having had the experience. Like you, I have an adventurous streak. The short of it is I was presented with the opportunity to go with an adventure travel company. Our primary goal was rafting a river in the Hindu Kush, but the journey was so much more than just a river trip. We traveled to The Roof of the World, and discovered the myth and magic of Central Asia, rich and deep and powerful. One of the delights was the curious, friendly children who met us everywhere, mischeivious boys, and beautiful little girls….
Am just seeing on CBS News something about arrests made….my prayers are with Malala and her family.
October 13, 2012 at 2:11 am
Mara Rose you really should write about this…how serendipitous the timing for you to take a trip down memory lane and write about the children of Pakistan…in honor of Malala. I would be most interested to read it. Hint. Hint. Hint! Tag Jack C Crawford!
October 13, 2012 at 2:25 am
My dear Giselle Minoli You are too, too kind. I have the worst writer’s block, and do best when I am in dialogue in a comment thread. Also, very shy 🙂 But, I have wonderful photographs, some of which are quite good, and I am not shy about showing them and telling about them. I should scan them in (prints) and make an album. I thought today about the photos I took of the girl’s school. I thought about posting them. And then, I thought, what if there were repercussions, in this day of the Internet? Even though it’s been 15 years. And so I didn’t post them. Am I being too cautious? Thinking out loud here….. The areas I visited were Chitral, now close to Taliban areas, Ghizar (Gilgit) River, Gilgit, Hunza, and then Lahore down in the Punjab. Here’s where I end up…. I would like to make a photo album and then share it on a very limited basis, due to the sensitivity of the region.
October 13, 2012 at 2:28 am
I champion your thoughtfulness and your solution Mara Rose and second the idea of posting it Limited. If this is the way to get you to record your experience, and speak out in support of these horrors in Pakistan…and okay, okay, you WIN…we won’t call it writing, never that, we’ll call it commenting on the photos. I don’t mind joining your kind mind in tricking you into doing something. Are you game??? I know that I am not the only one who would be interested. Don’t let me push you, though. I trust whatever decision you make. Some things, however, that sneak up on us…sneak up on us for a reason…
October 13, 2012 at 2:40 am
Giselle Minoli I would like to create an album. I have two huge photo albums of my trip, so I will curate some photos from them and put something together over the weekend.
October 14, 2012 at 8:03 pm
A brave and wise young person. Yet again, it seems to fall to women, the girls, their moms and their grandmothers to batter some sense into the chowder headed idiot men with the guns and the bombs. Malala is a true hero for men and women. Let’s all do our best to not let her down with whatever actions we can take, whatever you can say to your friends and neighbors.
October 15, 2012 at 3:05 am
Thank you for these thoughts…just as I’m about to turn off the lights Steven Solomon. “Chowder headed idiot men with guns and bombs.” Yes. Sigh. I’m so sick of war. So sick of violence. So sick of people dying. It’s heart-breaking. I have often thought that some people get up every day to do their jobs as bakers, shoe makers, doctors, teachers, businessmen. Others get up everyday to do their jobs as terrorists. It’s a “job” to them. _That_ is scary.
October 15, 2012 at 4:06 am
So, what do we do? I suppose the best we can manage is talking to our neighbors and friends, amenable strangers that we can we greet with a smile and some reasonable notions. Some of us can write and lend words to others that might pass those thoughts on in their own way.
We can attempt to keep our hearts open in the face of hurt and stay smart when confronted by stupidity, remain calm and kind when confronted by fevered hatred, stay cool when the going runs hot and weird, and when challenged with a clear problem. Maybe we can first try to love that challenge to pieces.
That does sometimes work. When it does not, go to Plan B and do that also with all deliberate kindness galvanizing determination. I wish that I was real good at applying this method. I’m still working on it, but it is the best of solutions that I have gleaned from teachers much wiser than I.
Anyhow, tonight I will retire with my beloved, grateful to have a warm bed and a warm loving soul gently snoozing at my side. I’m a lucky guy. I will fall to sleep also thinking of that girl on the other side of the world who dared men with guns and hearts full of hate to confront themselves. They failed. Malala triumphed.
October 15, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Steven Solomon one of the things about War – and those who make it – that I have never understood, is how easy it is to distance ourselves from what human beings in another part of the world are feeling and experiencing, how easy it is to wage War on another country and not think about their children. What, ultimately, is the difference between your beautiful expression of being lucky enough to have a “beloved” with whom to share your life…and knowing that those with whom we wage War have their own beloveds? Their own dreams? When we forget this, it becomes easy to make up phrases such as “collateral damage,” the “price of War,” “someone has to pay,” “that’s just the way things are.” Is it? Does it have to be? Maybe the issue is that we’ve simply accepted this theory, rather than putting our collective energy into changing it. Sometimes I think that little girls like Malala have to come to the forefront in order for us to be reminded of our greater purpose – to create, sustain and nurture peace…not War and hatred. Thank you for your comment…
October 15, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Giselle Minoli. I heard on NPR this morning that Malala is being transferred to the UK for specialist physical and psychological treatment. A particularly hopeful element in the report was the fact that the air ambulance for the transfer was provided by the UAE. This is the form of international and theocratic co-operation of which we need to see more.
October 15, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Folks, it never ceases to astonish me. What we have done since we first got up off our knuckles to our own children. We send them off to die, have their faces burned off, their limbs shattered… and we do it again and again. But, there are among our species those of a kinder and smarter nature. I guess that I’m just getting too old and experienced to not push a bit harder for my kind to express their better nature. We cannot have big headed monkeys running around with atom bombs and space ships and still survive. So, I do what I can and encourage others to learn and teach and speak out. The Ministry of Love thanks you for your cooperation 😉
October 16, 2012 at 11:53 am
Never too old Steven Solomon. Never too old. We just steer our energy in a different direction the older…the wiser…we get, hoping some of it takes root somehow, someway. Maybe we are all supposed to be Johnny Appleseeds…I think so…
October 20, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Late last night I read the attached update on Malala Yousafzai. She is doing much better, though not out of the woods and it goes into the most detail that I have read about her injury. In case you hadn’t seen it I wanted to record it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/20/world/europe/pakistani-schoolgirl-shot-by-taliban-showing-progress.html?hp
I don’t pretend to know how it works, but I do believe that there is such a thing as the collective power of community prayer, in which all of you have participated by commenting and sharing – Rehan Ahmad Amy Fee Garner Ijaz Rafi Bob Lai Soraida Carmona Aaron McLin Matthew Graybosch Amir A. Sabbagh Jennifer Tackman Colin Lucas-Mudd Ellie Kennard Rod Dunne Romero Cavalcanti Mara Rose Norman Bauer Kay Shaw Steven Solomon Meg Tufano Gari Fowler Alejandro Salgado Jaguar Warrior Steve Llano Laura Toivola and I do not forget all of you who have +1’d this post…but forgive me for not typing out your names.
The power of prayer. The power of caring. The power of collective healing. Thank you all!
November 11, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Hello and Assalamualaikum. I’m about to share with you very
openly for the very first time, things the media never publicised, my personal experiences during my stay in Swat district and with the Taliban, about my constant struggles regarding education, my views regarding Malala day and about the image of Islam. Many may ignorantly skip, disagree or disbelieve but I find the need to get the TRUTH out-
https://plus.google.com/u/0/113414575058701971173/posts/JSPXLXsJMFL
Please also see my post about Talibans from my ‘about’ page on my profile.
January 5, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Although I am sure you all know the news by now, in case anyone hasn’t, I wanted to post an update on our heroine, Malala Yousafzai, who was finally discharged from the hospital yesterday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/world/asia/malala-yousafzai-shot-by-pakistani-taliban-is-discharged-from-hospital.html
Three months. What progress she made. What a fighter this girl is. We have not heard the last from her. I pray that there is a way to ensure her safety and I think about Benazir Bhutto, who, when she returned to Pakistan admitted that her life was in danger. Young Malala has a world to change and I hope for everyone’s sake that it is done with her in the living state. We need her.
January 5, 2013 at 4:53 pm
I am amazed at Malala’s recovery and pray for her ongoing safety. I worry about international cells going after her, especially now that the crime has been so highly publicized across the world. I hope with all my heart that this incredible young woman will fulfill her dreams and continue to illustrate the power of positive perseverance and hope in the face of adversity. The evil in the world can attempt to destroy us, but some aspects of humankind can remain untouchable – faith, hope and love. May these keep us forever strong.
January 5, 2013 at 7:25 pm
HNY Jennifer Tackman! How does someone know where their voice will have the greatest impact? I sense this is the beginning of a movement that needs a groundswell under it. Let’s see where she calls her more welcoming home Matthew Graybosch…. At the Airport so apologies for this clipped but heartfelt Hello.
January 5, 2013 at 9:32 pm
Happy New Year to you as well, Giselle Minoli !! The strength of Malala’s voice is already far-reaching and I hope, as you mentioned, that this is the beginning of a much larger movement that gains in strength through collective voice. It amazes me sometimes how awful and low a circumstance/event/plight must become in order to shift a critical mass into action.
[And on a side note, sorry to hear about institutional robbery of you as the customer, Matthew Graybosch . I hit an uncanny bad patch in 2013 when I spent weeks trying to machete my way through institutional red tape to reverse clerical errors made by several organizations – as if any of us have all the time in the world to remedy such mistakes. One big lesson I learned is small, but saves Big on time… when caught in the robo-phone loop of automated help, respond by mumbling or using nonsense words – you’ll be connected to a human in no time . 😉
January 5, 2013 at 10:21 pm
This young woman was not meant to die Jennifer Tackman. Clearly. Nor are any of us meant to be institutionally robbed Matthew Graybosch. What a pain. Yes, Jennifer, the nonsensical mumbling works. I just say “Agent, please.” “Agent, please.” “Agent, please.” over and over and over again. What a pain.