Be inspired by Malala's interview on the Daily Show
Determination and courage are the words I would use to describe this 16 year old. Yeah, she's only 16 and already taking on the Taliban to change the future course of her country.
She has become an international symbol for peace, and women's rights to education, but that's not what impresses me. Her fame can just as easily be used as propaganda by interested parties to advance their own agendas. Instead, I'm impressed by how she got to her fame.
Malala has been a forceful advocate for women's rights for education since she was eleven. She blogged about life under the oppressive Taliban regime, she went on TV, spoke on media advocating for education for girls, and spoke out against Taliban rule. It was these actions that made her a prime target for the Taliban. As a consequence, she started to receive some serious death threats.
But instead of shutting up, like what most "sane" people would do, she spoke out louder. So push came to shove, the Taliban decided to off her for good. They sent in an assassin, a guy who was definitely not your Jean Reno. He apparently had no idea what Malala looked like when he ambushed the school bus she was in, I mean the girl has been on national TV and print! And even after shooting her in both the head and neck, he failed to kill her, which is good for Malala and the world, but bad for the Taliban.
After nearly a year later whereby Malala went through an agonizing recovery, but recover she did. She then appeared at the United Nations delivering a damn good speech (watch her speech here) declaring to the world her unwavering fight for education.
It sends quivers down by spine when I listen to her, "The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born." Perhaps she is Mahatma Gandhi reincarnated into this young girl?
Malala is an inspiration. She is one that has put herself on the "chopping block", literally! She is going against her fears, her personal comfort zone, even the safety of her own life to fight for her beliefs. And for that she deserves our admiration. And for that, I am sure she is attaining true happiness, for she has found true meaning in her life.
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