I had other plans for today’s letter – but I am a mother, and I wept for Malala and her mother when I read this story.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14 year old girl who was awarded Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize for her activism, was shot in the head on her schoolbus yesterday. She was targeted because she champions the cause of girls’ education.
My daughter Moira took this picture of Scituate schoolbuses. Here in this lovely little town, my daughter goes to school with hundreds of other girls and none of them for a moment fear militant violence as a consequence for their education.
Malala now lies in a hospital in Peshawar, where doctors successfully removed a bullet from her head. It’s half a world away from Scituate. But it matters. It matters so very much.
Tomorrow, October 11th, is the very first International Day of the Girl. Honor Malala. Speak up. Speak out. Celebrate. Raise a joyful cry in Malala’s name.
M is for Malala. Do good works in her name.
This is my contribution to ABC Wednesday.
I saw a story on this on TV today, how sadistic that this happened to her. When will they wake up.
Ann
those men are bigoted, pathetic cowards, afraid of the courage of a teenage girl who just wants to learn
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Such a horrid act! I sincerely hope she pulls through and comes out stronger than ever to fight these bigots!
Leslie
abcw team
I’ve read that the injuries are not life threatening. But the act certainly is, isn’t it? NPR had audio clips of interviews with her. What an extraordinary person she is! And what does it say about the militants that they are so threatened by someone like her that they attempt murder? What does it say about all women that educating us is a threat?