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Wednesday 10 October 2012

I'm Standing Up For Malala Yousafzai!

I planned on writing a lovely Thanksgiving post, full of pictures of rose bouquets and scarlet leaves.  I couldn't write it because I was so enraged over the attempted murder of a fourteen year old girl in Pakistan.

I don't discuss my political leanings or religious beliefs on this blog.  I'm not qualified to discuss either area.  This is a lifestyle blog and it's entertainment value lies in sharing my thoughts on home, family, pets and all the little areas of life that make me happy.

Malala Yousafzai, on the other hand, began a blog at the age of eleven to document her life after the Taliban took control of her region in Pakistan.  Her blog was published, under an assumed name, by BBC urdu.  What did she write about?  She wrote about schooling for girls being outlawed and how she wanted to study to be a doctor.  She wrote about holidays and shopping for bracelets.  She wrote about hiding text books under her shawl and her fear of being killed if she was caught.  She wrote about her girlfriends and about gunfire and atrocities.  Aren't those the things every little girl writes in her diary?

The photo is courtesy of indiansinpakistan.blogspot.com
I have added the frame and text

A few years later, the Taliban was ousted from her region and Malala was acknowledged as the author of the posts.  She received the International Children's Peace Prize.  She was honoured for bravery that surpassed that of most of the adults and authority figures around her.  She was honoured for speaking the truth and fighting for women's equality.

On Tuesday, as fourteen year old Malala left her school to board the bus, she was shot in the head and neck by Taliban militants. They have stated that they were assassinating her for her support of Western culture.

I was appalled that two cowardly men would shoot down an unarmed girl, just for wanting to go to school.  You can read the news story here.  I felt powerless to change this evil in the world.  Then, I began thinking about the extremists being so afraid of her blog voice that they felt they had to silence her.

If being denounced on a child's blog frightened them so much, what if I spoke out next?  They silenced one person but picked up another.  What if even one of you clicked on the I'm Standing Up For Malala Yousafzai picture on this blog and posted it to fb, tweeted it or added it to your next blog post.  They would have silenced one, but picked up two.  Can we get it on Pinterest?

We are not immune to what happens in a far off country.  It is no longer inconceivable that denying girls education in one country can spread to other countries.  Our daughters and granddaughters are not safe from gender persecution while it thrives anywhere on this planet.

Malala is a 21st century Anne Frank.  She is fighting for her life as you read this.  I won't let another brave, little girl down.

If just one of you will pick up the image and pass it on, Malala's voice will rise above the Taliban terror tactics and they may think twice before they turn any more of our girls into martyrs.  There is no link back to this post on the image and I'm not setting myself up as a spokesperson.  I'm just one woman who is standing up for women all over this beautiful world.

For a link to the BBC excerpts from her blog click here.

    

Please right click on Malala's pic and pass it on!




29 comments:

  1. Oh my gracious I have not had my tv turned on in days...I had no idea of this tragedy. Thanks for letting me know...how very sad...

    thanks so much for your friendship..it means a great deal to me :-)

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    1. Knowledge is power and this is the only way I know of empowering Malala. I had a pretty good idea you would be someone who cared! Aren't we lucky to have the world of blogs to bring us together!

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  2. I pinned this Maureen. Pin # is http://pinterest.com/pin/81064862013899251/ And I've posted on my Facebook page. I hope people pick it up and it gets passed all over the place. Bless you for writing this. XOXO ~Mary

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    1. Hurray for Mary the Freedom Fighter!!! Love ya!

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  3. That poor baby girl, She is the same age as my Samuel - He thinks homework is a pain. I'm sharing your post on FB, thanks for sharing it xoxo

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    1. Go Mel!!! That's Canada, USA and Australia giving her back her voice! You guys rock.

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  4. I would be happy to do that if the picture would lead to the girls blog Maureen and I have tried to get there by other means, but it goes to something totally different. Cathy

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    1. I'm adding a link to the BBC news with the excerpts from her blog. Her pen name was Gul Makai. Posts were once a week and I'm not able to get to the full one either. If there is an expert in searches out there, send me the link and I'll add it. Thanks for caring, Cathy!

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  5. Shared it on my facebook page. Thanks for reminding me not to take my freedoms lightly.

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    1. I shudder to think of my four granddaughters living under those conditions. You are so right about needing to be vigilant about freedom!

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  6. Thanks for putting everything in it's proper percpective Maureen - you're thoughtful and caring and your love is far reaching...........
    We sit in here in Quebec crying about our language laws while women are fighting for survival -
    I don't know how this can change - I only know that change must happen - and every bit of knowledge helps - thanks so much for doing your share.
    Big hugs of appreciation for allowing me to be friends with someone like you
    XOX

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    1. Thanks for reposting this to fb, Suzy! One organization of fanatics CANNOT stand against a whole world of people who condemn them.

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  7. This news on the tv the other night made me sit up and take notice. I sat there with my mouth open, unbelieving. A 13 year old girl with a diary and a pen. I will post on my FB and thank you Maureen.

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    1. Lynn, I truly appreciate you using your fb to speak up for Malala! When the Taliban targeted her, I'm sure they had no idea they would make the women of the world so angry and so many of us would rise up to speak for our global daughters!

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  8. Such a sad story. Will be glad to post on FB. If she was brave enough to stand up to others then the least we can do is stand with her. Praying for her too. God Bless this young, sweet girl.

    Sandy Lovvorn
    Wills Point, TX

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    1. Thanks reposting on fb, Sandy! One more person is speaking for Malala!

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  9. Stunning story. On the International day of the girl, Malala represents the struggle of girls that have yet to put pen to paper. You are so right to stand up for her. Thank you Maureen I will post this on my FB page.

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  10. Although I can't say I'm surprised that you are a staunch supporter of human rights, I can say I'm grateful that you are posting the button on fb! It simply has to change!

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  11. Such a sad story and it just makes me mad to think this is still happening, she was 14, she was a child, hoping to make change in a somewhat warped world. I posted and re-posted. Thanks for the story.

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    1. Thanks, Liz. I know you work for women's rights every day and it's time the rest of us helped you out!

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  12. I heard on the news last night she is doing better. Someone upstairs is looking out for her. :)

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  13. I will paste this on my next post Maureen - I think we all need reminding how fortunate we are to be able to live as we do, while others, especially children live in fear every day of their lives.
    The world is a place of extremes and we all need to try and redress the balance.

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    1. You are so right Fiona! Thanks for taking up on the cause on your blog. I think Malala is giving us all some courage!

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  14. Im pasting the bagde in my blog. This is plain ridiculous. I mean so weak that you shoot a 14 year old? And for writing what every girl writes when she is 14?
    on retrospect, maybe for once I'll stop cribbing and feel grateful that in my country I'm free to voice my opinions, free to choose and free to live life the way I want. I'll drink to that.
    Oh and Maureen, How's Wendy? Wrote a couple of emails to her..she generally writes back. is she okay?

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    1. To think this is going on in the country next door to you is unbelievable! Thanks for posting the badge and making your readers aware!

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  15. This makes me crazy, and furious... I posted it on my Facebook page! Thanks for creating a photo with her name and making it easy!

    Cindy

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    1. It made me crazy, furious too! Thanks for keeping her name out there, Cindy!

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  16. Good for you Maureen! It's such a scary world in a country such as that and we are blessed here that it seems so far away, when in reality...it's not so far when you look around our own cities now and see so many different cultures here in Canada. It could be here sooner than we all believe. Repression of women and particularly this brave child is repugnant to North American people and we all need to step up to the plate as you did to prevent it from happening here. Thanks Maureen!
    xo wendy

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  17. We are all connected. Thanks for standing for Malala. I shall do the same. What happened to her was an act of cowardice and cowards never win.

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