Some times I sit by the computer with out a blink of an eye or a breath. I want to say something about how I feel, but the words do not come out.
This is one of those times. When I heard and read about the young girl named Malala that was shot in Pakistan few days ago… I could not breathe and I felt I had lost my voice.
You see I am the mother of two daughters, one of them is 14 years old, looks like she could be the sister of the young girl who was shot. The beautiful smile I see on Malala Yousafzai’s face reminds me of the smiles of all the girls in the world and also of my grand mother long gone.
You see I am an Iranian women and yes I have born into a religion by the name of Islam. No where in my whole life have I ever heard of any religion bestowing no education for women. I myself come from a very traditional Iranian family, where my father had a 3rd grade education and my mother a fourth grade education and I am the result of that.
I have a Masters degree in Counseling psychology and a PhD in Educational Psychology. In fact out of all the siblings, four of whom are men, I have the highest degree of education. It was never a matter of being a man or woman but being worthy of having an education. And not that my brothers were not worthy, but that was not what they wanted to pursue.
I can really relate to Malala in that I have always been the voice of my family, of my clan. I have never been afraid to talk about the truths and to ask why.
From the Blogs of Malala Yousafzai we know how important education was to her and how she missed it when schools were closed; she wrote: ”Five more schools have been destroyed, one of them was near my house. I am quite surprised, because these schools were closed so why did they also need to be destroyed?” A few weeks later she wrote, ”I am sad watching my uniform, school bag and geometry box” and said she was ”hurt” because her brothers could go to school while she could not.
[Source: The Sydney Harold]
Today I salute Malala and all my sisters and brothers in the world who value education for the sake of educating a mind and for the sake of growth and flight. And this is how the voice of courage sounds like:
If only courage had a color that color would be clear
If only education had wings it would touch each and every mind
If only there was equality there would be no disputes
If only courage had a voice it would be Malala
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE POSTS ON WOMEN:
1. Celebrating International Women’s Day: Poem About Women
When I listen to this courageous young woman speak, and with such excellent English, it encourages me that my job as an English teacher in foreign countries is not a waste – but more importantly that education is the way to combat terrorism – as she says, the Taliban cannot persuade educated people to follow their ignorant, hateful ways – education brings freedom, especially for women in situations such as hers. I pray that this young lady lives long enough to spread her message of hope to other women (and men) in her country and beyond. God bless you, Malala!
Indeed dear brother, dear fellow companion on this journey of life, dear fellow listener,
I listen to this courageous young woman speak and I hear the birds singing in the back ground confirming her rights.
It is wonderful to read, write and know one’s rights. Thank you for educating and helping children grow by teaching.
Thank you for listening and hearing to small voices with big messages.
May all our paths be blessed by Light and not ignorance.