It also helps to have the voice of Malala Yousafzai, a fierce advocate for girls’ education, who was shot in the head at the age of 15 by the Pakistani Taliban. Here’s what she told Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times: “These abducted schoolgirls are my sisters. And I call on the international community and the government of Nigeria to take action and save my sisters. It should be our duty to speak up for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are in a very difficult situation.” That’s what a heroine sounds like. The war on girls ultimately will fail. It must. But more voices like Malala’s must be heard and heeded. In our own way, we all celebrate Amanda, Gina and Michelle for their survival against the odds. They are powerful testament to the human spirit’s will to endure. But none of us have the luxury of ignoring the sustained assault on girls around the globe. It is not hyperbolic to say our daughters could be next. We must never forget that the world is full of men who scheme to subjugate and destroy the potential of girls. These are spiritually impotent cowards who fear women and therefore seek to control them. Malala, the young Pakistani revolutionary, is correct. It is our duty to speak up for our brothers and (especially) our sisters in Nigeria. None of us, regardless of race, religion, or politics, can stand by quietly while the sustained assault on girls continues. The growing Twitter movement at #BringBackOurGirls is a powerful step toward freedom for girls everywhere, here at home and abroad. But more than hashtags are needed. Phillip Morris, The Plain Dealer
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 23:56:50 +0000
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