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Malala - education is number 1...

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I learned a great deal from Malala's story. She is a brave kid! I think her father raised her in such a way that preached education, religion, forgiveness and acceptance of other people. The Islamic religion is rooted in those principles and unfortunately many people can't differentiate between terrorist and religion. I have always found this culture interesting because it is so far removed from mine...Making connections to Khaled Hosseini's work to Malala's story just makes me want to do more and learn more about middle eastern/southwest Asia culture. Malala is a brave heroine and has gone through a lot of trauma throughout her life...She has harnessed this and done many great things with her story!

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Moving Forward - What Impact has this book had on me?

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Moving Forward - What Impact has this book had on me?

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The Taliban's rule on the area increased throughout Malala's childhood. Malala, being a female, school aged student reported the changes eloquently throughout her story. Malala shared how women were beaten because they left the house w/o a man and how her mother was threatened for not wearing the appropriate burqa. Malala was outspoken, causing her to be a target and a threat to the Taliban...Two Taliban soldiers shot Malala in the head when she was boarding her school bus. Does the Taliban have power? Some could say yes - but they lead by fear and that leadership never lasts.

Malala's father was similar because he was a school leader/principal. He was continually warned that he was a blasphemer and not a good muslim for educating young women...I think Malala sensed that something would happen to her father eventually.

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Malala was a teenager living in Pakistan before and during the Taliban's rule. She loved education and her father and mother encouraged her to follow her dreams and speak her mind. Unfortunately, the Taliban deemed Malala a threat and attempted to assassinate her. They were unsuccessful, however they did injure her critically and received the best care in the UK. Her story serves as an inspiration to many individuals whom are disenfranchised and neglected. She does many speaking engagements on topics such as education and women rights and still continues her fight.

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They Shot the Wrong Girl Says Malala’s Favorite Author, Khaled Hosseini...

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The name Malala is now synonymous with courage, passion and hope after a gunman shot Malala Yousafzai in the face; and she didn't back down. Malala is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. A forceful proponent for girls' right to education via The Malala Fund; Malala is now the subject of a new documentary to be released in October.

On Friday, she joined her favorite author, Khaled Hosseini (of Kite Runner fame) at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley, for a hard hitting conversation about Islam, violence and her dream of one day becoming Prime Minister of Pakistan. In his eloquent introduction, Hosseini described how the gunman boarded Malala's school bus in 2012 and "shot the wrong girl."

Technically he shot the girl he was meant to shoot, but in every other way, he shot the wrong girl. The girl he shot at age 11 was already a fierce advocate for girls' right to education.

If the gunman thought he was going to quiet her with his bullet, then he was wrong. His victim became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. But what he was most wrong about was the apparent belief that human beings aught to settle their differences with bullets.

Malala would school him later when she said, you must not treat others with cruelty but through peace, and through dialogue and through education.
-- Khaled Hosseini

Here are highlights of the conversation:
On why Malala is motivated to keep speaking out:

If you want to change your society, if you want to see the change, then you have to step forward to bring the change. It was my duty to speak up. Either we just had to remain silent and live in that situation of terrorism forever or fight for our rights and try to bring the change.

I felt I had a mission and had to continue. There was this feeling in my mind that something can happen to me, but I thought: the Taliban are cruel, but how would they take an 11 year old girl?
Malala

On Islamic religion and culture:

Cultures, traditions are not sent by God to us. They are not being written by him and saying, 'these are the things you that you have to follow.' We humans create them, so then we should have the right to change them...

The traditions that go against basic human rights should not be protected and should be clearly denied. (For example) education is every child's right, but the Taliban want to stop women being educated. They fear that if you allow girls to go to school, girls will become out of control.

Some Pakistani scholars think girls like me are infidels, they don't know I read the Koran.
-- Malala

Hosseini points out that the Koran begins with a mandate for literacy:

The first word is 'read.' That Islam says the Koran is against girls being educated is perverse.
-- Hosseini

On critics who say she's being used by the West against Islam:

There's a lot of hopelessness, tragedy (in Pakistan) They've seen a lot of dishonest politicians, corruption...People lose hope. It's a small minority who are critics. Pakistan has already supported me.

When I was attacked they raised the banners, "I am Malala." They were speaking out (saying) "Shame on the Taliban" which was never ever said before. And people started their activism and to speak out for education.

Keeping my courage and ambitions strong...the support from Pakistan and all over the world overcomes all this hatred... it becomes "like nothing." I have to stay strong and believe in myself and know that what I'm doing is right: it's for the education of girls.
-- Malala

Our own people are our harshest critics.
-- Hosseini

On the violence of her gunman

I have forgiven him. That boy, he was only 15. The terrorists did not believe in the freedom of women, they did not believe in women's rights, to get an education... They've been radicalized...

They need some education so they can be helped... know the real value of Islam and justice, know that Islam is not about killing. Islam is used to support Jihad...when they're told "it's God's message" people will obey.
-- Malala
On the Malala Fund and her 10 year goals:

I'm hopeful I will have gone back to my home in Pakistan... I'm hopeful The Malala Fund will have educated hundreds of thousands of girls by then -- in Nigeria, in Kenya, in Jordan (Syrian refugees), in Pakistan...

I'm hopeful through your support we can achieve these goals. It's when we all come together, we make our voices stronger... We will do it together: See that every child will be getting quality education.
-- Malala
On Becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan:

When I met the (Pakistan) Prime Minister, I was frustrated by his 'talk talk.' I wanted to have his power... If I get an opportunity to help my country through politics I will. It's good to have big dreams.
-- Malala

More coverage of Malala's visit to Silicon Valley:

Report and video from KGO's Cheryl Jennings
Article from Katie Nelson of the Mercury News
Article and slideshow from Vicki Thompson of the SV Business Journal

Meet more empowering women in Fresh Dialogues Inspiring Women Series

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They Shot the Wrong Girl Says Malala's Favorite Author, Khaled Hosseini

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The name Malala is now synonymous with courage, passion and hope after a gunman shot Malala Yousafzai in the face; and she didn't back down. Malala is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. A forceful proponent for girls' right to education via The Malala Fund; Malala is now the subject of a new documentary to be released in October.

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Which one is your favorite?

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"I started thinking about that, and I used to think that the Talib would come, and he would just kill me. But then I said, 'If he comes, what would you do Malala?' then I would reply to myself, 'Malala, just take a shoe and hit him.'

But then I said, 'If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others with cruelty and that much harshly, you must fight others but through peace and through dialogue and through education.'

Then I said I will tell him how important education is and that 'I even want education for your children as well.' And I will tell him, 'That's what I want to tell you, now do what you want."
― Malala Yousafzai

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Malala Yousafzai Quotes (Author of I Am Malala)

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434 quotes from Malala Yousafzai: 'We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.', 'One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.', and 'When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.'

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Fast facts...

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View Malala Yosafzai Fast Facts at CNN to learn more about the young activist and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

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"This mullah is a high school drop out and does not even have the proper religious credentials...What he is spreading is nonsense and ignorant" p.40 Ziauddin - I like this quote because it sounds like something I would say...word for word.

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Who does not have the power? Beginning of story...

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Who does not have the power? Beginning of story...

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This is interesting to think about...mentally I think Malala had power throughout the story...

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Who's voice is oppressed? Beginning of story...

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Who's voice is oppressed? Beginning of story...

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"Who is Malala?" p. 7 - gunman

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This

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The streets were empty - shops were closed up. - I could not imagine growing up in such an ignorant male society. It's frustrating when I am reading this how men were acting - so stupid.

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My mother is Toor Pekai...p. 12

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My dad is Ziauddin...p. 12

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I started to discuss in a previous thread that the reason I selected this book and made a big production out of getting it at the bookstore with my daughters; is basically because I want them to see their dad read a book about an amazing young lady. I had a major blind spot uncovered when I first read a couple books by Khaled Hosseini; "The Kite Runner" "A Thousand Splendid Sons" and "And The Mountains Echoed." I had zero conceptual framework regarding people and their cultures in the middle east.

My hope is that I can continue to learn about this awesome culture that has been getting the political (you know what) kicked out of them the past two decades. It is sad to see how many people are quick to judge...especially with kids. With immigration being a divisive topic in the news with a divisive president, my stance of "they should all be allowed to stay in this country regardless of citizenship..." is a statement that is not the norm and its unfortunate. Wasn't just a 100 years ago Ellis Island was packed with immigrants being granted citizenship the moment they got off the ships??? I think Malala is a beacon of hope for many people and that's a threat to the establishment of male dominated cultures. My girls will be reading this book at a young age...and they will be better for it.