Be Bold for a Change

“Be Bold for a change” was the theme of International Women Day 2017.  Coincidently, for the past year, I have been stumbling with unbelievable stories of courageous Women from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Tibet, India, and other places in the planet. All these narratives I have read made me contemplate the clear invitation of what “Being Bold for a change” signifies.

In my case, being bold means writing about stories and people that are struggling to achieve human rights. It will be  hard for me to write about superficial things like how the whether is, or about a sitcom or a reality show. I cannot think of just fashion although I love colors and materials that transform in a beautiful outfit. 

To me writing with consciousness acknowledging others in the world is my call.

 I could not think of a better story that represents being bold than the story of Malalai Joya. A very brave Afghan woman, who in 2003 made the headlines for daring to stand up against a very controlling, extremely oppressive, conservative men oriented culture and parliament.

In her book “A woman among Warlords” Malalai give us the opportunity to educate ourselves about how countries that have experienced foreign invasion are suffering. Malalai wants us to know that the false image that Afghans are criminals is not how she knows her people who she calls “people with a rich culture and proud history. People capable of defending their independence and governing themselves.”

Being bold for a change has brought to 38-year-old Malalai several death treats, humiliations, and the constant censoring of her voice for telling the truth.  Although Fundamentalist and warlords refuse to listen to what she has to say. In 2005, when she was only 27, she was elected as the youngest women in Parliament.

 By reading her book, I understand that Malalai wants you and me to know her story.  With Malaia story, I think of Parvana, the 11 year old brave character of the children’s book  “The Breadwinner” written by Deborah Ellis.

  In “A Women among Warlords” Malalai introduces herself by saying,  “I come from a land of tragedy called Afghanistan”. Then she goes on narrating how when she was a baby in 1976, the Soviet Union invaded her country forcing her and her parents to live as refugees in Iran and Pakistan. After the Russians left her country a Civil War broke, then the Taliban arose, 7 years of USA invasion plus still foreign occupation has left Afghans terrorized. In spite of all the challenges her country has endured  Malalai Joya keeps advocating for her country.

Malalai Joya’s boldness, Is going to be recalled in history in the same way we remember Joan of Arc, Margaret Fuller,  Sojourner Truth,  Emily Dickinson,  Emmeline Pankhurst, Simone de Beauvoir, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa of Calcuta,Wangari Maathai, Dolores Huerta,  Indira Ghandi, Frida Khalo, Rigoberta Menchú, Aung San Suu Kyi, Gabriela Mistral, Isabel Allende, María Izquierdo, Rosario Ibarra de Piedra, María Argentina, Minerva Mirabal, Minou Tavárez Mirabal, María Montessori, and many others.

But what does it mean to be bold? What does it take to be bold?

In my opinion, is courage, determination, perseverance, resilience.

It was courage that took 15 year old Malala Yousafzai to stand up while riding the bus to school. When the Taliban asked who is Malala, she replied with confidence before being shot in the head “I am Malala”.

It was courage what took in 2008, 10 year old Nujood Ali to court to ask for her divorce after 2 months of being hit and raped by her “husband”.

Children marriages with the excuse of a country “tradition or custom” have been happening for so many years in spite of organizations trying to change the legal age for marriage. There are children rights that must mean something.

 We must be brave to tell others to stand up with us for the women who are being oppressed. Regardless if they are close to us as our sister, mother, friends, daughters, or far away in another land like Malalai Joya, Malala and  Nujood.

We all can do something and in doing so; we will become a more united, sensitive, compassionate, citizens of the planet.

                                   ©KarlaGMundo2018