A new heroine in our midst?

[naomi24]

I heard 14 year old Malala Yousufzai who was shot by the Taliban described as another Rosa Parks. In a recording of an interview on the radio today, she said her ambition is to become a politician and work for social justice. Just as Rosa stood firm against racism, will Malila do the same and finally bring to an end Islam’s subjugation of women?

http://www.reuters.co...idUSBRE89E02X20121016

[naomi24]

jno, it's not a case of suggesting from the comfort of a British easy chair that she should do more. She wants to do more - and I hope she does.

[emmie]

i wonder some make these sorts of comments, " from our easy chairs, as though we don't, or haven't had some sort of life, contributed perhaps to solving the sizeable problem of women and equality, and not just making comments on a website.

[naomi24]

Criticism is par for the course, em.

[Baldric]

She's 14, should we not give her a chance to recover, then see what she wants, or is indeed capable of doing after such a serious injury?

[naomi24]

Baldric, no one is suggesting otherwise. She can hardly be forced to continue if she decides she doesn't want to - but I suspect this will strengten her resolve rather than weaken it.

[wildwood]

A 'one-girl' Pussy Riot style against a far more dangerous foe surely has to earn the respect of everyone of sane mind.

[naomi24]

Dissent, however seemingly insignificant and ineffective, has to start somewhere – hence the comparison with Rosa Parks. The utter madness of radical Islam can only be changed from within – no outside force will ever influence it - and looking at the women with their banners supporting this brave little girl, hopefully this is where it begins. Go girls!!

[birdie1971]

I watched a news broadcast just a couple of nights ago in which the reporter in Pakistan said that she and other reporters she knew personally had been threatened by the taliban not to cover this story. It would appear that the taliban are a bit disappointed that they seem to be getting such negative publicity in the international media. Bless.

I do sincerely hope that Malala can make a full recovery. Her personal tragedy may be the best hope for turning the tide against fanatical islamic groups who claim to be carrying out god's will but who are nothing more than illogical, intolerant, aggressive, murderous lunatics who wouldn't know right from wrong if their lives depended on it.

[douglas9401]

Good luck to the lass but how much hope can be held out for protection if she returns home when her home-grown politicians cower in fear not daring to say a word against those who attempt to murder children?
I'm sure their cojones will drop if and when these animals are flushed out into the open and hunted down like the cowardly curs they are.

[lady-janine]

i think her entire family need support and protection not just her. i sincerely hope they all get it.

[bunkmoreland]

all the best to malila and how much she has achieved while living with day to day persecution of women at the most basic level, in an islamic society. i will never understand how low, women are considered there,and how much it is tolerated by western islamic men. malila is certainly a well earned rosa parkes :-)

[beso]

The Taliban say she must die because she encourages "western thinking".

The real problem they have with her is that she encourages any thinking which is of course an anathema to them.