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Universidad de Salamanca
Olga Barrios
Facultad de Filología
 
Desierto arena negra
Archivo | 11 mayo, 2012

“The pen is mightier than the sword”: Malala Yousafzai’s speech at the UN in defence of education

The following is an extract of Malala’s full speech on July 12, 213 at the United Nations:

“Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights“.

Foto from Women’s Rights News.

(…)

“Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them. So here I stand. So here I stand, one girl, among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated“.

(…)

“Dear friends, on 9 October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born”.

(…)

I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists”.

(…)

This is the compassion I have learned from Mohammed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa”.

(…)

Foto from Huffington Post, July 1 2013

We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The wise saying, ‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’  It is true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. This is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they kill female teachers”.

(…)

“[Talibans]  are misusing the name of Islam for their own personal benefit. Pakistan is a peace loving, democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. It is the duty and responsibility to get education for each child, that is what it says. Peace is a necessity for education (…)  In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, war and conflicts stop children from going to schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world. “.

(…)

Today I am focusing on women’s rights and girls’ education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But this time we will do it by ourselves.  (…)  So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favor of peace and prosperity. We call upon the world leaders that all of these deals must protect women and children’s rights. A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable. We call upon all governments to ensure free, compulsory education all over the world for every child. (…) We call upon all communities to be tolerant, to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, color, religion or agenda to ensure freedom and equality for women so they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potentia”.

(…)

Our words can change the whole world because we ware all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness  (…).  Let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first“.

Click here to see full transcript of  speech (The Guardian, July 12, 2013).

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Key issues to succeed in colonizing/dominating a country or a community

The attached photograph includes Lord Macaulay’s address to the British Parliament on February 2, 1835 in regard to what British should do to succeed in colonizing India. Following I include an extract of it:

” (…) I propose that we replace her old ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will  lose their selfesteem, their native culture and they will beecome what we want them, a truly dominated nation” (Bold emphasis mine).

 

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