Malala Yousafzai, is the 16 year old Pakistani school girl
and education activist who was shot in the head in an assassination attempt by
Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus on 9 October 2012. She
marked her 16th birthday by addressing the United Nations at its headquarters
yesterday Friday July 12th.
Read her inspiration speech below.
"Let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most
powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the
world. Education is the only solution," said Yousafzai, speaking out for
the first time since she was attacked.
Wearing a pink head scarf, Yousafzai told U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and nearly 1,000 students attending an
international Youth Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York that education
was the only way to improve lives.
"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," she said to cheers from the students gathered at
U.N. hall.
"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," a confident
Yousafzai said.
She wore a white shawl draped around her shoulders that had
belonged to former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was
assassinated during a 2007 election rally weeks after she returned to Pakistan
from years in self-imposed exile.
"I am not against anyone, neither am I here to speak in
terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I'm
here to speak up for the right of education for every child," she said.
"I want education for the sons and daughters of the
Taliban and all terrorists and extremists," she said. "I do not even
hate the talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in
front of me, I would not shoot him."
Yousafzai presented Ban with a petition signed by some 4
million people in support of 57 million children around the world who are not
able to go to school. It demanded that world leaders fund new teachers, schools
and books and end child labour, marriage and trafficking.
Ban said that the United Nations was committed to a target
of getting all children in school by the end of 2015.
"No child should have to die for going to school.
Nowhere should teachers fear to teach or children fear to learn. Together, we
can change this picture," he said. "Together, let us follow the lead
of this brave young girl, Malala."
"The extremists were and they are afraid of books and
pens, the power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women,"
Yousafzai said. "When we were in Swat ... we realized the importance of
pens and books when we saw the guns."
Thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast
recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I
have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world.
Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words
encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.
Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing. 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. I speak - not for myself, but for all
girls and boys.
Dear friends, on October 9, 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 then, out of that silence came,
thousands of voices.
The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and
stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear
and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same
Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the
same.
Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither
am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any
other terrorists group. I am here to speak up for the right of education of
every child. I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the
extremists especially the Taliban.
I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a
gun in my hand and he stands in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the
compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus christ
and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin
Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than sword"
was 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.
That is why they are blasting schools every day. Because
they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will
bring into our society.
They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who
would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists
are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal
benefits.
Women and children are suffering in many parts of the world
in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labour.
Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been
affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades.
We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must
protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the dignity of
women and their rights is unacceptable.
We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory
education for every child all over the world.
We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and
violence, to protect children from brutality and harm.
So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty
and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful
weapons.
One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the
world. Education is the only solution. Education first.
This probably gives a different face to Islam
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