This is not my usual post, but the incident has been on my mind since it occurred and I’m hoping my readers are also aware of this girl, and if not, that your hearts and minds will be moved by this story.  And it isn’t a story, that’s not a good use of words; this is my way of speaking out against a huge crime committed against a 14 year-old girl.  Why do I care?  Why should you care? 

Those of you familiar with this site know that I have a passion for bettering the lives of women. While here in the U.S., we still have a ways to go with regard to the importance of health, safety and equity of women in general,  we are light-years ahead of other parts of the world, places like Pakistan, where young MalalaYousafzai lived and where, as an 11 year-old, she began crusading for the education of girls. For that, on Tuesday, a Taliban gunman entered her school bus, asked for her by name, supposedly threatening to kill them all if Malala did not speak up.  This courageous child, according to survivors, identified herself, was approached by the gunman and shot twice – once in the head and once in the neck.  A female child with no rights or value in her culture.

Lest you think this is an isolated incident or location, it is not.  Consider the work of Edna Adan Ismail in the region of Somali known as Somaliland to improve the lives of women and girls who are cruelly mutilated yet today.   Think of China and India , where women are so valueless that words like gendercide and female infanticide are now part of English language.

This is not a pretty post; but these not-pretty subjects are very real in this 21st century world.  Are we civilized?  One can only wonder.  But it’s my belief that we have got to speak up and speak out because if, as women, we do not address these issues, I would ask you to consider who will do so. 

In the meantime, young Malala is now being cared for in a British hospital, where they are claiming cautious optimism.  And yes, she’s under guard, because  her enemies have boldly proclaimed that they are not finished with her yet.  This is the world in which we live and  that I believe we have a responsibility to make a better place.  So pray, please, for young Malala and women everywhere.  Blessings…