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" Friendship is a sheltering tree "

Coleridge

Malala: ‘This is what my soul is telling me…’

July 14th, 2013

LotusBud0048aPakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai has addressed the United Nations as part of her campaign to ensure free compulsory education for every child. Taliban gunmen shot Malala on her school bus last October following her campaign for girls’ rights. She marked her 16th birthday by delivering the speech on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York. She said:

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. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me.

Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohamed, 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. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone.

See her giving her speech on the BBC site here.

11 Responses to “Malala: ‘This is what my soul is telling me…’”

  1. Not to take anything away from this brave girl or her cause, but free compulsory? Bit of an oxymoron, isn’t it? I’m sure that’s more just poor word choice on the part of the BBC site maintainers than anything else.

    • Wonderful sentiments on the Pakistanie girl and her efforts for education for all!

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