How thrilling that three amazing women were granted the Nobel Peace Prize. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf! Leymah Gbowee! Tawakkul Karman! Have you seen the documentary about Gbowee's women's movement in Liberia, Pray The Devil Back to Hell? Gbowee is a force to be reckoned with. Her movement, Women Peace and Security Network, came to fruition after a dream she had in which she was urged to bring women together to pray and organize. She did just that, drawing together women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds- they protested the violence killing the people and soul of Liberia, they prayed for peace, and ultimately, the "market women" as they were called confronted then-President Charles Taylor, no one more vociferously than Gbowee who really let him have it. I heard her giving an interview today, and she talked about the struggles inherent in any young movement- how she felt as if she had no idea what she was doing, how her children moved to Ghana because the violence in Liberia was too severe, how at times she would "cry- what did I do to deserve working with all these women?" (growing up with 5 sisters, she came to dislike gal-fighting). I laughed out loud as she recalled that memory. Anyway, she is a tremendous woman and her movement helped usher in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female African head of state and also a completely inspirational leader and activist.
Go ladies- you make our world better!
On a 100% less important note, I am about to embark on a super-fun project of making and taste-testing 5-6 different sandwiches for a high afternoon English tea. All my ingredients are spread in front of me, a bottle of wine is chilling AND I am eagerly anticipating pumpkin ravioli in a brown butter-sage sauce for my main course. Divine! A perfect dinner for a cool night.