Of Pashtun tribal ethnicity and
Pakistani nationality, few expected this
girl to become such an empowered
personality.  For here the birth of a girl,
unlike that of a boy, is not marked by
celebration, pride, or even particular joy.
Her parents chose Malala as her given
name after Malalai of Maiwand, a heroine
of Afghan fame.  During the second
Anglo-Afghan war this woman would tend
to the Afghan troops who against the
British invasion did defend.  As the
British advanced and the Afghan
flagbearer fell, Malalai lifted her veil
and commenced a battle cry to yell.  She
was killed in the battle but her brave
act and rousing oratory inspired the
Afghans to reverse the tide and on to
victory.  Like her namesake, Malala would
make her own heroic stand and one day
raised her voice against an oppressive
demand.  Islamic fundamentalists seized
power in her part of her beloved nation,
encouraging Sharia law including
depriving girls of education.  To Malala
this was an Islamic faith grave
misinterpretation so she resisted in
action and speech with strong
determination.  For her efforts she would
one day take a bullet to the head, but
her courageous voice was not silenced
but rose instead.
Her defiant stand against oppression and
her miraculous survival put her on an
international stage and offered us all a
revival of the old adage that refuses to
be ignored—perhaps the pen is indeed
mightier than the sword!
