I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

I Am Malala

by

Malala Yousafzai

The local library in my town this fall started a daytime book group.  The December selection was I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.  It is the autobiography of the young girl that was an activist for girls education in Pakistan and, as a result of her activism,  was shot in the face by the Taliban.  It was a timely selection with the current news in the world for many reasons.  Malala explains in the book the many types of Islam.  I couldn't help but think, as I read all the different groups that make up Islam,  that in much the same way,  Christianity has many denominations of protestants and orthodox churches, as the Muslim religion has many variations in beliefs.  Although currently there may not be any denominations in Christianity that are expressing their opinions violently,  they have a violent history too.  Just ask the women of Salem Massachusetts in the 1600s, the women in the middle ages in Europe, or Joan Of Arc.  But I digress.  Malala also explains some Pakistan history in her book.  For example,  when Russia was in power in Afghanistan,  the United States provided arms to the Taliban to fight against the Russian control.  So we armed the Taliban.  The book also  describes the infection of Pakistan with the Taliban belief system.  The media was used to fill the minds of the people with the violent poison and hate.  Radio broadcasts frightened the people into following the Taliban leadership in much the same way one of our presidential candidates and some of our news reports  are spreading hate and fear in our population.  This made me, once again,  realize the importance of critical thinking skills.   People need an education that teaches them how to think critically and draw conclusions based on reason.  The last part of Malala's book covers the events following her being shot.  As an RN, I found the medical care she received a very interesting part of the book.   This book has a lot to say to a lot of people.  The young people in the USA should be required to read this book so that they can realize how precious their education is.  I highly recommend this book.  Please click on the title of the book and the author's name above to follow links to more information.  And enjoy the video that follows.