Does Malala Yousafzai deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

[Kiki-frog]

Someone sent me this link to a petition asking our senior politicians to nominate Malala Yousafzai for the Nobel Peace Prize:

https://www.change.or...ce-prize-nobel4malala

Should she be nominated? Has she achieved anything in the cause of peace? I pondered this, and have come to the conclusion that in time (presuming that she fully recovers, which I hope she will), she and others like her are likely to be a strong and active agent for bringing about a better world. If nothing else, she's made me realise how lucky we are in this country to have free education.

I've signed. Will anyone else?

[pdq1]

For getting involved in 3 major wars in the past 10 years I don't think our politicians know the meaning of peace so how they can recommend someone I don't know.

[Kiki-frog]

That's fair enough, pdq, but unfortunately nominations can only be made by a limited group of people, including government figures. Certain academics can also make nominations, but petition websites are by their very nature aimed at politicians and not social science professors! I don't know Malala personally either, but that doesn't mean I don't think she deserves respect for standing up for her rights.

Still, it's up to you, so that's fine by me.

[LazyGun]

I think she is a worthy candidate. I received a similar email myself :)

[naomi24]

Yes, I'll sign, kiki. Dissent has to start somewhere, and hopefully this will be the beginning of change in what is a backward, misogynistic, culture that has no place in the 21st century.

[Kiki-frog]

I do hope you're right, Naomi, I really do. I have a feeling that this could be more of a historical flashpoint than we might appreciate at the moment. But as you rightly say, dissent has to start somewhere....

[boxtops]

I think she's worthy. Many people in Pakistan are as outraged as we are at her treatment in the hands of the Taliban. It could make a difference.

[naomi24]

I get the same feeling - and I hope I'm right too.

[naomi24]

Sorry, cross-posted. ^^ That was to Kiki.

[Kiki-frog]

LOL, Naomi, when were you ever wrong?
;-)

[Kiki-frog]

Sorry, that was naughty

[naomi24]

Rarely, Kiki, rarely - but when I am I say so. ;o)

[rojash]

Seems to be a major logic failure here: She's campaigning for better education for girls in Pakistan, a worthy cause, but what does it have to do with peace?

[naomi24]

rojash, I thought that initially, but if you look at it from another angle, in the long term it could be instrumental in eliminating this terrible culture of aggression and oppression.

From the link:

//A Nobel Peace Prize for Malala will send a clear message that the world is watching and will support those who stand up for gender equality and universal human rights, including the right to education for girls.//

Shame they don’t offer a prize for common sense. That would perhaps be more appropriate – but as it is, peace will do.

[LazyGun]

It is a stretch, especially if you were confining the recipients solely to those people, institutions or nations who had done the most to stop war.

Its message has become somewhat broader than that recently though, and the logic of the panel in awarding the prize has been called into question anyway ;)

Then there is this;
http://en.wikipedia.o..._Women%27s_Initiative

"The initiative defines "peace" as "the commitment to quality and justice; a democratic world free of physical, economic, cultural, political, religious, sexual and environmental violence and the constant threat of these forms of violence against women—indeed against all of humanity."

[Canary42]

I've signed.

[askyourgran]

The young lady should be applauded for her courage to speak out, it was a cowardly act. Granted it was condemned by many people in Pakistan but it is a male orientated world that she lives in, woman are not respected for having a brain. I feel there will have to be a much more radical uprising before they get beyond first base for womens rights in that country.

[rojash]

OK, Naomi, you've convinced me.

[Kiki-frog]

LOL, rojash. That's precisely why I pondered a long time before signing.

The whole Nobel Peace Prize initiative is fraught with such conundrums (conundra?) when you start looking at it - not least that Alfred Nobel designed and manufactured armaments. But the more I think about it, the more Malala (or maybe her dad, who's a prominent political activist and educationalist in Pakistan) really deserves recognition. Education allows people to question and to analyse - and to communicate and discuss. Sure these qualities have brought about bad things, but they are also necessary to evolution.

[keyplus90]

Where I do feel for her and wish that she gets well soon, I also feel for all of the other children being killed in that part of the world. At least for those two OTHER girls who got injured at the same time as Malala. Perhaps their favourite person is not Obama and they still do not hate all of the men with beard and women with hijab like Malala does. So surely they will have to be treated for their injuries where ever they might be and world would never know even if they do not make it through. Especially the Western world.

[LazyGun]

@Keyplus - There seems precious little sympathy for the girl in your post. You appear dismissive of her attack, keen as you are to highlight the attacks/deaths of other girls at the time.

It is inevitable that the attack on this girl would receive massive global publicity and sympathy - She was deliberately targeted for murder by fanatics, simply for standing up for her belief in education for girls and some measure of equality.

We should obviously be sympathetic for the deaths of any innocents, particularly children caught up in wars between ideologies, be they covert or overt actions - the US use of drones is reprehensible - but some cases will always stand out.

One could be forgiven for reading your post as being somehow almost supportive of those who attacked her.

What is your response to yet another high profile, brutal and barbaric fatal attack on a girl in pakistan, this time by her parents? Her crime? According to her parents, because she looked at a boy - twice. Are you going to excuse their behaviour too?

http://www.cbc.ca/new...kistan-girl-acid.html