Malala Yousafszai: Address to the UN for 'Malala Day'
Malala Yousafszai: Address to the UN for ‘Malala Day’
How effectively does Malala Yousafszai’s ‘Address to the UN’ convey challenges of belonging in a global community?
A barrier that can prevent a person from belonging is gender. As witnessed by the whole world, the Taliban shot Malala Yousafszai in the head because she was a girl who wanted an education. Malala shows that although it was a barrier at first, she has overcome this difficulty by persisting to gain rights for women everywhere. She tells the audience that, “thousands were dead and millions were injured” because of the Taliban and their opposition to women’s rights. Malala also says that, “they thought that the bullet would silence us, but they failed”, illustrating what determination and courage can do. Her speech effectively highlights that barriers to belonging can be overcome and celebrates the power of action and resistance, as shown by Malala and many other activists.
Challenges of belonging may include opposition trying to fight against you. The Taliban is Malala’s main example of opposition as they are the ones preventing women like her from her right to education and equality. Fighting against the opposition may mean paying a price, and with the Taliban it will most likely be with your life. Malala describes that the Taliban, “killed 14 innocent students”, whom were also her friends as a result of them speaking up, fighting for their rights. This demonstrates the brutal challenges one may undergo just to belong in the global community. Malala’s speech effectively conveys this through her recount of what happened on the day she was shot.
How effectively does Malala Yousafszai’s ‘Address to the UN’ convey challenges of belonging in a global community?
A barrier that can prevent a person from belonging is gender. As witnessed by the whole world, the Taliban shot Malala Yousafszai in the head because she was a girl who wanted an education. Malala shows that although it was a barrier at first, she has overcome this difficulty by persisting to gain rights for women everywhere. She tells the audience that, “thousands were dead and millions were injured” because of the Taliban and their opposition to women’s rights. Malala also says that, “they thought that the bullet would silence us, but they failed”, illustrating what determination and courage can do. Her speech effectively highlights that barriers to belonging can be overcome and celebrates the power of action and resistance, as shown by Malala and many other activists.
Challenges of belonging may include opposition trying to fight against you. The Taliban is Malala’s main example of opposition as they are the ones preventing women like her from her right to education and equality. Fighting against the opposition may mean paying a price, and with the Taliban it will most likely be with your life. Malala describes that the Taliban, “killed 14 innocent students”, whom were also her friends as a result of them speaking up, fighting for their rights. This demonstrates the brutal challenges one may undergo just to belong in the global community. Malala’s speech effectively conveys this through her recount of what happened on the day she was shot.