Editorials

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

True 'obscenity'

By: Editorial

Posted: 10/11/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Pakistani women, hold banners during a protest on Wednesday condemning the attack on schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (MUHAMMED MUHEISEN/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

Related Items

Articles
- Anger boiling in Pakistan after Taliban shoot girl, 14

The shots intended to silence schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai have been heard around the world. Let them also be a rallying cry against barbarism and extremism.

Some critics of the conflicts of the last decade frequently invoke the moral equivalence argument -- the Americans are evil, too, they say -- so everyone should be left alone to solve their own problems. In this world view, there is no moral high ground.

Tell that to Malala, a girl whose crime was wanting an education.

The Taliban of Pakistan's Swat Valley called her ambition an "obscenity" and it sent armed men to kill her while she rode the bus to school. The extremist sect, which ruled Afghanistan before it was ousted by the Americans following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, has vowed to finish the job if she survives her wounds -- truly an obscenity.

The Pakistan military has tried to stamp out the Taliban in the Swat Valley, but the campaign wasn't universally popular because some Pakistanis were sympathetic to the Taliban's anti-Americanism.

Pakistan and its people have expressed outrage at the attack on Malala, but it remains to be seen if a tipping point has been reached.

The Pakistan military has a long-standing relationship with the Afghan Taliban, which has also made a religion out of attacking girls and women. The army has tolerated the abuse because it believed support for the Taliban served a higher national purpose, but the price has been too high.

In her short life, Malala has become a powerful advocate for change and in doing so she has mapped out the moral high ground for all to see.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 11, 2012 A10

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Editorials

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.