(Image source: The White House / Pete Souza)
BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN
While the world remains captivated by Malala
Yousafzai —
"I know your father is backstage and is very
proud of you, but would he be mad if I adopted
you?"
(Via Comedy Central / "The Daily Show")
— her story hasn't been as well-received
back home.
(Via United Nations)
The Pakistani teen activist shot by the Taliban
last year quickly became a voice for women's
rights in Pakistan.
Although she didn't win, her nomination for
a Nobel Prize was praised in the U.S. (Via
ABC)
But a recent piece from The New York Times
tells a different story.
As one school official told the paper, other
Pakistani girls have grown resentful: "Everyone
knows about Malala, but they do not want to
affiliate with her."
Conspiracy theorists have even questioned
whether Malala was really shot in the head
or whether she is a CIA agent in disguise.
(Via Twitter / @aurAdil / @ainumar)
In an op-ed for The Washington Post, one Pakistani
student supported Malala but knew where the
sentiment against her comes from: "To the
rest of the world, Malala Yousafzai is a hero,
but to many if not most of our fellow Pakistanis,
she is the West's poster child, and someone
who is getting far too much attention."
Of course, Malala has become something of
a Western media darling.
Here she is at the White House meeting the
first family — although it's worth mentioning
she asked President Obama to end U.S. drone
strikes.
Middle East blogger Josh Shahryar says that
has a lot to do with the backlash, writing:
"How can she become a hero when everything
is stacked up against her in Pakistan?
That's where the 'foreign hands' narrative
strikes hard.
She can only be successful if she had them
behind her."
(Via The Express Tribune)
One group pleased with the Nobel committee's
decision: the Pakistani Taliban.
NBC reports the group called her loss "very
good news."
The group has also issued a new death threat
against the Pakistani teen.
As for Malala, as always, she has brushed
off the threats and promised to continue her
work promoting education.
(Via CBS)
"I want to go back to Pakistan, and I want
to be fully empowered.
To make myself empowered, I only need one
thing, and that is education."
(Via BBC)
