Peace: Celebrating our common humanity

At first glance, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winners, Kailash Satyarthi and  Malala Yousafzai, are a study in opposites. An Indian and a Pakistani. A Hindu and a Muslim. A man and a woman. Members of two different generations.

But much more than that, here are two human beings dedicated to protecting and providing opportunities to all the children in the world.

Focusing on what we share in common, not on our differences. Looking beyond the labels. Honoring those with vision, courage, and a heart for humanity. Isn’t that what peace is all about?

Image sources:
http://www.kailashsatyarthi.net (Satyarthi)
Wikipedia Commons (Yousafzai)

An appeal for liberty

Recently I wrote that all efforts at censorship are doomed eventually to fail. In fact, I believe that all efforts of any kind to suppress people’s liberties are doomed eventually to fail.

That belief was reinforced recently as I read No Enemies, No Hatred, the anthology of essays and poems by Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner who wasn’t allowed to accept his award.

She didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize. Let’s honor her anyway.

Last week saw a buzz around Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year old Pakistani who was shot by the Taliban for believing that everyone is entitled to an education. On the eve of the anniversary of that shooting, word got out that she’d been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She even appeared on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, where she gave this amazing interview.

In the end, she didn’t win the prize. The buzz died down. I hope and pray that it never dies away.