| There’s a Buddhist saying that a single
match can illuminate even a dark
corner, a corner that has been plunged
in darkness for a thousand years. At the Vital
Voices Global Leadership Awards, when I
listened to the stories about Kakenya Ntaiya of
Kenya, Charm Tong of Burma, Laura Alonso of
Argentina, and global trailblazer Sheikha Lubna
al Qasimi of the UAE, I felt that these ladies
were like matches, illuminating our world.
Through their stories and the stories of other
women I’ve been able to meet and interview
all over the world, literally from the North to
the South Pole, I have learned about hope and
courage. I can believe in this hope, because it
has been carved out of reality – and most of
the time gruesome realities.
This is the kind of hope that doesn’t fear
any wind extinguishing it. To me, the women
honored by Vital Voices are fearless, in that they
have created that hope in themselves first. It
sounds heroic but in truth it is a very humble
work when you fight your own doubts first
and maintain faith in humankind despite all
your legitimate reasons to give up. I also can’t
think of a more honorable quest for a human
being. Empathy is vital too. If you find yourself
in the dark you can always follow other people’s
light and restore your own flame.The power of
women in the Vital Voices network derives from a
hope that has turn into determination and action
to change the fate of others. |
Vital Voices President Alyse Nelson Bloom with Fern Holland Awardee Mariane Pearl (Photo by Chris Wright)
| If you light your
own way you will carve a path for others as well.
We all know how important dialogue is, but it is
that power of individual human empathy that is
crucial to our world.
On a more personal note, the Global
Leadership Awards were especially important to me this year because I could express my
gratitude to someone who was once a vital
voice for me. When I was pregnant with my
son, Adam, after my husband Danny was killed
in Pakistan, First Lady Laura Bush came to visit
me. |
It was a very difficult time for me, a very
lonely time, and she encouraged me to speak
up about my beliefs. As a journalist and writer
this led me to shine a light on women capable of illuminating the dark corners of our world.
So I wanted to thank Mrs. Bush for her sincerity
that day.
On another personal note, I want to say how
happy I am that Angelina Jolie came to present
me with this award. There was something I really
missed in my life and have wished for so dearly
over the years and that was to find a sister. Now
I feel like I have. |
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