This week’s assignment is to nominate someone to the fictitious Engaged Citizen Hall of Fame who, in my opinion, exemplifies the values discussed in the course. The person I nominate is Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and advocate for girls’ education. Malala has shown to own a fearless voice for girls’ education and gender equality, never fearing to speak the truth concerning the powerful. She has advocated for the rights of women and girls across the globe. Malala exemplifies the values of engaged citizenship through her actions and commitment to fighting for women’s rights. She embodies the ideals of justice, dissent, and individualism, as outlined in works by Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Sandel, Bill Taylor, and other authors.
As a young girl living in Pakistan, Malala stood up against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, an action which risked her while trying to ensure that girls could access education. In 2012, she nearly lost her life after a gunshot by a Taliban gunman for her activism; however, Malala survived and continued to work. In 2014, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and recognized as the youngest recipient in history. Some values depicted by Malala relevant to engaged citizenship include compassion, responsibility, justice, and community involvement (Bowen, 2015; Davenport & Lloyd, 2017; Maxwell, 2018). She has since used her platform to champion and advocate for girls’ education worldwide.
Malala’s actions demonstrate the values of engaged citizenship, standing up for what is right, and making a difference in the world. She is a true leader, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps and positively impact their communities. The idea of pursuing justice without considering personal opinions and those of society is a trait of engaged citizenship (Sandel, 2017; King, 1963). Malala’s steadfast commitment to justice is a shining example of what it means to be an engaged citizen, always striving to make the world a better place and fight for what is right.
In conclusion, Malala Yousafzai serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of dissent in the pursuit of justice. She is a true leader who embodies the values of engaged citizenship and justice. Her untiring commitment to girls’ education and gender equality is a shining example of what it means to be a change-maker in our society. All their commitment to fight for the rights of women makes her worthy for nomination in the Engaged Citizen Hall of fame.
References
Bowen J. (2015). When in doubt – And there’s always doubt – be your best. Law.scu.edu. Web.
Davenport D. & Lloyd G. (2017). Rugged individualism: Two of the greatest threats to this distinctively American value. Hoover. Web.
King, M.L. (1963) Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Africa.upenn.edu. Web.
Maxwell A. (2018). How the moral lessons of To Kill a Mockingbird endure today. The conversation. Web.
Sandel, M. (2017) Justice what is the right thing to do. Web.