This is a “must read.” Tina Brown has penned a masterpiece here. From Hillary Clinton, to Aung San Suu Kyi, to Marie Colvin, these are the women of history as we witness it being made today, they, and those more obscure to us upon whom Tina shines a spotlight in her annual Women in the World event. Thank you, Tina, for this great post and for bringing our sisters in the battles to our attention every year!
When Hillary Clinton travels around the world as secretary of state, she is a global celebrity of the first rank. But that’s not how she felt when she went to Burma for the first time in 2011 to meet with the heroic Aung San Suu Kyi. One of the greatest living human-rights campaigners, Suu Kyi had chosen to endure—for the sake of the Burmese people—the daily threat of death and 15 years of house arrest, cut off from her husband and children. “It was, ‘Oh, my God, I cannot believe I am with Aung San Suu Kyi,” Ambassador Melanne Verveer told me of Clinton’s emotion on her two-hour talk with Suu Kyi in the house of her long captivity.
Discourseincsharpminor mentioned that she was working on a post about Marie Colvin. I asked her to share it with us when it was completed because, from what she said, it seemed that her tribute would share a perspective readers here would appreciate. I remember this series that Discourse put up last March for Women’s History Month. Her testimonial to Marie Colvin refers to one of those entries.
A little less than a year ago I wrote about a number of women whom I admired over the course of March (Women’s History Month). Two days ago, one of them, Marie Colvin was killed in Syria where she was covering the government-mandated slaughter currently taking place there. This is what I wrote about her in 2011. The whole post is here, if you’re interested.
I felt so awful for that baby and for her. When I woke up this morning, the first thing I heard (before looking) from the TV was that Marie herself had died – had been killed. That had been her final tweet. You know how, when you lose someone, your arms, your whole body, just go limp? That happened to me about her.
My God! She was simply fearless! The courage! She wanted to bring these stories home to us, and she did so risking everything. The risk caught up with her this morning.
We will never forget your hunger to report, Marie. We will always appreciate the way you put the story of the people before your own safety. You are a hero. We will always remember you, your mission, and your sacrifice.
Thank you for your dedication and service. You have left us much too soon, but you gave. You gave so much!
As we enter Womens’ s History Month shortly, I would remind young students in Women’s Studies Classes that history is what happened yesterday. I know how many of you revisit the outstanding Mirabal sisters about whom I posted years ago. Every year, at this time, so many of you go to that page. But Marie Colvin is also a part of our history, and what happened yesterday will live in my memory until I die. She was yet another s/hero, as some like to put it. Me? I just call her a hero. Intractable! She stayed, having been called home, for that last story. As it turned out, it was, truly, her last, but she gave her best. Love you, Marie! Rest in Peace. You were always an angel for the people.
"... ratify the Law of the Sea Convention, which has provided the international framework for exploring these new opportunities in the Arctic. We abide by the international law that undergirds the convention, but we think the United States should be a member, because the convention sets down the rules of the road that protect freedom of navigation, provide maritime security, serve the interests of every nation that relies on sea lanes for commerce and trade, and also sets the framework for exploration for the natural resources that may be present in the Arctic." -HRC, 06-03-12, Tromso Norway
Ratify LOST!
Ratify LOST, posted with vodpod
What a difference one woman can make!
"... whether it's here, in the absolute best embassy in the world, or whether it's in Washington, or whether it's elsewhere, what a difference one woman can make. And that woman is right here, the woman who needs no introduction, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton." 07.05.10 - Unidentified speaker, Embassy Yerevan
"I deeply resent those who attack our country, the generosity of our people and the leadership of our president in trying to respond to historically disastrous conditions after the earthquake." - HRC 01-26-10
“When people attack you, you always have to remember that a lot of what others say about you has a lot more to do about them than you.” – Hillary Rodham Clinton
