I want a future where my children feel safe and appreciated and proud to be who they are. My heart is one with all the Arab Spring heroes, no matter how small they think their role is. I know they believe, like me, that we are working for a world whereby an Arab can live with the other in a respectful and dignified way.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a desire for a future where children feel safe and respected in their identities, reflecting on the importance of dignity and unity among people.
Tawakkol Karman's quote emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and proud environment for future generations, particularly in the context of social and political change, like that seen during the Arab Spring. It highlights the collective effort of individuals, regardless of how small their contributions may seem, in striving for a world where respect and dignity prevail among all people, promoting unity and understanding across cultural divides.
In practice
In a speech highlighting the importance of community support and empathy for children's growth.
I discovered that wearing the veil is not suitable for a woman who wants to work in activism and the public domain. People need to see you, to associate and relate to you. It is not stated in my religion to wear the veil; it is a traditional practice, so I took it off.
I would like the world to know that Yemeni women are strong, and if empowered, they can achieve. The world needs to look beyond stereotypes and dress code. In our hearts, we are just human beings who want to live a dignified life. Is that too much to ask for?
I have always believed that resistance against repression and violence is possible without relying on similar repression and violence. I have always believed that human civilization is the fruit of the effort of both women and men.
For decades, we resisted violence - until Sharpeville.
Native American activists have been present as long as the Europeans have been working to colonize us.
Weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theaters don’t belong on our streets.
During my years of being close to people engaged in changing the world I have seen fear turn into courage. Sorrow into joy. Funerals into celebration. Because whatever the consequences, people, standing side by side, have expressed who they really are, and that ultimately they believe in the love of the world and each other enough to be that.
My goal was never to just create a company. A lot of people misinterpret that, as if I don't care about revenue or profit or any of those things. But what not being just a company means to me is not being just that - building something that actually makes a really big change in the world.
More than ever before in history, individuals can now band together to solve grand challenges. We face enormous problems, but we 'as individuals' have enormous power to solve them.
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