Jul 11
By inclination, I began with women who had made their mark on the political landscape of their respective countries and ultimately the World.
I did not do well with this resolution in 2008 when I thought that I would be able to access most books, in fact I took a dramatic break from reading any books save "Baby's First Year" between 2008 and 2009! I had of course read about Kenya's Muthoni Likimani, former Kenyan MP and Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai in "Unbowed", (now Secretary of State) First Lady Hillary Clinton's "Living History", and as I catch up on keeping this resolution I have read of the late Palestine Prime Minister and this month caught up with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf "This Child Shall be Great". I will shortly embark on the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi biography. The greatness of these women is in part about themselves, their passion and focus. Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai for instance was considered a "mad woman" with her "crazy" passion for trees and nature. Who does that? Fight for open green spaces in an urban areas, in spite of the threats of violence and high values bribes? And in a continued quest for justice because part of a political processes that encourages citizens to speak up for their rights. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton similarly spoke up about injustices in the 60s an 70s. As I read about her life, I concluded that former US President Bill Clinton was lucky to have her by his side, otherwise she could have run against him for President. She is a woman with credentials of her own even before she became First Lady and was truly a credible candidate for the US Presidency in 2007. The current Liberian President faces a re-election later this year (2011). I had the privilege to visit Monrovia, Liberia in May 2011 and then read her autobiography. Reading about the resources in Liberia, the devastation caused by intermittent civil strife and the processes that led to the ceasefire and ultimately general elections in which civilians and political parties participated, and the changes that have happened in Liberia I am in awe of President Sirleaf. She was an unlikely candidate for President. If one looked at her CV, one wonders where she found the time or the need to be an activist or play politics. But she did so actively throughout the adult life. My lessons from these women so far:
1. Speak your mind tactfully and intelligently.
2. If your relationship does not work, deal with it and move on. (All of them were married and have children. Muthoni Likimani, Wangari Mathai and Ellen Sirleaf are officially divorced)
3. Be the change. All of these were consistent in the principles and values they espoused in how they lived their public and private lives.(at least according to the bios)
4. Get and education.I know there are still many more brilliant women to learn from. As soon as I catch up with Indira Gandhi I will be rummaging through the bookshops for more.
Building A Career
I made a resolution in 2008 to read any and all biographies and autobiographies of celebrated women of the World.By inclination, I began with women who had made their mark on the political landscape of their respective countries and ultimately the World.
I did not do well with this resolution in 2008 when I thought that I would be able to access most books, in fact I took a dramatic break from reading any books save "Baby's First Year" between 2008 and 2009! I had of course read about Kenya's Muthoni Likimani, former Kenyan MP and Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai in "Unbowed", (now Secretary of State) First Lady Hillary Clinton's "Living History", and as I catch up on keeping this resolution I have read of the late Palestine Prime Minister and this month caught up with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf "This Child Shall be Great". I will shortly embark on the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi biography. The greatness of these women is in part about themselves, their passion and focus. Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai for instance was considered a "mad woman" with her "crazy" passion for trees and nature. Who does that? Fight for open green spaces in an urban areas, in spite of the threats of violence and high values bribes? And in a continued quest for justice because part of a political processes that encourages citizens to speak up for their rights. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton similarly spoke up about injustices in the 60s an 70s. As I read about her life, I concluded that former US President Bill Clinton was lucky to have her by his side, otherwise she could have run against him for President. She is a woman with credentials of her own even before she became First Lady and was truly a credible candidate for the US Presidency in 2007. The current Liberian President faces a re-election later this year (2011). I had the privilege to visit Monrovia, Liberia in May 2011 and then read her autobiography. Reading about the resources in Liberia, the devastation caused by intermittent civil strife and the processes that led to the ceasefire and ultimately general elections in which civilians and political parties participated, and the changes that have happened in Liberia I am in awe of President Sirleaf. She was an unlikely candidate for President. If one looked at her CV, one wonders where she found the time or the need to be an activist or play politics. But she did so actively throughout the adult life. My lessons from these women so far:
1. Speak your mind tactfully and intelligently.
2. If your relationship does not work, deal with it and move on. (All of them were married and have children. Muthoni Likimani, Wangari Mathai and Ellen Sirleaf are officially divorced)
3. Be the change. All of these were consistent in the principles and values they espoused in how they lived their public and private lives.(at least according to the bios)
4. Get and education.I know there are still many more brilliant women to learn from. As soon as I catch up with Indira Gandhi I will be rummaging through the bookshops for more.
