Malala Yousafzai is a powerful contemporary example of speaking truth to power.
She was shot in the head in 2012 for her activism on behalf of women’s education in Pakistan. She survived, spoke truth to power by standing up to the oppressive Taliban in her country, and won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at just 17 years of age
1 “Speak truth to power” and “Many are called, few are chosen”
Both phrases complement each other well in the context of advocating for justice and confronting injustices within systems of power.
“Speak truth to power” emphasizes the act of courageously speaking out against injustice, especially when addressing those in authority or positions of power.
“Many are called, few are chosen” highlights the selective nature of justice and the challenges faced by individuals seeking to navigate and reform systems that often fail to uphold fairness and equity.
Together, they underscore the importance of persistence, courage, and determination in the pursuit of justice and truth.
2 What does speak Truth to Power mean?
Stand up for what’s right and tell people in charge what’s what.
That’s the idea behind the phrase speak truth to power, an expression for courageously confronting an authority,
calling out injustices on their watch, and demanding change.
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Speaking truth to power refers to the very particular kind of courage it takes to say someone another person might not want to hear.
The reference to power is broad.
It could mean a head of state or the CEO or your boss, but it could also mean a parent. A teacher might speak truth to power if she calls a parent and says “I don’t know what’s going on at home but your kid is acting out of character.”
I think people in power – any kind of power – both want and need the truth. I also consider it my responsibility to deliver that truth, as often, as clearly, and as kindly as possible.
1 Post Office Scandal – The Spin of Lies?
15 mei 2024
The Post Office’s director of communications appeared before the public inquiry into one of the largest every miscarriages of justice. Was he telling the truth? Or was this another spin of lies?
2 Horizon scandal: Alan Bates takes stand in Post Office inquiry – watch live
Live gestreamd op 9 apr 2024
Alan Bates – the real life hero of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, in which he is played by Toby Jones – will take the stand at Aldwych House, in central London
3 “Speak your truth quietly and clearly”
The line
“Speak your truth quietly and clearly” tells how you trust yourself for you know the truth about yourself and you have to make it clear to anybody that no one can judge or dictate your status in the society.
Desiderata means “things that are desired.” It was written by Max Ehrmann “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of” and was copyrighted in 1927.
What is the moral lesson of Desiderata by Max Ehrmann?
Desiderata – The poem that teaches you all the life lessons you need
4 Donovan Livingston’s Harvard Education Student Speech
“I teach in hopes of turning content into rocket ships into telescopes”
Donovan Livingston’s spoken word poem “Lift Off” includes this line which indeed carries a profound and layered meaning.
The metaphor suggests that teaching is not just about conveying information (content), but about inspiring students (rocket ships) to explore new ideas and reach for the stars.
Furthermore, it’s about equipping them with the tools (telescopes) to gain deeper understanding and insight into the world around them.
“I teach with the aim of transforming educational material into tools that
empower students to explore and understand the world more deeply.”
- Content: Represents the educational material or knowledge that is taught in schools.
- Rocket ships: Symbolize the transformative power of education, suggesting that knowledge can propel students to new heights and possibilities, much like rocket ships enable space exploration.
- Telescopes: Represent the ability to see beyond the immediate, to gain deeper insights and understand the broader implications of what is learned. Telescopes allow us to see distant objects clearly, paralleling how education helps students see and understand complex concepts and distant goals.
5 Jonathan Roberts’ Humbling Experience at Harvard Commencement
The authenticity of others pain
- in economics we learned to quantify and dehumanize suffering,
- we learn that poverty, inequality, unemployment are unavoidable,
- that so long as we reach equilibrium people who live on pennies a day are somehow better off,
- in social studies and sociology we learn to treat others suffering as an academic exercise to ponder their pain from a distance,
- we critique structural inequality and oppression.
Excerpt from A beautiful speech by Jonathan Roberts | Harvard Commencement 2017
De echtheid van andermans pijn
- In de economie leerden we lijden te kwantificeren en te ontmenselijken,
- We leren dat armoede, ongelijkheid en werkloosheid onvermijdelijk zijn,
- dat zolang we een evenwicht bereiken, mensen die leven van weinig geld op de een of andere manier beter af zijn,
- in sociale studies en sociologie leren we het lijden van anderen te behandelen als een academische oefening om op afstand over hun pijn na te denken,
- bekritiseren we structurele ongelijkheid en onderdrukking.
6 President Obama on the Importance of Education
3 President Obama on the Importance of Education
4 The Daily Show – Malala Yousafzai Extended Interview
10 okt 2013
In this exclusive, unedited interview, “I Am Malala” author Malala Yousafzai remembers the Taliban’s rise to power in her Pakistani hometown. She describes the beauty of her homeland and the cruelty of the Taliban. Malala Yousafzai also offers suggestions for Americans looking to help out overseas and stresses the importance of education.
5 Best Speech Ever | Malala Yousafzai Speech | Why Is It – Powerful Speech
13 mrt 2020
An Inspiring Speech by Malala Yousafzai, Malala Yousafzai Speech
a speech on humanity, rights & peace & women empowerment, women rights, girl’s education, importance of girl education, a speech on humanity by Malala Yousafzai
She explains briefly the importance of education, why education is important, importance of girl education
Malala Yousafzai Speech is thought-provoking and inspires millions of hearts
Malala Yousafzai’s speech on humanity, education. A thought-provoking speech by Malala Yousafzai which questions the belives of World Leaders & Powerful Leaders, A must watch video for all
Malala Yousafzai speech is powerful, heart touching, motivational & inspiring
7 Gandhi
6 Blind Man Burned House Prank
3 jul 2011
Poor blind man asks good Samaritans if they will help him get in a taxi cab and take him home after a long, relaxing vacation in Hawaii. Unfortunately, when he arrives, all he finds is the ruins of his old house, covered in ashes and soot. There must have been a terrible fire when he was away, and everything has been burnt to the ground from the flames! But the blind man doesn’t seem too disturbed. He takes a seat in his regular LA-Z-Boy armchair and cannot for the life of him understand why the prank victims are so upset.
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