Mark Thompson

A WRITER for Time Magazine, Mark Thompson, wrote a piece entitled, The Fort Hood Report: Why No Mention of Islam? In it he justifiably criticizes the U.S. military for being too politically correct. All along the career of Major Nidal Malik Hasan, there were clear signs that perhaps this man was a threat to his fellow soldiers and his country, but they were "studiously ignored" because of blind multiculturalism.

Accusing people in government of being willfully ignorant of the basic doctrines of Islam is usually something only bloggers do — not mainstream writers like Mark Thompson. It took courage to say something so politically incorrect, but it needed to be said (and still needs to be said, to as wide an audience as possible), as Thompson has done.

So we officially award Mark Thompson the Citizen Warrior Hero award. Thank you, PinkNeck, for the suggestion.

Bill Gates Tells The Truth

I HAVE BEEN reading The Women's Crusade in the New York Times, and came across the following passage and I knew I had to share it with you.

Bill Gates recalls once being invited to speak in Saudi Arabia and finding himself facing a segregated audience. Four-fifths of the listeners were men, on the left. The remaining one-fifth were women, all covered in black cloaks and veils, on the right. A partition separated the two groups. Toward the end, in the question-and-answer session, a member of the audience noted that Saudi Arabia aimed to be one of the Top 10 countries in the world in technology by 2010 and asked if that was realistic. “Well, if you’re not fully utilizing half the talent in the country,” Gates said, “you’re not going to get too close to the Top 10.” The small group on the right erupted in wild cheering.

Bill Gates is a citizen warrior hero. The article I've quoted here was written by Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof, the authors of Half the Sky and the creators of the Girl Effect. I urge you to throw yourself into helping girls around the world. Go to the Girl Effect website and get involved. Recruit your friends and family into the cause. This is a purpose we can all get behind. Join the Girl Effect on FaceBook to get updates.

Read more about how helping girls can save the world in the book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.