Screengrab from The Daily Show.
During an interview on American television show “The Daily Show” child activist and blogger Malala Yousafzai stated that women are more powerful than men, drawing laughter and applause from the audience and host Jon Stewart.
The Telegraph reported that her inspiring comments on the show have already gone viral on the internet, with one clip of the interview reaching over 700,000 hits in less than 24 hours.
The 16-year-old girl who was shot by the Taliban last year has become a prominent symbol representing peace and women empowerment. Nobel Peace Prize experts have said that Malala Yousafzai is the “favorite” person to receive the upcoming award because of her bravery and her desire to be a spokesperson for women rights.
During her TV interview she said, “I will be grateful to receive the Nobel Peace Prize as it will be a great honor for Pakistan.”
Malala also said that she was not afraid when she received threats from the Taliban, and initially, she had planned to hit any assailant with her shoe. Later however, she rethought her position.
"If you hit a Talib with your shoe then there would be no difference between you and the Talib, you must not treat others that much with cruelty and that much harshly, you must fight others but through peace, and through dialogue and through education," she stated.
During the talk show she wished that she could meet the Taliban and speak to them.
"I’ll tell him [Taliban] how important education is and that I even want education for your children as well and I will tell him that’s what I want to tell you. Now do what you want," she said.
During the interview, Jon Stewart expressed his desire to adopt Malala.
"Let me ask you – you know – I know your father is back stage and he’s very proud of you, but would he be mad if I adopted you? Because you sure are swell…" he stated.
Stewart added that he was humbled by the young girl.
Watch the episode here.
COMMENTS (31)
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Too much emphasis on this girl and her PR seems to be working over time . She started well but now has become a stooge in the hands of agents - both government and PR . I think she should take a back seat now .
Women more powerful than men, Malala tells Jon Stewart
A. It took a Fatima Jinnah to challenge the usurper.
B. Begum Nusrat Bhutto and BB had the measure of the dictator.
C. Asma Jehangir had the courage to stand for the dis-empowered.
D. And it took a teenager Malala to confront the murderous thugs.
Yup, Women of Pakistan definitely are more powerful.
For those who will continue to criticize Malala should ask themselves of the contribution they have towards this country ---they would have hardly cleaned their own neighborhood, saved anyone's life, helped an orphan, financed anyone's education or had taken any step towards the welfare of anyone ---- such are the people only interested in watching vulgar indian films and debates shown on various channels --- these people really need therapy!!!
There are alot of people criticizing the overwhelming appreciation Malala is getting for her bravery by stating that there other people in Pakistan too that are in much difficult conditions and deserve equal if not more attention than her. Isn't it amazing that every time someone from Pakistan gets acknowledged by the international world for doing something worth appreciating gets undermined only because there is a section in Pakistan that believes that every compliment or appreciation by the international world is out of conspiracy or hyped or unnecessary to Pakistan. How painful -- can't we as a nation commend any good thing happening to any Pakistani- do we always have to find criticisms - do we only have to spread negativity ---do we only have to see the bleak and dark side of appreciable facts ---can't we for once just applaud a good happening --how much would it cost someone in Pakistan to just be happy because another Pakistani is getting international acknowledgment ---- Truth be told that we are not one great powerful or amazing nation that could have the world going down on its knees--- despite the violent, ill and disturbing reputation we hold, we still are getting some value because of people like this young girl Malala -----otherwise, there is nothing too strong in us to allow us to remain in our superiority complexes ----!!!!
She is amazing and she must be respected despite all odds.
The Malala Drama/Agent crowd... maybe 20% of the Pak population are the most vile, sick, pathetic and miserable human beings I have encountered anywhere (and I have lived in a few places). They deserve to have a country all to themselves around which a wall should be built and let them rot in their own slime. Their own little "fortress of Islam" where they can be wretched together, until they revert back into apes from inbreeding.
you see many such men in the comments section here.They have accomplished nothing in their lives except their undying support for TTP,and still have the audacity to criticize Malala.
I personally don
t think that anything was fake or that she is an agent or whatever, however i would like her to be a true ambasador of peace. Lets get the world to notice those innocent children being murdered by Drones as casulaties of war. Lets bring their attention to my Kashmiri Brothers and Sisters who are suffering since 60 years under the indian army occupation. Lets get the worlds attention on the children and women of Palestine and the injustices they are suffering from the hands of Israels army. Lets not forget their sacrifices as well. Malala is a brave child, she got shot and still did not gave up her ideals and dreams and stood for what is right. But those children in their graves and their families are a lot braver. After loosing generations as casualities of war they still have`nt given up. They still are waiting for the champions of Human Rights and True Peace.God bless you Malala. Live happy :)
The best interview ever on TV. She made me cry, smile, proud, and she inspired me.
Malala does not need the Nobel Peace prize..........the Nobel Peace prize needs a Malala.
@Tripple star: NO IT WAS NOT..............it was full of admiration, if anything.
"Jon Stewart expressed his desire to adopt her." His tone was mocking. !
yaaaawn
The Taliban and their actions do not represent what Islam stands for. The Taliban are barbaric and are still stuck in darkness. Islam prescribed woman's rights and recognition 1400 years ago, long before any western religion or culture. When one commits a bad deed, condemn the individual not the religion.
Malala is in many ways is right -women are potentially more powerful then men, because they are involved in raising children and influence their behaviour and minds as they become adults. Men know that, that is why they suppress and oppress them and also because mardangi in Pakistan means having control over a woman rather than having control over oneself. But their are some women who join men in this oppression and suppression in order to maintain their own superiority. These practices are UnIslamic. Neither a man is above a woman nor a woman above a man before Allah(swt) .Koranic verses have been so misinterpreted and twisted and it is that that has been the downfall of the Muslims . If Malala has won an International prize in recognition of her outspokenness against the Talibans backward version of Islam then all credit to her. She reperesents that sadly small fraction of Pakistan that stands up for justice , knowledge and self determination that should be the hallmark of the majority.
Drama and Agent
I also want to add that how have we come to this that when a child gets shot we say 'it was faked' or 'she is an American agent'. I don't just feel this about malala, I feel this about every child out there who is hurt, raped, abused or killed
There is no doubt that Pakistani women are much stronger than Pakistani men. I am a Pakistani man and I can proudly say that about our women and say the same thing with shame for our men. Why are Pakistani women stronger than Pakistani men you might ask? Well, first, they have to deal with Pakistani men but more importantly they are an active part in Pakistan in terms of working and they get almost no credit for it and almost no pay. They raise our children, they cook, they clean, they work in the fields and the list goes on and on. What do our men do? Not much honestly, esp some sub-culture of Pakistani men are extremely lazy!
yes to malala
no imran khan
@mehreen chandan: you need a shoulder to cry on........
@Good: Totally agree! More than women, Malala represents the new generation. May be naive, idealistic, sometimes impractical, but you cant fault them on enthusiasm and originality. May God let their original thoughts and such passion and hope flourish instead of being cruelly suppressed.
@ Joe et al
Malala candidate for Noble Price and we Pakistanis are getting jealous of her...:O
How nice, What about the thousands of young, innocent children who have been killed by the drones. Who will give them the noble prize!
Best outcome of Malala winnong Nobel : Zaid Hamid's talk shows.
Women are not more powerful than men. And neither are men more powerful than women. It depends entirely on the man or woman in question.
Childish remark from..well..a child. Generalizations like the one in this article's headline really should not be made.
Proud of Malala as Pakistani
Great for her - and I hope the vermin who shot her are now seething with rage at how their horrible actions opened up a world of opportunities for her that most people can only dream of. She used to be so pretty too, her face has bloated since the shooting :(
The main reason this country is on a nosedive into the abyss is that most of us - even educated, well-off ones - don't know how to differentiate between an enemy and a friend. Instead of rooting for this girl and embracing her as a hero, most ghairatmand Pakistanis would rather call her all sorts of names out of jealousy.
Miss Malal represents the younger generations frustrations with centuries old ways of men using force and bullying to have their way. Simply meaning, kill or imprison those that disagree with you. Europeans gave that up 250 years ago. The concept of civil society unfortunately does not come into use, unless the majority of a nations citizens get modern education like the people in Japan, Singapore, South Korea and slowly but surely India. Modernity protects the individuals right to practice the religion of their choice and to separate religion from matters of citizenship. This prevents religion from being used as an excuse for the majority bullying or getting away with murdering religious minorities, agnostics and atheists.
Unfortunately an educated man created the concept of Pakistan and handed it over to powerful old fashioned landowners that had no concept of nation building. Their sense of duty was limited to their tribe or clan. Public education, corruption of government officials and politicians, lawyers volunteering pro bono legal services to murderers in the name of religion, despite their oath to defend judicial laws, reflects the contradictions that need to be aired, as to the state of the nation. These ailments are more reflective of functional illiteracy than technical literacy.
I cried when I watched this interview last night. How have we come to this that we can't even protect our children. God Bless this girl! God always keep her safe as she will bring a lot of good.
Before the naysayers come here and post rubbish please remember the Taliban shot an unarmed child. Wow! They really are fighting for Islam.
Way to go Malala.
what a mess too much PR they are many people worse than her and nothing has been mention that for sure she is not a PM waiting to become ???????