SuperForest

“My hands are empty, but I want to prove that a woman with empty hands can do a lot. It will be a lesson for all the women of Afghanistan. Already five thousand years, we women have waited for our turn. We cannot wait another century.”

Good Morning SuperForest!

Last night I got to meet a real life superhero. I went to a screening of the new film Frontrunner, which follows the journey of Dr. Massouda Jalal during her bid to become the first woman president of Afghanistan.

Here’s the trailer:

To say that Dr. Massouda Jalal is a brave and strong woman doesn’t go nearly far enough. To list her many accomplishments would take too long. I’ll just link to her wiki, and tell you that Dr. Jalal has repeatedly put herself on the line for her beliefs.

What beliefs? Dr. Jalal believes that Afghan women should be treated as equals, and have a hand in any discussion about the rebuilding of Afghanistan following the collapse of the Taliban. The equality that Dr. Jalal promotes has resulted in numerous death threats and a relentless stream of intimidation towards her.

Somehow, Dr. Jalal manages to take all this in stride. Somehow she manages to run a highly visible and vocal campaign for President while still being a wife, pediatrician, psychologist, and mother of three.

Last night, I sat in the audience watching this extraordinary story of bravery and triumph play out, while the star of the film sat a few rows in front of me.

After the film, there was a brief panel discussion where Dr. Jalal was asked whether she would run for President again in the upcoming Afghani elections, and she replied that without the support of the international community, she would not, as to avoid yet another disappointment for her fellow country-women.

Then the floor was opened up for questions and I threw my hand into the air and waved it madly until someone handed me a microphone. I asked Dr. Jalal how in the face of great personal danger she was able to remain hopeful and unafraid? What she used to remind herself to keep going, and that anything is possible?

She replied, (and sadly, I must paraphrase as no recording devices were allowed,):

“Once I had made up my mind to champion the rights of Afghanistan’s women, I was unafraid. For if you die in the service of a great idea, to elevate the lives of millions of people, then you die with meaning. Even your body will provide further validation for the ideas you serve. To die believing in nothing, serving no ideals, is to die without meaning.”

All I could do as this wonderful and powerful woman looked into my eyes and said these words was nod and smile. I so needed to hear that. After the screening I was lucky enough to shake her hand and thank her personally. Swoon!

Thank you, Dr. Massouda Jalal for the inspiration you spread. I hope that this little blog can help spread word of your gifts and wisdom throughout the international community, and that when you decide to run again, you find the support of your hundreds of thousands of fans right alongside you.

Thank you also to Miss Virginia Williams for directing Frontrunner and putting your neck on the line to help get the word out about Dr. Massouda Jalal.

Here is the Frontrunner myspace page.
The Frontrunner movie site.
The Frontrunner blog.
The Dr. Massouda Jalal wiki.
And, an interview from Awakened Women e-mag.

Extraordinary accomplishments abound.

Love to All,

Jackson