There are a few people in the world who are instantly recognizable by their first names: Madonna, the mother of Jesus Christ, who himself had two names, as well as the singer; Beyonce; Rihanna; Bruce; Cher; Elvis; Prince; Sting; Einstein; Socrates; Plato; Bono; and I’m sure I’m missing a host of other One Name Wonders.

This column is about one particular person who is known around the world by her first name, and who has been a part of the cultural and political landscape for well over a decade: Malala.

I have known about this brave young woman from the moment that she was catapulted, against her will, into the limelight. In 2011, while traveling on a school bus in the KPK region of Northwestern Pakistan, Malala was shot through the head by the Taliban.

Her crime? Advocating for girls’

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