After watching Malala Yousafzai’s interview on The Daily Show, it is evident that she is, indeed, both eloquent and wise. I agree that we need far more Malalas in the world.
We also need far more laughter and dialogue. Jon Stewart provides both. Palash R. Ghosh, a writer for International Business Times, dismissed The Daily Show, insulted America, and distorted Yousafzai’s message in his written diatribe. While the show is sometimes “cynical” and “crude”, for many viewers it uplifts the spirit. Watching The Daily Show provides relief by allowing millions of Americans to laugh at issues--such as the incredible stalemate in Washington--that would otherwise be difficult to bear.
Palash Ghosh stated, “Whoever her handlers are they should have never allowed Malala to appear on what is basically an inane ‘comedy’ program.” However, in The Daily Show interview Yousafzai spoke of her hardships in Swat saying, “I spoke on every media channel that I could, and I raised my voice on every platform that I could. And I said, I need to tell the world what is happening in Swat, and I need to tell the world that Swat is suffering from terrorism.” The Daily Show has a viewership of up to two million people. That reach does not take into account the responses on Twitter or the 340 plus thousand views her interview received online. That is a big voice.
The Daily Show, which Ghosh admitted he does not watch, interviews a broad spectrum of spokespeople, from Hollywood celebrities to the likes of Malala Yousafzai.
Jon Stewart’s viewers, Ghosh might find it difficult to believe, cannot be accurately diminished to superficial "lemmings." His description of “women one sees in America” as “uncultured, undereducated, shallow and obsessed with stupid trivialities” is not only offensively diminutive but also completely out of the character of respect that Yousafzai professed in the interview and that Ghosh seems to admire from her. Do his labels not also discount the diverse America that contains women with similar backgrounds to Yousafzai? (Mr. Ghosh: English is a global, diplomatic language while Urdu and Pashto are not. I speak three languages--does that mean I can escape the labels of “undereducated” and “uncultured”?)
Furthermore, Stewart’s demeanor shifts according to his interviewees, which Ghosh would know if he were a frequent viewer. Although Stewart jokes with Malala (it is a comedy show), his remarks are lighthearted and age appropriate. For those who watch the show, it is evident that the respect and gratitude Stewart shows for Malala is unparalleled. He may or may not have accidentally touched on some culturally sensitive topics, but I believe those should be overlooked.
While we should attempt to learn about one another’s culture, no one should be expected to be able to navigate every culture and religion with native proficiency. Instead, a cultural faux-pas can be excused when there is genuine good faith between parties. Yousafzai, an education advocate, says: “[Going to school] teaches students how to live with others together, how to accept each other’s language, how to accept each others’ tradition, and each other’s religion...it teaches us how to live together.”
Today the United States is in the most economically and politically divisive state in living memory. There is no question we need a few lessons in how to live together. I was very grateful to have been witness to Yousafzai’s poised remarks.
In the spirit of Yousafzai’s mature acceptance of others, I can begrudge Ghosh his opinion--despite personal disagreements--of both The Daily Show and America at large. However, I would encourage him to take a cue from Yousafzai’s teachings of respect and reevaluate his own uncultured rant. We need more Malalas, more Stewarts and fewer wedges driven into our already divisive society.