My Name is Jody Williams (cont'd)
First, some background. Jody Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work to ban antipersonnel landmines through the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) – the driving force behind an unprecedented cooperative effort with governments, UN bodies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. She was the tenth woman—and third American woman—to receive the prestigious award. Williams went on to unite with other female Nobel Laureates in 2006 to form the Nobel Women’s Initiative, a group that uses the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the influence and access of the female Nobel Laureates themselves, to increase the power and visibility of women’s groups working globally for peace, justice, and equality.
This book talks about her landmine campaign, yes, but it deals with so much more. It is the autobiography of a truly remarkable and resilient woman who has led a truly impactful life even from a very young age. She recounts her life from early childhood, when she faced the challenges of living with a deaf and mentally ill, sometimes violent, brother, to her hippie college days protesting the Vietnam War.
Williams not only paints a vivid picture as she writes, she also teaches. If I started out reading this book with little to no knowledge about landmines or international politics, I certainly did not finish that way. She describes with astounding realism her eleven years spent working on various projects related to the wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador, right down to her sexual assault by a member of El Salvador’s death squads. I actually had to put the book down after reading the latter... and I wish I hadn’t. Because on the very next page she describes sharing that experience as a part of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues in 2006. “I
felt it was time to use the example to tell women they didn’t have to let horrible experiences ruin their lives. I didn’t let it ruin mine.” (p. 134)
It is this resilience and determination that makes Jody Williams such a fascinating person, such an admirable person. She is uncompromising in her values and dedicated to getting results. In one of her more memorable passages, she recalls losing her patience with the bureaucracy of American military over the issue of banning landmines. I almost felt like I was there, watching her fling F-bombs and accusations at a US general during an elegant reception. I kind of wish I had been.
Throughout her memoir, Williams stresses her belief that ordinary people can make extraordinary things happen through perseverance, courage, and imagination. But Jody Williams is clearly not your average “ordinary person.” She’d be the first to tell you she’s “no saint,” though as far as I’m concerned her flaws merely make her more normal, interesting, and relatable. Who hasn’t lost their temper when they’re frustrated? Who hasn’t made questionable relationship choices? My point is, I learned things from reading this book, and not all of it was factual. Jody Williams is an intelligent, determined, and courageous woman, but above all she is inspiring.
“As the fire of indignation or inspiration burns lower and lower, it’s too easy to find excuses to settle back into the routine of the familiar and do nothing.” (p. 86)
This is the story of someone who found doing nothing unacceptable and in her attempt to do something, made the world a better place. Her name is Jody
Williams.
This book talks about her landmine campaign, yes, but it deals with so much more. It is the autobiography of a truly remarkable and resilient woman who has led a truly impactful life even from a very young age. She recounts her life from early childhood, when she faced the challenges of living with a deaf and mentally ill, sometimes violent, brother, to her hippie college days protesting the Vietnam War.
Williams not only paints a vivid picture as she writes, she also teaches. If I started out reading this book with little to no knowledge about landmines or international politics, I certainly did not finish that way. She describes with astounding realism her eleven years spent working on various projects related to the wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador, right down to her sexual assault by a member of El Salvador’s death squads. I actually had to put the book down after reading the latter... and I wish I hadn’t. Because on the very next page she describes sharing that experience as a part of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues in 2006. “I
felt it was time to use the example to tell women they didn’t have to let horrible experiences ruin their lives. I didn’t let it ruin mine.” (p. 134)
It is this resilience and determination that makes Jody Williams such a fascinating person, such an admirable person. She is uncompromising in her values and dedicated to getting results. In one of her more memorable passages, she recalls losing her patience with the bureaucracy of American military over the issue of banning landmines. I almost felt like I was there, watching her fling F-bombs and accusations at a US general during an elegant reception. I kind of wish I had been.
Throughout her memoir, Williams stresses her belief that ordinary people can make extraordinary things happen through perseverance, courage, and imagination. But Jody Williams is clearly not your average “ordinary person.” She’d be the first to tell you she’s “no saint,” though as far as I’m concerned her flaws merely make her more normal, interesting, and relatable. Who hasn’t lost their temper when they’re frustrated? Who hasn’t made questionable relationship choices? My point is, I learned things from reading this book, and not all of it was factual. Jody Williams is an intelligent, determined, and courageous woman, but above all she is inspiring.
“As the fire of indignation or inspiration burns lower and lower, it’s too easy to find excuses to settle back into the routine of the familiar and do nothing.” (p. 86)
This is the story of someone who found doing nothing unacceptable and in her attempt to do something, made the world a better place. Her name is Jody
Williams.