If you have read the Millennium trilogy, congratulations!
If you are like myself and have only seen the original Swedish Millennium trilogy films, then congratulations!
The author wrote the character of Lisbeth Salandar in tribute to a girl he saw being raped. He said that he always felt bad that he did not help her. Lisbeth Salander is a strong character who endures more than her fair share of hardships. She is a prime example of what is, what could, and what should be the resilience of women.
Her character can't help but remind me of a documentary I watched about these women in Africa who are repeatedly raped and terrorised by men from different tribes. These men think it's the only way to protect their tribes from evil/failure/whatever stupid reason they created to justify raping women. A lot of these women were broken, but found refuge with a program set up to help them and the orphaned children who were the result of the rapes. I specifically remember watching these foreign caregivers giving these women nail polish - something they had never seen before. When their nails were being painted, it was the first time that the women smiled and laughed in the documentary.
When I pray at night before sleep, I always touch my thumbnail with my index finger to signify my prayer for these African women. I have been praying for them ever since I saw that documentary three years ago.
I will keep praying for them, too.
I hope there are other people out there who are doing the same.
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