Monday, July 9, 2007

On Freedom

A friend shrugged as we were talking about the PWCC. “You’re going to teach recreation, that’s kinda cool, but so what?” It got me thinking about where my own conviction to work so hard on this project was coming from?
Riding my bike out of town with a sleeveless top, knee length skirt and flip flops from a small town Independence Day parade with my mountain rescue team, it came to me. The answer is in fostering personal freedom and career opportunities for others.
What if you couldn’t ride a bicycle around town showing your arms, legs and hair? What if you were not allowed to play, as we do, in the mountains, as there was no one who would be socially acceptable to teach you? What if you were the daughter of a mountaineering family and your brothers were allowed to meet foreigners, to go on expeditions, expand their world? How important are these simple freedoms?
As guests of Pakistan, we have the opportunity to introduce women, from many differing backgrounds, to mountain exploration, the thrill of climbing, the comradeship of a team, then, if they chose, exploration in careers within this realm.
Every culture has its forms of freedoms and its confinements: we, in the West, have personal freedom at the cost of all else. I look forward to learning about the lives of Pakistani women, and what costs are assumed in return for their lives' most important values.
-Sallie

Sallie Shatz, racking up.

Check out an article about Sallie and Heidi and the PWCC in yesterday's Aspen Daily News!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi, Nice picture and you are doing great job. I also like climbing and traveling very much.
If you would like to come Pakistan for climbing or traveling then most well come. I have a travel agency in Pakistan named: Mashabrum Expeditions Treks & Tours

Take Care
www.mashabrum.com