Franca Judith Akello, Uganda, (pictured at left) a tall beautiful young woman, mother to two young sons, and a member of Uganda’s Parliament describes the path that led her into the political world:   “I was born in 1978, during a time when Uganda was very unstable. I would wake up in the morning at primary school to find soldiers passing through. We would have to wait until the soldiers were gone before we could go out. During my third year at university, I ran into an ambush in a public bath. It went on for fifteen minutes. The people on either side of me died. I was uninjured.”  “It was my life experience — the kind of life I lived — that inspired me to go into politics. Now, I have two young children. I don’t want them to see what I saw as a child. I want to join hands with other women to secure peace and rights for women and children.”

Mariam Alsadig Almahdi, Sudan, a medical doctor (a pediatrician) and the mother of six children speaking to a packed ballroom at the Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. (Pictured with Bobbi McKenna.)  “Keeping out of politics is a luxury that women cannot afford. When I chose to leave my profession to go into politics, I was criticized. I refuse to choose between being a women and a leader."  "I am a woman who is a leader. There is some idea that the prototype – the ideal woman — is beautiful, soft, and tender. Being loving does not mean having no courage.”

When Mariam sees me through the crowd, she calls out:  “It is my very good friend!”  This beautiful intelligent woman from the other side of the world,this woman I have know for less a week, thinks of me as her very good friend. That is a memory I will treasure forever.    Isabel Londono, Colombia, who has a Ph.D. from Harvard University in Social Policy, speaks passionately about the challenge women face:  “If women go into politics, we can change how the game is played," she says. "But to change the game we must play the game. We must stop talking about the appearance of women, and the personal life of women.”   Ann Auru, Uganda, who participated in peace negotiations with the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army tells us the story of how she and others courageously walked without food for many miles to meet with him, not knowing if they would be killed.   In the negotiations, Ann says: “We had to choose. We could have peace or justice. But not both.” Finally, the leader asked for his mother to be brought to him, and after conferring with her, he agreed to peace. A Parliamentarian, from Nepal, says this: “I will go back to my country inspired to do greater work, and the whole world will see the greatness of Swanee Hunt in my work.” Jane Odwong Akwero, Uganda, is a tall, stately woman, with a ready smile. She was a political leader for 19 years, and only left Parliament in May 2006.

“I chose to be a voice of my people, speaking out about their plight,” she says. “My humble plea is for concerted effort to support women, and to build the capacity for sustainability. We must all put our hands together to make a difference.”  Jane gives me a Ugandan beaded necklace, and invites me to come visit Uganda.   In Washington, DC, we go on a tour bus, which takes us to the Capitol, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial. It is a beautiful warm day, and at the White House, there is a demonstration going on with people carrying signs and wearing masks that are meant to resemble the face of the President of the United States. The women from Africa are astonished and amazed that this is allowed.

On the tour bus, I turn to a Sudanese woman sitting across the aisle from me.  “Is the United States the way you thought it would be?” I ask. “Oh, no,” she replies shaking her head. "It’s such a beautiful country, such beautiful people, so much freedom.”  “So Swanee has done a great thing?” I ask. The woman’s eyes grow large, and she speaks slowly and emphatically:  “She has done such a great thing that even she does not know.”

Yes, Swanee Hunt has done a very good thing indeed and there is much more to come.  After all, the title of her memoir is “Half-Life of A Zealot.” (Order your copy at Amazon.com.) You can learn more about The Initiative for Inclusive Security and the Hunt Alternatives Fund at www.huntalteranatives.org. Copyright 2007 Bobbi McKenna All Rights Reserved