Feminist, Activist, Writer and Heroine Dr. Nawal El Saadawi

My friend C.C. sent me a link (http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/02/03/opinion/1248069611811/undaunted-in-tahrir-square.html) to a short New York Times video showing the now 80-year-old Dr. Nawal El Saadawi -- physician, writer, feminist, activist, and heroine -- at one of the protests in Egypt, celebrating and cheering on the protesters. I have read her publications over the past 25 years or so, and am a great admirer of her and her work. El Saadawi was one of the first women in the Middle East to speak out courageously about the situation of women, and she was often shunned and even imprisoned for her views. But she has kept writing and speaking up, apparently undaunted, and seeing her on the video with her obviously undimmed passion for freedom and equality is inspiring and moving. El Saadawi has written many books: novels, political/social nonfiction, autobiography/memoir, and more. One of her most famous books, her novel "Woman at Point Zero," had a major impact, with its brave and frank portrayal of how women's inequality often leads to abuse and desperation. I am in awe at the courage, strength, persistence, and passionate pursuit of freedom and equity personified by this great woman writer, Nawal El Saadawi, and I write about her here in order to honor and thank her.