Ava feels risks are necessary to affect change. Do you agree?

Ava tells Amineh “Nothing is ever going to get better unless we’re willing to risk everything.” What do you think of this statement?

I admire people who think this way and are willing to risk to effect change, though I admit I'm not sure I could this.

Ava has a strong conviction that change is necessary at all costs. However, this is certainly difficult for people who have to consider their family members and what is best for them, not just themselves.

I do think "risk" is involved with change. Hopefully, that risk won't be catastrophic with loss of life. Don't we take risks when we are in unfamiliar situations. Risks when we join a new group. Risk is part of life, in my opinion. However, I do think one should evaluate the cost of risk to determine if the risk is worth it.

Yes, I agree. Without the convictions and self sacrifice of very brave individuals who inspire us to think about more than our own interests, we would be stuck in the dark ages.

I think risk is critical to invoke change. It is scary, but necessary.

I believe it has always been so, in every culture, in every generation, across the world. I love the saying, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results," often attributed to Einstein but actually coined by a civil rights worker. Change does require doing something different and that often entails risk.

An old husband's tale is that a man returns to his hometown after being away for several years. He meets up with an old man and says, "Clyde, I guess you have seen many changes take place in this town." Clyde replies, "Many changes, and I was against every one of them." Change is not enjoyed by all.

I think that it is a very true statement.

While all change may not be good but those who are up to no good are taking a risk,

But, for the most part the type of risk that were presented in this book involved risk - especially when it is going to upset the status quo and involves a change in power

I agree. As others have pointed out, the risks are often small ones (not life-threatening) but without them, we will not learn how to effectively cope with life’s ups and downs. Amineh’s decision to marry was a risk, and then for years she was afraid to take risks within her marriage or in the world, but passively accepted what made her unhappy… Her friend Ava knew she needed to push herself, and Ava was right.

absolutely agree! Life is one big exciting risk, change isn't always for the better, but that is part of the risk.

Yes, risks are necessary, but sometimes they are small ones and sometimes they’re large ones. Think of the risks people took during WWII and the Holocaust, trying to save the lives of Jewish people. Other risks are smaller, such as participating in a demonstration or rally.

I don't think this is always true. What risks did Patrik take in pushing for nuclear disarmament? Here in the US, I took part in protests when I was younger and I don't feel like I took any risk at all in doing so. And I think people can push for change politically without risk; it can be as simple as voting. My city (Portland) has some pretty serious social issues (homelessness, drugs) and I see many people working for change.

Now, in totalitarian countries like Iran that's a different story, of course. You really DO take your life in your hands in pushing for change.

Risks are indeed necessary to change status quo. Without risks there would be no evolution for betterment. While the risk versus reward scenarios should definitely be evaluated and everybody's risk tolerance may be different, but shying away from risks can only result in stagnation. That said, in the context of Ava's storyline, while her passion is admirable, she seems to be riding the wave of the activism of the time and not envisioning the dark side it also unfolds.