Sir Isaac Newton: “To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.”

Sir Isaac Newton is one of the world’s most renown scientists and philosophers. Newton was born in England in 1642, a time of primitive science and philosophy. Throughout Newton’s life we can see that, once again, through difficulty and trial comes greatness. Newton’s Father died 3 months before Newton’s birth, leaving Newton without an important father-figure. Newton’s mother remarried and left young Newton with his grandmother, so that she could live with her new love. This abandonment scarred Newton and resulted in a sense of insecurity that Newton carried throughout his life. Trials continued to follow Newton when Newton’s education was jeopardized by his estranged parents, wanting him to quit school and work on the farm. Thankfully to Newton’s uncle, who saw Newton’s intelligence, pleaded that Newton’s parents keep him in school. School and studies were the hobbies and escape to young Newton. When the plague, in 1665, closed the university that Newton attended, Newton truly had the opportunity to give up. But it was during this 2 year period that extraordinary discoveries were made. Newton could have decided to leave his studies and return to farming, but He held tightly to his passion. It was during these 2 years that Newton made huge discoveries in the theory of light, in the laws of planetary movement (which changed and defined physics until this very day), and his experience with gravity and the “falling apple”. It can also be speculated that Newton was anti-social, to say the least, and a little strange, but it is Newton’s determination that is incredible. In the world of discovery, there is much persecution. Creating intellectual enemies is a regular occurrence. For someone, such as Newton, to have his insecurities and still pursue his work, is impressive. Even more so is the courage that Newton had to pursue ideas so foreign as the movement of planets. The observation and knowledge of space was extremely primitive. Newton did not have the technology, nor equipment that scientists now have. The discoveries made by Newton become more amazing still, especially when realized that many of the principles that he discovered are true. Newton didn’t defy a nation or free an enslaved people, but Newton’s incredible discoveries did change science and the way the world thinks. Without these amazing, primitive discoveries, the world would not have the technology that it has today.

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Nelson Mandela: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

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Nelson Mandela was born 1918 in a small village of South Africa. Mandela’s father, was the chief of a small tribe, but eventually lost his kingdom and fortune because of a dispute with a magistrate. Mandela and his family continued their lives in poverty, by living in a small hut and living off what the land produced. At age 9, Mandela’s father passed away, leaving Mandela the man of the house. A old friend of Mandela’s father received Mandela as his son, and provided Mandela with a college education. Mandela took complete advantage of the opportunity and later received his degree in practicing law. Because of Mandela’s great interest in law, Mandela noted the segregation in South Africa. The troubling separation of the races shaped Mandela and the choices that he would soon make. After graduating with his degree, Mandela affiliated himself with the ANC, or the African National Congress. A youth, group within the ANC, believed that the “passive” and “polite” protests of the ANC were “ineffective”. Mandela then joined the group and they took on a more abrasive approach. Through sabotage and defiance against segregation, Mandela and his band began disturbing the still water of the segregated society. After many protests, in 1956, Mandela and many others were captured and prosecuted. They were sentenced to 5 years in prison, and later charges were pressed against Mandela which warranted him a lifetime sentence due to treason.

After so much hardship, Mandela still used his time in prison to his benefit. Mandela continued to take advantage of the educational opportunities that were presented him. What is truly amazing is that, while in prison, Mandela was offered the opportunity to be released if he would renounce his position of struggle against segregation. After several bribes Mandela still resisted and declined. He chose rather to stay in prison for several more years until he was finally released by a newly elected president. More amazing still is that Mandela was eventually elected President of South Africa with a 65 percent majority win over the opposition. Mandela continued his fight for equality and did not hold a grudge of several years in prison against the country that was now under his power. After years of Mandela’s life pursuit, in 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Nelson Mandela continues dedicating his life to the further pursuit of peace and equalit

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Muhammad Ali: “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”

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sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Muhammad Ali is one of the world’s most renowned boxers. He dominated the sport for several years, controlling most fights and ending his career with very few professional losses. But it is not only Muhammad Ali’s boxing career that stands out in history. Muhammad Ali has the reputation of being one of the most upfront and straightforward athletes in the athletic world. He would often say what may other individuals would fear to say. If it were related to athletics or politics, if it were in a press conference are on national television, Ali was defiant in all he did. Ali’s name also is a proof of his defiance. At a time in which the world treated muslims with hostility, the formerly known Cassius Clay, chose to affiliate himself with the muslim religion. “Clay” then changed his name to the well known “Muhammad Ali” and demanded that all referred to him by his muslim name. Ali thought his former name to be a “slave name”, a name given to his ancestors by their slave masters. Ali’s determination and dedication are exemplary. He fought hard for his boxing title, but more importantly for his beliefs and his fellow african american people. Ali recognized that their wasn’t reason to travel to the other side of the world to fight a war, when in his very own country did not treat him as a citizen. Ali was quoted saying, “I ain’t got no quarrel with those vietcong…no vietcong ever called me nigger.” Ali lived during the start of the vietnam war, but refused the state officials when drafted into the army explaining that he would not fight a needless war. Because of Ali’s bold opinion in regards to racism, Ali was accused of supporting “separatism”. But on several occasions would accuse his accusers of separatism because of the segregation between white and black members of society. The public scene did not censor Ali’s words, in front of few or many people, Ali spoke his mind. Because of Ali’s strong opinion, Ali was banned from boxing in the United States for most of 1966. Ali chose to travel abroad and continued fighting in other countries, even organizing a fight in “the congo”, in order to raise money for the people that lived there. After being allowed to box in the U.S. and a long boxing career, Ali retired but continued his fight for inequality by making many appearances at fundraisers. Not many people would think of defying a government, or speaking openly amongst hostiles, but Ali knew what was right and wrong and would not let anyone tell him differently.

Haile Selassie: “Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who should have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”

In 1935, Benito Mussolini attacks Ethiopia without warning. Ethiopia is of no use to Italy other than a chance to avenge past battles. The Emperor, Ras Tafari Mukonnen or Haile Selassie, assembled his armies, but only postponed italian victory. After a final battle, lead personally by Selassie, Selassie fled from the advancing italian army. However, Selassie did not glee to a military stronghold, but rather to sacred churches in the mountains of Lalibela. He spent days of fasting and prayer before meeting with other ethiopian leaders and family. To save his own life and the lives of his family, Selassie went into exile in Jerusalem. While in exile, Selassie continued to help his people in the newly declared “Italian Empire.” When Selassie went before an alliance of the european nations, the League of Nations that was organized to protect europe, the League merely listened instead of acted. But Selassie did not retreat again.

What’s amazing is not the fact that Selassie never quit, but that after five years of exile, after seeing his people be killed by chemical warfare, after being mocked and jeered at by the organization set up to protect is people, after so much injustice, The last thing that Selassie looked for was compensation.  Selassie said, “Don not return evil for evil…  Take care not to spoil the good name of Ethiopia by acts which are worthy of the enemy.”  From his name “Ras Tafari Mukonnen” the religion “rastafari” emerged.  His view and desire for world peace and tranquility is still shared by many.  Bob Marley’s songs were inspired by Selassie and Selassie’s nickname became the symbol of rastafarianism, “The Lion”.  By the rastafarians, Selassie is much more than an exemplary man, but “God” incarnated.

Marie Curie: “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”

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1867 Marie Curie was born to a poor family in Warsaw Poland. Her family went through many difficulties, including the untimely deaths of Marie’s mother and sister. Due to much turmoil in her young life, Marie developed depression that continued to hinder her throughout her life. In what appeared a darkening world, Marie clung on to the hope of a new day. But the sunrise did not come all at once. In 1891 Marie moved to Paris, France where she studied chemistry and physics. She earned her living as a tutor at nights allowing her to barely scrape by in life. She survived many cold nights and hunger pained days. Because Marie was a woman, she was denied many educational opportunities. Even though she clearly excelled in her field of science. Virtues of diligence and perseverance fueled Marie and helped her surpass what many would expect in the face of so much opposition. In 1895 Radiology was an extremely exciting field of science. Renowned scientist around the world, such as Ruetgen and Becquerel, were making revolutionary discoveries. Despite gender stereotypes, Marie didn’t allow this opportunity to slip away. Marie analyzed other scientists’ work and by doing so, including her own innovative methods, she was able to discover a new element, “radium”. She later discovered the energy given off by the the element, called“radioactivity”. World War I broke out in Europe and Marie Curie quickly applied this new science in the saving of many french soldiers’ lives. Marie was given many awards, including two Nobel-Prizes in 1903 and 1911. Marie after many years of discovery chose to not patent her work so that the world could continually it’s understanding of this new science. Many still benefit from Marie Curie’s discoveries in radiology. Her discoveries have spear-headed the counter-attack on cancer, saving many lives and causing hope. “Nothing in this life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less”, was one of the many slogans by which this amazing woman lived her life.

Mikhail Gorbachev: “If not me, who? And if not now, when?”

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Turley‑Fall‑of‑the‑Berlin‑Wall.png / nocaptionneeded.com

pic of Mikhail Gorbachev courtesy of:  top-people.starmedia.com

The Berlin Wall tears war torn Germany farther apart. The edification of this concrete enforced wall, reveals the very real separation of the world’s views. Because of the large gap in opinions, the world stands still.  Frozen in the cold war. In a nation in which exile and “mysterious” disappearances are common to those who voice their opinions too loudly; the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Gorbachev states, “Surely, God on high has not refused to give us enough wisdom to find ways to bring us an improvement in relations between the two great nations on the earth.” Gorbachev’s courage, despite the personal risk, still stands as an example to the world today.

Gorbachev gained favor within the communist party very young in his life. He supported the principles of equality within the party, however Gorbachev saw the blind-spots in the communistic view. He hungered for further equality, this hunger as a result of the government caused “Soviet Famine” in 1932. In which the number of people in his village, and his family, were cut in half. Gorbachev chose to use that as fuel instead of the dampened towel that it was.  Gorbachev took courage and took action.

Gorbachev worked tirelessly to restore peace and tranquility to a hostile world. He started by resolving many major issues with other world powers, such as the United States.  Proposing a halt to the nuclear arms race. Gorbachev proposed a reduction of fifty percent to all nuclear arms arsenals. In a world that nations could not put their guard down, Gorbachev tied his hands behind his back. One of his most memorable actions was the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. By doing so Gorbachev reunited a nation and restored natural freedoms to a people. As a result of so much change, Gorbachev successfully dissolved the Soviet Union and solidified a democracy in it’s place. Because one man chose the optimistic path, growing from what was meant to destroy. Gorbachev found enough hope to envision a better world, which many were left to enjoy.

Jesse Owens: “Although I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the President either.”

Check this guy out!
In 1936 the world is defied by one man. Jesse Owens, an african-american born in a segregated world, competes in the summer olympics hosted in Berlin Germany. Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler, wishes to demonstrate aryan supremacy to the world. However, america’s “black sheep” storms the olympic stage by winning four olympic gold medals! A man that dealt with daily suppression and humiliation, causes public embarassment to the world’s most powerful Leaders as a result of a ten second race.
Although the american body did not applaud Owens on his arrival home. Owens caused a change in the confidence and self-value in the eyes of the african-american community. Even more, his olympic status was taken from him when he refused to jump through publicities hoops, but Owens’ influence far surpassed his own expectations and served as the flint and steel that sparked the flame for equality. In ten seconds, on the other side of the world, Jesse Owens changed the outlook on the future for millions.

“One chance is all you need.” -Jesse Owens

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