| WHAT
IS A PEACE HERO?
by Craig Johnson
The World is full of "heroes." There are countless
individuals who are held in high esteem. Ask yourself who
you most admire. You might name a movie star, a sports figure
or someone who has gained fame and fortune. You are not
the only one who looks up to such individuals, much of the
public regards them as heroes as well. They excel in a particular
field and their successes are admirable, but are they really
heroes?
It is important to ask yourself why you admire a person.
What is it that makes him or her special? Are their actions
really heroic? Is your admiration based on their fame
or wealth? Do money and notoriety make a hero, or is it
something less superficial? It seems natural to admire
people who are rich and good looking - we see in them
qualities admired in society and perhaps qualities we
would like for ourselves. Yet such qualities are not necessarily
the characteristics of a hero. True heroes, the ones we
should look to with admiration and respect, are those
special people who demonstrate the courage, will and desire
to make a positive change for a better world.
A hero is someone who has worked hard to utilize a special
gift or skill to help others. He or she shows us the incredible
power and influence a single person can have. The hero
teaches us that a single voice can make a difference,
and that if we try, we can be heroes as well. Ask yourself
once again if the reason a person has become a celebrity
justifiably makes him or her heroic. You may find that
many of our culture's modern "heroes" are not
so heroic after all.
The true heroes of the world are those who have maintained
a steadfast determination to work for peace. The hero
wants to achieve peace in all its forms: social justice,
human rights, personal dignity, and freedom from violence.
We invite you to read and learn about the following heroes.
Although this is only a partial list of individuals who
have dedicated their lives to peace, this collection provides
a welcome introduction to the world of peace activism.
Some have been ardent campaigners against war and nuclear
weapons, others are fierce activists for human rights,
and still others have had the simple courage to love,
respect, and show compassion. They are all heroes.
A few of these individuals have become well-recognized
for their peace activities and you might already be familiar
with them. Others are not so widely known and may be new
to you. Nevertheless, we encourage you to read each of
their biographies and reflect upon what their message
means. Many of these men and women have been extremely
controversial because of their views and opinions. As
you read, think about why some people have feared what
they have said. Are their conceptions of peace dangerous
to some? If you find yourself in disagreement with their
views, ask yourself why. One purpose of these biographies
is to stimulate your thinking and offer you new ideas
and definitions of peace and heroism.
Our peace heroes come from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
We have attempted to select heroes who represent the many
complex aspects of peace. We hope that they will challenge
your conceptions of peace, and move you to act for peace.
With effort and determination, you can make a difference.
Join a peace organization, offer to do volunteer work,
write letters to the world's leaders - every bit helps.
By becoming involved with peace issues, not only will
you be helping to make a positive difference, but you
may become a peace hero as well. |
