2. Benjamin Franklin
He was elected to the Continental
Congress in 1775, where he played a
crucial role in the rebellion against Gr.
Britain, including service to Jefferson, in
editing the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin, who was by this time
independently wealthy and retired from
publishing, continued to serve an important
role in government, both local and
national. He was the United States first
Postmaster General, Minister to the
French Court, Treaty agent and signer to
the peace with Gr. Britain, Celebrated
Member of the Constitutional convention
(See Work, above). Benjamin Franklin:
Businessman, Writer, Publisher, Scientist,
Diplomat, Legislator and Social activist
was one of the earliest and strongest
advocates for the abolition of Slavery, and
for the protection of the rights of American
aboriginal peoples. He died on the 17th of
April, 1790. On that day he was still one of
the most celebrated characters in America.
3. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a pastor of a Baptist church in Montgomery,
Alabama, King lead a Black bus boycott. He and
ninety others were arrested and indicted under
the provisions of a law making it illegal to conspire
to obstruct the operation of a business. King and
several others were found guilty, but appealed
their case. As the bus boycott dragged on, King
was gaining a national reputation. The ultimate
success of the Montgomery bus boycott made
King a national hero.
Dr. King’s 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail
inspired a growing national civil rights movement.
In Birmingham, the goal was to completely end
the system of segregation in every aspect of
public life (stores, no separate bathrooms and
drinking fountains, etc.) and in job discrimination.
Also in 1963, King led a massive march on
Washington DC, where he delivered his now
famous, “I Have A Dream” speech. King’s tactics
of active nonviolence (sit-ins, protest marches)
had put civil-rights squarely on the national
agenda.
On April 4, 1968, King was shot by James Earl
Ray while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine
Motel, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was only 39 at
the time of his death. Dr. King was turning his
attention to a nationwide campaign to help the
poor at the time of his assassination.
4. Nelson Mandela
Mandela served 27 years in prison,
before his release in 1990, at the age
of 72. He was elected the first black
President of South Africa, in 1994.
Although he retired from political life
in 1999, Mandela continues to lend
his voice towards issues that affect
his country and the world at large,
such as the AIDS epidemic, poverty
and human rights. He was also
instrumental in securing South Africa
as the host of the 2010 Soccer World
Cup.
Nelson Mandela is one of the world’s
greatest, and most admired political
leaders. He has been honored with
numerous awards, including the
Nobel Peace Prize, for he is a
shining example of the incredible
strength of the human spirit to
persevere, in the face of adversity,
for the pursuit of freedom.
5. Mikhail Gorbačov, Lech Walesa
Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 – ) Made lasting contribution to world peace
through his determination to reform the Soviet Union. Gorbachev initiated
proposals to reduce the number of nuclear arms and helped to end the Cold
War. Also, Gorbachev allowed Eastern European countries to break away
from Communist rule and become democratic states. Awarded Nobel Peace
Prize in 1990.
Lech Walesa. (1943-) Leader of Polish Solidarity
Movement had helped to bring about the end of one
party Communist rule. Became first non-Communist
President in 1991. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
1983.
6. Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (1942-
) When Ali refused to
fight in Vietnam, it
was a controversial
decision which cost
him his professional
boxing licence.
However, Ali’s
principled stance was
increasingly
appreciated as the
war became more
unpopular.
7. Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
(1920 – 2005) Had a
great effect on many
lives that he touched.
People felt he was a
sincere and
compassionate person.
Lived through two very
difficult periods of
Poland’s history –
occupation by Nazi
Germany and
Communist era, before
becoming Poland’s first
pope.
8. Dalai Lama
According to his homepage, the
14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso,
is both the head of state and the
spiritual leader of Tibet. He was
born on 6 July, 1935, to a
farming family, in a small hamlet
located in Taktser, Amdo, and
northeastern Tibet. At the age of
two the child, who was named
Lhamo Dhondup at that time,
was recognized as the
reincarnation of the 13th Dalai
Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The
Dalai Lamas are believed to be
manifestations of
Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig,
the Bodhisattva of Compassion
and patron saint of Tibet.
Bodhisattvas are enlightened
beings who have postponed their
own nirvana and chosen to take
rebirth in order to serve
humanity.
