A HERO LIES WITHIN YOU By PAUL D. WOODS At 11:30 p.m. on CNN on November 28, 2008, I watched with great interest as Anderson Cooper showed ordinary people doing incredible things to transform and improve the lives of others. They were just ordinary people making a difference in the lives of others. As the award show proceeded and presentations were made, I came to realize that the recipients were from various professions in society. Moved by the fact that they were all so-called ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make an impact in the lives of total strangers, I was left feeling a great sense of gratitude. At last the quiet heroes among us can now speak! They were not seeking fame or self recognition, but acted simply because of a sense of human decency in all the chaos, conflict and anarchy that can exist in our global societies. Who is a hero? Heroes in my humble opinion are altruistic and courageous people who advance the causes of others. They approach their responsibility with an unconditional spirit, with no expectation of reciprocity. They often assess and analyze the tasks ahead and confront them with determination and nobility. Their essential belief is that where there is a problem, there must be a solution. They stand their ground when others criticize their positions as naive, gullible, or impossible in order to aid those who are incapable or too afraid to challenge themselves. This for me is the measure of a true hero. Our “heroes” are frequently those like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Usein Bolt, Venus and Serena Williams, music video celebrities or movie stars. Some look up to super models, playboys, drug pushers and gangsters to emulate instead of persons who have spent their lives making positive contributions to society. Across our beloved nation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean there are heroes ready to transform and rebuild the lives shattered by unfortunate circumstances. Come forward! You are motivated to bring about an amicable solution to the many problems our nations are confronting. So come forward! Do so not for self glory, not for fame, not to exalt yourself, but to render a selfless service toward your fellowmen. Give of your time and resources to cultivate the appropriate environment that would perpetuate positive views, which in turn would aid in the regeneration of young men and women, who exist in a world feeling dejected, confused, and invisible. The violence, teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS which have infested and paralyzed our nation must be a moment for heroes to maximize. This is the ideal time for you to take a stand and assist in the eradication of such instability. Our teachers are heroes in the academic institutions, which have been the cradle of our civilization. Teachers have played an instrumental role in impressing upon the minds of those who seek knowledge, and enlightenment a new direction, hope and a glorious perspective of what their future can be. It may be the lonely policeman who knows that excessive force may not be the only means of confronting violence. He is keenly aware that a diplomatic and pragmatic approach might be another way of reaching those who view violence as the only way to resolve their differences and conflict. By his willingness to understand the thought process, he would be able to address their concerns in a more effective manner that would help alleviate the pain and suffering evil-doers have brought upon our society. A lawman ought to stress that if the laws of our country are violated, there will be serious consequences and repercussions. His communication must be one that reminds our citizens that lawmen intend to vigorously pursue from a holistic perspective the very core of the problem. A law officer must try to understand the environmental factors that created that monster within their surpect. He must try and break down the driving force that causes individuals to make criminal activities a part of their lives. A more open-minded approach might help those who commit crime to realize that they must choose positive means to get their message out, instead of using destructive methods. Perhaps it is a doctor who sees a wounded patient whose parents are overwhelmed with grief at the possible loss of their loved one. The doctor intervenes as a medical professional to bring reality to the situation. He shows empathy with a nation whose future generations continue to face peril because of foolish acts of violence and unsafe sexual choices. He might share his experience in dealing with traumatized patients by bringing comfort and calm to a grieving family. And as they desperately await the prognosis of their child, the family may realize the true cause of such malignant problems that are bringing about the annihilation their young. Religious leaders have a moral and spiritual responsibility to make sure that our future generations are equipped to make the best choices which they can possibly make. They must use the pulpit to forcefully address the root causes of the problems–the disconnection from the fundamental principles upon which our society was built. Our Founding Fathers believed the preservation of our society depended to a large extent on the cherished Christian values we share. Our clergymen must courageously challenge the hearts and minds of our people to condemn unequivocally the violence that permeates every aspect of our community. Keep in mind that they must disregard being isolated and ostracized by those who believe that their voices should be silent. Our nation must be told in this challenging and difficult period that the justice and divine virtuous qualities of God can be a resource to which we turn bring about the tranquility and respect for humanity in our society that we should have. The messages of ministers can assist in bringing realization of the enormous moral and spiritual decline our nation is struggling with. The salvation and hope of our nation must rest in the enduring symbol of the pulpit. For from there can come the role models and mentors that our troubled young men and women whose dreams are shattered and who have gone astray because of the notion they hold that no one cares about their plight and disadvantage situation. So now you must come, Mr. Clergyman, and answer the call that Almighty God has placed within your hands and help to transform a wounded nation. Parents are leaders The foundation of any child must emanate home. A mother and father have the responsibility to nurture and nourish the fragile mind of their child because they know the appropriate choices they must make. The responsibility of raising any child is immensely challenging. This is why every parent must make sure they utilize the necessary material and glean from the wisdom of their own parents so as to know how to execute the precious duty of parenting. You must teach your children self respect and self worth. Instill in them that the measure of a person is not based on the acquisition of materialism or the achievement of accolades and notoriety. They must understand what determine the measure of any individual is the ability to respect oneself and to develop moral character and to live a dignified and decent life. It is also understood that every human being deserves respect, regardless of their circumstance in life. When your children disrespect laws, you must use calm disciplinary methods to remind them that such behavior is intolerable and disappointing. They must be thought that nothing in life comes easily. Hard work is not a burden, but a privilege. Never neglect to teach your children that the wrong choices that they make today will lead to severe consequences in life, and will to a large measure determine their success or failure. Teach them not to blame others for their own inability to succeed. Instead, show them how to use their imaginations and innovations to over come obstacles, and to keep trying until they eventually achieve their goal. Assist them in developing an insatiable appetite for knowledge so that they can become geniuses for tomorrow. Cultivate an environment that allows them vent thei
r anger through exchange of ideas and thought- provoking debate rather than using weapons. Teach them to love rather than hate. Let them know laws are made to protect them, and not to punish them. If these things are done your children will grow up to be the caretakers of society rather than the executer of violence. Children need a stable environment and a solid structure in their lives to help build strong self awareness. Have a vested interest in the future of your children. Stop the shame and calamity that some of your sons and daughters continue to bring upon our society. Let your children see you as their heroes, not villains who are responsible for the rage which they forcefully execute upon innocent citizens of our society. Conclusion I know in every aspect of our society and our region, there lies a hero. Now is the time to seize the moment and overcome your cowardice. Stand up for this generations yet unborn. If we turn our backs and do nothing, history would reward us justly. “We must have malice toward none and charity for all,’said Abraham Lincoln. Let us once again transform our communities into a great symphony of harmony so that generations to come will be proud, that we leave a glorious legacy for them to emulate. May God bless our Nation and our Region as we struggle to overcome this ca ncer in our midst. Remember, a hero lies within you.
