Selflessness is defined as “concern more with the needs of others than with one’s own” (dictionary.com). Suzanne Spaak is the perfect example of selflessness. She was willing to die for a meaningful cause she believed in: rescuing Jews throughout the Holocaust. Spaak did whatever she could to help the struggling Jews, and joined an underground movement that’s goal was to put an end to racism. She risked all that she had to stand up for what she believed in, putting all personal problems aside, to do what she knew in her heart was right. Because of her willingness to do whatever it took to help, many innocent children and adults’ lives were saved. By examining Spaak’s selflessness, bravery, and persistence, it is clear that she was indeed full of moral courage.
Spaak was born into a high class Belgian banking family, and was accustomed to a high standard of living. Her husband, Claude, was a filmmaker and they had two children whom she found great fulfillment in raising. She was enraged at the Nazi oppression and racial intolerance that she had seen. “My children are safe while others are threatened” (Cole, 1). She soon acted on that anger, by joining the underground National Movement Against Racism (MNCR). While there, she walked the streets
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She didn’t think of it as a burden to help, but rather as a responsibility and personal duty. Living in the high class family that she did, it would’ve been simple for her to ignore the struggles going on. They didn’t involve her, and certainly should not have mattered to her. But, in her heart, she knew that what was happening wasn’t right. Spaak was noble, audacious, and most of all, filled with moral courage. I cannot imagine having the fearlessness to die for someone that I know, and certainly not for people that I do not know. The bravery that she displayed by doing this has made an impact on
She did not worry about political unrest. She spent her days caring for Dr. Nwabe's children and her evenings at home with Wesley. Then the soliders came. As she strolled the baby to collect the children at school one afternoon, she heard shouting and saw a crowd gathered outside a local business.
This selflessness and bravery were tested multiple times while she worked to save children from the Warsaw ghetto. On page 37, a quote is mentioned from Irena Sendler that states, “From the autumn of 1939, every act of sympathy toward the persecuted Jews was punishable by death. For handing a Jew a glass of water or a piece of bread you could be killed.” Sendler did much more than offer a Jewish person a cup of water, she saved hundreds of children from the Warsaw ghetto at the expense of her own life. Irena Sendler knew very well that the work she did was accompanied by grievous consequences, yet the selflessness she had caused her to waste no time in deciding that she would work to save others.
She wrote the book from her personal perspective of a political activist and member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which she joins while at Tougaloo College. During her time at college, three of her most personally impactful university experiences with regard to her social and political consciousness were her joining the NAACP, the particularly violent incident at the bus station, and the historical sit-in at the Woolworth's counter.
Irena saved over 2,500 Jewish kids doing this, and was almost caught many times. It was very risky to do this work, but she persevered. She couldn't guarantee the kids safe escape, but she assured the parents it would be better than the concentration and death camps. She risked her life to do this dangerous work, that really shows how courageous she was to save these innocent children (“Ona Simaite, Joop Westerweel, Irena
While growing up in segregated segregated Mississippi, Anne Moody underwent significant personal private struggles. Whether the struggles related to her poor family life or fear of just being black, Moody eventually overcame the obstacles. She strived for perfection in her work at school and at jobs. This engaged mentality taught Moody to never back down from a challenge, even if the end looks bleak. Violence in different forms circulated around Moody all her life, most of which included watching others perpetrate violence on blacks solely for their skin color.
The Children’s Blizzard shows many acts of selflessness. Selflessness means, steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. However, selflessness has some connotative definitions as well such as: death, sacrifice, heroism, protecting, bravery, endurance, or
Her piece “Thunderbird of Courage” inspired me to think about the spiritual aspect of racism. I pondered about how religion can be so dividing between people,and how I sometimes assume my own faith system is inherently better or more valid than others just because mine is the one our European-Western society likes best. I considered a line from the reading again: “I could think of myself as belonging in major ways,and of making social systems work for me.” I have always inherently assumed that my set of core values and beliefs must simply be right and better than every other set because society has always reinforced my ideas. I went to a Catholic grade school and high school,a Catholic church,and a Christian youth group, so every facet of my life was telling me that my views are right,period.
Arriving back home the next morning, a weary Sybil was greeted with shouts and cheers for her bravery. In the following weeks, the supplies and the city were destroyed, but she had helped save the lives of her family and many citizens. General George Washington was so proud of Sybil’s actions that he made a special trip just to shake her hand and thank her for her bravery. Sybil’s response was, “And I hope I have shown you that it is not only the best men who can fight for freedom.” What a local
Parks “rejected all the assumptions about her place in the world” (Ulrich 663). In today’s world, it is hard to live as a minority, but in the 1950’s it was an even greater challenge. Not only was Rosa Parks an African American, but also a female. For Parks to speak out against the social standards of the time was unheard of. Ulrich has become comparable to Rosa Parks for the modern day time period, by speaking out and expressing her views to the extent that they are heard across the country.
What is selflessness? The definition- Selfless is the opposite of selfish. If you're selfless, you think less about yourself, and more about others — you're generous and kind. So many amazing characters and people are selfless. Without even knowing it, anyone no matter how big or small the act can make a difference in a person’s life for the better.
To be selfless is to make sure the needs of others is put before your needs. Beowulf the Angelo-Saxon hero, made sure the safety of the Danes came before his. He put his life on the line just to fight off the monsters or dragons that made the lives of others miserable. In part two, Beowulf fights off the dragon but he dies after killing the dragon, his last words were to Wiglaf, he told him to take care of his people. The soldiers leave their home and families to fight for our country and our freedom.
In “Our Secret”, Griffin recounts her own life story to the life stories of others, including Heinrich Himmler, Heinz, a painter, a friend, Holocaust survivors, a homosexual
From the genocides of different ethics, to freedom is taken away in minority nations. Angela Davis expresses her views on political aspects of hard punishment upon human beings Americas’ society. She composed many books supporting her idea on political activism. In chapter 9, “Freedom Is A Constant Struggle,” opens different viewpoints, as a results of a transition in today’s society, starting from the 1960’s to the age of Obama. In addition to the few minority groups, as she relates in this book, the similar of a constant struggle for freedom with in the different ethics groups.
Take a second and imagine, imagine yourself being starved, tortured, and enslaved. What would you do to save your children and yourself? In Cynthia Ozick's story “The Shawl” we meet Rosa and her two daughters Stella, who is fourteen, and Magda an infant who is being concealed, on their grueling march to a concentration camp. The Nazi’s are unaware of Magda’s existence due to Rosa hiding her under the shawl as they are marching. Rosa is faced with the difficulty of keeping her daughters alive, while trying to survive herself.
Nothing is selfish about a soldier. That’s another great definition for a hero; non-selfish. If a hero was selfish, they wouldn’t risk everything they have for someone else. Everything about a hero takes guts. “To me, true American Exceptionalism consists of voluntary acts of charity, embracing the freedom to do your life’s purpose, and experiencing the growth and resilience that comes from making mistakes along the way.”