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TITLE: Right Risks | Previous Challenge Entry
By John Custer
10/07/20
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The Philippines had been dominated by Spain for over 300 years. Their education was low and so was their morale because they saw no hope of anything changing in their favor.

Then a young man wrote some political novels intended to give the Filipinos some self esteem and self pride. His name was Jose Rizal. He was an intelligent man and was sent to Spain to further his education. There he affiliated with other students who were also interested in national reform.

A propaganda movement was formed consisting of magazines, poetry and pamphleteering. Rizal was the leader.

He wrote two novels, Noli me tangere (1887; Touch Me Not) and El filibusterismo (1891; The Reign of Greed), which had a big impact among the Filipinos. In 1892 he returned home from Spain, and formed an organization, Liga Filipina, for those with similar thoughts. Spain assumed that he was trying to overthrow the government.

They first isolated him to an island, then tried him and executed him in 1896 by a firing squad.

He was and is a national hero because he was willing to take a risk to help his people. It was his inspiration that led others to fight for and ultimately attain their independence.

Another young man was willing to take a risk and became a hero, although not nationally. His name was Rick.

Rick was a very popular high school senior basketball player. He was always kind to another student who was from his church named Leonard. Leonard was not smart, nor tall, nor popular and on the heavy side. That didn’t make any difference to Rick. Rick treated him as an equal.

I was standing in the hall and I saw Rick surrounded by his basketball buddies when Leonard walked up. Rick gave Leonard a “high-five,” even though he had to reach down to do it.

Rick made Leonard feel just as tall as he was. Leonard was accepted by Rick and by Rick’s peers.

I am quite sure that Rick did not think about the risk that he took to treat Leonard with dignity, but he set a great example for other students. Perhaps other students would have been reluctant to risk their popularity in that way.

Jesus did some things which His disciples thought risky. He touched the leper, healed a blind man, engaged in conversation with a Samaritan woman, and challenged the Pharisees. Jesus treated all people with love and respect because that was His character. He ultimately died to reconcile man to God, a truly heroic act.

I have seen a CEO washing dishes after a church function and a prominent politician having lunch with ordinary people and it inspires me. They can be heroes too.

So what makes a person a hero? It is one who does what is right even though it may cost him something like his popularity, his health or wealth, or even his life.

Wikipedia

Non-fiction

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