— Michael Hastings
(Source: youtube.com)
Josh's blog
Posts tagged courage
“ What would happen is the President came out and said, actually, no, [gay marriage is] OK. You know, would there be such a tremendous backlash against that that would cost him the election? Possibly. But that’s a risk, right? But that’s what leadership is about. It’s about taking risks. ”
“ It would be good for a broad range of Americans to see [President Obama] articulate a clear position of principle and then defend it before the voting public. ”
— “Mr. Biden’s Moment of Truth”, NYT
(Source: The New York Times)
“ There is, in addition to a courage with which men die, a courage by which men must live. ”
— John F. Kennedy
“ With almost no time to decide they gave the entire country an incalculable gift. They saved the Capitol from attack, they saved God knows how many lives, they saved the terrorists from claiming the symbolic victory of smashing the center of American government. And they did it as citizens. They allowed us to survive as a country that could fight terror and still maintain liberty, and still welcome people from all over the world from every religion and race and culture as long as they shared our values. Cause ordinary people, given no time at all to decide, did the right thing. And 2500 years from now, I hope and pray to God that people will still remember this. ”
— President Bill Clinton honoring the passengers and crew of United 93
(Source: youtube.com)
“ He’s a great Senator who’s always had the courage to say exactly what’s right, damn the consequences. That’s a leader; that’s not a politician. ”
— Cenk Uygur on Russ Feingold
(Source: youtube.com)
“ We may find the heroics of D-Day stirring in the extreme. We may struggle to imagine the special hell of those beaches, the almost despairing lurch of the landing craft as they motored toward France. Those were brave times. But it was a bravery of shared sacrifice, a willingness to rise to an occasion that everyone prayed would never need to come again. This is a day to respect the memory of 60 years ago and, perhaps, to wonder what we might rise to if only we asked it of ourselves. ”
— The New York Times
(Source: The New York Times)
On June 3rd, 1989, the Chinese government began the crackdown of Tiananmen Square. This picture was taken a couple days after, on June 5th, 1989. This was 22 years ago. We don’t know this man’s name. We don’t know where he came from, who his family was, or when he was born.
It just shows that taking a stand at the right time can cause a shockwave that will last in our memories for generations.
Take a Stand.
Infinite respect for astounding courage.
“ Like my three brothers before me, I pick up a fallen standard. Sustained by the memory of our priceless years together, I shall try to carry forward that special commitment to justice, to excellence, to courage that distinguished their lives. ”
— Senator Ted Kennedy after RFK’s assassination
(Source: TIME)
“Somewhere today, in the here and now, in the world as it is, a soldier sees he’s outgunned, but stands firm to keep the peace. Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on. Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, scrapes together what few coins she has to send that child to school — because she believes that a cruel world still has a place for that child’s dreams.
Let us live by their example. We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of depravation, and still strive for dignity. Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that — for that is the story of human progress; that’s the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth.
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