Preview

Diverse Acts of Courage

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
483 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Diverse Acts of Courage
“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve many others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” -Robert F. Kennedy

What is Kennedy saying? Do you feel Kennedy is right or wrong? Why? Can you connect this idea to your own life? Explain. Write a 5 paragraph essay discussing the idea of human’s making ripples in history and current events.

Kennedy is saying that it is from brave individuals that history is created and formed. Everytime someone stands up for what they believe in it makes others want to stand up for what they believe and sends out a little bits and pieces of hope through the nation. Those little bits and pieces of hope is just enough for the nation to over come obsticles and change the nation for the best. What kennedy says is completely right. If it wasn’t from numerous acts of courage from brave indivisuals this nation would be worse then what it is. For example Martin Luther King Jr. if it wasn’t from him standing up against racisism and segergation I probably wouldn’t be born and I probably wouldn’t have a lot of the friends I have now. Thanks to Martin Luther King we have had the first African American President. Another example is Rosa Parks if she wouldn’t give up her seat to a white man even though she knew the consequences. Since she didn’t give up her seat it sent little ripples of hope through the African American community which resulted in them boycotting and not getting on the buses; because of that the bus seating and rules changed. Now everyone can sit where ever they want on the bus. Thanks to these two people courage and bravery my life is great. My best friend is of Hispanic heritage and we can walk down

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Courage Of Veterans

    • 190 Words
    • 1 Page

    Courage can be defined as the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulties without fear. Few people understand courage until put into a situation requiring service above self. On the other hand, for veterans, courage plays an important role everyday while deployed. It takes a lot of a person to leave home and say goodbye to loved ones. Even more courage is required to defend and risk death or injury for a greater cause. Courage is the drive that thrusts veterans through their difficult journeys. Imagine sleeping in tents every night, but not being able to sleep thinking, “Will I survive tomorrow?” Furthermore, courage motivates veterans to keep trying, no matter what. Veterans share an assortment of fears, from getting shot to being disabled. Veterans have to use courage to mask that fear time after time, even when they thought they had none left. When looking in a dictionary, having courage seems pretty easy, however, when times require true sacrifice, one’s reaction displays the true character of an individual. Behind the stories of our United States veterans, courage defines the greatness of our country.…

    • 190 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ever since the establishment of America, great men have instilled wisdom to the future generations. Over the course of various time periods, different men of all backgrounds have come out to speak against the evils and injustices in society. Among these men include Martin Luther King, Jr., a Civil Rights Leader in the 1950s; John Fitzgerald Kennedy, president of the United States during the Cold War; and Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States during the Civil War. All three men have written scores of speeches concentrating on human equality and the rights of individuals. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln suggest that mankind should live in unity because the cooperation between peoples will help a nation stand strong.…

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The author of this speech, John F. Kennedy, is speaking to a wide variety of audiences in this certain situation. The most obvious is the American people, and those who are directly affected by his election. However, those who opposed the United States at the time could have been tuned in to his inaugural address, possibly to see what he is planning for the current disputes between the nations. Political parties, whether Democratic, Republican, or otherwise would have definitely been in the viewing audience, as they are practically being introduced to their new boss so to speak, and also get a preview of his goals in the near future. President Kennedy’s purpose of giving this speech is quite simple, to motivate the citizens of the United States for his upcoming term, giving a general outline and speak of his intentions during the term.…

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Civil Rights Dbq

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Never before this time was a president actually as dedicated to the movement as Kennedy. This dedication to the movement is shown in Document D, a speech from Kennedy himself discusses the problems on hand pertaining to the social injustices. Kennedy states," The fires of frustration and discord are burning in every city, North and South." It is the attention that Kennedy as a president is giving to the movement that will be a factor in the equality of everyman. This is an important sight of the change in the support.…

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kennedy’s tone or ethos seemed as though he was scolding the Americans. He seems disappointed in his people as he says, “I hope every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about his and other related incidents.” Also, if you watch him read the speech you can see in his face the shame, that people of his country, had to be escorted by National Guardsmen, simply because of the color of their…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Robert F Kennedy

    • 1634 Words
    • 7 Pages

    So many times in the past, those of us who have stood up for the rights of the human race, who have proposed and even implemented change, have been liked by a majority but through the hatred of the minority they are destroyed. Sometimes this destruction is literal, for example assassination. This was the case for Robert F. Kennedy, born on November 20th, 1925 and who died on June 5th, 1968, with three bullet wounds to his chest. This is who I will be talking about today.…

    • 1634 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kennedy aspires to represent a glorious nation, but to obtain such status, Americans must ask themselves if they are capable to “forge against . . . enemies a grand and global alliance . . . that can assure a more fruitful life more mankind” (54). The use of cumulative sentences supplements Kennedy’s affirmative request for international unity as he adds rationale to support his vision at the beginning of the composed structure. His confident and assertive tone emphasizes his plea for action due to the fact that he shifts from passively questioning Americans’ ability to requesting Americans to join the historical movement. Kennedy asserts a cumulative sentence as he describes America’s history in letting “the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans” whom are “proud … and unwilling to … permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed . . . at home and around the world” (52). To evoke optimism, Kennedy continues to state what America upholds as he genuinely expresses his patriotism. The well-turned syntax presented in Kennedy’s inaugural address is declamatory as he gracefully incorporates his mission in an arrangement made facile to…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Quote Response

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In a speech given to the people of New York in 1962, John F. Kennedy said “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” Underneath these simple words, President Kennedy implied the endurance a thought can take on that goes beyond generations. This exact behavior is demonstrated throughout the history of mankind within the concepts of social equality, religious conviction, and both technological and political progress.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kennedy’s inaugural address plays to an irrefutably persuading rhythm. Strong, motivational verbs are joined with sophisticated adjectives in a manner that would make the most inane speech capable of swaying an entire population. In order to capture the minds of the American people, Kennedy begins with an antithesis, calling his victory, “...a celebration of freedom-symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning”. This statement is to ensure the people that they are embarking in a new era of reform and peace, the end of turmoil, and the beginning of prosperous tranquility. Similar to the Declaration of Independence, Kennedy’s speech emphasizes the unification of the country through the use of parallelism and juxtaposition. Kennedy appeals to his audience’s ethos through visions of freedom and American values. He does this through the juxtaposition of freedom from the tyranny of man and the reliance of God to provide such freedom. By utilizing a…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John F. Kennedy's Speech

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.” Kennedy uses this metaphor to help the reader, or audience he is addressing, to understand his speech and to make clear of his actions during his presidency.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kennedy’s main argument was to change not only America, but around the world as well. He brought up many great arguments which convinced the audience very well. The first thing he mentions in his speech is poverty. “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life”(presidency.ucsb.edu). Meaning, one human can rid poverty with the simple tactic of welfare and food stamps and yet, that same man can rid the whole population just with the use of a nuclear weapon. He also makes it a point to talk about freedom, liberty, and “...human rights to which this nation has always been committed...”(presidency.ucsb.edu). clearly referring to the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. Kennedy wants to insure that “...the survival and the success of liberty”(presidency.ucsb.edu) lives on. The alliance of nations throughout the world is another powerful topic he speaks of. He encourages all of mankind to become one and rejoice in peace. “United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do…”(presidency.ucsb.edu).…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through the use of ethos Kennedy relates to the audience by his use of emotion. Kennedy stated, “We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As I to listen to President Obama speech on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Alabama to mark the 50th Anniversary of “Blood Sunday”. I thought about the question asked What could be more American and If I Agreed with this statement. President Obama throughout his speech single out the most important idea that Americans hold dear which is equal rights not just for some but for all people and sometimes this right must be achieved through struggle. When the President began to look at the life and the achievements of one of his heroes John Lewis who is now a congressman , but back then a twenty five year old cilvil rights leader who led a group of young people from the Brown Chapel to join other civil rights leaders and foot -soldiers to affect social change in America . President Obama in his speech cited several points to remind us of the courage that was necessary to attempt to influence the hearts and minds of a nation. One of the points he focused on and I quote:…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Small Change

    • 660 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Throughout history there have been events that changed the history of this nation. Malcolm Gladwell starts out writing about a historic event at a restaurant that occurred in Greensboro, North Carolina. Four young black men walk into a restaurant and wanted to order some coffee. They did not serve the young black men. They proceeded to stay seated in this restaurant did not move. More and more people around the southeast began to imitate the actions that these young men created (312). This action created a revolutionary movement across the country and subsequently changed the war on racism in the 1960s. Gladwell states through his essay “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted” how most people can become activists by completing simple actions with the ties they have with people that could forever change the world.…

    • 660 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Standing Up For Others

    • 394 Words
    • 1 Page

    One example of a person showing what standing up for yourself and others can really do is Rosa parks. She is known as “the mother of the freedom movement”. This woman refused to give her seat up on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a white person. This time period separated blacks and whites mind you that she was no intellectual or preacher, she felt that the situation was unjust and had protested in a nonviolent manner. She stood up for herself and the others in her position and changed the world for the better.…

    • 394 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays