Heroes: Mahatma Gandhi and Oprah Winfrey - Essay Example

Running Head: Heroes Heroes Name Institution Date Heroes Heroism can be described in many ways. One of the descriptions is, heroism is when a person acts out of the kindness in their heart, helping another person or other people get out of difficulty situations. The main thing that describes heroism is the act of helping another person who has been having hard time. Heroes are an integral part of all cultures all over the world. Heroes are respected for their ambitions as well as sacrifices that are honourable (Zimbardo, 2009). This essay describes two heroes Mahatma Gandhi and Oprah Winfrey. Mahatma Gandhi is an important hero because he fought for a thing that he believed in without using any behaviour that was violent (Disha, 2008). In fact, he was a peacemaker hero. Oprah Winfrey is also an important hero who dedicated her life time in fighting indifference, injustice as well as intolerance in her community (Kirkwood, 2014). The essay will also demonstrate the different situations that led to their actions as well as similarities of the leaders that impact on the society either locally or globally. Lastly, the essay will describe which of the two heroes has been most inspirational in bringing about change in the world. Mahatma Gandhi and Oprah Winfrey are two inspirational heroes who brought positive change within communities and all over the world. Each of the two heroes has different situations that led them to their actions. Mahatma Gandhi was an inspirational leader who impacted the world by fighting for India’s rights and led the country to independence (Koonce, 2010). The situation that led Mahatma to his action for seeking peace for the Indian community is that, he believed that Indians were being served with injustice especially those who immigrated to South Africa. When Gandhi moved to South Africa to work, he found that a lot of prejudice was elevated towards Indians who were in South Africa. This was the main reason as to why Gandhi started his journey of seeking peace for the Indians. His protests for peace led to his achievement as an inspiration hero to many in the whole world (Disha, 2008). Regarding Oprah Winfrey, the situations that led to her actions was the life that she grew in that was characterized by cultural, gender as well as geographical barriers. These circumstances made Oprah to take action and let the world know that it is not about ones circumstances but ones heart that determines how far one goes in this world (Chamberlain, 2013). The two heroes are defined by various similarities in their qualities including; leadership, bravery as well as simplicity. Their qualities impact on the society both locally and globally. The two heroes were leaders. Gandhi led and encouraged people within his village to begin the use of homespun clothing, since homespun was one of his favourite hobbies. The introduction of homespun by Gandhi in his village led to the growth of the economy of the village whereby the poor villagers became self-employed and worked to eradicate poverty among the villagers. Gandhi also led Indians in protesting against discrimination against their fellow poor Indians. Trussell (2013) describes that, in his contribution to peace, Gandhi made the Indians have a realization that the South Africans and the British were oppressing them. In his heroic deed, Gandhi led the Indian Independence Movement in the year 1947 for India to become independent form the British colonization. These are among the few outstanding heroic leadership skills that Gandhi showcased in his journey of seeking peace for the Indians. According to Kirkwood (2014), Oprah Winfrey demonstrated her heroic leadership skills through leading the Oprah’s Angel Network known as Use Your Life Award, to people for the purpose of helping others. She also led the local organisations such as to donate charity to in Chicago. Her leadership and establishment of the Oprah Winfrey Foundation were to support the empowerment, inspiration as well as welfare of women, families and children in the whole world. Both heroes lived a simple life even though they were highly educated. Gandhi was a trained lawyer but was not arrogant; he used to dress like a poor person who wore clothes that were only homespun. Gandhi was a vegetarian, fruitarian and many are the times when he went without food without complaining. He was an average man who did not want to be worshiped by others. He only believed in truth and simplicity as the main factors that can make a person to be a hero (The My Hero Project, 2010). For Oprah Winfrey, she lived and continues to live a simple life even though she is highly educated and a professor in different colleges and universities. Her passion for simplicity is driven by the need to help the poor women, children and families in the community all over the world. She considers herself as the voice of the children and the poor who cannot be heard. In her life, she considers being humble and simple as the source of her heroism. In her life, she does not engage in anything that will hurt other people (The My Hero Project, 2010). These two heroes were both writers. Gandhi wrote the book with the Title, The Story of My Experiments with Truth. In writing this book, he was inspired by the need to follow the truth in everything (Disha, 2008). Oprah wrote many books with her Oprah’s Book Club, whereby any book that she came up with became the bestselling. Oprah also owns a magazine known as The Oprah Magazine that she uses to inspire people with her writing. The two heroes are also brave in their actions that led to change in their local communities and all over the world. Gandhi demonstrated his bravery during the Dandi March in India for salt which was the first act that was against the British and the start of the India’s Independent Movement to abolish the salt law. Gandhi is considered a true hero for his bravery in leading India to Independence and against oppression by South Africans and British (Trussell, 2013). Oprah was and is still a brave hero who demonstrates her bravery through inspirational talks and actions against the oppression of children, the poor and women. She was against her cruel life that she grew in that demonstrates her courage in supporting children, women and the families. Her abused life as a child did not stop her mission of encouraging other children who are abused (Chamberlain, 2013). Between the two heroes, Oprah is the most inspirational in bringing about change in the world because her actions serves to change the lives of many all over the world including; children, women and families. She provides better education for undeserved students. Through her talks, millions of people are inspired, educated as well as enlightened through her ideals of humanity that nourishes the spirit. Through her deeds, children, women and families can live a better life all over the world (Kirkwood, 2014). Gandhi as a hero was not inspiring like Oprah because his target was only to achieve peace and independence for India. The change was for the benefit of fellow Indians. References Chamberlain, G. (2013). Oprah Winfrey. Great Black Heroes. Adscape International, L.L.C. Disha, P. (2008). Peacemaker Hero: Mahatma Gandhi. Peacemaker Heroes. Mississauga. Kirkwood, K. (2014). Business Hero: Oprah Winfrey. Business Heroes. The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. Koonze, C. (2010). Thinking Toward Survival. IUniverse. p.410. The My Hero Project. (2010). Peacemaker Hero: Mahatma Gandhi. Peacemaker Heroes. The My Hero Project. (2010). Woman Hero: Oprah Winfrey. Women Heroes. Trussell, J. (2013). Peacemaker Hero: Mohandas K. Gandhi. Peacemaker Heroes. Zimbardo, P. (2009). Understanding Heroism. Heroic Imagination Project.   Read More