Questões de Inglês

Heroism: why heroes are important

The term “hero” comes from the ancient Greeks. For

them, a hero was a mortal who had done something

so far beyond the normal scope of human experience

that he left an immortal memory behind him when

[5]  he died, and thus received worship like that due to

the gods. But people who had committed unthinkable

crimes were also called heroes. Originally, heroes

were not necessarily good, but they were always

extraordinary; to be a hero was to expand people’s

[10]  sense of what was possible for a human being.

Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of

heroism from morality; we only call heroes those whom

we admire and wish to emulate. But still the concept

retains that original link to possibility. We need heroes

[15]  first and foremost because our heroes help define the

limits of our aspirations. We largely define our ideals

by the heroes we choose, and our ideals – things like

courage, honor and justice – largely define us. Our

heroes are symbols for us of all the qualities we would

[20]  like to possess and all the ambitions we would like

to satisfy. A person who chooses Martin Luther King

as a hero is going to have a very different sense of

what human excellence involves than someone who

chooses, say, Madonna.

[25]  That is why it is so important for us as a society,

globally and locally, to try to shape these choices. Of 

course, this is a perennial moral issue, but it is clear

that the greatest obstacle to the appreciation and

adoption of heroes in our society is pervasive and

[30]  corrosive cynicism and skepticism. This obstacle of

cynicism has been seriously increased by scandals

like the steroids mess in sports competitions and by

our leaders’ opportunistic use of heroic imagery for

short term political gain.

[35]  The best antidote to this cynicism is realism about the

limits of human nature. We are cynical because so often

our ideals have been betrayed. We need to separate

out the things that make our heroes noteworthy, and

forgive the shortcomings that blemish their heroic

[40]  perfection. The false steps and frailties of heroic

people make them more like us, and since most of us

are not particularly heroic, that may seem to reduce

the heroes’ stature. But this pulls in the other direction

as well: these magnificent spirits, these noble souls,

[45]  amazingly, they are like us, they are human too.

Again, the critical moral contribution of heroes is the

expansion of our sense of possibility. Heroes can help

us lift our eyes a little higher to build more boldly

and beautifully than others, and we may all benefit

[50]  by their examples. And Heaven knows we need those

examples now. 

SCOTT LABARGE www.scu.edu 

My journey: an accidental activist

I wasn’t born to be an activist. Quite the opposite,

really. I was born to be the stereotypical “good, racist

Afrikaner” in Apartheid South Africa. My family

supported Apartheid and all of them worked for the

[5]  Apartheid regime at some stage in their lives.

I grew up in a home that did everything the Apartheid

government wanted us to do. We were part of the

Dutch Reformed Church; we watched rugby – the

sport of the white Afrikaner. I went to school at Paarl

[10]  Gymnasium – one of the best Apartheid schools in

South Africa. I attended the University of Stellenbosch

– the “brain trust” of the Apartheid policies and

politics. We read the Apartheid government approved

newspapers and watched their TV. I benefited from

[15]  the education they provided and the money they paid

my dad. I was made for a life supporting and working

for the Apartheid government.

I was well on my way to become one of them. I did

everything they expected me to do. I was a young racist

[20]  Afrikaner, ready to take my place in their world. Well,

at least the small world within the white community in

South Africa.

Somewhere along the line things didn’t work out the

way they planned. I became everything that Apartheid

[25]  was against – an activist with a social conscience who

loves being an “African” on the global stage. Instead of

being the man they wanted me to be, I became the man I

wanted to be. It hasn’t always been easy. It hasn’t always

been fun. But it always felt right. From Stellenbosch to

[30]  Seattle, Mali to Monterrey, and Lusaka to London – no

matter where the road took me, it always felt right, and

it always felt as if I belonged. That’s the beauty of life

– you can be who and what you want to be no matter

where you come from.

HENK CAMPHER http://angryafrican.net/

My journey: an accidental activist

I wasn’t born to be an activist. Quite the opposite,

really. I was born to be the stereotypical “good, racist

Afrikaner” in Apartheid South Africa. My family

supported Apartheid and all of them worked for the

[5]  Apartheid regime at some stage in their lives.

I grew up in a home that did everything the Apartheid

government wanted us to do. We were part of the

Dutch Reformed Church; we watched rugby – the

sport of the white Afrikaner. I went to school at Paarl

[10]  Gymnasium – one of the best Apartheid schools in

South Africa. I attended the University of Stellenbosch

– the “brain trust” of the Apartheid policies and

politics. We read the Apartheid government approved

newspapers and watched their TV. I benefited from

[15]  the education they provided and the money they paid

my dad. I was made for a life supporting and working

for the Apartheid government.

I was well on my way to become one of them. I did

everything they expected me to do. I was a young racist

[20]  Afrikaner, ready to take my place in their world. Well,

at least the small world within the white community in

South Africa.

Somewhere along the line things didn’t work out the

way they planned. I became everything that Apartheid

[25]  was against – an activist with a social conscience who

loves being an “African” on the global stage. Instead of

being the man they wanted me to be, I became the man I

wanted to be. It hasn’t always been easy. It hasn’t always

been fun. But it always felt right. From Stellenbosch to

[30]  Seattle, Mali to Monterrey, and Lusaka to London – no

matter where the road took me, it always felt right, and

it always felt as if I belonged. That’s the beauty of life

– you can be who and what you want to be no matter

where you come from.

HENK CAMPHER http://angryafrican.net/

Political activism

Earlier this year I had the privilege to sit in on a

lunch discussion with James Carroll, a Boston Globe

columnist who was visiting my university to give a

speech on his latest book. The dialogue eventually

[5]  came around to discussing the differences between

youth protests today and those during the 1960s. He

suggested that youth in the latter period had more of

an influence than today simply because they were

able to involve politicians in their rallies, petitions

[10]  and causes. Conversely, when today’s youth hold a

demonstration in front of a parliament building or

contest a particular aspect of an institution, their forms

of protest lack influence to cause change because

they do not have any political figures or individuals

[15]  involved in their particular protest.

At this point, the issue of how we as youth can

attract politicians to become part of our campaigns

and protests in order to successfully effect political

change should be explored. First, we as Canadian

[20]  youth must become involved in organizations and

groups that address current social and political issues

that affect us. Involvement increases youth awareness

and influence. Groups or organizations that deal

with issues such as the environment, poverty, gender

[25]  equality and others that may be of interest to you

are worth joining. Organizational involvement gives

youth a platform from which to express their opinions

about issues of importance.

Involvement does not have to be centred on issues

[30]  on a grand scale; more local events may persuade

you to get involved. Joining an organization that is

dedicated to, for example, preventing the closing of

a local public school or big box stores from entering

the neighbourhood, are also avenues where engaged

[35]  youth can make a difference. By simply involving

ourselves with these issues and organizations, we

allow ourselves the opportunity to meet people of

influence, whether they be politicians or others who

have a direct influence on social and political events

[40]  in our communities, cities, provinces or country.

Involvement in community issues and political

campaigns are great opportunities to gain access

to individuals such as politicians and community

leaders. These connections can then be used in our

[45]  favour when attempting to advance our own cause

or demonstrations. Any argument will have a greater

influence when it is supported by members of the

political community.

If you are dedicated to making a difference in your

[50]  community, or are dedicated to a cause and are

frustrated that your voice is not being heard, try to

acquire political leaders’ attention and aid in pursuing

causes that affect and concern youth. Our young

political ancestors of the 1960s did this effectively; it

[55]  is time that the youth of the current generation learn

from their example and attempt to gain established

political support for our causes.

Faust http://www.apathyisboring.com/

Political activism

Earlier this year I had the privilege to sit in on a

lunch discussion with James Carroll, a Boston Globe

columnist who was visiting my university to give a

speech on his latest book. The dialogue eventually

[5]  came around to discussing the differences between

youth protests today and those during the 1960s. He

suggested that youth in the latter period had more of

an influence than today simply because they were

able to involve politicians in their rallies, petitions

[10]  and causes. Conversely, when today’s youth hold a

demonstration in front of a parliament building or

contest a particular aspect of an institution, their forms

of protest lack influence to cause change because

they do not have any political figures or individuals

[15]  involved in their particular protest.

At this point, the issue of how we as youth can

attract politicians to become part of our campaigns

and protests in order to successfully effect political

change should be explored. First, we as Canadian

[20]  youth must become involved in organizations and

groups that address current social and political issues

that affect us. Involvement increases youth awareness

and influence. Groups or organizations that deal

with issues such as the environment, poverty, gender

[25]  equality and others that may be of interest to you

are worth joining. Organizational involvement gives

youth a platform from which to express their opinions

about issues of importance.

Involvement does not have to be centred on issues

[30]  on a grand scale; more local events may persuade

you to get involved. Joining an organization that is

dedicated to, for example, preventing the closing of

a local public school or big box stores from entering

the neighbourhood, are also avenues where engaged

[35]  youth can make a difference. By simply involving

ourselves with these issues and organizations, we

allow ourselves the opportunity to meet people of

influence, whether they be politicians or others who

have a direct influence on social and political events

[40]  in our communities, cities, provinces or country.

Involvement in community issues and political

campaigns are great opportunities to gain access

to individuals such as politicians and community

leaders. These connections can then be used in our

[45]  favour when attempting to advance our own cause

or demonstrations. Any argument will have a greater

influence when it is supported by members of the

political community.

If you are dedicated to making a difference in your

[50]  community, or are dedicated to a cause and are

frustrated that your voice is not being heard, try to

acquire political leaders’ attention and aid in pursuing

causes that affect and concern youth. Our young

political ancestors of the 1960s did this effectively; it

[55]  is time that the youth of the current generation learn

from their example and attempt to gain established

political support for our causes.

Faust http://www.apathyisboring.com/

Political activism

Earlier this year I had the privilege to sit in on a

lunch discussion with James Carroll, a Boston Globe

columnist who was visiting my university to give a

speech on his latest book. The dialogue eventually

[5]  came around to discussing the differences between

youth protests today and those during the 1960s. He

suggested that youth in the latter period had more of

an influence than today simply because they were

able to involve politicians in their rallies, petitions

[10]  and causes. Conversely, when today’s youth hold a

demonstration in front of a parliament building or

contest a particular aspect of an institution, their forms

of protest lack influence to cause change because

they do not have any political figures or individuals

[15]  involved in their particular protest.

At this point, the issue of how we as youth can

attract politicians to become part of our campaigns

and protests in order to successfully effect political

change should be explored. First, we as Canadian

[20]  youth must become involved in organizations and

groups that address current social and political issues

that affect us. Involvement increases youth awareness

and influence. Groups or organizations that deal

with issues such as the environment, poverty, gender

[25]  equality and others that may be of interest to you

are worth joining. Organizational involvement gives

youth a platform from which to express their opinions

about issues of importance.

Involvement does not have to be centred on issues

[30]  on a grand scale; more local events may persuade

you to get involved. Joining an organization that is

dedicated to, for example, preventing the closing of

a local public school or big box stores from entering

the neighbourhood, are also avenues where engaged

[35]  youth can make a difference. By simply involving

ourselves with these issues and organizations, we

allow ourselves the opportunity to meet people of

influence, whether they be politicians or others who

have a direct influence on social and political events

[40]  in our communities, cities, provinces or country.

Involvement in community issues and political

campaigns are great opportunities to gain access

to individuals such as politicians and community

leaders. These connections can then be used in our

[45]  favour when attempting to advance our own cause

or demonstrations. Any argument will have a greater

influence when it is supported by members of the

political community.

If you are dedicated to making a difference in your

[50]  community, or are dedicated to a cause and are

frustrated that your voice is not being heard, try to

acquire political leaders’ attention and aid in pursuing

causes that affect and concern youth. Our young

political ancestors of the 1960s did this effectively; it

[55]  is time that the youth of the current generation learn

from their example and attempt to gain established

political support for our causes.

Faust http://www.apathyisboring.com/