Pepsi Everyday Freedom Heroes

I think it's terrific that Mary Shuttleworth, the founder and president of Youth for Human Rights International, was named as a Pepsi Everyday Freedom Hero this year.

What Pepsi says about this award is:

"A Freedom Hero is an individual or group that takes action to protect or extend freedom. The action is often as simple as speaking up, working as a catalyst for change or encouraging others to learn, grow and contribute. Freedom Heroes come from all walks of life and may affect any form of freedom including race, gender, religion, speech, press, educational, social and/or economic issues. We honor the individual whose innovation, involvement and intervention redirects fate."

Mary recently completed the third annual Youth for Human Rights World Tour, where she visited 30 cities and released human rights public service anouncement - one in each city - covering all 3o articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

These ads, which are really short films and works of art - were directed by Mary's son, Taron Lexton, who was the director of the award-winning United human rights music DVD.

Here's what they say about Mary on the web site:

Mary Shuttleworth grew up in the Apartheid days of South Africa. She grew up with a passion for human rights and a desire to share the passion with young people. Mary moved to the United States where she became a school principal and children's advocate. She launched Youth for Human Rights International as an education program for children so they would understand and embrace the importance of human rights and religious tolerance. Mary shared this passion with her son, Taron.

The Wrong Heroes

I think we tend to idiolize the wrong people in this, our "enlightened" 21st Century.

If our favorite magazines and TV shows are an accurate measure of who we revere, I think we've missed the boat.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama

"Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free."

His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Unsung Heroes

There are many heroes.

Anyone who goes out of his or her way to help others is a hero, in my books.

Nelson Mandela

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

Nelson Mandela

Teachers

Teachers are really unsung heroes.

They are the worst paid of any professionals of their level of skill.

We entrust them with the very lives and success of our children.

And many teachers are real humanitarians, who make all the difference in the lives of the children they care for.

My dad was a teacher, and wherever we went, anywhere in the world, this is the kind of thing that would happen. Walking down the street, or filing out of a concert, or standing in line for a sports event, some stranger would walk up to us and say "You probably don't recognize me, but you were my teacher in 1948 and it was because of you I decided to...." and from there he or she would tell us how he/she had become a doctor, lawyer, a success in sports, artist or, yes, a teacher like him.

Great Story

I heard the coolest story the other day.

A friend of a friend, years ago, was driving down the Freeway in LA when he saw a very good looking well dressed Black woman who was pulled off on the side of the road, obviously in need of help.

He drove his car off onto the shoulder and ran back to where her car was parked, and found out she had a flat and didn't know how to change the tire (this was before cell phones so she couldn't just call for help).

He changed her flat and was about to take off when she insisted on knowing how to contact him -- she wanted to show her appreciation.

He told her he didn't need any acknowledgement -- he was just happy to have been able to help.

A few days later a big-screen color TV was delivered to his home. He couldn't figure out what this was about and told the delivery person that this was obviously the wrong address - he hadn't ordered a TV. But the man pulled out a letter and handed it to him.

It was the woman whom he had helped.

She thanked him again for being willing to stop and help her.

And the letter was signed "Mrs. Nat King Cole"!

And another ordinary hero

Oprah talks of "Random Acts of Kindness." This first time I ever heard her say this I thought - what a great concept.

I don't know if this originated with Oprah or someone else - I just heard it first on Oprah.

But there is something even MORE special than such a kindness. And that is an EFFECTIVE random act of kindness.

How many times have you wanted to help someone? (What a loaded question!).

Have you ever had a friend who needed someone to listen to, or some moral support, and you were there, even though it was inconvenient and might even have cost you something else you really wanted, to be there and help them?

But did it really help? Were they back down in the dumps again over the same thing a short time later?

That's where effective comes in.

If you'd like to add "effective" to the subject, check out the Scientology Handbook.

I bet you'll find something on that site that helps you REALLY help others.

Somtime there are ordinary heroes

Sometimes the most ordinary people can be heroes. Like these people. Members of the Scientology-sponsored "Say No to Drugs - Say Yes to Life" campaign, they work to save kids from the ravages of drug addiction.

And I would venture to guess that the parents of any kid so saved would look on their work as being heroic indeed.

I found this story at the Scientology Press Office. I must say I like the changes in that web site!

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Former Miss World Canada 2003, Struggles To Save Iranian Compatriot From Execution

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Former Miss World Canada 2003, was recently recognized as a "Human Rights Hero" for her work to save the life of an 18 year old Iranian girl.

It is a very moving story which you can read here >>

The Church of Scientology International co-sponsored the event which was the 2006 Youth for Human Rights International Summit, held at the United Nations.

Scientology Volunteers

I think the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, in the work they do in their communities and in times of disaster, are heroes in their own right. They certainly make other people's lives worth living!