A few weeks ago, I ranted about the five most arrogant
people in the world — Putin, Cheney, Trump, Scalia and Netanyahu. It seemed
only fair to recognize those individuals who have achieved world celebrity, yet
seem to keep their egos in check. Instead of leading us off to war, encouraging
hate, bullying and exclusion, the following people spent their lives seeking
peace and have been dedicated to the alleviation of suffering.
Nelson Mandela —
It’s very difficult, I suspect, for most of us to understand how a person could
suffer not only as a member of an oppressed people, but to endure decades of
sometimes brutal imprisonment and emerge a leader who attempts no retribution
when he gains the power to do so.
Instead,
this man sought to forgive despite the clear and long-standing injustice. As a
leader, he was temperate, thoughtful and wise. He brought at least some peace
and justice to a deeply troubled land.
Jimmy Carter — Whether or not you believe he was effective
during his term as U.S. President, Jimmy Carter is a model of public service, a
doer of good deeds without seeking credit for what he and his wife, Rosalind, have
done. A Nobel Prize winner, prolific writer and humanitarian, the former
president has used his influence for peace, health and human rights, as well as
a regular Sunday school teacher and hard working advocate for affordable
housing.
Aung San Suu
Kyi — ‘”It
is not power that corrupts, but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield
it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” A steady but unpopular force with the
rulers of her country, she works to bring democracy to what used to be called
Burma (now Mayamar), a country isolated in many ways from the rest of the
world. Aung San Suu Kyi was harassed and
arrested before finally being allowed to take her elected seat in the
government. Like the others on this list, this leader attempts to make the
world a better place through peaceful means, though she could easily excite and
cultivate a violent revolution giving her greater personal gain.
Dalai Lama– Even though
there are fairy tale origins to his position as religious leader — aren’t they
all, really? — the Dalai Lama exemplifies the
concept of living a good life: empathetic
common sense as the means by which we make choices in our lives and the way we
govern. I can’t help but believe that there should be a place on a world court
where such a calm reasoned approach would be valued, where such an incorruptible
spirit would bring trust to the idea of justice. Unfortunately, the road to
freedom for Tibet has been long and despairing. Even so, the current (14th)
Dalai Lama is an effective proponent of optimism, dismissing the material
rewards that come with fame.
Like Christianity,
Buddhism still struggles with issues surrounding women, and sexual orientation.
And like the Pope, the Dalai Lama seems uncomfortable trying to reconcile his
overall message of inclusiveness with the early dogma of his religion.
Pope Francis — I don’t subscribe to any spiritual doctrine and
I have serious moral/ethical philosophical differences with the pontiff.
However, with all the pomp and ceremony and
public accolades, the former nightclub bouncer and chemist seems to be trying
to operate openly. He has brought important issues out into the open for
genuine public debate in a way that polarization might be avoided. Despite the
Catholic Church’s continued backward stance, virtual blind spots on women’s and
LGBT rights, Pope Francis has chosen to deal with previously ignored injustice
to challenge the
status quo regarding
the inequality of wealth and health throughout the world. He does this by
example and with honesty and compassion. He also understands the disastrous
impact of climate change on humanity.
If
God is Nature, Francis is a breath of fresh air from a stodgy, nearly mummified,
but inordinately influential institution. Regardless of the flaws some of us
ascribe to him, he continually shows himself to be man of the people.
Nelson Mandela —
It’s very difficult, I suspect, for most of us to understand how a person could
suffer not only as a member of an oppressed people, but to endure decades of
sometimes brutal imprisonment and emerge a leader who attempts no retribution
when he gains the power to do so. Instead,
this man sought to forgive despite the clear and long-standing injustice. As a
leader, he was temperate, thoughtful and wise. He brought at least some peace
and justice to a deeply troubled land.
Jimmy Carter — Whether or not you believe he was effective
during his term as U.S. President, Jimmy Carter is a model of public service, a
doer of good deeds without seeking credit for what he and his wife, Rosalind, have
done. A Nobel Prize winner, prolific writer and humanitarian, the former
president has used his influence for peace, health and human rights, as well as
a regular Sunday school teacher and hard working advocate for affordable
housing. 
Aung San Suu
Kyi — ‘”It
is not power that corrupts, but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield
it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” A steady but unpopular force with the
rulers of her country, she works to bring democracy to what used to be called
Burma (now Mayamar), a country isolated in many ways from the rest of the
world. Aung San Suu Kyi was harassed and
arrested before finally being allowed to take her elected seat in the
government. Like the others on this list, this leader attempts to make the
world a better place through peaceful means, though she could easily excite and
cultivate a violent revolution giving her greater personal gain.
Dalai Lama– Even though
there are fairy tale origins to his position as religious leader — aren’t they
all, really? — the Dalai Lama exemplifies the concept of living a good life: empathetic
common sense as the means by which we make choices in our lives and the way we
govern. I can’t help but believe that there should be a place on a world court
where such a calm reasoned approach would be valued, where such an incorruptible
spirit would bring trust to the idea of justice. Unfortunately, the road to
freedom for Tibet has been long and despairing. Even so, the current (14th)
Dalai Lama is an effective proponent of optimism, dismissing the material
rewards that come with fame. Like Christianity,
Buddhism still struggles with issues surrounding women, and sexual orientation.
And like the Pope, the Dalai Lama seems uncomfortable trying to reconcile his
overall message of inclusiveness with the early dogma of his religion.
Pope Francis — I don’t subscribe to any spiritual doctrine and
I have serious moral/ethical philosophical differences with the pontiff. However, with all the pomp and ceremony and
public accolades, the former nightclub bouncer and chemist seems to be trying
to operate openly. He has brought important issues out into the open for
genuine public debate in a way that polarization might be avoided. Despite the
Catholic Church’s continued backward stance, virtual blind spots on women’s and
LGBT rights, Pope Francis has chosen to deal with previously ignored injustice
to challenge the status quo regarding
the inequality of wealth and health throughout the world. He does this by
example and with honesty and compassion. He also understands the disastrous
impact of climate change on humanity. If
God is Nature, Francis is a breath of fresh air from a stodgy, nearly mummified,
but inordinately influential institution. Regardless of the flaws some of us
ascribe to him, he continually shows himself to be man of the people. 
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