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Dr. Martin Luther King: What Is A Hero

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“What is a Hero?” Some people think you must be famous to be a hero. I think most people who are true heroes will never have their stories told; they are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. A hero is a person who inspires others and has the courage to stand up for what is right. The word hero is derived from the Greek word heros, meaning: “man of superhuman strength or physical courage.” This meaning has evolved from its association with mythological figures to denote a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Although heroes can be very different, they all do great things for others. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a hero because of the way he changed America. According to an article written by The King Center, he did not plan to be a civil rights leader, but he lived at a time when human beings were routinely mistreated and denied equal rights. He could not stand by and …show more content…

An article on Olympic Athletes Hub says John Stephen Akhwari ran over half of the 1968 Olympic marathon with a displaced and deeply cut knee and a bruised shoulder. He was already suffering cramps from altitude sickness before his injury, but he did not let anything defeat him. When he was asked why he kept going for over an hour after the winner had crossed the finish line he said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; it sent me to finish the race.” Whether we are in a literal race, or we are struggling to stay in school until graduation, John Stephen Akhwari is a sterling example of the rewards of finishing what you start. He did not win any medals, but he is remembered better than the winner because of the inner strength he showed. There are many times when we all feel like giving in to defeat, but John Stephen Akhwari gives us an example of strength and stamina that will help carry us through rough

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