The Inspiration of Lafayette

This morning I finished reading Lafayette by Harlow Giles Unger. In the preface there was a quote by John Stuart Mill about Lafayette: "He was not the influence of genius, not even of talents; it was the influence of a heroic character. It was the influence of one who, in every situation, and throughout a long life, had done and suffered everything which opportunity had presented itself of doing and suffering for the right...Honor be to his name, while the record of human worth shall be preserved among us! It will be long ere we see his equal, long ere there shall rise such a union of character and circumstances as shall enable any other human being to live such a life."

I knew that Lafayette was a great man but this biography helped to realize how incredibly great he truly was. He faced unbelievable trials and afflictions, including personal attacks. Yet, he stayed true to his principles through it all. His life has inspired me to be a better person and a better leader...and to cultivate friendships with people of the highest calibre. This is what biographies of great people can do for us. Therefore, we want to find ways to introduce our Esperanza scholars to biographies and autobiographies of excellent men and women throughout history who can inspire them.

A Lesson From the Freedom Fighters

Last night we watched a documentary about the Freedom Riders. The courage they had is an inspiration. They stayed true to their cause in spite of the heinous trials and afflictions they faced.

This true story is a reminder that no matter how just our cause is there is no guarantee that we won't face opposition. In fact, if there is no opposition the cause is probably not big enough. As Albert Einstein said, "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

It is important for those of us founding Esperanza to remember this...and not give up our commitment to the cause when opposition appears.