By William Holston
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-883316.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Since the time of the ancient Greeks, people have celebrated heroes: those we admire and who inspire us. We often place sports figures or politicians up on a heroic pedestal, only to be bitterly disappointed when they prove unworthy of our admiration. I wonder if we're picking the right heroes.
My heroes, aren't famous or prominent. They are people you might pass in a store without noticing their greatness.
My biggest hero is my mother in law, Virginia. I've heard all the mother in law jokes, but none of those apply to her. She's 83 and physically disabled. She's lived alone for over 30 years after her husband left her to raise three kids by herself. Virginia is, however, the most positive person I've ever known. Loving, giving, and unfailingly pleasant, I've never heard her say a bitter or cynical thing. She brightens the day of everyone she meets. She's fiercely independent, a voracious reader, and knits sweaters to send overseas for the poor. I feel Virginia's love and respect more than from anyone else I know.
Another of my heroes is Anna, an immigrant from Zimbabwe, where she was a pro democracy advocate. As a result of her activism she was targeted by government thugs. She lost everything and arrived here in Dallas, with only a suitcase. Despite starting here with nothing, Anna was positive, encouraging and even joyful. Even before obtaining asylum, she helped others by volunteering in an inner city school. Our country is already a better place because of her.
Sarah Jane Semrad left a job in corporate America to pursue her passion as a photographer. She's determined to change the stereotype of Dallas as a city of big hair and big money to one known for an ethic of social entrepreneurism. Sarah Jane co-founded Art Conspiracy, a collaboration of Dallas area artists and musicians, which raises money for charity. The group this year raised $20,000 for Resolana, an organization that provides rehabilitative arts programming for incarcerated women. As if that wasn't enough, she-co-founded La Reunion, an exciting planned residential arts community. Oh, and she's raising two beautiful children.
When I met Betsy Healy, she was a lawyer in a downtown Dallas law firm. I assisted her on her first asylum case. Betsy wanted to work full time in the human rights field. So she left her secure job and went to work at a non profit agency that financially failed. This experience motivated her to learn from the mistakes of that group. Her goal was a non profit agency that provided top notch legal services to the most vulnerable immigrants. The Human Rights Initiative is now one of the most successful asylum law projects in the United States and just celebrated its tenth anniversary. There are hundreds of people enjoying a new life of freedom here in America, because of Betsy's vision.
None of my heroes are famous people. But, they're all changing the world, sometimes in simple ways, and sometimes in quite dramatic ways. They don't let life's inevitable challenges defeat them. They all inspire me to be a better person. I'll let other people pick famous heroes. I find that I already know plenty of them.
William Holston is an attorney in Dallas.
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