"When the people lead, the leaders will follow." - Mahatma Gandhi
"I am a third-year undergraduate, passionate to address health disparities between developing & developed nations. This quote resonates with me because sometimes I am frustrated with the stagnation from the side global leaders in alleviating these disparities & eager to take matters into my own hands. This summer, I will be establishing an eye clinic in rural India to address a global health issue I have invested myself in: visual impairment. I hope the clinic will restore eyesight to thousands of people who otherwise would not have access to eye care. But now I wonder: am I the "people" or the "leader"? -Malini Veerappan
In response to Malini's question, I feel that people want to be that group of "people." They want to be that "leader" who will fight for what they believe & try to better our civilization & the human race. But excuses prohibit them from chasing their potential passion: "I can't miss work," "I don't have the time or energy," etc. If you have the true desire to help another person or animal for that matter, you will. Malini, for example, will be that type of person to make a difference for so many people. Are you up for the challenge to make a difference? Are you willing to immerse yourself completely & chase after a cause that you are passionate about? Take risks, be motivated, & lastly, passionately lead for the better.
Source for quote
Until next time... ciao 💗
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Your blog note was found almost randomly in search for quote source. Your own notes about medical care and fighting for what people need are inspiring.
ReplyDeleteBelow is copied an item in late December 2012 which reflects some local issues at this time. If this blog is live and you're interested send back comments to DEUTL001@hartford.gov.
To the Public and Members of City Council:
Entering a new year, people in our city need and demand real improvements in their daily lives. They’re tired of more power struggles among politicians, and men behind desks moving dollars away from them.
In this context, and emerging from a year ending badly for many without jobs, family, homes, veto of a Council resolution this week by the mayor and his administration is a sad waste of time and money in a city with more important things to do. Trying to over-ride an established council appointment procedure (where per Charter a resolution isn’t even necessary, and Corporation Counsel offering is confused) is another step in anti-democratic concentration of power in one individual’s office. This is another step away from information with power for all the city’s residents and their at-large elected council. It is propaganda that the people need selected ‘professionalization’, outside consultants, privatization and corruption rather than self-confidence and local jobs, democratically-elected boards, and so on. It’s a bad trend for ‘ordinary’ people, and most of us know it.
Back in years of civil rights activity, ‘power to the people’ was an eye-opening slogan of the Black Panther Party, as well as Young Lords (largely Latino) and Students for a Democratic Society (campuses). Today, breakfasts and lead tests for children, only two of their historic issues, are more available. But there remain, sadly, many of the same issues of poverty and political power – linked even in the real sense of poor people without power after storms and unable later to afford it and the water they drink -- while utilities and big banks have good rates of return for comfortable stockholders.
Right here in Hartford, we must work for more democratic activity and balance in government. City Council will examine Charter Reform, to maintain fair budget control and legal representation, a more democratically-elected Board of Education, and neighborhood and community benefits along with downtown development.
“When the people lead, the leaders will follow”. Citizens in Hartford and its City Council need to get going in this new year.