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There are those who defy the laws of time by immortalizing themselves by a single or numerous feats displaying selflessness and courage. Commenting on such individuals, Theodore Roosevelt said: The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. These people are the sports superstars that destroy barriers built up by society. They are the missionaries who sacrifice their hands to those who have lost hope or have never experienced hope. Never defeated, never dismissed, none more alive - all these Jackie Robinson was never defeated. Up to 1947, Major League Baseball had no blacks ever to fill the rugged uniform considered holy and lace up the cleats on which they walked into victory or defeat.
African Americans were relegated to the less notable and more athletic Negro League. Those teams, more often than not, were maintained by the tycoons who also owned Major League franchises but would rarely show their face at such an event as a Negro baseball game. Then Jackie Robinson arose. Automatically, Robinson shocked the baseball world with his ability, his character, and his charm. He was headlined A Black Babe, much to the distaste of followers of the legendary Babe Ruth. After all, no one could come close to embracing the brilliance of the Babe, especially a black.
When word of Robinsons talent began to spread, the number of whites at Negro League games began to increase -- inevitably. Major League owners, edgy from the loss of profits that came about with the Second World War, needed a fresh wind. They needed a new start. They needed The Brooklyn Dodgers needed Jackie Robinson. What his presence would bring would definitely put them above all other competition on the field; however, off the field, his presence would bring controversy. What would sponsors, owners, commissioners say to instating a black to play in what had always been a white dominated league?
How would Robinson be able to endure the verbal and physical abuse he would receive, regardless of his abilities? Branch Rickey, owner of the Dodgers, found that the end would justify the means. He made the first step in breaking the color barrier in professional baseball by presenting a contract to a black His. Go back where you belong! Youre not welcome here! the crowd exclaimed.
The loneliness, the abuse, the countless beaning's by bags of ice, soft drinks, and food - Robinson counted it loss. What he chose to do was not for his own personal glory or for the salary increase, but to open the eyes of a society governed by racism and prejudice. He received death threats, his family's house was arson, and his character was maligned. To be the only Negro in the picture -- that was hell for Robinson; however, he did what he was hired to do, which was to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to the National League pennant, and in only his second year. In the same year, he also received the leagues Most Valuable Player award. Jackie Robinson never allowed his spirit to be defeated.
Even individuals with great character, such as Jackie Robinson, would find it difficult to suffer persecution, poverty, and prison for their personal convictions. Nor would they endure cruel tortures that take their mind and body to the very brink of death and beyond. Would they persevere? Would they hold fast the profession... faith without wavering (Hebrews 10: 23)?
Who would stand boldly and without shame and confess Christ as Lord to their own or to their family's peril? Hardly any would die for another because of their faith. Such a word as martyr has the sound of antiquity about. Its a word for the days of Jesus and the early Church, for the days when barbarity within the church noblest saints.
Its a word for a time long past. But the word martyr is more applicable to our day than to any other day in the history of the world. During this century alone, more Christians have been killed for their faith than in all the previous centuries In 1969 eye-witness reports were received about the deaths of several Christians in a Communist labor camp. A young girl was bound hand and foot and made to kneel in the center of a circle of people who were commanded to stone her or be shot. Several Christians refused and were immediately shot.
The girl died under a pile of stones -- her face shining like that of Stephen (Acts 1 - 3) at his death. Later, one of those who threw the stones broke down and received Christ as savior. Shortly after this, a young man was hung on a cross like Christ. During the six days before he died, he prayed constantly (out loud) that his persecutors would be forgiven and receive Christ. Third, five students were forced to dig five deep holes.
As they were buried alive they sang How Great Thou Art, a Christian hymn. Fourth, for refusing to stop preaching about Christ evangelist Sen-Ni-Tio had his eyes gouged out and his tongue and both hands cut off. He was then sent to a prison in Shanghai, where he was killed for preaching within those walls. These are the individuals that spend themselves in a worthy cause, as Theodore Roosevelt put it. They are the ones that live according to the principles of selflessness and courage. It is their lives that I find worthy of As a child, I was continuously reminded of this statement: If you have nothing worth dying for, then you are not really living.
However, until reviewing situations and examples of individuals who live their life according to such a proverb, I disregarded its importance. Jackie Robinson had something worth dying for, Martin Luther King, Jr. , had something worth dying for, the martyrs listed in examples above had something worth dying for, Jesus Christ had something worth dying for. Now that I have been exposed to life through such individuals, most important Jesus Christ, I have something worth dying for. After all, how successful is my life if no one gets any Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: brooklyn dodgers, negro league, theodore roosevelt, jesus christ, jackie robinson
Research essay sample on Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers
