Mohammed the Fifth

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, and Mohammed the Fifth, one of Morocco's great kings, both made a big effort and a lot of sacrifices for the sake of freedom and the development of their countries. Both of them had great personalities, brought an important change to their countries, and were very important leaders in the history of their countries.

Abraham Lincoln (http://images.google.com)

There are many things that made Abraham Lincoln a hero. The first thing is the fact of being the President of the USA and reaching this highest level. What makes that very important is that he was from a very poor family with uneducated farmer parents who lived all together in a one-room log cabin, and who moved a lot around the U.S. looking for better land and for a higher standard of living. Also what makes it important is Lincoln was a self-educated person who had a strong personality that made him go beyond his poverty and reach this highest level. The second thing is leading and saving his country during its most difficult moments in the history of America during the Civil War. During that time period America was struggling with the issue of slavery. His success was demonstrated in how he preserved the union, and how he helped his nation keep from falling apart and move on by ending slavery. Also, he never let the world forget that the Civil War involved even a larger issue, and the important job of the military, and his gratitude to it. For that reason, Lincoln gave his famous speech:

That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Ending slavery was a big deal at that time, and Abraham Lincoln was one of the people who strongly fought against it. Also, what makes Abraham Lincoln a great man are his speeches, letters, character, and humbleness.

Mohammed the fifth (http://images.google.com)

Mohammed the Fifth was the third son of Moulay Yusuf, and is the grandfather of the current Moroccan king. He was born in Fez, one of Morocco's old and big cities, in 1909 at the beginning of the French Empire. After his father's death, Mohammed the Fifth took power and became the King of Morocco from 1927 to 1961. The French considered him more flexible and less ambitious than his brothers, but then he proved that their thoughts were wrong by working hard for the independence of his country during the colonization of Morocco by France. What makes King Mohammed different and special is defending the monarchy's privileges, and giving more power to the different Parties to express themselves. He was the symbol of independence and modernity at the same time.

King Mohammed the Fifth did his greatest and most appreciated work for Morocco by providing his people the most valuable gift. King Mohammed's gift was independence from France. Under the leadership of King Mohammed and the Party Alistiqlal (independence), in addition to other different Moroccan Parties, and with their hard work, they fought hard and won the independence of Morocco. On August 20, 1953, the French forced the King and his family into exile on Corsica. After that, in January 1954, they transferred them to Madagascar. During that time the Moroccan people were very mad. They made many protests and fought hard against the French to bring their king back, which pushed France to bring him back to his country on November 16, 1955. After he succeeded in his negotiations with France for Morocco's independence in 1956, he got his title back and became the King of Morocco again in 1957. Also, what makes King Mohammed very important is his working hard against the separation of the Berbers and Arabs, the two Moroccan ethnic groups. In addition to all that, King Mohammed was known for his high manners, his high personality, his speeches, and of course the love of his country.

These two men had many similarities that are reflected in making the impossible happen to save their countries, leading during the most important and difficult moments, keeping the different groups of their countries together no matter what, and their personalities, great manners and speeches that made them go far during their period of leadership. That is why others should emulate them, because of their personalities and their work ethic that is reflected in always doing the right thing under all kinds of circumstances, always working as one group and focusing on their similarities rather than their differences for the benefit of the group.

Finally, if Abraham Lincoln and Mohammed the Fifth had not taken the risk and the challenge to make a change in their countries, we wouldn't know the meaning of freedom, and we wouldn't know and live with people who come from multi-racial ethnic groups. If these two people didn't fight with everything they had, with their whole power, if these two people didn't sacrifice, work hard, and accomplish the impossible to make their thoughts and dreams become a reality, we would not be living this life of freedom, modernity, and development. That is why these two people are my heroes.