Shirin Ebadi

Shirin Ebadi ( ())

When we think of the word, hero, many images come to mind. Most think superman, parents, celebrities, socialites, and soldiers. Heroes vary in shape, stature, and mind. There is no one person that can be named hero. In fact, heroes live all around us and act in our community when we are blind to them. To me, a hero is someone who does heroic acts, whether for their community or world, for the pure act of doing well - not for themselves, but for others as well. One of the many people who possesses my personal definition of a hero is Shirin Ebadi. Ebadi was born on June 21st, 1947 in the city of Hamadan in central western Iran. Ebadi began serving as a judge on the city court of Tehran in 1975 but was forced to leave court when the Muslim revolutionaries took over the government in 1979.  From then on, Ebadi became an Iranian lawyer, human rights and peace advocate, teacher, and writer. Ebadi's contributions to the causes of human rights, peace, justice and democracy give her the title of being on of the most prominent voices of justice and human rights in Iran. Shirin Ebadi, besides from being the first Muslim to win the Nobel Peace Prize, is far beyond the word extraordinary.  She is leader for those who need someone to speak on their behalf, selfless for those who need her help, and a brave women for those who need hope.

A Leader To All ( ())

"It is better to lead from behind and let others in front, especially when you celebrate victory and nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. (Nelson Mandela) This quote means you take leadership when something bad happens, when something good occurs. To be a hero, you must have a strong leadership quality. You should be able to command a group of people and be able to have them trust you in every way. Shirin Ebadi has embedded within her this quality. The kind that makes others want to stand behind her and do what she says.  For example, Ebadi "Has worked to bring about reform through nonviolent methods." (World Book Advanced) Since the revolution against the government in Iran, Ebadi worked to bring the government back together without an outbreak in war or violence. The citizens of Iran needed someone to speak for them; to tell the government they don't approve of their new values or laws. This is what Ebadi did. Spoke on be half of the people and what the people wanted and eventually she succeeded. A true hero doesn't settle; rather exceeds their own expectations. Ebadi has also, "sought to raise the status of women and children in society." (World Book Advanced) Before Ebadi got involved with the human rights of women and children, Iranian women and children were not treated properly. But with Ebadi involved, nothing was impossible. She believed in the power of the women and the rights they had were far below the rights they deserved. This was what Ebadi wanted to change and is still working on today. To be a good hero, you must contain within yourself the power to make a group of people believe in your values and beliefs. Leadership is a hard trait to embrace. It takes a strong heart to obtain such a quality. But Ebadi knows what she wants and what she wants to change. This is why she is a strong leader for many.

A Selfless Women ( ())

"Selflessness is not living how one wishes to live, it is asking others to live how one wishes to live." (Oscar Wilde) To be a great and powerful leader, you have to have the ability to let your own emotions be completely irrelevant to see the needs of others. To be a truly selfless person, you must think of others before yourself. Ebadi does things for others and thinks of others always. For example, "She has defended many victims of human rights violations. In 1998, she was a defense lawyer for the families of the victims of political assassinations of writers and intellectuals by rogue elements of the Ministry of Intelligence." (Mir-hosseini) As a hero, your top priority should be to help others more than helping yourself. Ebadi chose to make her profession one of selflessness and compassion. As a lawyer, you are fighting for others that need help and the whole time, you are thinking only of helping your defendants succeed. Ebadi defends her victims, no matter what the consequences. She has fought through many struggles and hard ships, yet she continues to defend her clients when she needs defending for herself. Another example of her selflessness is through this interview with Robert Siegel. "Siegal: 'You have remained in Iran throughout all these years, through the time when you were enthusiastic about the revolution, and the time when it was clearly a disaster for you and your family and your clients. Why do you, why did you decide to stay? Why not Los Angeles instead? Why not join so many other Iranians who came to the United States?' Ebadi (Through a translator): "The answer is very simple. I'm an Iranian. I belong to Iran and I work for Iran. If your mother becomes sick, will you leave her on the corner of the street, or will you try to get her some treatment? Iran needs treatment at this time and the young people, young educated people, must go back to Iran and build Iran.'" (Seigal) She has been discriminated, imprisoned, and talked down to all her life. Yet, she chooses to stay in the country that does all this to her. Why? Because she is selfless. She wants to change the rights of women and children and can only do this if she stays and if that means risking her life to do so, so be it. It is apparent that it is going to take a lot more beating to take Ebadi down. Selflessness is a hard trait to embrace. It takes practice and the right person, but it is clear that Ebadi has taken advantage of this quality for all the right reasons.

A Brave Women ( ())

"Bravery is the capacity to perform even when scared half to death." (Omar N. Bradley) You can be able to lead a crowd through think and thin or be as selfless as Mother Teresa, but if you aren't brave enough to command that crowd or put others before yourself, than those qualities don't matter. Ebadi is brave enough to do all those things. She can lead a group of people, put others before herself, and is brave enough to take the risks to make what she wants happen, happen. Bravery is hard and is tough to perceive. But with the right cause and motivation, bravery will take its course. With Ebadi, her cause and motivation in human rights is how women and children could become relevant in the Iranian world. Ebadi has been through many struggles throughout her life, the most recent ones having to do with being a women leader. "Ebadi's vocal defense of human rights has antagonized the Iranian judiciary, who arrested her in June 2000. She was accused of producing and distributing a videocassette that allegedly ' 'disturbs public opinion' and implicates certain senior officials in atrocities against reformist personalities and organizations. She was tried in closed court, sentenced to a suspended sentence, and banned from practicing law, but this sentence was overturned in a court of appeal." (Mir-hosseini)

Ebadi is one of the most heroic and brave human beings I have heard of. While helping others and doing what's best, there comes repercussions and Ebadi knows this. But bravery is a funny thing. Someone who is truly brave knows the consequences of their actions but chooses to pursue them anyway. With Ebadi, what she chose got her arrested, but she sacrificed herself in return for many others who deserved rights. Bravery also requires confidence in every word that you say. No matter what you say or whether what you say is true, if you believe in what you're saying, it will seem as though you're correct. Bravery takes confidence in itself. Shirin Ebadi is confident in herself and brave enough to speak her mind no matter what. "Siegel: 'When Americans hear the president of Iran say we want a nuclear program, and in another context, Israel should be wiped off the map, many Americans think this is dangerous. This could be the beginning of Armageddon in the entire Middle East because the Israelis would fire back at Iran if they were attacked. Should we believe it? Should we take that seriously when the president of Iran speaks that way?' 'The government of Iran does not have the intention of attacking Israel, even if it does have the intention, it does not have the ability to do so.'" "Seigal: 'Why then, why does the president of Iran make speeches saying such things?' Ebadi: (Through Translator) 'Of course, we need to go back to Mr. Ahmadinejad and ask for clarification of what he talks about. But I think this is just a slogan.'" (Seigal) Ebadi is not only brave but is also confidant. It takes a lot of courage to be a women speaking out for others of a lower class in a country where women are considered secondary to men. She risks her safety everyday but is brave enough to say, "I don't care" and move on. When it comes to being a leader, hiding behind others is not a way to get things done. You must be brave enough to take a stand and do what you know is the right thing. Ebadi is a brave woman. She has made stereotypes that women are worth half then men non-existent was the first women judge in Iran, the first Muslim to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and she has become one of the most prominent voices of Justice in Iran. Bravery is strongly embedded within Ebadi's soul and it takes bravery to take on such grueling tasks. But Ebadi does it because she cares and it is what she loves to do.

An Inspiration To Many ( ())

Shirin Ebadi has embedded within her a natural leadership quality. She knows exactly what to say and when to say it, she cares more for others than she does herself, and is brave enough to take a stand for her country. Having the traits of a hero takes time and practice. We aren't born with them, we can't buy them, and we can't hope that magically we will all be brave, selfless, and leader. The world doesn't work this way. Sure, for some, bravery may be easy to portray but what you do with these traits is the true test of a hero. We should all want of become a person of leadership, bravery, and selflessness. For some, it is a struggle and for others, it comes naturally. For Ebadi, it is a way of life.  She was one of the first women to become a judge in Iran and was the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She has written books, stood up for others, and has created something bigger than anyone of us. She has given hope to those who need it, been a role model for those who need one, and an inspiration for those who need inspiring. She is the definition of a hero and an inspiration to, not only me, but to all.