I look to people who overcame extreme adversity as role models: Navalny, Mandela, Rudolph

We live in challenging times. Any of us can make the world better. Here are three inspirational stories for valley residents to digest. They are all examples of people who, with pure guts and courage, helped to make the world a healthier place. I believe their examples of perseverance can motivate us all to help our desert community become an even better place to live.

“My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.” This quote was spoken by Wilma Rudolph. She was a young African American who suffered from many health issues when she was a child. Rudolph contracted double pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio. She had issues with her left leg and had to wear a brace. However, she was determined to be an exceptional athlete. She participated in the 1960 Olympic Games held in Rome. Rudolph was a first-class sprinter. She became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at the Olympic Games. Years before, she could have given up her goal of becoming an exceptional athlete, but she never gave up. She wrote her autobiography, “Wilma" and it later became a movie. Rudolph is an outstanding example of courage and perseverance.

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” Nelson Mandela spoke those words many years ago. As many readers know, Nelson Mandela was the first Black president of South Africa. However, decades before becoming president he had fought against apartheid in his country. Apartheid was a policy of segregation on the grounds of race. He was imprisoned for 27 years for his protest work. Originally, he was housed in a cold concrete cell measuring 8 feet by 7 feet with only a straw mat on the floor. He spent days breaking rocks into gravel. The sun was extremely bright, but the guards refused to give Mandela sunglasses. This damaged his eyesight for the rest of his life. Can you imagine how depressing that must have been? After being released from prison he became president of South Africa from 1994-1999. In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for dismantling the apartheid system. Nelson Mandela’s life was one of amazing courage, determination and fearlessness.

“We live in a country with a thousand political prisoners, a country where each week there are new trials, where people are put in jail because they liked something on the internet.” Those frightening words were said by Alexei Navalny. As the world knows he died recently and most of us suspect that Putin was behind his death. Navalny had actively protested Putin and his phony political system. All elections were predetermined and always in Putin’s favor. Navalny was arrested and jailed frequently. In 2020 he became seriously ill while campaigning in Siberia. His family had him flown to Berlin for his safety as he had been exposed to a nerve agent made by the Russians. He recovered and eventually returned to Russia where he was arrested and put in prison. He was one of the most famous critics of Putin. He never gave up – and even from prison tried to show the Russian people how corrupt Putin and his government were. He died Feb. 16. His courage and bravery were applauded not only in Russia, but by millions of people around the world.

Wilma Rudolph, Nelson Mandela and Alexei Navalny were people of character. They passionately believed in themselves, their dreams and goals. They made the world a better place. I think we can learn a great deal from all three of them. If you want to make a difference in the world, look to them as role models. One person can make a difference as these three people have demonstrated to the world.

Ray Matlock Smythe is an author/retired teacher. His most recent book is, “My Life After Loss – A Resource for Gay Men Moving Forward.” He lives in Cathedral City. He can be reached at Rayme49@aol.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: I look to people who overcame extreme adversity as role models: