I agree with Group 3's definition of a hero. A hero, is one who willing to sacrifice his life for others and he also helps others through his actions. And most importantly, that heros, even they can feel fear.
I will admit that Subhas Bose is a hero because he stood up for the people, becoming their representative, but more importantly, he fought for his country's independence. Although there were many protests from people like Gandhi and the British, Subhas still persisted with his intention to free his country from the British's oppressive ruling. All intentions of him, as in Group 3's post, can be viewed as a "hero's" thoughts.
Lastly, Group 3's post is quite detailed and we can see how Subhas Bose was commendable for his hero traits.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Group 3 - Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose
A hero is anyone who can show courage when faced with a problem. A hero is a person who is able to help another in various ways. A hero can be someone who gave up his or her life so another could live. A hero does not always have to show courage he can be afraid but still be a hero through his other actions. I do believe that heroes don’t have to be afraid.
Subhash Chandra Bose was a true hero.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of those who sacrificed their lives in the freedom movement of India. He was known for his dynamic personality and courage and was the role model of numerous young people of his time. Subhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack, Orissa, in 1897. His father was a famous lawyer. Subhas was highly disciplined from his childhood days and had a burning desire to see India free. In his school days, when he chose to observe the first anniversary of Khudiram Bose, a martyr who was hung in 1910, the British government listed him in their black book.
Subhas Bose was a born leader. People were always ready to risk their lives on his call. He was brilliant in studies but intolerant of prejudices against India. When his English teacher at Presidency College (Calcutta), Mr. Otton, made negative remarks about Indians in his classroom, he protested. He successfully organized a strike, demanding a public apology from the teacher. Consequently, Subhas was expelled but was happy that he stood up for a right cause.
After leaving the college, Subhas devoted time in social work. People advised him to go back to the college and complete his studies. With considerable effort he gained admission into the Scottish Church College of Calcutta. Here he joined the National Cadet Corps of the University in order to prepare himself for the battle against the British. Upon the completion of his college education, Subhas went to England and passed the civil service examination with merit. He then decided to dedicate his life for the fight of India’s freedom.
Subhas was in favor of armed revolution in order to drive out the British. Mahatma Gandhi was then the leader of Indian Politics, and a supporter of nonviolence. Though Gandhi disagreed with Subhas’ path to freedom, he suggested Subhas to join Chittaranjan Das, who was then the leading politician of Bengal. The British, at that time, extended self rule to the Indians and allowed them to democratically elect their leaders in such civilian administrations as municipality. Chittaranjan Das founded the Swaraj party and Subhas worked hard in its landslide victory for the election of municipal seats of Calcutta Corporation (1924). Subhas became the chief executive and Chittaranjan Das, the mayor of Calcutta.
Soon Subhas introduced khadi, a home-made cloth, as the official dress in place of British mill-made clothes. This was a direct protest of the British policy of making clothes in England for the Indian market. Use of khadi was banned. Subhas protested and sent volunteers to jail. At this time a European was killed and Subhas was blamed for that. He was arrested and sent to Mandalay jail in Burma, notorious for its unhealthy conditions.
Public revolted for keeping Subhas in jail without a trial. Looking into the worsening mood, British government released Subhas unconditionally. Unfortunately, he contracted tuberculosis while in jail. Subhas took some time to recover while planning out his future strategy. Chittaranjan Das had died and Subhas took over the Swaraj party. He began to organize volunteers, making the government uneasy. Finally Subhas was arrested once again. But the people of Calcutta made him the Mayor and the British had to release him.
Soon after, Subhas declared the observance of independence day with a public meeting on January 26, 1931. The government declared it illegal. Subhas defied the orders and was badly beaten by the police. He was then taken to jail, where his health deteriorated.The government got concerned and released him on the condition that he would stay outside India. Subhas traveled to different parts of Europe to promote the cause of India’s freedom through lectures.
Subhas entered India when he was elected the President of All India Congress in 1938. He, however, resigned in 1939, because of his strong differences with Gandhi and Nehru. The British were then deeply involved in war. Subhas suggested an armed revolution which did not receive any political support. He then formed the Forward Bloc party and declared to destroy the Holwell Monument of Calcutta, that stood as a symbol of British rule in India. He was arrested again. In jail, Subhas started to fast until death. He was finally released from the jail but he was restricted to his residence in Calcutta.
Subhas made a daring escape from his residence and went first to Germany by road, and then to Japan in a submarine. He was trying to negotiate an armed attack on the British-owned India. Keeping this in view, Subhas organized the Indian National Army with the soldiers of the prisoners of war (POW) and declared the formation of Azad Hind Government on October 21, 1943. Subhas’ army hoisted the national flag of India in Kohima, Assam, which was in the British territory, on March 18, 1944. When Japan surrendered on August 16, 1945, Subhas could not continue his struggle. He decided to go underground and left in a war plane for an undisclosed destination on August 17, 1945. It is now speculated that the plane crashed on the sea due to lack of fuel.
One Life, One Nation, One Chance, Never to be Forgotten
Risking his life, running from place to place, helping his country, from 1897 to 1945, Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter, a true hero.
Subhashchandra Bose was the most visionary and fierce activist in the pre-independence era. Known as Netaji, he followed the path which no one even could have thought of. He was the man whom the Indians looked upon as their future leader. They never believed that he died in plane
crash. Some believe that he is still alive.
We agree on Group 4 that Elizabeth Choy is also a true hero.
A hero is anyone who can show courage when faced with a problem. A hero is a person who is able to help another in various ways. A hero can be someone who gave up his or her life so another could live. A hero does not always have to show courage he can be afraid but still be a hero through his other actions. I do believe that heroes don’t have to be afraid.
Subhash Chandra Bose was a true hero.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of those who sacrificed their lives in the freedom movement of India. He was known for his dynamic personality and courage and was the role model of numerous young people of his time. Subhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack, Orissa, in 1897. His father was a famous lawyer. Subhas was highly disciplined from his childhood days and had a burning desire to see India free. In his school days, when he chose to observe the first anniversary of Khudiram Bose, a martyr who was hung in 1910, the British government listed him in their black book.
Subhas Bose was a born leader. People were always ready to risk their lives on his call. He was brilliant in studies but intolerant of prejudices against India. When his English teacher at Presidency College (Calcutta), Mr. Otton, made negative remarks about Indians in his classroom, he protested. He successfully organized a strike, demanding a public apology from the teacher. Consequently, Subhas was expelled but was happy that he stood up for a right cause.
After leaving the college, Subhas devoted time in social work. People advised him to go back to the college and complete his studies. With considerable effort he gained admission into the Scottish Church College of Calcutta. Here he joined the National Cadet Corps of the University in order to prepare himself for the battle against the British. Upon the completion of his college education, Subhas went to England and passed the civil service examination with merit. He then decided to dedicate his life for the fight of India’s freedom.
Subhas was in favor of armed revolution in order to drive out the British. Mahatma Gandhi was then the leader of Indian Politics, and a supporter of nonviolence. Though Gandhi disagreed with Subhas’ path to freedom, he suggested Subhas to join Chittaranjan Das, who was then the leading politician of Bengal. The British, at that time, extended self rule to the Indians and allowed them to democratically elect their leaders in such civilian administrations as municipality. Chittaranjan Das founded the Swaraj party and Subhas worked hard in its landslide victory for the election of municipal seats of Calcutta Corporation (1924). Subhas became the chief executive and Chittaranjan Das, the mayor of Calcutta.
Soon Subhas introduced khadi, a home-made cloth, as the official dress in place of British mill-made clothes. This was a direct protest of the British policy of making clothes in England for the Indian market. Use of khadi was banned. Subhas protested and sent volunteers to jail. At this time a European was killed and Subhas was blamed for that. He was arrested and sent to Mandalay jail in Burma, notorious for its unhealthy conditions.
Public revolted for keeping Subhas in jail without a trial. Looking into the worsening mood, British government released Subhas unconditionally. Unfortunately, he contracted tuberculosis while in jail. Subhas took some time to recover while planning out his future strategy. Chittaranjan Das had died and Subhas took over the Swaraj party. He began to organize volunteers, making the government uneasy. Finally Subhas was arrested once again. But the people of Calcutta made him the Mayor and the British had to release him.
Soon after, Subhas declared the observance of independence day with a public meeting on January 26, 1931. The government declared it illegal. Subhas defied the orders and was badly beaten by the police. He was then taken to jail, where his health deteriorated.The government got concerned and released him on the condition that he would stay outside India. Subhas traveled to different parts of Europe to promote the cause of India’s freedom through lectures.
Subhas entered India when he was elected the President of All India Congress in 1938. He, however, resigned in 1939, because of his strong differences with Gandhi and Nehru. The British were then deeply involved in war. Subhas suggested an armed revolution which did not receive any political support. He then formed the Forward Bloc party and declared to destroy the Holwell Monument of Calcutta, that stood as a symbol of British rule in India. He was arrested again. In jail, Subhas started to fast until death. He was finally released from the jail but he was restricted to his residence in Calcutta.
Subhas made a daring escape from his residence and went first to Germany by road, and then to Japan in a submarine. He was trying to negotiate an armed attack on the British-owned India. Keeping this in view, Subhas organized the Indian National Army with the soldiers of the prisoners of war (POW) and declared the formation of Azad Hind Government on October 21, 1943. Subhas’ army hoisted the national flag of India in Kohima, Assam, which was in the British territory, on March 18, 1944. When Japan surrendered on August 16, 1945, Subhas could not continue his struggle. He decided to go underground and left in a war plane for an undisclosed destination on August 17, 1945. It is now speculated that the plane crashed on the sea due to lack of fuel.
One Life, One Nation, One Chance, Never to be Forgotten
Risking his life, running from place to place, helping his country, from 1897 to 1945, Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter, a true hero.
Subhashchandra Bose was the most visionary and fierce activist in the pre-independence era. Known as Netaji, he followed the path which no one even could have thought of. He was the man whom the Indians looked upon as their future leader. They never believed that he died in plane
crash. Some believe that he is still alive.
We agree on Group 4 that Elizabeth Choy is also a true hero.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Comment on group 7
Comment on group 7:
I agree with your definition of a hero. Heroes do not necessarily have to be like those in comics that always jump out of nowhere to save the day; they do not even have to have special abilities or anything a hero just has to make the world a better place. Having a good definition is the first step to good persuasion, however your post is too long and most people would probably lose interest and give up after seeing its length. You could simplify the post by removing unnecessary information and rephrasing some long sentences. You could also remove all the long detailed information which is probably redundant and replace them with some interesting facts and figures. You could also add links to some videos as it would make it more interesting and also helps the reader visualize the hero better further enhancing the purpose of this blog post. In general, it is a very elaborate and detailed description of General Templar, except for some flaws. As they say, nothing is perfect, so work harder and strive to create better productions.
I agree with your definition of a hero. Heroes do not necessarily have to be like those in comics that always jump out of nowhere to save the day; they do not even have to have special abilities or anything a hero just has to make the world a better place. Having a good definition is the first step to good persuasion, however your post is too long and most people would probably lose interest and give up after seeing its length. You could simplify the post by removing unnecessary information and rephrasing some long sentences. You could also remove all the long detailed information which is probably redundant and replace them with some interesting facts and figures. You could also add links to some videos as it would make it more interesting and also helps the reader visualize the hero better further enhancing the purpose of this blog post. In general, it is a very elaborate and detailed description of General Templar, except for some flaws. As they say, nothing is perfect, so work harder and strive to create better productions.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Group 8 WINSTON CHURCHILL
Group 8- Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a true English gentleman and hero. He lead an inspiring and meaningful life. Winston Churchill had an unhappy childhood, on top of being an unpromising student. However, he overcame the odds and became a military hero, helping him to win the elections and rise to prominence as the First Lord of Admiralty. The following is a video about his biography…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2A_LebrsRU
Also, one of his qualities that make him a classic hero is his will to never quit. One of his quotes is: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” His words of encouragement helped many in despair, and reflects his strong-willed character. A hero never quits, enabling them to change the world for the better. One example in his life is when he realized the threat Hitler posed, but was repeatedly ignored when he warned people. He did not have that “I told you” attitude, but he tried his very best to help England overcome her troubles. This is what makes him a true genuine hero.
Done By:
Shao Wei (28)
Benedict (30)
Alex (33)
Keegen (38)
(I'm only helping them to post, cause they wasn't invited to this blog.)
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a true English gentleman and hero. He lead an inspiring and meaningful life. Winston Churchill had an unhappy childhood, on top of being an unpromising student. However, he overcame the odds and became a military hero, helping him to win the elections and rise to prominence as the First Lord of Admiralty. The following is a video about his biography…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2A_LebrsRU
Also, one of his qualities that make him a classic hero is his will to never quit. One of his quotes is: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” His words of encouragement helped many in despair, and reflects his strong-willed character. A hero never quits, enabling them to change the world for the better. One example in his life is when he realized the threat Hitler posed, but was repeatedly ignored when he warned people. He did not have that “I told you” attitude, but he tried his very best to help England overcome her troubles. This is what makes him a true genuine hero.
Done By:
Shao Wei (28)
Benedict (30)
Alex (33)
Keegen (38)
(I'm only helping them to post, cause they wasn't invited to this blog.)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Group 7 General Templar
What makes a hero?
A hero is an everyday person that can change the world. Usually people think of heroes as people who fight crime in movies or comic books, but those people don’t exist in the real world. A hero is not someone that hurts another person or does bad things, but they help people. A hero doesn’t always fight crime or always have an opposition. They don’t even have to work with people; they could be designing a product that helps many people.
An example of a hero that doesn’t have an opposition would be helping someone else. Someone could be struggling with their schoolwork. Another person can notice that and help them understand the work. That person could be called a hero because another person is having an easier time with their work.
An example of a hero that doesn’t necessarily work with people could be people who invent things. The person that invented the wheelchair is a hero because he has helped millions of people in the world. Without the wheelchair people who cannot walk would not be able to move around as easily. This person is a hero to people all around the world.
A hero is an everyday person who can change the world for the better. It could be simple like helping one person out or by helping millions. A hero must always think of others first. Without this trait, a hero does not do any good because a hero is a person that affects the people around him.
Provenance: http://socyberty.com/people/what-makes-a-hero/
http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/50734.html
Are heroes only those that they have achieved what they want to achieve or did they arise from some ‘special’ circumstances?
Heroes are people who in times of difficulty or crisis, are able to discover their inner potential and achieve their full potential to do good, whether for all of mankind, some of mankind or just even one person. Heroes are there all along, ordinary everyday people. However, it is through special circumstances such as war, powerless or corrupted government etc. that the person truly becomes a hero.
What challenges does a hero face and how does his/her qualities enable him/her to overcome challenges?
A hero has to be able to withstand the harsh conditions of the environment or the lack of acceptance or trust from the people he/she is helping. A hero also has to be able to overcome all obstacles in his/her path. However, a hero will be able to use ingenuity, resourcefulness and his/her determination and perseverance to gain the trust of people, and also to successfully achieve his/her goal.
What challenges did General Templar face?
Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE (11 September 1898–25 October 1979) was a British military commander. He is best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954.
General Sir Gerald Templer possessed the ideal leadership qualifies necessary to defeat an insurgency and thus was able to shift the balance of power in favor of the British during the Malaya Emergency.
In June 1948, the Malayan Communist Party initiated an insurgency against the British and Malayan government that produced the Malaya Emergency. The insurgents were primarily ethnic Chinese looking to conduct a Maoist revolution to bring about a Communist-run state. The situation in Malaya, however, was different from that in China when Mao revolted. The British had occupied Malaya since 1791, and the majority of Malayans had no appetite for Communism. Most of Malaya's income came from British-run rubber plantations and tin mines. Only Malaya's minority ethnic-Chinese population had a desire for Communism. However, through 1951, the British had little success in stemming the Communist insurgency.
In February 1952, Templer arrived in Malaya as the new high commissioner. The year 1951 had been the most violent year in the insurgency. In fact, the security was so poor that on 6 October 1951, former High Commissioner Sir Henry Gumey was killed in a Communist ambush. Templer faced an extremely difficult situation. There was a complete lack of cultural understanding within the Malayan security forces and the British Army.
How did General Templar’s qualities enable him to overcome challenges?
A former commander of the 56th and 6th Armored Divisions during World War II, Templer had had the traditional military assignments. However, he had also served as the military governor of the British zone in occupied Germany after the war, which equipped him with a working knowledge of military governance. Once on the ground in Malaya, Templer wasted little time getting to work. He took a three-week tour of the country to gauge the situation. Based on his findings, he reorganized his headquarters to better address the insurgency.
General Templer refocused his staff from warfighting to civil relief, social changes, economic stability, and small-unit operations. Templer concentrated on securing the police posts around the country and on capturing or turning, not killing, insurgents. Templer convinced the surrendered insurgents who worked for him to give statements to the media and distribute propaganda reports to encourage their former comrades to surrender. Psychological warfare sections, consisting of no more than 30 mostly Chinese ex-insurgents, known as psywar groups, broadcast surrender policies. Rather than kill insurgents, Templer chose a well-executed surrender policy that provided the best possible intelligence on the organization, morale, and weaknesses of the insurgency. Radio broadcasts, Chinese-language newspapers, government films, pamphlets, and personal appearances by surrendered enemy personnel in villages all aided the British counterinsurgency campaign.
Templer also made important changes to the military effort. Patrol reports became mandatory. An operational research team went through all the raw data gathered from the reports, analyzed it, and distributed lessons learned back to the troops in the field. Rather than continue the fruitless battalion-sized jungle sweeps conducted for the first three years of the insurgency, Templer emphasized deep jungle patrolling by small, well-trained units to gather vital intelligence on the insurgents. Jungle training schools taught army and police units small unit tactics and effective methods for fighting insurgents. Doctrine also developed rapidly. Based on lessons learned at the jungle training school, a small book known as The Conduct of Anti-Terrorist Operations in Malaya was printed. The book was small enough to fit in the pockets of a soldier's jungle uniform. Every six months, soldiers received an updated and revised edition containing the latest intelligence and lessons learned. The Malayan police forces also received this valuable document, and they attended the same army schools as British soldiers to develop proficiency in fighting an insurgent force. Templer knew that integrating his security forces was an important step toward a stable future for Malaya.
Templer wisely focused on winning over the insurgents' support base, Malaya's ethnic-Chinese civilians. Public works projects and civic training in the ethnic-Chinese areas prepared local leaders to eventually take over an independent Malayan government. These projects provided huge incentives to either turn away from or turn in the insurgents. Templer accelerated the relocation (first implemented under the Briggs Plan) of entire Chinese squatter villages. The British built brand new towns complete with schools and medical facilities and designated plots of land for the Chinese squatters. Villages located on the fringes of the jungles eventually relocated to these new camps under British protection and control. A city government run by the ethnic Chinese within the villages prepared the population for an eventual merger into mainstream Malayan society. In addition, each family received a land title for their farmland. This was the first time a majority of ethnic Chinese had hereditary titles passable from father to son guaranteeing family land ownership. The new villages took away the vital insurgent support base and started to integrate ethnic Chinese into mainstream Malayan society, breaking down cultural walls.
Templer understood the cultural problems that caused the insurgency in Malaya. Knowing the situation, he was able to institute effective methods to win back the population. Templer's ability to influence, improve, and lead others in an organization--the "do" aspect of leadership--is what sets him apart as a counterinsurgent leader. Despite his career of traditional military assignments, Templer quickly grasped that the key to defeating the Malayan insurgency was not military action, but winning over the Chinese population through social changes and improved security. Templer understood the problems facing his organization from the first day he took command. Every one of his efforts focused on improving his organization's ability to understand the insurgent problem, finding solutions to the problem, and working toward applying those solutions. Templer not only possessed a military officer's technical and tactical skills, he was a military government expert as well. His ability to take traditional military organizational skills and apply them toward defeating an insurgency demonstrated his organizational leadership abilities. Lessons from Templer's military governance clearly could have helped U.S. military commanders at the end of hostilities during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Again, military commanders shed their traditional roles as warriors and took on the work of governance. In our current counterinsurgent fight, U.S. senior leaders continue to use techniques similar to those General Templer used successfully. The actions of General Petraeus in Mosul are a classic example of a military leader focusing on social, economic, and cultural lines of operation as well as traditional military operations.
Also, in the retreat to Dunkirk, he was operational commander of "Mac Force," the improvised formation covering the British right flank, and was mentioned in dispatches. Back in England he shot up to be the youngest lieutenant general in the British army. Believing he had risen too quickly, he asked for and got a combat command.
In Italy he soon won a reputation for restless energy, drive and impetuosity. When patrols went out, he sat up and waited for their return, so that he could interrogate the patrol commander himself. At a critical moment on the Anzio beachhead he ordered every man available—sappers, cooks, clerks—into the firing line. "He acted like a red-hot poker," says one of his officers. "He always impressed you as a man who was inevitably heading for a tremendous crackup," says another.
Summary
"If I make a mess of it I want to go back to the army. If I don't make a mess of it I -want to go back to the army."; ‘But Templer kept on being tough, regardless.’
-General Templar’s perseverance and determination not to give up was a key factor in solving any problems that he encountered.
“Templer took a hard look at Malaya, and said: ‘I could win this war in three months if I could get two-thirds of the people on my side.’ He had a directive read, promising that ‘Malaya should in due course become a fully self-governing nation . . . within the British Commonwealth.’ “
-General Templar’s foresight made him know what he needed to do in order to win the war.
‘Templer threw his whole weight into the drive for common citizenship.’; “It doesn't amuse me to punish innocent people, but many among you are not innocent. You have information which you are too cowardly to give. Have some guts and shoulder the responsibility of citizenship."
-General Templar was a man who did not mince his words and he was outright and spoke his mind about what he felt for.
‘His main occupation now, however, is the country's social services: getting more doctors and nurses into rural areas, organizing training schools for student teachers. There was one project he could turn to with all his soldier's heart: the creation of a 240,000-man Malay Federation army, of Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. He saw it as the prerequisite of self-government, and was disappointed when the Chinese held back. He is also deep in such unsoldierly problems as rural industrial development and low-interest loans for local cooperative societies. The sensational fall in the price of rubber, as a result of a falling-off in U.S. purchases, distressed him. More even than the guerrillas, that might spell disaster for all his plans.
-General Templar was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the people – He was kind and though a firm person, not harsh and he knew to take good care of the people in order for them to continue supporting him and not rebel instead.
It is a measure of Gerald Templer's success that in less than one year he has been able to turn from quick skirmishes against disaster to slow battles for Malaya's peaceful future. "We are beginning to get the shooting war under control," said Templer. "Deserves highest credit," said the Economist. "Staunch service," said the London Evening News. "An absolute ace," exulted Colonial Secretary Oliver Lyttelton.’
-General Templar was a true hero.
Provenance: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820481-7,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Templer
*RESPONSE TO GROUP 8’S POST COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE AS OF POSTING TIME, GRUP 8’S POST WAS NOT UP YET.
A hero is an everyday person that can change the world. Usually people think of heroes as people who fight crime in movies or comic books, but those people don’t exist in the real world. A hero is not someone that hurts another person or does bad things, but they help people. A hero doesn’t always fight crime or always have an opposition. They don’t even have to work with people; they could be designing a product that helps many people.
An example of a hero that doesn’t have an opposition would be helping someone else. Someone could be struggling with their schoolwork. Another person can notice that and help them understand the work. That person could be called a hero because another person is having an easier time with their work.
An example of a hero that doesn’t necessarily work with people could be people who invent things. The person that invented the wheelchair is a hero because he has helped millions of people in the world. Without the wheelchair people who cannot walk would not be able to move around as easily. This person is a hero to people all around the world.
A hero is an everyday person who can change the world for the better. It could be simple like helping one person out or by helping millions. A hero must always think of others first. Without this trait, a hero does not do any good because a hero is a person that affects the people around him.
Provenance: http://socyberty.com/people/what-makes-a-hero/
http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/50734.html
Are heroes only those that they have achieved what they want to achieve or did they arise from some ‘special’ circumstances?
Heroes are people who in times of difficulty or crisis, are able to discover their inner potential and achieve their full potential to do good, whether for all of mankind, some of mankind or just even one person. Heroes are there all along, ordinary everyday people. However, it is through special circumstances such as war, powerless or corrupted government etc. that the person truly becomes a hero.
What challenges does a hero face and how does his/her qualities enable him/her to overcome challenges?
A hero has to be able to withstand the harsh conditions of the environment or the lack of acceptance or trust from the people he/she is helping. A hero also has to be able to overcome all obstacles in his/her path. However, a hero will be able to use ingenuity, resourcefulness and his/her determination and perseverance to gain the trust of people, and also to successfully achieve his/her goal.
What challenges did General Templar face?
Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE (11 September 1898–25 October 1979) was a British military commander. He is best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954.
General Sir Gerald Templer possessed the ideal leadership qualifies necessary to defeat an insurgency and thus was able to shift the balance of power in favor of the British during the Malaya Emergency.
In June 1948, the Malayan Communist Party initiated an insurgency against the British and Malayan government that produced the Malaya Emergency. The insurgents were primarily ethnic Chinese looking to conduct a Maoist revolution to bring about a Communist-run state. The situation in Malaya, however, was different from that in China when Mao revolted. The British had occupied Malaya since 1791, and the majority of Malayans had no appetite for Communism. Most of Malaya's income came from British-run rubber plantations and tin mines. Only Malaya's minority ethnic-Chinese population had a desire for Communism. However, through 1951, the British had little success in stemming the Communist insurgency.
In February 1952, Templer arrived in Malaya as the new high commissioner. The year 1951 had been the most violent year in the insurgency. In fact, the security was so poor that on 6 October 1951, former High Commissioner Sir Henry Gumey was killed in a Communist ambush. Templer faced an extremely difficult situation. There was a complete lack of cultural understanding within the Malayan security forces and the British Army.
How did General Templar’s qualities enable him to overcome challenges?
A former commander of the 56th and 6th Armored Divisions during World War II, Templer had had the traditional military assignments. However, he had also served as the military governor of the British zone in occupied Germany after the war, which equipped him with a working knowledge of military governance. Once on the ground in Malaya, Templer wasted little time getting to work. He took a three-week tour of the country to gauge the situation. Based on his findings, he reorganized his headquarters to better address the insurgency.
General Templer refocused his staff from warfighting to civil relief, social changes, economic stability, and small-unit operations. Templer concentrated on securing the police posts around the country and on capturing or turning, not killing, insurgents. Templer convinced the surrendered insurgents who worked for him to give statements to the media and distribute propaganda reports to encourage their former comrades to surrender. Psychological warfare sections, consisting of no more than 30 mostly Chinese ex-insurgents, known as psywar groups, broadcast surrender policies. Rather than kill insurgents, Templer chose a well-executed surrender policy that provided the best possible intelligence on the organization, morale, and weaknesses of the insurgency. Radio broadcasts, Chinese-language newspapers, government films, pamphlets, and personal appearances by surrendered enemy personnel in villages all aided the British counterinsurgency campaign.
Templer also made important changes to the military effort. Patrol reports became mandatory. An operational research team went through all the raw data gathered from the reports, analyzed it, and distributed lessons learned back to the troops in the field. Rather than continue the fruitless battalion-sized jungle sweeps conducted for the first three years of the insurgency, Templer emphasized deep jungle patrolling by small, well-trained units to gather vital intelligence on the insurgents. Jungle training schools taught army and police units small unit tactics and effective methods for fighting insurgents. Doctrine also developed rapidly. Based on lessons learned at the jungle training school, a small book known as The Conduct of Anti-Terrorist Operations in Malaya was printed. The book was small enough to fit in the pockets of a soldier's jungle uniform. Every six months, soldiers received an updated and revised edition containing the latest intelligence and lessons learned. The Malayan police forces also received this valuable document, and they attended the same army schools as British soldiers to develop proficiency in fighting an insurgent force. Templer knew that integrating his security forces was an important step toward a stable future for Malaya.
Templer wisely focused on winning over the insurgents' support base, Malaya's ethnic-Chinese civilians. Public works projects and civic training in the ethnic-Chinese areas prepared local leaders to eventually take over an independent Malayan government. These projects provided huge incentives to either turn away from or turn in the insurgents. Templer accelerated the relocation (first implemented under the Briggs Plan) of entire Chinese squatter villages. The British built brand new towns complete with schools and medical facilities and designated plots of land for the Chinese squatters. Villages located on the fringes of the jungles eventually relocated to these new camps under British protection and control. A city government run by the ethnic Chinese within the villages prepared the population for an eventual merger into mainstream Malayan society. In addition, each family received a land title for their farmland. This was the first time a majority of ethnic Chinese had hereditary titles passable from father to son guaranteeing family land ownership. The new villages took away the vital insurgent support base and started to integrate ethnic Chinese into mainstream Malayan society, breaking down cultural walls.
Templer understood the cultural problems that caused the insurgency in Malaya. Knowing the situation, he was able to institute effective methods to win back the population. Templer's ability to influence, improve, and lead others in an organization--the "do" aspect of leadership--is what sets him apart as a counterinsurgent leader. Despite his career of traditional military assignments, Templer quickly grasped that the key to defeating the Malayan insurgency was not military action, but winning over the Chinese population through social changes and improved security. Templer understood the problems facing his organization from the first day he took command. Every one of his efforts focused on improving his organization's ability to understand the insurgent problem, finding solutions to the problem, and working toward applying those solutions. Templer not only possessed a military officer's technical and tactical skills, he was a military government expert as well. His ability to take traditional military organizational skills and apply them toward defeating an insurgency demonstrated his organizational leadership abilities. Lessons from Templer's military governance clearly could have helped U.S. military commanders at the end of hostilities during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Again, military commanders shed their traditional roles as warriors and took on the work of governance. In our current counterinsurgent fight, U.S. senior leaders continue to use techniques similar to those General Templer used successfully. The actions of General Petraeus in Mosul are a classic example of a military leader focusing on social, economic, and cultural lines of operation as well as traditional military operations.
Also, in the retreat to Dunkirk, he was operational commander of "Mac Force," the improvised formation covering the British right flank, and was mentioned in dispatches. Back in England he shot up to be the youngest lieutenant general in the British army. Believing he had risen too quickly, he asked for and got a combat command.
In Italy he soon won a reputation for restless energy, drive and impetuosity. When patrols went out, he sat up and waited for their return, so that he could interrogate the patrol commander himself. At a critical moment on the Anzio beachhead he ordered every man available—sappers, cooks, clerks—into the firing line. "He acted like a red-hot poker," says one of his officers. "He always impressed you as a man who was inevitably heading for a tremendous crackup," says another.
Summary
"If I make a mess of it I want to go back to the army. If I don't make a mess of it I -want to go back to the army."; ‘But Templer kept on being tough, regardless.’
-General Templar’s perseverance and determination not to give up was a key factor in solving any problems that he encountered.
“Templer took a hard look at Malaya, and said: ‘I could win this war in three months if I could get two-thirds of the people on my side.’ He had a directive read, promising that ‘Malaya should in due course become a fully self-governing nation . . . within the British Commonwealth.’ “
-General Templar’s foresight made him know what he needed to do in order to win the war.
‘Templer threw his whole weight into the drive for common citizenship.’; “It doesn't amuse me to punish innocent people, but many among you are not innocent. You have information which you are too cowardly to give. Have some guts and shoulder the responsibility of citizenship."
-General Templar was a man who did not mince his words and he was outright and spoke his mind about what he felt for.
‘His main occupation now, however, is the country's social services: getting more doctors and nurses into rural areas, organizing training schools for student teachers. There was one project he could turn to with all his soldier's heart: the creation of a 240,000-man Malay Federation army, of Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. He saw it as the prerequisite of self-government, and was disappointed when the Chinese held back. He is also deep in such unsoldierly problems as rural industrial development and low-interest loans for local cooperative societies. The sensational fall in the price of rubber, as a result of a falling-off in U.S. purchases, distressed him. More even than the guerrillas, that might spell disaster for all his plans.
-General Templar was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the people – He was kind and though a firm person, not harsh and he knew to take good care of the people in order for them to continue supporting him and not rebel instead.
It is a measure of Gerald Templer's success that in less than one year he has been able to turn from quick skirmishes against disaster to slow battles for Malaya's peaceful future. "We are beginning to get the shooting war under control," said Templer. "Deserves highest credit," said the Economist. "Staunch service," said the London Evening News. "An absolute ace," exulted Colonial Secretary Oliver Lyttelton.’
-General Templar was a true hero.
Provenance: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820481-7,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Templer
*RESPONSE TO GROUP 8’S POST COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE AS OF POSTING TIME, GRUP 8’S POST WAS NOT UP YET.
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