Today’s reflection on Dr. Arcaro’s address on exemplary global citizenship addresses item number five:
Five, an exemplary global citizen has the courage of their convictions, and knows that what is right is not always what is popular or easy. Indeed, as observed by George Bernard Shaw, “All evolution in thought and conduct must at first appear as heresy and misconduct.”
When we think of people who embody this point, many think of a woman whose work was not heresy in the eyes of the faith community, but rather in the minds of human possibility. We think of Mother Teresa’s gift of her life to India’s poorest. Those she served had been deemed untouchable, as less than worthy of treatment as human beings. Yet, Mother Teresa’s love shone through by remaining courageous and not giving in to all sorts of pressure. She feared God more than she feared humans, and that moral compass never led her astray. Those she served were finally treated as humans in her presence. We hold her in high esteem for pursuing what was seen as misconduct in the eyes of peers and elites. She is popular now for going against what was extremely unpopular.
As we admire Mother Teresa, the Periclean program supports its “African Mother Teresa”, Anita Isaacs, a Namibian who dedicates her life to those living with HIV/AIDS. She herself became HIV positive after contracting it from the man who was her husband and had abused her. There is no doubt that in Namibia, contracting HIV sentenced you to silence and a certain death. Yet, as Anita went through the stages of grief, she came to a very different conclusion. It would be her responsibility to live a new life, a life that would bring hope and awareness to a group considered untouchable.
As Anita said, “When you are diagnosed HIV positive, that is the start of your life. That is when you start planning your future, when you put your goals into place and become conscious that you don't live forever. Despite being HIV positive, you can still be the best you can be. You can still grow to be old and wise.” Empathy and compassion for others with HIV began Anita’s life anew. Her past plans, her past life meant nothing without acknowledging the suffering of those around her. Speaking out against the suffering and the poor treatment has made her into a hero of many.
In the present day, from the other side, we would like to think that we would do the same thing. However, given the tide against coming out as HIV positive, I believe that few of us would have come out in favor of “untouchables” if it meant we would be labeled as a heretic. We would act myopically and preserve personal pride instead of the larger good. Therefore, we must acknowledge Anita’s accomplishments as nothing less than extraordinary - with the desire to soon make them ordinary. Compassion should be the norm in all instances. I believe that some day it will.
The Periclean program holds up high our partners who stand by their convictions. We aim to model their courage in our daily undertakings. By seeking out and working with exemplary global citizens who consistently do what is right, even when it might conflict with what is popular, we grow in moral character and in service potential to our local and global communities.
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