Thought for the Day Focus: January 2008 Archives

“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.” --  Prime Minister WINSTON CHURCHILL, speech at Harrow School, Harrow, England, October 29, 1941.—Winston S. Churchill: His Complete Speeches, 1897–1963, ed. Robert Rhodes James, vol. 6, p. 6499 (1974).

Here are some materials you’ll find on display in the library reflecting this month’s theme of perseverance:

“To Harry James Potter, … I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill.” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, p. 126)  Harry not only perseveres in Quidditch, but in overpowering evil forces in the world.  Many heroes in fantasy literature rely on perseverance to succeed in their noble quests.  Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series is another great example of this literary theme.

What is the What: the autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng by Dave Eggers.

This novel is based on the life of one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan who were refugees of the Sudanese civil war in the 1980s.  He was one of thousands of children who were forced to leave their homes and walk for hundreds of miles to find freedom, all while being bombed by Sudanese air forces, dodging land mines, and being pursued by wild animals and soldiers.   After surviving years in refugee camps, he faced the challenges of relocating to the United States and adjusting to his new life.  This is truly a story of perseverance in the face of adversity.

The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation by Drew Hanson.  Dr. King is a shining example of the perseverance necessary to achieve social change.

Not as well known to us as Dr. King was William Wilberforce.  His passion and perseverance led to the passing of the law to end the British slave trade in the late 18th Century.  His story is dramatized in the movie Amazing Grace.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a classic study of perseverance in the character of the old man.

Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You by Cynthia Kersey.