“Courageous Individuals From Around the World Gather at Local Summit ”

1. “Courageous Individuals From Around the World Gather at Local Summit” WEBER’S WORLD www.webersworld.com - Since 2013 Brandon, South Dakota had a few more reasons to shine this past weekend when a summit of some of the world’s most courageous people met at the Holiday Inn to share their stories of guts and triumph. Attendees of the 1st annual summit were nominated by friends, family, and peers for extreme acts of courage. Included in the summit were a young man who helped brake the race barrier in Major League Baseball, an 11-year old girl from Afghanistan who went to extreme measures to help her family meet ends meat after her father’s arrest by the Taliban, and an 18-year old boy who was once the town outcast but is now a home town celebrity. While each persons’ story is different, there is no doubt that they are all truly courageous individuals worthy of the recognition they received at the summit. I was fortunate enough to sit down with each of these individuals as they shared their fascinating stories. I asked each one to describe moments in their lives that they were most proud of. Branch Rickey:As a baseball manager, I never felt that I was an overly courageous person. All I knew was that I was fortunate to make a living coaching the game I loved. However, that all changed when I decided that the time had come for racial equality in America’s beloved sport. I knew that my proposal to allow African Americans into the MLB would be met with much skepticism and possibly hostility. “Achieving it would be terribly difficult. There would be deep resentment, determined opposition, and perhaps even racial violence,” (p. 290). However, I was determined to not give up. Eventually, with the help of one of America’s greatest ball players – Jackie Robinson – we reached our goal. In today’s world it is hard to imagine there was ever a time when whites and blacks played in separate leagues. Weber: That is an incredible achievement Mr. Rickey. I’m sure it took a lot of courage for you to stand up for what you believed in even when so many people were against you. Miss Parvana, do you find any similarities between Mr. Rickey’s story and your own?

2. Parvana: The main similarity I find between Mr. Rickey’s story and my own is that I, too, was fighting against a group of people who discriminated against me. In my situation, my Afghanistan home was overrun by the Taliban. They are a terrible group who overthrew our government and arrested my father for no good reason! Weber: I’m so sorry to hear that Parvana. I’m sure that living amongst the Taliban was a horrifying time in your life and required great courage to stay strong and survive. Can you tell me a little more about your experience? Parvana: Of course. The scariest moment in my life was when my mother and I went to the jail where we believed the Taliban had taken my father. When we arrived, my mother and I demanded the Taliban guards take us to see him. As you can probably imagine, the guards did not appreciate our demands and began viciously attacking and beating my mother. They also hit me but I found an inner-strength which helped me stand back up, get my mother, and get away from the dangerous Taliban. “Parvana knelt down, took her mother’s arm and helped her to her feet. Slowly, with her mother leaning on her for support, they hobbled away from the prison,” (p. 43). Continue… (Interview with Radio) Weber: Well thank you everyone for your time. Your stories are truly an inspiration to anyone who hears them. For more information on how you can either nominate a courageous person for next year’s summit or get tickets to attend yourself, please visit the 2nd Annual Courage Summit’s website at: www.couragesummit2014.com