Three Great Peacemakers - Mother Teresa, Rigoberta Menchu, and Deganawida
84Mother Teresa, Rigoberta Menchu and Deganawida Made Peace Their Life's Work
These three incredible people have contributed immensely to human history. Their accomplishments in helping to create a better humanity have made them famous.
What makes a great Peacemaker?
Each one of these people is a prime example of persistence, vision, overcoming hardships and committing to peacemaking as their life's work.
Each one came from different origins, but the execution of their vision remains the same: they remained faithful to their vision of peace.
Mother Teresa: A Call to Greatness
Mother Teresa knew from a young age that she would serve humanity and her God. She wanted to become a missionary to spread the love of her Savior. At 18, she joined an order of Sisters and went to India. Initially, she went to work at a high school.
So much poverty surrounding that school affected her, however. She left the school to found her own order, "The Missionaries of Charity" and worked with the poorest, diseased, and otherwise shunned members of Indian society.
Mother Teresa's work inspired over 4,000 other nuns and 300 brothers to carry on with her work around the world, helping the most destitute people in countries everywhere.
Mother Teresa brought hope to the hopeless, and spread love and kindness and became world renowned as a Peacemaker. She became a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for her tireless work helping others.
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Deganawida: I Am the Peacemaker
Long ago, many nations of Indians were constantly at war with each other. Eventually, they found a way to peace with the help of the Great Peacemaker, also known as Deganawida.
He had humble origins. It is said that he was born to a woman of the Huron tribe. His birth fulfilled a vision his grandmother had. In the vision, the Great Spirit appeared to her and foretold that her daughter would bear a child, one that would achieve great things.
When Deganawida grew into an adult, he crafted a canoe made of stone. This would be the vessel he used to travel and approach the various warring tribes. He'd always known that he would try to bring a message of peace to other nations. He set out on his journey.
He first came into contact with the people of the Mohawk Nation. He encountered several men and a woman in a long house. He spoke of the need for peace, righteousness and power. He was able to convince these people to accept peace.
He then traveled to the Cayugas, Senecas and Onondagas.
He unflaggingly preached his message, facing great adversity at times. He convinced an angry cannibal to embrace peace, and united many people that had only known war - they were warriors who found it difficult to change their lives, but they did.
Deganawida also performed miracles to help fulfill his vision. He climbed a tree and sat on a branch overlooking a cliff. He asked a skeptic to cut the branch, and he fell a long way into the raging waters below. However, he made it back to the camp before everyone woke the next morning. This miracle is what persuaded the Mohawks to accept peace.
Deganawida united six nations to form the Iroquois Confederacy. All tribes relinquished their weapons and established a pact of rules to live by - their constitution.
It was this model that Ben Franklin looked to when colonists were forming their own constitution. Because the Iroquois Confederation was so strong, peaceful and vibrant, many believe that this was a precursor to the American Constitution.
Rigoberta Menchu, Nobel Prize Laureate
More About Guatemala and Poverty
Rigoberta Menchu
Rigoberta Menchú grew up desperately poor. The adversities she faced contributed to her actions as a peacemaker. As she was growing up, her family had to work on a plantation. At that time, many plantation owners didn't pay a fair wage.
Indigenous peoples of Guatemala had no rights. They were treated as property.
When the Guatemalan government, along with plantation owners continued to oppress, abuse and even steal native peoples' lands, they began to fight back.
Rigoberta's father was a leader in this movement. He was arrested many times and was even put to death by fire as Rigoberta watched. She also lost her brother in the movement. He was kidnapped, tortured and also burned alive. One by one, Rigoberta's family members were summarily raped, tortured and executed - as were many people. This became the start of the Guatemalan Civil War.
Because Rigoberta was also active in the movement, she retreated to Mexico, fearing for her life. She began to work on her autobiography and tried to begin the healing process from losing so many members of her immediate family. She had no schooling, so had to dictate the book.
Her book, I, Rigoberta Menchú not only talked about the plight of her family, but also of the plight of the indigenous peoples of Guatemala. The world began to hear about this conflict and began to help Rigoberta in her efforts.
In 1992, the United Nations recognized Menchú to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She used the funds to set up a foundation in honor of her father to help fight for the rights of indigenous people in Guatemala.
Her relentless battle for peace has changed the lives of many in her home country. Her work also led the United Nations to recognize the International Year for Indigenous Peoples in 1993.
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Why Choose These Three Peacemakers?
I came across a site with over 800 known peacemakers in the world. Why did I choose these three?
So often, we hear of prominent white, male peacemakers. There's nothing wrong with that - it's incredible!
But, I wanted to highlight lesser known people and peacemakers who are not so typical.
Mother Teresa was a holy woman and did so many good deeds that the world recognized her as a pillar of peace.
Deganawida helped to create peace among people that had never known what it was. His efforts then influenced the founding fathers of the United States. The fact that he was Native American is even sweeter.
Rigoberta Menchú is also an incredible individual, rising from obscurity in poverty to fight for human rights. Despite no education and growing up with virtually no resources, she overcame the odds to help people in her own country and inspire others around the world.
What are the Characteristics of Peacemakers?
In my research, I believe that these three people had a few things in common:
- A vision - of love and peace
- Peace became their life's work
- They overcame incredible odds and adversity
- They were persistent in their efforts
- They all had humble beginnings
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References
These links helped with my research and understanding of these people:
- 876 Notable Peacemakers Throughout History
Here is a list and links to just about anyone you can think of that had a hand in creating a little bit of peace in the world. - Mother Teresa - Biography
This Nobel Prize site highlights the life of Mother Teresa and explains how her work inspired thousands around the world to emulate her. (Retrieved 12/23/11.) - Rigoberta Menchu
Rigoberta's life is an incredible one. From growing up in poverty to receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, this site highlights Rigoberta's journey. (Retrieved 12/23/11)
Related Hubs
Mother Teresa and The Nobel Banquet - this hub has beautiful pictures and highlights the beautiful banquet in her honor.
Two Great Personalities - Mahatma Ghandi and Mother Teresa - Ghandi was another great Peacemaker
Native American Nations in Ontario - Patty Inglish wrote a great hub on the Six Nations comprising one of the earliest democracies.
Poverty in Guatemala - One of the reasons that ignited the Civil War in Guatemala.
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Aww, thanks for stopping by, Simone. :) When I first read about Rigoberta Menchu and Deganawida, I was so inspired that I wrote a long paper on Menchu's works back in college and Deganawida made me interested in just how real peacemakers "tick". They are pretty amazing.
Good to the non-establishment history focus, very good.
Thanks, Reginald. :) I'm thinking about writing more articles like this.
IT is wonderful to read about these great women who continues to be an inspiration. Thank you for sharing about them.
Congratulations on your hubnuggets nomination. View your nomination by reading this hub: http://ladyjane1.hubpages.com/_hubnuggets6/hub/Las Best of luck and peace be with you and all those around you!
Aw, thanks, ripplemaker. *blush* I'm glad you enjoyed reading about these wonderful, inspirational people. Thank you, too, for sharing the link, too. :)
I will understand fully if you do not publish this comment and quite frankly do not expect you to publish it. However, you at least should know that Rigoberta Menchú was exposed as fraud in the late 1990s. This was a huge blow to those of us who had dedicated years, over a decade even, of activism in the Latin America solidarity movement in the 1970s-1990s, particularly those who had focused on Guatemala. A search on: Rigoberta Menchú liar, will retrieve over 150,000 hits. Here is the first one: http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0000074.cf
Mother Teresa also had a very dark, negative side to her, as expounded in particular by Christopher Hitchens: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fi
Her "legacy" in her homes is one of squalor and neglect as shown in this article from The New Statesman: http://www.newstatesman.com/200508220019 This actually fits well with her philosophy that sheer destitution was a true way to God.
WriteAngled - I will allow your comment. I will also allow that with every great leader, there indeed is the potential dark side. You see, despite these claims, I believe that our humanness is what truly makes all great heroes great. They show that despite the critics - both personal and in the greater human community - they still strive to make a difference. I had come across some of these negative articles in my research and decided that I would still consider these people great inspirations to humanity. Heck, even Jesus - in all his splendor - still lost his temper, as the stories go. None of us is perfect. I truly believe the underlying message that Mother Teresa, Menchu and Deganawida was to look to improve our situations and humanity itself. Thank you for taking the time to comment and post and reminding us that despite our imperfections as a human race, we can always strive to be better and overcome our limitations. :)
cclit girl, awesome hub and awesome response to your comments! You are a lady of class and you research a mean history lesson with an emphasis on peace. Deganawida and Rigoberta Menchú are new names to me so I was very eager to read about them. Im voting up and sharing to my Facebook!
Thank you for letting my comment appear, thus giving people the chance to explore all facets with respect to two of these names, should they wish to do so.
Ardie - thanks for the feedback. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment - you're *awesome*. :)
WriteAngled - that's the fun about writing - it instills a sense of wonder and makes us want to be more open minded. :)
Great article about the great people, we need more of them...thanks for sharing:)
Beata - thanks for stopping by! Here's to great people! :)
Great hub! I have no words to describe this....only can tell you that this hub really touched my heart...thanks for sharing such a beautiful article! May God bless you in whatever you do in your life...
cclitgirl, thanks for sharing this...interesting...and a reminder of the strength that lies within....even in the face of adversity...
Congrats for Hub of the Day!!! Really interesting Hub!
AWESOME LOVE By BERNARD LEVINE
To go to the ends of the world
to help a stranger
To give someone incredible kindness
they will never forget
To treat animals and all of nature
with respect and compassion
These are the things that give life true purpose.
To value your special uniqueness
as a beautiful child of God
To elevate your mind
with the higher value of integrity
To upgrade your living environment
planting seeds to enrich the soul
To give a child caring devotion
so they feel they are loved
To rise above your circumstances
with faith in the power of God
And with the purity of healing love
in your heart
your life will know no boundaries.
© Bernard Levine
Beautiful hub. Thank you for sharing these wonderful people who have blessed many.
Sunnie
mahua - thank you for your kind words. There is no greater compliment to a writer than when they say that their writing has touched a heart. Thank you. :)
pstraubie48 - that inner stregth is such a great thing about the human spirit, no? Thanks for reading.
chamilj - thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I'm glad you found this hub interesting.
sunkentreasure - beautiful poem!! You could do a hub on the immense beauty contained in those words! Peace!
Sunnie - thank you for your kind words, too. These three people have actually influenced and touched my life in some way and I had to share about them! :)
Very beautiful hub! This goes to show that this world can flourish with peace and love one person at a time.
Congratulations on Hub of the Day! You're a beautiful writer.
Where are the real peacemakers these days? Where are the Mother Teresa's? Where are the Ghandi's of our time? I don't know if the world's become smaller through the widespread use of the internet, or if we are all more likely (as a society) to lend a helping hand, that no new peacemakers are rising to the top. The most important message, in my opinion, that anyone can take from your article, is that we're all capable of helping out our fellow man and it's not just a duty -- it's a honor.
This is a powerful hub -I enjoyed every bit of it-the videos- the comments and of course your well written hub-thank you for reseaching and putting this together good job
Howard - what a great response! Where are the Peacemakers? Well, I think first and foremost, they exist within us. I believe each of us has the power to be extraordinary by making ordinary choices that involve peace. I'm not sure though...just my two cents. :)
Cliff - thank you for your kind words!! I definitely enjoy writing and the writing process. :)
Hi Clitgirl :P
Loved your Hub, Like many people I was brought up to belive that Mother Teresa was a amazing woman..
Which she was if it wasn't for the word of god an for that reason i found a link you to research..
http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/hitchens
This is from Council for Secular Humanism
I was a little dissapointed when i found the truth..
Lisa x
suzzycue - Thank you for taking the time to really "invest" in watching the videos, read the hub and read the comments. I am so honored by your thoughts and comments. Thank you. :)
Hi Lisa ~
Yes, as I said in an earlier comment, none of us is perfect. We all try to get through life the best we can, and really, we don't always get there being the most optimistic people. But, the choice to stay and subject oneself to abject, horrific poverty makes one a hero in my book. Maybe there were moments of darkenss and doubt. I, for one, know that I would certainly think twice about dedicating my life to a cause such as this. So, that's where the "hero" part comes in: that despite the struggles and misgivings, a person can persevere. Thank you so much for your comments and even the link - if people want, they can click and read. Thanks also for reading. :)
Ah I love it, I never knew about Rigoberta Menchu, and Deganawida,thank you. I have some sort of Great Lakes tribal blood, possibly Huron, a wonderfully thought provoking connection for me.
The world needs to celebrate these peacemakers.
Ben
I love those who help other so it's impossible for me to not accept their contribution to the entire world. They are still the symbol of peace.
Ben - I'm really glad you felt a personal connection to this. *Another great compliment as a writer* :)
Adomcruze - I agree with you. I also know that we can all be symbols of peace in our own right. :)
Great hub! It's easy to see why this is Hub of the Day. Very, very interesting.
Thank you, Shea. I'm psyched that you found this interesting. :) I know when I decided to write this, I initially chose these three from over 800 possible people...no easy task, but ones that surely shone brightly in my eyes.
Wheew! Deganawida was an Iroquois rara avis, no doubt. The concept of the U.S. constitution reflecting his initial ideas of liberty are a bright connection as well. Too bad the government has obsessively amended it into a belligerent source of income. Nonetheless, fallacies aside, not bad.
carteblancheiskey - I loved that detail about Deganawida when I came across it in my research. Yes, the story of many governments is one where it's all too easy to become corrupt and biased, perpetuated my too-much money. Alas, I think it has happened the world over throughout history...igniting many a revolution. But I suppose that's a topic for another hub. :D
Thank you for this hub. I have learned something new about two people. I have grown up hearing about Mother Teresa. It reminded me when she died. I think it was around the time that Princess Diane also died (fix me if I'm incorrect). I thought it very interesting that the media was so focused on Princess D that Mother Teresa was in the backseat of the mind. I think anyone who helps others deserves unlimited chocolate which is my way of saying praise and gratitude. Congrats on getting hub of the day. Good job on your article.
ytsenoh - thanks for your kind words. I remember when Mother Teresa died - it was eclipsed by the tragedy of Princess Diana - within days of each other. My mother was rather melancholy for days because she revered both women. I love your idea of unlimited chocolate. That with a bit of caramel and I'm one happy camper. Tell me who to help: I'll do it for chocolate and caramel! Haha. Thanks again for your comments. :)
I am completely blown away by this hub! Excellent topic, well researched, and put together beautifully! Thank you for teaching me :)
congrats on Hub of the Day. You spent a lot of time and effort on this Hub and it is deserving. I was only familiar with Mother Teresa, but I liked learning about the other two you wrote about. Thanks for sharing this.
These peacekeepers will always be remembered for their love for humanity. Beautiful human beings they are. Thank you for sharing this hub. Thank you so very much.
This is a nice hub. Of the three peacemakers I read about
the only one that I ever heard about before was Mother Teresa. I thought that it was important that you mentioned the other two.
Rigoberta Menchu who was illiterate but still able to make an impact in her country.
Deganawida seems more like a legend, although his story is still interesting. Unfortunately for the Iroquois the same colonists that adopted their political ideologies in the Constititution wound up destroying them. So, it is good to have peace, but it is also important to be able to defend yourself when a more powerful civilization opposes a great threat to your existance. As history indicates in the destruction of the Iroquois Confederacy by the USA.
Mother Theresa was so inspiring. I have a couple of her quotes surrounding my desk. Great hub. Good choice for hub of the day :)
KrystalD - I'm glad that this hub was able to help you learn something new. :) Thank you for your kind words.
mary615 - This was a really fun hub to research. I learned a lot, too, even though I had known about these people from different classes I took or through articles I read.
jeyaramd - thank you for your beautiful words and commenting. I am so glad that you enjoyed this hub. :)
jonnycuddleberry - you're very insightful! You're right about Menchu and I'm with you about Deganawida. He seems like he could have been a legend. There's a story that he went over a cliff and survived...and even the part about the stone canoe is intriguing because stone sinks! And, yes, history is often written by the "winners," which is why I decided to highlight someone from Native America as a hero....
LoriSoard - thank you for reading and for your comments. I just love inspirational people! They inspire me to be a better person.
CClit Girl, good response an you do have a amazing view of life :)
Cant Wait to read more of you'r hubs
Lisa x
Lisa - I wish you peace in all your endeavors and many thanks for coming back and reading. :)
you have that link to the 800 people. Awesome hub! :)
hattie - thanks for stopping by and reading. Here's the link: http://peace.maripo.com/p_peacemakers.htm - It talks about 865 Notable Peacemakers. It's full of information and helped me in my research.
Loved your article. This is why we can never stop serving others.Mercy and compassion that was Mother Theresa's legacy, and I am for one very grateful...
ananceleste - Thank you for reading. I look up to these three Peacemakers for sure. I love it that we can all serve each other in so many ways: writing, helping, consoling, comforting, singing...and the list goes on. :)
I think it was around the time that Princess Diane also died (fix me if I'm incorrect). I thought it very interesting that the media was so focused on Princess D that Mother Teresa was in the backseat of the mind.http://www.aluminiumslidingdoors.za.net
Aluminum - you're right. Mother Teresa died September 5, 1997 and Princess Diana was August 31, 1997. Both such a loss for the world - but both were inspirational people. I think the fact that Di's life ended so abruptly and tragically is what made her death sort of "eclipse" Mother Teresa's, but I think both women will both be revered in the history books. Thanks for stopping by. :)
You do have a gift, and this Hub taught me about people I didn't know, and not just the ones that are the focus of the piece. Thanks
Mark - thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your kind words. I'm also glad I was able to help you learn about different people - a compliment to me as a writer. Thank you.
I've known Mother Teresa more among the three peacemakers that you've featured. We studied about India since elementary grades (in Social Studies) and this holy woman inspired almost everyone in that country.
Thanks for sharing those great peacemakers.:D
Thanks,, travel_man - I had heard of all three before I wrote the hub, but then decided to research them further - and I'm glad I did. :D Thanks for stopping by!
I enjoyed reading all of the comments and the hub. Perhaps someone will write a song about the three? It could even be someone here at hub pages.
Write that song, starstream! I've seen your hubs, you can do it!! :) Thanks so much for your lovely comments - always great to see you!
I did not know about Menchu and Diganawida but I'm grateful such people exist. The videos added much to the hub. Voting this Up and Interesting. Thanks for SHARING.
alocsin - aw, thanks for commenting and stopping by and SHARING. :)
A hub showcasing true greatness and humanity. You have presented the hub so very well and stated why you chose them. You have brought to light the glory of great people who are not very well known by other people. Voted up.
Vellur - thank you for your feedback. I definitely wanted to pick three that have inspired me in some way. I appreciate the kudos, too. :)
awesome hub!
winbo - thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your feedback.
Beautiful! I am linking this to an article striving for peace. Thanks for the lovely material!
dagny roth - thank you so much for stopping by! Sorry for the delay in responding - I've been away. I'm glad you enjoyed this. :)
For our project I was finding noble peace makers, but could not do so.
I was frustated.
But finally got them here with their description in brief !!!
I am vey thankfull to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Antara - Hooray! I'm glad this helped you. :) I hope your project goes really well. ;)
Awesome Hub cclitgirl! I hadn't heard of Menchu and Diganawida before! sharing this great hub! I can see why this won HOTD! Take care, Kelley
Kelley - aww, shucks! Thanks so much for your feedback. :) I'm so glad to see you and enjoy seeing you 'round the hub. :)
Simone Smith Level 8 Commenter 4 months ago
Awesome Hub! I had not heard of Deganawida or Rigoberta Menchu before this, and I did not actually know Mother Teresa's story- just that everyone adores her, hahaa! May these people be an inspiration to us all.