I was flicking through the pages of Wikipedia, checking out info on several actors I'd spotted in various films and TV shows recently.
I looked up the life and career of an American actor called Hugh O'Brian who rose to fame in the 50s and 60s playing Wyatt Earp on TV, and whom came to my attention when he appeared in the 1978 film 'Game of Death' which featured Bruce Lee (of whom I'm a fan).
Mr O'Brian has a charity called the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), which is a non-profit youth leadership development program.
The concept for HOBY was inspired in 1958 by a nine-day visit O’Brian had with famed humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa, who believed "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves."
I read a brief speech that Mr O’Brian’s gave to young people attending a HOBY conference and felt like sharing it:
"I do NOT believe we are all born equal. Created equal in the eyes of God, yes, but physical and emotional differences, parental guidelines, varying environments, being in the right place at the right time, all play a role in enhancing or limiting an individual's development. But I DO believe every man and woman, if given the opportunity and encouragement to recognize their potential, regardless of background, has the freedom to choose in our world. Will an individual be a taker or a giver in life? Will that person be satisfied merely to exist or seek a meaningful purpose? Will he or she dare to dream the impossible dream?"
"I believe every person is created as the steward of his or her own destiny with great power for a specific purpose, to share with others, through service, a reverence for life in a spirit of love."
Stay well, happy and keep thinking for yourselves and choosing wisely.
Cris (El Baron)
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