"Courage is a verb, do it" ---Daniel Berrigan

What is courage? Many believe that it is the ability to act heroically in the face of adversity or take on a challenge without regard to consequences. This is not true. Courage is a complex set of behavioral characteristics arising from one’s moral beliefs and how they chose to live life. It is a quality that allows a person to act appropriately in the face of unexpected challenges. Courage is the strength of character that allows a person to face obstacles with careful responses and a commitment to succeed. It can also be the ability to face and accept defeat while coming out of the experience more knowledgeable and wiser. It is a combination of many human characteristics such as maturity, confidence, experience, and logic.

There are many examples of courageous behavior in our everyday  lives. Some are obvious. When the World Trade Centers were attacked on September 11, 2011, there were many courageous firefighter, policemen, and even pedestrians who put their lives on the line to save the people in the buildings. Another example of courage was demonstrated by Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta, the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. During an ambush on his company byTaliban forces in Afghanistan, Giunta charged into enemy fire to prevent another American soldier from being captured.

Other acts of courage are demonstrated in the form of commitment and standing up for one’s beliefs. In 1967, Muhammad Ali refused army conscription because of his religious beliefs. As a result, Ali’s reputation suffered greatly. His boxing license was suspended and he was stripped of his heavyweight title. He was arrested and went through numerous trials before the Supreme Court reversed his conviction in 1971. Through all of this, Ali demonstrated his courage by standing up for his beliefs.

Courage is demonstrated by everyone in every aspect of life. Some are more apparent than others. However, in the end the results are the same. People are admired for their ability to take on challenges in a respectable manner.