Who are Your Heroes?

I've been reading a wonderful little book titled "Welcome to Samantha's World 1904".   It's one of the American Girl series of books.  If you haven't
read any of those books I would highly recommend them.   There is a page about the wealthy during the turn of the century.  Many of them practiced philanthropy:  from the Greek philanthropos, meaning "loving humankind".

People in America who have worked hard and been successful have traditionally given great sums of money to help others by building hospitals, librarys, museums, schools and parks.  They have formed and supported charities that otherwise would not exist. 
I went to Wikipedia and found a list of famous and generous people throughout our history.  You may be familiar with the names Carnegie, and Rockefeller just two of the many wealthy who gave away millions.
A few of todays philanthropists you might recognize:
  In 1982, Paul Newman co-founded the Newmans Own food
company and donated all after-tax profits to various charities.  Upon his death in 2008, Newmans Own had donated over $250 million to thousands of charities.
Michael Jackson donated more than $300million to various foundations.
Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library which gives books to children on a regular basis to develop their reading skills before starting school.
Oprah Winfrey has given over $300 million and founded Oprah's Angel Network.
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer(now Apple Inc.) provided all the money and onsite technical support for the technology program in the Los Gatos School district in California.
Bono has campaigned to cancel Third World debt to developed nations....
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett give to eradicate malaria and river blindness...
These are just a few from the list I found at Wikipedia.  Look it up.  You will be surprised at the generosity of your fellow man.

So what is my point?  My point is, in America from our beginning we have been a land of doers.   We are a people of strength, courage, generosity and self-reliance.  As observed by Alexis de Tocqueville in "On Democracy in America" 1835-1840,  Americans "did not rely on others--government, an aristocracy, or the church--to solve their public problems, rather, they did it themselves, through voluntary associations, which is to say, philantrophy, which was characteristically democratic."
We have never sat back and expected the government to solve our problems until now.
Its time to dig out the history books and see for ourselves what people before
us did for themselves and their fellow countrymen.
Or have we let the misguided among us destroy our heroes in our own eyes until we have no heroes left to look up to?
When my children were young, my oldest daughter wanted an expensive pair of designer jeans that I could not afford to give her at the time.  I told her if she wasn't happy with the jeans I could provide, she could get a job and buy herself some designer jeans.  She didn't like that idea too much, but it did provide a way for her to get what she wanted.  She got a work permit as soon as she was old enough and promptly got a job helping to open a new fast food restuarant.  She worked many kids of jobs before she got married and started a family.  She has raised two families while taking college courses to further her education and will soon have her Bachelors Degree.   She has never stopped seeking to better herself thru all the trials of life.  She is an American Girl and a true champion of the American Way, as are her brother and sister, who have worked hard and accomplished much in their lives, which
I will tell you about in due time.
I am proud and honored to be my childrens mother.  They are true American
Heroes.