This I Believe was radio show hosted half-a-century ago by Edward Murrow. This was a radio series featuring the personal beliefs or viewpoints of significant individuals from all walks of life. This was a nightly radio show focusing on people who may appear ordinary in their chosen career from the bank, social work, the art world, etcwhose life is extraordinarily interesting. This I Believe is a story of all kinds whose personalities may have varied, and yet, they are similar in their real honesty, integrity, as well talking aloud “the rules they live by, the things they have found to be the basic values in their lives.” (Murrow)
This meaningful radio series was a constant reminder for people that they lived in the age of confusion. Of the many messages the show conveyed, there is one striking message that makes many people reflect about their life, actuation, environment, and even their relationships. In This I Believe, many individuals have exchange their "beliefs for bitterness and cynicism,” for a strong hopeless feeling or even a “quivering portion of hysteria.” (Murrow) This 50s radio series is inspirational in approach.
This I Believe is very impressive considering people’s honesty and their commitment to the rules they have lived by. They may not be perfect in their respective lives. However, they are committed and dedicated to the standards set them to live righteously. The personalities This I Believe featured were ordinary by looks, but they are unique by virtue. There were many things that this radio show taught. The radio program encouraged both the ordinary and popular people to express their personal life’s motivation through short essays. This phenomenal series is a collection of essays depicting inspiration and hope, no matter how hard life is.
One essay featured in this famous radio show in the 50s is The Source of True Greatness by Kahli Alspaugh. The essayist says one of the most difficult things to overcome is grief, especially over the loss of something very important or someone very special. According to this essayist, “it is that feeling of sorrow that sits upon one’s chest that kills the passion of the heart to make a simple task seem like an impossible task.” (Alspaugh)
This is very striking especially for someone who just lost a loved one because of death. Overcoming a person’s death is one of the hardest things to do, especially if the bereaved is so close to the dead. The essay tells the readers that greatness is only achieved when the death is already completely accepted. When one finally gets to accept that there are things that can no longer be changed, then, that is greatness. Indeed, the true source of greatness is acceptance.
And, for one to truly accept loss of a person so dear to him, it requires him a lot of optimism. Also, it takes a while to get over that loss. According to the great Ralph Emerson, “Great men are they who see that holiness is stronger than any material force.” (Alspaugh) If one tries to analyze this, he will realize and surely agree that faith is stronger than material things. Meaning, if one already believes that he has already achieved happiness in life, then, he will truly be happy, no matter what. He needs not physical objects anymore to support his happiness. It is believable too that people have full control over their lives than they might expect and in order for them to maintain this control; they have to have gratefulness, hopefulness, and a strong will.
The essayist firmly believes that the true source of greatness is acceptance. It also follows that appreciation is the key to achieving it. One needs not material richness; physical beauty and social powers to achieve greatness. All it takes are acceptance to his life’s events (good and bad), and appreciation in what he already has. Life’s events, especially the negative ones may be the hardest to accept. However, greatness is never possible if there one does not learn how to grasp these negatives. As for appreciation, a person will never achieve greatness if he does not know how to appreciate even the littlest and simplest things and people that he already has in life. The source of true greatness does not have to be wealth. It does not have to be the most popular person in the world. It can be the simplest ordinary man who is grateful with his life.
Works Cited
"The History of This I Believe | This I Believe." This I Believe | A public dialogue about belief — one essay at a time. N.p., 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
Murrow, Edward. "Introduction to the Original This I Believe « Edward R Murrow | This I Believe." This I Believe | A public dialogue about belief — one essay at a time. N.p., 8 May 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
"The Source of Two Greatness." OHS: Welcome. Kahli Alspaugh, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
