Letters from an American January 18, 2026
19 snips
Jan 19, 2026 Discover a fascinating exploration of heroism through the lens of ordinary choices. Historical figures like Eisenhower and Anne Frank exemplify courage in everyday life. Delve into the visible risks taken by leaders from Sitting Bull to Rosa Parks to protect rights and dignity. Martin Luther King Jr.'s efforts in Memphis link civil rights with economic justice, culminating in his powerful Mountaintop Speech. The discussion concludes with a reminder that heroes exist all around us, performing brave acts despite risks.
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Everyday Heroism Redefined
- Heather Cox Richardson argues heroism is ordinary people choosing others over themselves despite flaws and risk.
- She reframes heroism as sustained moral choice rather than perfection or spectacle.
Historical Acts Of Courage
- Heather Cox Richardson cites Dwight D. Eisenhower writing a letter before D-Day taking blame if things went wrong as an act of responsibility.
- She also invokes Anne Frank, John Hancock, Sitting Bull, and Rosa Parks as concrete examples of quiet courage.
King's 'Mountaintop' Moment
- Heather Cox Richardson recounts Martin Luther King Jr.'s April 3, 1968 speech in Memphis supporting sanitation workers and expanding civil rights to economic justice.
- She highlights his 'mountaintop' remarks acknowledging danger while expressing faith in the movement's progress.
