I choose 12 women in the century I live, not only because they are famous, but because they had inspired a lot of people, especially me and any young woman to follow their steps in social works, political fields or spiritual life and even as author; whatever criticism against them - at least they remain as among the best 21st century women most girls (should) have admired for their dedication to the world according to their field. Even if there are two very young women here, for such young women like them should be a role model to our daughters. Most of all I choose those who support or promote for peace and freedom and those who involve very much in social charity and social works. I know there are more women should be put here. But, I prefer to give only 12 names.
1. MOTHER THERESA
Mother Teresa (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu(pronounced [aɡˈnɛs ˈɡɔndʒa bɔjaˈdʒiu]), was a Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity andIndian citizenship who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
"Spread love everywhere you go; first of all in your house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."
2. CHIARA LUBICH
Chiara Lubich (22 January 1920 – 14 March 2008) was an Italian Catholic activist and leader and foundress of the Focolare Movement.
During World War II, while bombs were destroying Trent, Lubich, then in her early twenties, against a background of hatred and violence, made the discovery of God who is Love, the only ideal that no bomb could destroy. It was a powerful experience, 'stronger than the bombs that were falling on Trent which Lubich immediately communicated to her closest friends. Their lives changed radically. They declared that, should they be killed, they wished to have only one inscription carved on their tomb: "And we have believed in love".
Her discovery of "God is Love" (cf. 1 John 4:16), led her, on 7 December 1943, alone in a small chapel, to promise herself to God forever and to change her name to Chiara, in honour of the Saint from Assisi. This date is considered the beginning of the Focolare movement.These Focolare (small communities of lay volunteers) seek to contribute to peace and to achieve the evangelical unity of all people in every social environment. The goal became a world living in unity, and its spirituality has helped dismantle centuries-old prejudices. Today its members are thousands of people who profess no particular religion.
"We should not live in such a way that in our last hours we will not regret having loved too little."
3. RACHEL CORRIE
Rachel Aliene Corrie (April 10, 1979 – March 16, 2003) was an American member of theInternational Solidarity Movement (ISM). She was crushed to death in the Gaza Strip by anIsrael Defence Forces (IDF) bulldozer when she was kneeling in front of a local Palestinian's home, thus acting as a human shield, attempting to prevent IDF forces from demolishing the home. The IDF stated that the death was due to the restricted angle of view of the IDF Caterpillar D9 bulldozer driver, while ISM eyewitnesses said "there was nothing to obscure the driver's view."[] A student at the Evergreen State College, she had taken a year off and traveled to theGaza Strip during the Second Intifada.
"We should be inspired by people... who show that human beings can be kind, brave, generous, beautiful, strong-even in the most difficult circumstances."
4. CHIARA LUCE
Chiara Badano, called Chiara “Luce” (which means "Light"), (Sassello, October 29, 1971 -Sassello, October 7, 1990) was an Italian teenager who has been declared "Blessed" within theCatholic Church. She belonged to the Focolare Movement and died prematurely at eighteen after succumbing to osteosarcoma, an aggressive and painful form of bone cancer.[1] She was beatifiedon September 25, 2010 in the Sanctuary of “Our Lady of Divine Love” in Rome.
“I have nothing left, but I still have my heart, and with that I can always love”.
5. MASTER CHENG YEN
Cheng Yen ( pinyin: Zhèngyán Fǎshī; born 11 May 1937) is a Taiwanese Buddhist nun (bhikkhuni), teacher, and philanthropist.[1] She is known as "Mother Teresa of Asia." In 1966, Cheng Yen founded the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, commonly known as Tzu Chi; its motto is "instructing the rich and saving the poor". Later, Cheng Yen's Charity, Medicine, Education, and Culture Missions developed, and to the present the Tzu Chi Foundation has become involved in international disaster relief, bone marrow donation, environmental protection, and community volunteering.
"Weeds do not easily growing a field planted with vegetables.Evil dos not easily arisein a heartfilled with goodness."
6. CORY AQUINO
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcosand restored democracy in the Philippines. She is considered an icon of democracy, and was titled by TIME Magazine in 1986 as its 'Woman of the Year'.
"Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice."
7. INDIRA GANDHI
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Kashmiri/Hindi: इंदिरा प्रियदर्शिनी गांधी Indirā Priyadarśinī Gāndhī;born Indira Nehru to Jawaharlal Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was the thirdPrime Minister of the Republic of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, a total of fifteen years. India's only female prime minister to date, she remains the world's longest serving female Prime Minister as of 2011.[1] She was also the only Indian Prime Minister to have declared an emergency in order to 'rule by decree' and the only Indian Prime Minister to have been imprisoned.
"Martyrdom does not end something, it only a beginning."
"Martyrdom does not end something, it only a beginning."
8. LADY DIANA
Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances;[née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family and an international personality of the late 20th century as the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981. The wedding, which was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, was televised and watched by a global audience of over 750 million people. The marriage produced two sons: Princes William and Harry,[4] currentlysecond and third in line to the thrones of the 16 Commonwealth realms.
A public figure from the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles, Diana was born into an old, aristocratic English family with royal ancestry, and remained the focus of worldwide media scrutiny before, during and after her marriage, which ended in divorce on 28 August 1996. This media attention continued following her death in a car crash in Paris along with her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul (Fayed's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was the sole survivor from the crash) on 31 August 1997, and in the subsequent display of public mourning a week later. Diana also received recognition for her charity work and for her support of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. From 1989, she was the president of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
"It is a weakness that I lead from my heart, and not from my head?"
9. AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Aung San Suu Kyi ( MLCTS: aung hcan: cu. krany; Burmese pronunciation: [àuɴ sʰáɴ sṵ tɕì]; born 19 June 1945) is a Burmese opposition politician and a former General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% (392 of 485) of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained underhouse arrest before the elections. She remained under house arrest in Burma for almost 15 of the 21 years from July 20, 1989 until her release on 13 November 2010.
"Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent."
10. MASTER CHING HAI
Supreme Master (or "Suma") Ching Hai, (born 12 May 1950), is the self-titled founder and spiritual teacher of the Quan Yin Method with an estimated 20,000 followers world wide.
Ching Hai is a poet, painter, musician, self-published writer and entrepreneur who heads theSupreme Master Ching Hai International Association, a business group with worldwide interests in restaurants, fashion and jewellery design.
"It can causes us great trouble if we do not handle our worldly love carefully. Of course we can love someone. If we use our love to help and encourage each other, to cultivate our aspiration to practice the path of Truth and thus uplift the level of our practice, then it is fine"
11. MASOUMEH EBTEKAR
Masoumeh Ebtekar (Persian: معصومه ابتکار; born 1960) is an Iranian scientist, journalist and politician. She is currently the director of Peace and Environment Center in Tehran.
Ebtekar first achieved fame as the spokeswoman of the students who had occupied the US Embassy in 1979. Later she became the first female Vice President of Iran, the head of the Environment Protection Organization of Iran during the administration of President Mohammad Khatami, and is currently a city councilwoman elect of Tehran.[1] She is a founding member of the Iranian reformist political party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front.Originally known as Niloufar Ebtekar, she changed her public name sometime after the hostage crisis to Massoumeh.[2] Ebtekar is married to Seyyed Mohammad Hashemi who has been only active in the private sector for more than two decades, and they have two children.
"Hidup di dunia berarti kita adalah penumpang yang sama dalam satu kapal."
"Living in the world means we are the same passengers of one boat."
12. J.K Rowling
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE (born 31 July 1965),better known as J. K. Rowling(pronounced /ˈroʊlɪŋ/, ROH-ling),[3] is a British author best known as the creator of the Harry Potter fantasy series, the idea for which was conceived on a train trip from Manchester toLondon in 1990. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, sold more than 400 million copies and been the basis for a popular series of films, in which Rowling had overall approval on the scripts as well as maintaining creative control by serving as aproducer on the final instalment.
Rowling is perhaps equally famous for her "rags to riches" life story, in which she progressed from living on benefits to multi-millionaire status within five years. Forbes ranked Rowling as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007,and Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has givenher fandom. In October 2010, J. K. Rowling was named 'Most Influential Woman in Britain' by leading magazine editors. She has become a notable philanthropist, supporting such charities as Comic Relief, One Parent Families, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain, andLumos (formerly the Children's High Level Group)
"We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better."
