How many times have we seen firefighters and policemen sacrifice themselves to save others" lives? Would America have so much freedom if certain significant people didn't fight for our rights? Martin Luther once said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. To reach the "ultimate measure," a person needs to be dedicated, brave, and willing to sacrifice oneself.
Take for example, the firefighters during the World Trade Center Terrorist attack on September 11, 2002. Before the firemen were called for help, they were just a bunch of normal people doing their own stuff. When that emergency bell rang, they have to quickly get dressed in gear to go save some lives knowing that their lives will be at risk.
With the many people trapped in the building and the chance of the building collapsing at any second, the firefighters still went in and tried to save as many people they can. No one turned back or backed out from the job. They had the courage to go in and save the lives of others even if it meant their own. When the building suddenly collapsed, the firefighters were still trapped inside. They were crushed by the pressure and many lost their lives but help saved many. These heroes have reached the ultimate measure and are honored by America.
In the world of sports, fans probably wouldn't see Barry Bonds or Rickey Henderson break so many records if it were not for Jackie Robinson. Starting from 1940, Jackie Robinson had been trying to break the color line. During that time period, professional sports were not considered to be for blacks. When the Brooklyn Dodgers selected Jackie to their team, the fans booed every time he came up to the plate. Even though all that discouragement was affecting him, he ignored the comments, held his head high and never gave up. He won rookie of the year and people started recognizing him for his talents and not his race.