Dream Weavers: People We Admire Quiz

Answer: Protesting World War One

During World War One, Debs spoke out against the conflict because he felt the war was motivated by the greed of capitalism. On June 18, 1918 he made a speech in Cleveland asking the young men to not submit themselves to the military draft. He was arrested on June 30 and stood trial on ten counts of sedition. His legal defense offered no witnesses. Instead, Debs was granted the privilege of addressing the jury. Heywood Broun, a noted journalist at the trial, summed it up by saying that "tongues of fire danced...as he spoke".

Debs said, among other things: "I am thinking this morning of the men in the mills and factories; I am thinking of the women who, for a paltry wage, are compelled to work out their lives; of the little children who...(are) robbed of their childhood, and ...forced into the industrial dungeons. The struggle of powers of greed on the one hand and ...the rising hosts of freedom (but)I can see the dawn of a better day of humanity. The people are awakening. In due course of time they will come into their own".

In the 1920 election Debs drew over 900,000 votes, 3.4% of the votes cast. Woodrow Wilson took a personal dislike toward Debs. When others under similar charges were released, Wilson stood firm. He was pardoned by Warren Harding on Christmas 1921. In 1924 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He died in 1926.

Answer: Parkinson's disease

Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton, Alberta on June 9, 1961. His citizenship is both Canadian and American. He is known for his success as an actor, author, voice-over artist, and producer. Some of his most well-known roles include Marty McFly from the trilogy movies, "Back to the Future"(1985-1990), Alex P. Keaton from television's "Family Ties" (1982-1989), Mike Flaherty from television's "Spin City" (1996-2001) and the voice-over of the little white mouse in the film "Stuart Little" (1999).

In 1991 Michael Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which is a degenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system. The dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra of the midbrain region die. Body movement is affected by shaking and twitching. There is slow movement, rigidity and often times there are problems with walking. The condition affects both thinking and behavior and may eventually cause dementia as the disease progresses to an advanced stage. Depression, sleep problems and emotional problems can occur for many who suffer with this disease.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research was established by Fox in 2000. The foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. In 2010 the foundation launched a clinical study based on the evolution of indicators or biomarkers of Parkinson's disease. This was a hugely large-scale study and the cost was well over 40 million dollars to cover over five years of research.

In 2010 Michael J. Fox was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada. The award is for the highest degree of merit. It is awarded to a person who achieves a level of talent and service that is considered to be outstanding. It is also awarded for a person who makes an exceptional contribution to Canada and to humanity.

I, funnytrivianna, admire Michael J. Fox for his dedication and hard work in the face of adversity. Through his foundation a cure for Parkinson's disease may one day be possible.

Answer: Roberto Clemente

The great Clemente, a native of Puerto Rico (born August 18, 1934), was headed to aid the people of Nicaragua, when his overloaded plane plunged into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after taking off from Puerto Rico on December 31, 1972.
Clemente's number 21, was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates, for whom he played his entire career (1955-1972). His lifetime average of .317, his 4 batting titles and 15 time All-Star selections helped gain him entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Every year Major League baseball presents The Roberto Clemente Award to the player who has done the most to exemplify Clemente's spirit of unselfishly helping those most in need.

N.Y. Yankee captain and catcher Thurman Munson, undefeated heavyweight boxing champ Rocky Marciano, and golfing great Payne Stewart all also died in plane crashes.

Interesting fact: In his last career at bat, Clemente recorded his 3,000th hit.

Answer: Muscular dystrophy

The MD Telethon has raised over two and a half billion dollars, mostly during Jerry Lewis time as host of the three day televised event. Each year famous guests would appear, including his old partner Dean Martin, whom he teamed up with in 19 "Martin and Lewis" comedy films from 1949-1956.

As the guests did their things, folks from all over would phone in pledges of money to an unselfish battery of dedicated, tireless men and women who handled the calls. Quite often some of the super-stars themselves would also do phone duty.

Due to health problems of his own, in 2009 it was announced that the then 83 year old Lewis would have to step aside from his hosting the event. Jerry Lewis has two much deserved stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but long after people forget his movies, he should still be remembered and admired for his charitable endeavors for Muscular Dystrophy.

Answer: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana died on June 25, 2009. During the course of his singing career he was awarded several Grammy Awards including: Album of the Year, "Thriller" (1984), Record of the Year, "Beat It" (1984), Hall of Fame Award "Off the Wall" (2008), Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), Producer of the Year (1984), Grammy Legend Award (1994), Best Music Film (1985), Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Thriller" (1984) and several more. Mr. Jackson has won MTV Video awards, NAACP Image Award, American Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Award and so many more.

His dedication to an outstanding career earned him millions of dollars, making it possible for him to donate to several charities throughout the world. Some of those charities include: AIDS Project L.A., American Cancer Society, Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles, Childhelp U.S.A., Children's Institute International, Dreams Come True Charity, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Minority Aids Project, Rotary Club of Australia, Starlight Foundation, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and several more.

I, funnytrivianna, not only admire the multi-talents of this person but I admire the humility in how he was able to make donations to so many charities with such discretion.

Answer: Audrey Hepburn

It is one thing to point out the outstanding films she made but few know of untireing devotion to humanitarian causes. As the Global Ambassador for UNICEF, she traveled the world--Turkey, Ethiopia, Central America, Somalia, and Vietnam-- in behalf of the UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) Her tasks were varied but included a polio vaccine project in Turkey, training for women in Venezuela, projects for homeless children in Ecuador, drinking water in Guatemala and Honduras, literacy projects in El Salvador, schools in Bangladesh, impoverished children in Thailand, Vietnam and the Sudan.

Hepburn once said of her work: "I can testify to what UNICEF means to children, because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II. I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does."

In 2009 a posthumous Gene Hersholt Humanitarian Award was made at the Oscar ceremony to commemorate her work on humanitarian causes.

Answer: Mandy Patinkin

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" is the famous line delivered by Mandy Patinkin's character in 1987's beloved 'The Princess Bride'. A few years before leaving 'Criminal Minds', Patinkin had also quit his Emmy-award winning role in the hospital drama 'Chicago Hope' after just two seasons, citing personal reasons. Patinkin is a strong proponent of organ and tissue donation, having been a double cornea transplant recipient after suffering for many years from keratoconus, a rare degenerative disease of the eye. Appearing at the 1997 Tony Awards ceremony to present an award, Patinkin, sporting huge dark glasses, explained that he had just had a cornea transplant, thanking the family of the child whose cornea he had received, and impressing upon the audience the importance of becoming organ and tissue donors.

Answer: Tina Louise

Tina Louise had initially signed on for 'Gilligan's Island' under the wrong impression that her character was going to be the central one. She has always claimed that the Ginger Grant role forever typecast her and prevented her from being recognized as a serious actress. Only minor roles in mostly obscure films, along with guest appearances on numerous TV series, followed for Tina, who was the only original cast member not to return for any of the 'Gilligan's Island' film sequels.

She is a longtime childhood literacy advocate and volunteer reading tutor, and has authored two childrens books, 'When I Grow Up', which urges kids to find inspiration in their lives through the animal kingdom, and 'What Does a Bee Do?', about the vital role bees play in our food supply.

Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt

The story goes that Eleanor met Franklin, fifth cousins, on a train and bonded, and married. The husband and dutiful spouse remained intact until Eleanor found love letters between Franklin and Lucy Mercer. After, their marriage morphed into a political partnership.

Because Eleanor had a rocky relationship with her mother-in-law, Franklin bought her a home across town from the mansion in Hyde Park that she called Val-Kill. She said "Val-Kill is where I used to find myself and grow. At Val-Kill I emerged as an individual." Nearly everyday there were visitors from all over the world. The staff used to ask her how many guests for supper and it was generally more than were expected.

Val-Kill is referred to as a 'cottage'. In a visit a few years ago I was surprised at how small many of the rooms were. Hyde Park, Val-Kill, and the Vanderbilt mansion have all been declared National Monuments. If you see them all in one day, as we did, both Val-Kill and Hyde Park look pretty shabby compared to where the Vanderbilts lived.

Answer: Hubert Humphrey

He was the son of a pharmacist and became a pharmacist after his graduation from the University of Minnesota. Later, he obtained a degree in political science from Louisiana State University.

Although he held a number of offices in Minnesota, his rise in national visibility came at the 1948 Democratic Convention. The Democrats had a weak civil rights plank in their platform. The Truman Administration did not want a strong statement so as not the alienate Southern Democrats. Humphrey and other Northern democratics felt that the time had come for change.

Hubert Horatio Humphety stood before the 1948 Democratic Convention and said: "To those who say... that we are rushing this issue of civil rights, I say to them we are 172 years too late! To those who say, this civil rights program is an infringement on states' rights, I say this: the time has arrived in America for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights!" The minority plank passed that included anti-lynching laws, school desegregation, and minority employment rights.

In 1968 when Lyndon Johnson declined to run for another term, the party turned to Humphrey. It was probably one of the worst times to seek that office. Liberal leadership had been diminished by the deaths of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. The country was involved in an unpopular war in Vietnam. Anti-war protesters were in the streets and outside the Democratic Convention in Chicago. The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon and the final vote count was fairly even but Nixon trounced Humphrey in the electoral college.

Humphrey returned to Senate in 1971 and served till his death in 1978. His wife, Muriel, was appointed to serve out his term.