There is nothing important like having a great and memorable dinner with world renowned scholars and great men and women who have not only made achievement in people’s life but also change the world immensely. This important occasion was graced by six prominent quests that included Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Plato, George Washington and Winston Churchill. These people were invited to this great dinner due to their major contribution to the development of the world. During this occasion, one actually gets impressed and happy with all the aspect of this occasion, Sitting arrangements is quite important and given the opportunity I will sit next to Mahatma Gandhi. Since time is limited the quest will discuss the political progress of the world, Environmental issues, Poverty, Wars and what should be done to solve the problems that pose threat top world peace and development. This paper takes a critical examination of the great dinner attended by six world great personalities. The paper further succinctly analyses what they discussed, their arguments, their agreements and the significance of the conversation on this dinner.
Overview of invited the six guests
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was a highly respected In Indian spiritual and political leader. He was born in 1869 in India. Gandhi studied law and later helped India achieve independence through non-violent resistance. According to Bharadwaj, (2007)
“He developed a method of action based upon the principles of courage, nonviolence and truth called Satyagraha. He believed that the way people behave is more important than what they achieve. Satyagraha promoted nonviolence and civil disobedience as the most appropriate methods for obtaining political and social goals. In 1915 Gandhi returned to India. Within 15 years he became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement”
Mahatma is highly respected for having created a firm foundation of peace and non-violent movement not only in India but to the whole world. Peace is critical to economic development of countries and this was the main massage of Gandhi. Mahatma is one of the people who are remembered for championing world peace.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela is an African world Nobel piece prize winner and the former president of South Africa. He is respected for championing anti apartheid rule in South Africa. However his resistance for apartheid rule made him imprisoned for 27 years. Mandela release from the prison marked an historic moment for Africa and the world at large. This was due to his influence on the people and the out cry of the international community. According to Josephson, (2009),
Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life’s work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC held inside South Africa after the organization had been banned in 1960, Mandela was elected President of the ANC.
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was a world Nobel peace prize winner and a catholic nun who made a great contribution to the missionary of charity in Kolkata. She was born in 1910 in Albania and she died in 1997 in India. Mother Teresa is remembered for having contributed to charity in India. She helped the sick, the poor, the elderly and the abandoned people in the society. She received many international awards and recognition for he dedicated effort in helping the vulnerable people in the society. Towards this she has contributed immensely in change the world view of the vulnerable people in the society as well as preaching love, piece and harmonious coexistence in the society. (Vardey, 1995)
Plato
Plato was a great Greek philosopher who lived in the ages of synthesis. Plato was a student of Socrates. Plato contributed greatly to the philosophy and founded demigod Academia. His immense contribution to education is something which can never be taken lightly. According APA, (1896),”Plato felt that the only salvation of politics would require that either true or genuine philosophers attain political power or the rulers of states by some dispensation of providence become genuine philosophers.”This argument shows how he never liked politics of corruption, intimidation and political rivalry to attain power.
George Washington
George Washington was the first American president .He was born in 1732 and served in military Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. He led America to many victories for instance the capture of Boston. Washington is respected for having created a firm foundation for federal rule in America. According to Morgenthau andThompson, (2008),
“Washington’s administration was one of precedents with many standards that are still followed. For example, he relied on his cabinet for advice. Since his cabinet appointments went unchallenged, presidents are generally able to choose their own cabinets. He chose a successor for Chief Justice John Jay from outside the bench instead of based on seniority.”
During the round table discussion, each quest contributed one after the other. On the topic of world peace, all the agreed that there is need for all leaders to work together in preaching peace to all. On this issue, Mahatma Gandhi came out clear on the mater world peace stating that it is the responsibility of everyone in the society. This sentiment was equally echoed by all other five guests. Mandela on this issue of peace challenged everyone at the dinner to be part of the peace process and Mahatma put it on clear term that everyone should be the change they would like the world to be.
Part of Mandela’s speech at the dinner party
As illustrated in Josephson, (2009),
In our struggle for freedom fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution which will guarantee racial harmony and freedom for all. It is not true that the enfranchisement of all will result in racial domination. Political division, based on color, is entirely artificial and, when it disappears, so will the domination of one color group by another. The ANC has spent half a century fighting against racialism. When it triumphs it will not change that policy.
“This then is what the ANC is fighting. Their struggle is a truly national one. It is a struggle of the African people, inspired by their own suffering and their own experience. It is a struggle for the right to live. During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” (Josephson, 2009)
Plato challenged the audience at the party with great philosophical ideas which not only opened people way of life but also opened people perspective view. On the issue of love he however maintained that “Love is a serious mental disease “(Thayer 2010) and finally ended by saying that “The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men” (Thayer 2010). George Washington argued that to maintained world peace strong military base is necessary with strong federal government. On the other hand, mother Teresa disagreed with this military concept saying that it will jeopardize peace in the world. The discussion on environment got a great backing from the entire guest that for survival of mankind, there is great need for environmental conservation.
Conclusion
It is of great honor that these great people converged together to discuss world issue and offer possible solutions to these problems. It is out of this great dinner that I got so much impressed and happy to have gained from great minds in the society at different ages of time. It is precisely evidenced that when people come together and give constructive dialogue a chance it is possible to solve most of the world challenges and problems.