I am a firm believer in everyone being entitled to their own opinion no matter how close-minded, odd, or repulsive your perceptions of just about anything are. Everyone has someone that they truly admire and aspire to be whether those are political figures, military leaders, authors, actors/actresses, singers, etc. Basically, anyone that is widely known, charismatic, or influential has an impact on many people’s lives. The art of influencing can either positively or negatively affect people’s lives in any kind of way, however, positivity is solely what should be focused on.
Every year, Time magazine selects a handful of people that they feel is powerful and compile it into a list called “The 100 Most Influential People”. This list of influential…show more content… Although Time does not clarify nor specify whether they select people with either positive or negative impact, however, Kim Jong Un’s already large ego should not be fed anymore considering he goes by his self-given title “Supreme Leader”. Kim Jong Un is not worthy of being on any list unless it degrades him. Why recognize someone that is not respected by anyone but his own people only because they are forced to? Besides the fact that he is arrogant and a waste of living space, he is definitely not what I consider to be influential. Of course, his totalitarian leadership makes him the most powerful in his country which is probably why he even made it onto the list. But in my opinion, influencing should be like persuading others rather than forcing and threatening people to agree with all that he says and does, which sums up how bad of a leader he is. Rather than giving recognition to someone with no positive impact on this Earth and is basically this generation’s Hitler, leaders that are actually well-respected and also positively affect the lives of others should be acknowledged instead. Someone I believe that is a prime example of an influential leader is Thich Nhat Hanh, also known as “Zen Master”.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, mostly known for being a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk and peace activity, is also a teacher and best-selling…show more content… He was known as a pioneer in bringing Buddhism to the West, founding six monasteries and dozens of practice centers in America and Europe. A thriving community of over 600 monks and nuns worldwide was established by him. Moreover, tens of thousands of students apply his teachings on mindfulness, peace-making and community-building in schools, workplaces, businesses – and even prisons – throughout the world. Thich Nhat Hanh, now in his 88th year, is a gentle, humble monk – the man Martin Luther King gave the name “An Apostle of peace and nonviolence.” The media has called him “The Father of Mindfulness,” “The Other Dalai Lama” and “The Zen Master Who Fills Stadiums.”
