DARE-ING LEADER Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)

With her solo pro-vote among Republicans for the proposed Obama healthcare legislation, the elegant and eloquent senator from Maine, Olympia Snowe, DARED to take the LEAD over the slackers, whackers, and attackers among her Republican colleagues, who have been anything but collegial.  In so doing, Senator Snowe issued this memorable and exemplary sound-bite:  “When history calls, history calls. And I happen to think that the consequences of inaction dictate the urgency of Congress to take every opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to solve the monumental issues of our time.” Tell ‘em where to go, Senator Snowe!

DARE-ING to GUIDE – Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida)
(pictured above)

Schultz, 41, DARED to go public last week with her breast cancer, and has authored a bill to create a national program to GUIDE young women in self-examination and early detection of the disease.  Breast cancer is more common in women over 45 than in young women, but most women over 40 already do self-examinations, which is how Schulz detected her own illness.  That Schultz has undergone a double mastectomy and is now taking on a very public MENTOR role to help detect breast cancer in younger women is a DARE -ING example for all women over 40.  We also hope the Congresswoman DARES to encourage all women over 40 who may not realize that their own wrenching experiences can be catalysts for advocacy that changes lives.

DARE to TEACH Your Children Well – Anguished Mom Valerie Brewer

If there’s a more heart-wrenching story in the news this week involving a mother’s unspeakable anguish, I can’t imagine how it could be more horrific than that of Valerie Brewer, mother of 15-year-old Michael, who suffered burns over 80% of his body when he was viciously attacked by a pack of other teenagers over something so stupid we can’t even give it space.  Ms. Brewer DARED challenge all parents to GUIDE and MENTOR their children:  “We need to stop it now so this doesn’t happen … to somebody else or something worse,” she said. “It’s just unimaginable. Please, everybody out there, take a hold of your children. Love them. Love everybody’s children and let them know that these things are not right. Violence doesn’t solve anything.” Our hearts go out to Ms. Brewer, whose DARING challenge to parents everywhere is a lesson for all – even those of us who don’t have our own children.