All over the world there are controversies on various issues. Only some people have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. These people include Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, Zahra Arabzada and the first peaceful protester, Mohandas Gandhi. These people have their God-given right to defend themselves. Often the people defending themselves represent a crowd or a cause that many people support. Defending yourself requires a lot of strength and courage, especially if the opposing force is stronger. Whatever the situation, it is our right and responsibility to stand up for what we believe in. Throughout history, many men and women have stood up for themselves and their cause. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a man named Mohandas Gandhi led a revolution for racial equality and India's independence from Britain. Creating the principle of non-violent protest, he introduced a method known as "non-cooperation". “Non-cooperation” implied that the Indian people rejected whatever the British government told them to do. Gandhi called for a campaign of non-cooperation with the British. Indian children were taken out of school, Indians holding public office resigned, and Indians boycotted the legal system” (Edidin 18). This act caused obstruction within the British government and led to a decline in social order. The Indians flooded the streets, making them impassable and refused to fight back even when beaten. During the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. continued to follow these methods of civil disobedience. Non-cooperation was a successful non-violent method that ultimately contributed to India's freedom. Gandhi was the leader of many successful non-violent actions...... middle of paper ...... and he was eventually released from prison, he was elected president of South Africa and defended peace among all. Mandela stood up for his beliefs and spent 27 years in prison because of it. Because Mandela stood up for his beliefs, along with many others, and never abandoned his movement, South Africa is the country of racial equality that it is today. Some people have the desire, the courage and the will to stand up for the things they believe in. can occur in many ways, shapes and forms. Whether it's a violent, physical protest or something as simple as a sit-in, it sends a message of intolerance toward an opposing force. The propagation of one's beliefs is the root of revolution and reform. Change is brought about by people fighting for themselves or others. It is a God-given right to defend oneself. The power of a single person can transform into unparalleled power.