Feliz Aniversário homem bom

Sérgio Vieira de Mello (15 March 1948 – 19 August 2003)

I remember admiring the tenacity of a Michael Jordon, Jerry Rice, and Ozzie Smith. I aspired to be dominant like Magic Johnson, Nolan Ryan, and Wade Boggs. I wanted to be legendary like Barry Sanders, Ronnie Lot, and Roger Staubach.

I have found new men to admire. I have learned that there are men out there risking their lives, to assist strangers, who were and are struggling for freedom. None great enough to draw a crowd of millions, but one great enough to teach waring nations about democracy. One of these men gave his life in Iraq, not carrying a weapon, but only his heart, a well equipped mind, and passion. He worked with the cliche that didn't focus on winning but healing.

"You Can't Help People from a Distance" - Sergio Viera De Mello

Like one might admire a star's statistics I admire Sergio's

1968 Student - riots in Paris against the Charles de Gaulle
1971 UNHCR - Bangladesh during its war of independence
1974 UNHCR - Cyprus after the Turkish invasion
Student - MA in moral philosophy/ PhD
Vieira de Mello was fluent in his native Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian and French;conversational Arabic and Tetum
1975 - Mozambique during the civil war
Cambodia - Only UN Representative to hold talks with the Khmer Rouge
Kosovo
Hong Kong - boat people
East Timor independence from Indonesia originally occupied by Portugal
Iraq - Died in an Explosion