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Dosan Inducted to International Civil Rights Walk of Fame January 6, 2012
The Trumpet Awards Foundation has selected Dosan Ahn Chang Ho as a 2012 Inductee to the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremony will take place at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site on January 6th at 10:00 am. Dosan is the first Asian to be inducted. He is being recognized for his contributions to improve society throughout his life by fighting for human and civil rights during the Japanese Occupation of Korea in the early 20th century. His efforts reflect the same spirit as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi. There are many great citizens of the World recognized at the Walk of Fame.
DOSAN AHN CHANG HO 1878-1938
He could see weak Korean feudalism desperately needed to change to deal with the Western world. Japan stole the opportunity to democratically modernize Koreans out of Dosan's hands. Dosan was one who whole heartedly fought the Japanese to keep these imperialists from obliterating Korea from the face of the earth. He sacrificed the family he left in America for his homeland. He gave up his freedom for his people - ending up in Japanese prisons at least six different times - spending four years in Taejon Prison. He stayed true to the causes of democracy, human rights, fair labor, women's rights, quality education and Korea's destiny to become a powerful independent nation of patriotic citizens. The countless painful experiences he endured as a prisoner and the stressful life of a freedom fighter in exile cut his life short. He ultimately gave his life for Korea never wavering in his commitment to serve his people. Without a doubt, Dosan's story is worth knowing.
Dosan's Way to Leadership - NEW English Version now available
Dosan's Way to Leadership: Love Yourself Love Others. The characters in the upper right corner of this webpage are Dosan's calligraphy and is the Korean title of this book. This book is based on Dosan's philosophy and democratic service style of leadership in Korean social and political reform. Dosan's Independence Movement activities to free Korea from Japanese imperialism provide the backdrop to his leadership in action. John Cha (the author of Willow Tree Shade the biography of Dosan's daughter Susan Ahn Cuddy) translated this book into English. This version was edited by Dosan's granddaughter Christine Cuddy and his grandson Philip Cuddy. It is by far the best book about Dosan's leadership philiosophy available in English.
This website is dedicated to a remarkable human being named Ahn Chang Ho. He is one of Korea's most patriotic and respected historical figures. His philosophy and life are good examples of serving people as a true leader. Dosan is his pen name and well known to all Koreans. He chose it seeing Hawaii for the first time from the ship he was traveling on from Korea on his first journey to America in 1902 . "Dosan" means "island mountain". Dosan realized he was going to be on his own like an island and had to rise up strong like a mountain to lead Korea to become a modern democratic independent nation. read more
Helen Ahn is Dosan's wife. Her Korean name is Yi Hye Ryon. She came to America with Dosan in 1902. They were the first married couple to come to America from Korea. Her contribution to the Pioneer Korean community in America and her sacrifices for the Independence Movement and Korean people are more important than many people understand. Without her solid support Dosan could not have been as effective of a leader as he was. She was the center of the early Pioneer Generation on the Mainland in many ways. Her life was extremely difficult, but, she never gave up her love for Dosan and for Korea. She received an award for her patriotism from the South Korean government. Her story deserves more recognition. read more
Helen Ahn Riverside, CA 1911
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Do not recognize anyone as a leader based on vanity... Examine his qualities not by rumors that go around but by looking into his history and actions. »Dosan
