History,
current events, and the Bible are full of examples of winning against the odds:
- Athletes overcome physical limitations.
- Poor immigrants become billionaire entrepreneurs who revolutionize their industries.
- David kills Goliath.
- Musicians perform outside the box and make their own kind of career.
- Daniel is saved from the lion’s den.
- Former victims of abuse become world-renown authors and speakers.
American Genius
This current
miniseries on National Geographic Channel showcases examples of brilliant
underdogs winning throughout history.
One of the latest episodes was Hearst
vs. Pulitzer.
Joseph Pulitzer—(Yes, THAT Joseph Pulitzer) He is the
namesake of the highest honor in journalism: the Pulitzer Prize. He was an
impoverished Hungarian immigrant. He revolutionized the newspaper industry by
making it more accessible to the common man. By the late 1800’s, he “owned” the
newspaper industry in New York City.
William Randolph Hearst—He was the rich, pampered son of a
mining tycoon. His first newspaper was given to him by his father. It was
located in San Francisco, California. However, that wasn’t good enough for him.
He idolized Pulitzer and his methods. He wanted in on the action.
Eventually,
Hearst moved to New York, poached Pulitzer’s top employees, and became a threat
to the top man’s empire. Pulitzer was quickly running out of money. Unlike
Hearst, he didn’t have a family fortune to back him up.
The two
giants started a press war that incited the American public into supporting the
Spanish-American War. It was the birth of the ridiculously powerful force that
is the media as we know it today.
Toppling the Tycoons
What brought
the two men to reality—finally? What was the hurricane force that, literally,
brought the newspaper industry to a temporary halt? 5,000 impoverished pre-teen
and teen street boys, the “newsies”.
These street vendors of newspapers rioted when the two journalism tycoons
raised the wholesale cost of newspapers. They closed down bridges and streets. Pulitzer and Hearst were forced to reach a
compromise in order to keep their businesses flourishing.
My Conclusion
How have you
been a victorious underdog?
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