Link And yet most of us, I bet, have never even heard of him. Norman Borlaug, whose discoveries in agriculture saved hundreds of millions in the third world from starvation, has died. He was 95. The article I linked to above makes a very good point:
A long life, well spent . Let people bemoan the loss of Michael Jackson all they want. Great people die without that spectacle, they simply leave us. The great die with quiet dignity, not pomp- as it should be .
Wow. This made me incredibly sad. I wish I'd known him. I wish I'd known of him. A life lived with hobour, generosity and humility. This, this, a thousand times this.
I've heard of Mr. Borlaug before, and I agree--one of the greatest, if not the greatest person of all time. In absolute terms, he probably directly improved more lives than anyone who has ever lived.
The greatest thing a Human Being can hope to accomplish is to save one life. Hundreds of millions? This was one lucky, lucky man who lived a grand and meaningful existence. RIP, Norman Borlaug.
I think it works as a more general statement too, and I suspect that Normal Bourlaug would agree, but I also think the original context should be honoured, to do otherwise seems disrespectful and manipulative. Having done only a little reading on the subject, it appears to be a complex and nuanced issue.
I'd never heard of him before. That is sad, because after reading up a little, he deserves the recognition of all.