Personal heroes (gender nonspecific)

[Grandpa]

A tangent in a thread in the political section got me to thinking of this.

Got one or more?

For me, and not in order, and as often happens, sometimes with a personal life that was less than stellar:

T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia). Rich, full life, felt intensely, sometimes succeeded, sometimes failed, but ultimately prevailed against enormous odds.

Crazy Horse (aka Tashunka Uitco). Bold, brilliant leader who forsook the trappings of leadership, went against great odds and succeeded with sharp strategy and personal bravery.

Soichiro Honda (aka 本田 宗一郎). Went against the establishment, succeeded with it, and turned the motorized world on its ear with innovation, bold moves, and even environmental concerns. A true revolutionary in the Japanese business world.

Theodore Roosevelt (aka "Teddy"), using progressive views to take on corporations and mired politics, with his prime philosophy being the welfare of the citizenry. Irrepressible and accomplished at just about everything he did.

Got a few more, like Thomas Jefferson, but those are primary as I'm thinking about them.

 

[Sundrop]

I have a rather eclectic collection of heroes.....here are just a few

Carl Taylor (my grandfather) ~ Didn't have more than a third grade education. Helped raise 9 children, knew how to work the land, raised all their food, provided for the family, could build anything, and run any machine. Taught me that happiness and the love of a family will beat loads of money any day of the week.

Marilyn Monroe ~ famous model and actress.....was smarter and more aware of things than most people gave her credit for. Died entirely too young.

Fred Kirby~ Singing cowboy, Sunday morning TV personality, and my childhood hero. Proved to me that a good clean life ain't so bad.

Vidal Sassoon ~ Forever changed the hair styling industry through education, innovation, and that precision swing cut bob, still popular today....and let's not forget blow styling instead of roller setting.

 

[blunthead]

Dad, who as such got the credit from me he deserved later than he deserved.

Mom, who was my first friend, and ever mentor.

CSLewis, whose The Great Divorce I read as an early teen at my mom's incessant prompting, and who consequently changed my life for the eternal better.

A personal (non-Skeemer) friend, who inadvertently picked up where CSLewis left off.

George MacDonald, a Scottish writer of fantasy, who is sometimes referred to as the Father of Modern Fantasy, mentor to CSLewis, JRRTolkien, Peter S Beagle and other authors, and who CSLewis himself considered responsible for Lewis' own importance as a writer.

Stephen King, for a variety of reasons.

Jesus Christ, the Hero of Heroes, among other things.

 

[Neesy]

A tangent in a thread in the political section got me to thinking of this.

Got one or more?

For me, and not in order, and as often happens, sometimes with a personal life that was less than stellar:

T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia). Rich, full life, felt intensely, sometimes succeeded, sometimes failed, but ultimately prevailed against enormous odds.

Crazy Horse (aka Tashunka Uitco). Bold, brilliant leader who forsook the trappings of leadership, went against great odds and succeeded with sharp strategy and personal bravery.

Soichiro Honda (aka 本田 宗一郎). Went against the establishment, succeeded with it, and turned the motorized world on its ear with innovation, bold moves, and even environmental concerns. A true revolutionary in the Japanese business world.

Theodore Roosevelt (aka "Teddy"), using progressive views to take on corporations and mired politics, with his prime philosophy being the welfare of the citizenry. Irrepressible and accomplished at just about everything he did.

Got a few more, like Thomas Jefferson, but those are primary as I'm thinking about them.

Don't laugh - Clint Eastwood is one, even as the crotchety old guy in the movie Gran Torino.

Mother Teresa had a few good things to say, as well, but those are the only two I can come up with at the moment, just off the top of my head.

 

[Lily Sawyer]

Madeleine Albright
Amelia Earhart
Christiane Amanpour
Thomas Jefferson

 

[SutterKane]

My mother would probably be the main one. She had a rough life full of all the sob story details that tend to make up the story lines of Lifetime movies, but never let it make her miserable, or walk around acting like a victim or expecting sympathy or handouts from people. She played the hand she was dealt and made her peace with it. I respect that, not enough people in this world with that kind of integrity.

 

[prufrock21]

Albert Einstein

 

[mjs9153]

Gramps,TR was my first hero,as well..for me,it was because he built himself up from being sickly,refused to give in to being ill and worked until he was robust..and took the time to learn so much about the natural world..not a lot of folks today know he was an accomplished naturalist. I wish people took the time to read his books because he was also a very good author.. His descriptions of the natural world are on par with anybody's...
Too many other heroes, or better,mentors,to mention..

 

[staropeace]

My parents for adopting me....Terry Fox for caring enought to run across Canada...though his vision did not happen because his cancer came back. He was running with just one leg....to raise money for cancer. Ken Taylor,Canadian, who went the extra distance to help the Americans who hid in Iran...and for helping them get home! The Newfoundlanders, my people, who opened their homes and their hearts to the Americans during 9/11. You went out of your way....they came from everywhere...even Paris....but your food and hospitality was a lot better. You showed them how, when push comes to shove, most folks are good and decent....thank God for the better half of the human race. Celebate it folks!!!!!

 

[DiO'Bolic]

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, Abe Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

 

[Grandpa]

I hadn't thought of closer to home. My grandmother would have to qualify there too. Spunky, stubborn, wiry, strong woman. Proud of her Irish descent, her Republican Party, and her Catholic Church, and not afraid to tell any of them when she thought they were doing wrong. And given that this was the time of the Troubles, Nixon, and the surge in birth control, she had some things to say to them.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...my grandparents
...my folks
...for sure, my wife
...George Patton
...Stephen King
...Marty Brennaman