Wouldn't it be fun if this thread could be some real answers before it gets polluted with the inevitable stupid stuff? Really. OK. Who do you most admire, living or dead, with short explanation. For me; Albert Schweitzer, the greatest and most humble humanitarian.
The architects & builders behind the great pyramids in Egypt. To build such wonderous structures with the available tools at hand is absolutely mind-blowing.
and it seems the aforementioned BS starts. as for me, werner von braun. where would high speed air and spaceflight be without his developments? and how would we live if we ddidnt have access to space (satellites and such) also consider all the great inventions that have come from spaceflight and those that have made spaceflight more, livable sure he helped develped the nazi V weapons, which in turn brought death and devastation to many people. but this is classified under the Greater Good Argument, namely - the good outweighs the bad
I'll elaborate. Sooo much temptation, sooo many of them around you, sooo many of us razzing you into it, such an empty space in that big, new and beautiful garage of yours. Nothing holding you back. Any yet...NOTHING! I admire your fortitude! I sure as hell couldn't handle it!
I just had to throw in the aliens comment. I'm glad you mentioned some of those who masterminded and created the great architectural and engineering feats of history. I have to categorize those that I would list as admired...in the creative category it would be the medieval architects who conceived and designed the great European cathedrals and supervised their construction. To me, even more mind-blowing than the pyramids...the pyramids were essentially one-note engineering feats compared to the cathedrals. For those with whom I have discussed the concept of professional "worth" before, architecture was a much more prestigious profession than medicine in those days...doctors were either low-status barber surgeon types or higher class "physicians" who were generally famed for their allround incompetence. Architects were the confidantes of kings, popes, and the wealthy noble and merchant classes. In medicine, it wouldn't be one person I'd admire, but those who pioneered the use of anesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics...the great medical advances that brought doctors out of the sawbones league in the late 19th and eary 20th centuries. Then the emergence and widespread availability of employer-sponsored or individual-pay medical insurance plans and government-pay programs in the mid-20th century sent their incomes skyrocketing.
a very good friend of mine, Carolyn. best person i have ever known by more than a longshot. might sound shallow since there are so many 'more important/respectable historical figures' but she is defintely my most admired
My dad and his father. My GF was amazing. Grew up on a farm in Kansas, forced his way into Kansas State without finishing high school and was in both World Wars. In between he became a hydro engineer and for WWII he was recruited by Patton to work on the water delivery system in Northern Africa. After that he went on to teach as a professor at MIT. He was one of the designers of Buckingham Fountain in Chicago! And all of that was the dull part of his life! My father is the perfect combination of social and responsible. I learned from him how to deal with people, which I think is something we're losing. He was an Army "brat" so he knew how to move around and meet people. He played college basketball at Cornell in the 50's so he was very aware of the civil rights movement, which he supported as best he could. He's 75 going on 45 and I respect the hell out of him. I just hope he knows that. My mom's parents were Russian immigrants back in the early 1900s. They settled in Sheboygan Wisconsin and forged a new life in a new land. My mom was the youngest of 8 kids, and I was the youngest of 3, so I didn't get to know them as well. I'm now working on a project to document their lives, since only 3 of their kids are still alive--my mother and 2 others. Their lives, from what I know, were fascinating.
randy rhoads guitar is one of the only things that matter to me, and being able to play with that level of skill is my goal. i've already had people tell me my style is getting quite similar.
He was a virtuoso. If you can get anywhere near his ability, you're kicking some serious a$$. I hope he's not forgotten over time.
Abraham Lincoln-A steadfast leader through the most difficult time in US history. The Founding Fathers-Their sacrifices made it possible to have US history. Chuck Yeager-For having the gonads to get into the X1, when many learned people thought it would disintegrate as it crossed the sound barrier.
not famous- my dad [ taught me very much ] famous- arnold schwartzneggar [ the guy came from nothing and conquered alot ]
George Washington & Ben Franklin (among others) for their selfless service to a country that didn't even exist. Without them, we wouldn't be here today. Gen. Robert E. Lee for doing what he believed to be the right thing, even if it wasn't. They were all men of principle about whom you had no doubt as to where they stood. It's really too bad that we don't see any of this today. Perhaps the closest we have are our troops in Iraq. I can't think of one policitian who comes even close. Dale
Lou Gehrig, a gentleman to the end. I grew up with the beginnings of today's star athlete attitude, can you say Reggie Jackson? Most of the stars in the news are there for off field antics, the last person that could scrape the gum off Lou's shoes was Michael Jordan. To me Lou represents a time past, a different attitude was beginning, thanks to teammate Ruth. While people idolize Ruth, to me he represents the beginning of the end. Ruth broke the mold, and that is not a good thing IMO.
My dad. He and I have a strange relationship in a way. We both know we love each other and care, but never say it. But he's worked so hard to give me everything he always wanted growing up. My friends love hanging around my dad too.
Julius Ceasar. He just fascinates me, given the time period and what he did given what he had to work with. Anytime you can get one of the most prestigous places(at the time) to want to make you leader for life, you've done something truly great. There were people who did more than him, there were people arguably "better" than him, but just the combination things about him makes him stand out above the rest.
My father. Plain and simple. Throughout his life, he always had the odds stacked against him..and yet to this day, considers his existence to be filled with miracles and good fortune.
