Mark in Oshawa
23rd April 2007, 07:13
I was thinking the other day while driving somewheres ( you have time to think when you drive 10 hours a day for a living) about people that you could say you admire or keep as inspiration. I was listening to an interview of a historian talking about Churchill and I thought of course that he is one my favourite and most inspirational people in history. So I wonder, with the multi-national board here ( one that is often hostile to one thing or the other, but pretty much an entertaining and intelligent group), just who are YOUR heroes? I would be stunned to know that a few of you might have someone you admire that wouldn't fit with what I think your political or social ethos might be. Or maybe not.......
Oh yes, keep religious icon's/leaders out of this, I know a Christian would say Christ, and a Muslim would Mohammed, that is logical enough. No, I want common men and women who for whatever reason stand above the crowd for something they did or said, or maybe are athletic heroes.
Ok, here are my 5 in no certain order, and notice they are from different walks of life and are all relevently modern.
ok. Winston Churchill. A great orator, jack of all trades, political chameleon and leader. Was he right all the time? God no, he made his share of stupid political moves, and tactical ones at times too. His snubbing of Ghandi in the post war era was an ignorant one from a man with foresight, but his own Victorian past kind of snuck on him there. I forgive him that for all the good things he did. What I admire about the guy is he stuck to his princples and convictions, even if he had to switch parties ( 3 times ) and he always stuck up for the common man.
Ghandi. A man who preached peace, breathed it, believed in it, and yet, wanted an indenpedent India. Using his methods, India basically was able to get their democracy started and going under peaceful terms from the UK. Now I realize it was more complicated than that, but if more ethnic tribal groups used Ghandi's quite resolve, and dedication to being forceful while using non-violent protest, the world would be a much better place.
Martin Luther King. This was a guy who wasn't perfect, had a lot of baggage in his personal life, yet by the way he led the civil rights movement in the US, he proved that America was out to lunch on racial policy and brought it kicking and screaming to a reality that they needed to have. He too preached non-violence, and many of his messages now sound like they come from a Christian Conservative in the US, which I find humourous for they are usually mocked by many on the left who in the next breath say what a great guy King was. While I am not big on religion mixing with secular politics, I admire King. The guy wanted what was logical and he brought it about.
Frederick Banting. For those who don't know, he invented Insulin with his staff at the University of Toronto in the 1920's. Diabetes was a huge killer before this, and he basically did the research on the side while teaching, created the vaccine and then once it was developed, he didn't even take out a patent for it. He felt the world should have access to the formula to make it and no one should profit by it. Noble idea....if modern medicine could just try a little more to emulate this, I suspect the health care costs of the western world would be cut in half tomorrow.....
Paul Newman. Now this one is a little more unusual, and he isn't really a historical figure like the others but there is a damned good reason for this. One, on the whole, I as rule despise Hollywood actors/actresses and their incessant bleating about how they feel they have all the answers to all problems and that the world is screwed up because we are not more like them. That said, when was the last time you heard Paul Newman utter a single word of political speech? You don't. We all have an idea on his politics, he is left-of-center and has been seen friendly with Democratic party candidates in the US, but for the most part, he doesn't act like we should KNOW his politics. This doesn't explain really though why I have him here. Why is that he put his money, and then a lot of money...like HUNDREDS of MILLIONS where his mouth is. Twenty years ago, it became very trendy for actors to dedicate their time to causes to raise money for charities. Paul did everyone one better. He created a company that sold salad dressing. Then Popcorn and Spaghetti sauces. Silly fool, didn't he know he couldn't compete with multinationals? Give all the profits to charity?He will lose his shirt right? WRONG. His company makes FAR more selling good quality product than he ever would acting. HE didn't brag about it, he just DID it. No sermons, no telling us how morally superior he is. Just DO IT. OH right..that is Nike, who gives tons of money to overpaid athletes.
No, Newman is another shining example of a man who just thinks outside the box, loves to give back to people who need it (terminally ill children and kids with cancer) and his causes are apolitical. The fact he is one hell of a race driver, HATES being famous (don't ever try to talk acting with him at the races or ask him for an autograph EVER) and will love to talk racing with you all day if you ever do get in his presence is a bonus. He proves that regardless of one's political views, you can be a good person, a good example for everyone, and be a class act. Damned good actor too, and like I said, I usually HATE actors.
Oh yes, keep religious icon's/leaders out of this, I know a Christian would say Christ, and a Muslim would Mohammed, that is logical enough. No, I want common men and women who for whatever reason stand above the crowd for something they did or said, or maybe are athletic heroes.
Ok, here are my 5 in no certain order, and notice they are from different walks of life and are all relevently modern.
ok. Winston Churchill. A great orator, jack of all trades, political chameleon and leader. Was he right all the time? God no, he made his share of stupid political moves, and tactical ones at times too. His snubbing of Ghandi in the post war era was an ignorant one from a man with foresight, but his own Victorian past kind of snuck on him there. I forgive him that for all the good things he did. What I admire about the guy is he stuck to his princples and convictions, even if he had to switch parties ( 3 times ) and he always stuck up for the common man.
Ghandi. A man who preached peace, breathed it, believed in it, and yet, wanted an indenpedent India. Using his methods, India basically was able to get their democracy started and going under peaceful terms from the UK. Now I realize it was more complicated than that, but if more ethnic tribal groups used Ghandi's quite resolve, and dedication to being forceful while using non-violent protest, the world would be a much better place.
Martin Luther King. This was a guy who wasn't perfect, had a lot of baggage in his personal life, yet by the way he led the civil rights movement in the US, he proved that America was out to lunch on racial policy and brought it kicking and screaming to a reality that they needed to have. He too preached non-violence, and many of his messages now sound like they come from a Christian Conservative in the US, which I find humourous for they are usually mocked by many on the left who in the next breath say what a great guy King was. While I am not big on religion mixing with secular politics, I admire King. The guy wanted what was logical and he brought it about.
Frederick Banting. For those who don't know, he invented Insulin with his staff at the University of Toronto in the 1920's. Diabetes was a huge killer before this, and he basically did the research on the side while teaching, created the vaccine and then once it was developed, he didn't even take out a patent for it. He felt the world should have access to the formula to make it and no one should profit by it. Noble idea....if modern medicine could just try a little more to emulate this, I suspect the health care costs of the western world would be cut in half tomorrow.....
Paul Newman. Now this one is a little more unusual, and he isn't really a historical figure like the others but there is a damned good reason for this. One, on the whole, I as rule despise Hollywood actors/actresses and their incessant bleating about how they feel they have all the answers to all problems and that the world is screwed up because we are not more like them. That said, when was the last time you heard Paul Newman utter a single word of political speech? You don't. We all have an idea on his politics, he is left-of-center and has been seen friendly with Democratic party candidates in the US, but for the most part, he doesn't act like we should KNOW his politics. This doesn't explain really though why I have him here. Why is that he put his money, and then a lot of money...like HUNDREDS of MILLIONS where his mouth is. Twenty years ago, it became very trendy for actors to dedicate their time to causes to raise money for charities. Paul did everyone one better. He created a company that sold salad dressing. Then Popcorn and Spaghetti sauces. Silly fool, didn't he know he couldn't compete with multinationals? Give all the profits to charity?He will lose his shirt right? WRONG. His company makes FAR more selling good quality product than he ever would acting. HE didn't brag about it, he just DID it. No sermons, no telling us how morally superior he is. Just DO IT. OH right..that is Nike, who gives tons of money to overpaid athletes.
No, Newman is another shining example of a man who just thinks outside the box, loves to give back to people who need it (terminally ill children and kids with cancer) and his causes are apolitical. The fact he is one hell of a race driver, HATES being famous (don't ever try to talk acting with him at the races or ask him for an autograph EVER) and will love to talk racing with you all day if you ever do get in his presence is a bonus. He proves that regardless of one's political views, you can be a good person, a good example for everyone, and be a class act. Damned good actor too, and like I said, I usually HATE actors.