People That You Admire

[Archaic]

Tank Man!!!

Just saw Abby Normal's post and I have to agree- "the Chinese guy who stood in front of the tank", also known as 'Tank Man'...he is definitely on my list! That photo blows me away every time I see it.

Here's a video about Tank Man for those who are interested: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-tank-man/

Cheers,
Archaic

[mariab]

Pertaining to Abby Normal's and Archaic's posts:
What's up with that chick Mary Magdalene? Everyone's completely obsessed with her. Somehow I suspect that this is an American thing. I might attempt a poll about her popularity among my friends, European vs. American.
(There have also been several latin disco hits about her in the 70's/'80s.)

By the by, the guy in front of the tank on TienaMen Square never really impressed me. Great journalistic potential, but such actions often happen naturally in the heat of the moment. It's pure andrenaline and machismo (in a good way, not in a men-bashing way). I'd rather admire someone's stamina and continuous struggle like Nelson Mandela's dedication or Dr. Fleming's working for decades to ensure the production of antibiotics.

[ChainzCooper]

Duane 'Dog' Chapman for me. His show has taught me so much about redemption and not judging others. I hope he visits NC one day so I can shake his hand and say Thank you
Jordan

[Archaic]

Pertaining to Abby Normal's and Archaic's posts:
What's up with that chick Mary Magdalene? Everyone's completely obsessed with her.

Hi Maria. I don't know anybody who's obsessed with Mary Magdalene. Maybe you are thinking of fans of the "Da Vinci Code"? I've never read that book or seen the movie. Fiction, Hollywood, and garbled history doesn't interest me at all.

But Mary was a very important individual in early Christianity, and the apocryphal gospel known as the 'Gospel of Mary' interests me very much. I'm impressed with Mary, and that's why I included her name in my personal list.

Best regards,
Archaic

PS: You should check out Sister Rosetta; she's an AMAZING guitarist & vocalist- I think you'll really like her. There are videos of her performances on YouTube.

[mariab]

Hi Archaic,
I was just joking about Mary Magdalene, it surpised my that Tom, then Abby, then you included her on your lists. I've just recalled that Agnetha Faltskong (greatly admired by Phil Carter and majorly liked by me) had her singing debut as Mary Magdalene in the Jesus Christ Supertar musical in Sweden. So somehow tonight all ways lead to Mary Magdalene. I'm about to email back my South African friend who's Christian and very religious, curious to see how the South Africans feel about Mary Magdalene.
I've heard of Sister Rosetta being mentioned, but never heard her singing (I think). I'll definitely check her out. From mellow, folky stuff I like Jewel Kilcher, The Cranberries, Six pence none the richer, and even Alanis Morisette. And Swedish folk singer/surfer/snowboarder Lisa Miskovski, if Phil Carter happens to know about her.
By the way I checked out Silverchair's Across the night, and it never got released in Germany (??), as Young Modern did. Across the night also appears to be jazzy (with piano solo and horns), so I'm not sure if I'll be impressed (coming from classical and a bit blasé about orchestration in rock). I tried playing the songs and it crashed Safari, so I'll try again later, maybe from iTunes.

[Adam Went]

For my part, I admire anybody who has the guts, determination and bravery to try and do good in the world and stick to their beliefs no matter what adversity they may face or what certain people may say about them.

I just finished reading "Schindler's List" and have huge respect for Oskar Schindler, who risked everything and eventually lost everything in order to save a couple of thousand strangers, and others like him. That's just to name one of many names.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Archaic]

Irena Sendler

Hi Adam.

Thanks for reminding me of a person who definitely should have been on my list- Irena Sendler. Irena saved the lives of 2,500 Jewish children in Nazi-Occupied Poland.

I'm very tired right now, but I'll post a little more info about Irena tomorrow. Her story is truly inspiring.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Phil Carter]

Hello c.d.,

On reflection, I thought I'd explain my choices.

Nelson Mandela (South African citizen and politician)
-without a shadow of doubt the single most influentially important politician and human being in my lifetime. His demeanour, despite everything he had to endure, is something I will always remember. The man has a charisma that is almost saintly.

Simon Wiesenthal (Isreali citizen)
- Despite becoming very old, he still believed in the thing that he started out doing, for a population of people that had no hope and no help after being disgracefully treated, both those alive and those who died, and he never gave up despite enduring much criticism. All in the name of justice.

Gilbert Jessop (British cricketer)
- played the game in a way that wasn't even invented until 50 years after he stopped playing it. A true Master. A true legend. Believed in exciting the paying public every time he played. And he did it more wonderfully than nearly all have done since. I really wish I had been alive to see it.

Sir Winston Churchill (British citizen and politician)
- A man that with his words, on crackly radio and through newspapers, inspired a nation and even a world to remain united against a tyrant who want to crush that world with his lunatic idealism. He entered into the hearts and minds of everyone. Stood firm, made mistakes, but his resolve never faltered. A leader of a nation like we have never seen before or since.

Joe Davis (British citizen and snooker player)
- A man who was so brilliant at his sport, he won the world championship 17 years in a row. I had the honour of playing his brother, Fred, in the mid-70's, and learned to know the level of Joe's brilliance.

Sir John Berry Hobbs (British citizen and cricketer)
- No man has ever played the game so totally and brilliantly and remained, throught his career and through his life a true gentleman. A kindly man who always had time for the common man, despite his world wide fame.

Gianfranco Zola (Italian citizen and Chelsea footballer)
- Probably the most gentlemanly genius football has ever seen. The man who would stay behind after a game and instead of going home stayed to serve his fans, hundreds of them, waiting for his autograph. Not once, but every time he played the game. On the field, he made us all gasp at his level of brilliance.

Eric Morecambe (British citizen and comedian)
- For me, the funniest man I have ever seen, with a razor sharp wit ..all on the level of the people, without once becoming bawdy or rude. When he died, the whole nation felt the loss within them. His written scripts were totally brilliant at times and he never once ignored the importance of his audience. A very nice man indeed.

Claude Oscar Monet (French citizen and painter)
- the level of his colour usage in his paintings, is breathtaking. His eye saw things that most cannot even attempt. The sheer beauty he showed us is almost untouchable. The depth, the presentation, is fantastic. Simply a genius.

Agnetha Faltskog (Swedish citizen and singer)
- Despite world-wide fame, an extraordinary talent, very beautiful and with an unbelievable voice, she insisted on remaining an ordinary person and mother above all else. Despite constant pressure, keeps her private life with a dignity and honesty. A very generous person as well.

Robert Pershing Wadlow (American citizen)
- A shy man who remained just an ordinary man despite being 8ft 11 inches tall. Grace and dignity, with a sense of fun that meant much to his loved ones. Died far too young, due to a poorly fitted ankle brace that became infected. The tallest gentleman on Earth. Ever.

Robert Geldof (Irish citizen and musician)
- I had the honour of meeting this man after the first concert he appeared in, after Live Aid, with his own band. It was here, in my home town, in a tiny theatre. I admired his personality as a private person in public, and the way he refused to be treated with anything less than the respect he deserved as a human being, be they Prince or pauper. He woke the world up and gave it a kick in the rear that was very much needed.

Stanley Jefferson (British citizen and film comic actor)
- A pioneer of comedy, and probably one of the first true geniuses of his genre. A gentleman to boot. Even today people wonder at the simple brilliance of his innocence in his comic acting. Peter Sellers rated him above all others. His way of being, off stage, was an inspiration to many. Much loved and I am yet to see a bad word written or said about him. Ever.

best wishes

Phil

[kensei]

I guess I might garner some bad karma if I don't mention my admiration for the greatest swordsman in Japanese history, the ronin samurai Miyamoto Musashi, who fought and won sixty duels in his lifetime in addition to surviving battlefield combat a number of times and authoring a classic book on strategy called "A Book of Five Rings" that is still popular today. After all, as I don't think I've ever mentioned in all my time here on Casebook, I take my name from him. ("Kensei" means "sword saint" and was a respectful nickname given to Musashi, in the same way that John Wayne was called "The Duke" and Bruce Springsteen is called "The Boss.")

[mariab]

Agnetha Faltskog (Swedish citizen and singer)
Despite world-wide fame, an extraordinary talent, very beautiful and with an unbelievable voice, she insisted on remaining an ordinary person and mother above all else. Despite constant pressure, keeps her private life with a dignity and honesty. A very generous person as well.

Pretty much what I was expecting you to say, Phil. I too like her immensely, although she doesn't make it in my list of heros I admire to the “worship-the-sole-of-their-shoes-most-thankfully-for-having-existed“ level. If I had to chose the most influential/beneficial heros to humanity from my earlier list it would be:
- Alexander Fleming (who developed antibiotics)
- Sir Tim Berners-Lee (who devised the internet)
- Jake Burton (who established snowboarding – and accessorily, who produced my own beloved board, Pro rider's Trevor Andrew pro model, called the 7, in its vintage version, which is the best (twin tip, full freestyle design, with the graphics of a green monster pulling his tongue and spitting out the number “7“).

My personal role models would be
- Marie Curie
- pro surfer Rochelle Ballard: one of THE best, most experienced tuberiders of all times (male or female), owns it in big conditions, despite being a tiny (muscle bound) 4.11'', and beautiful. She's also the one who institutionalized the female Pro surfers' circuit, in the early 2000s.
Here's a glimspe of her competing at Teahupoo and Pipe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN8nhJ8s3Lc

[Abby Normal]

Just saw Abby Normal's post and I have to agree- "the Chinese guy who stood in front of the tank", also known as 'Tank Man'...he is definitely on my list! That photo blows me away every time I see it.

Here's a video about Tank Man for those who are interested: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-tank-man/

Cheers,
Archaic

Hi Archaic
Thanks for posting that link.

I just noticed you had Bono also. Definitely agree-for may reasons!

[Abby Normal]

some other women I admire:

Florence Nightingale
Sade
Sister Teresa
Joan Of Arc!!
Benazar Bhutto
Billy Holiday
Sacagawea (sp?)
Amelia Earhart
Marie Curie
Joan Baez

[Steven Russell]

Come on, girls! What about Emmeline Pankhurst?

[Tom_Wescott]

I'm surprised Annie Besant and the match strike girls haven't come up. Or W.T. Stead. Or some of the other people who come up a lot in Ripper studies who truly did change the world.

I'm assuming Jesus hasn't appeared on any lists because he's generally (and appropriately) thought of in a class all his own, even by misguided atheists. Regarding Mary Magdelene, the reason why she should certainly be included is because had her role in the forming of Christianity not been played down so much by the early church, there probably wouldn't have been a need for 20th century feminism as we know it.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[The Good Michael]

Dostoevsky- for his vision
George Hutchinson- for his courage
Mozart-for his music
Bill Maher-for his TV show
Jennifer Connelly- for her
Jim Thorpe-for giving minorities a boost
Teddy Roosevelt- Only for the National Parks
Jane Goodall- Chimp studies
Bill Gates- for his philanthropy (with his wife's support)
Stewart Evans- for always coming back
Johnny Depp-for taking on challenges and not getting too big in his own head
Goethe- for Faust
Michael Collins- for standing up for his people
Gregor MacGregor-for being the most daring SOB that ever pulled a cool scam